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Trooping funnel

Trooping funnel mushroom

Trooping funnels are mushrooms which tend to be found in grass or leaf litter in clearings, here the lawn in front of a block of flats.

Trooping funnel mushroom
The cap starts off pointed. As it expands, the rim is raised. Eventually it becomes funnel shaped.

Trooping funnel mushroom

As the name implies, they are normally found in groups.

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Dogwood berries

Dogwood berries

Decorative berries on a dogwood shrub in a front garden: a dense cluster of snow white berries tipped purple, growing on a red stem.

This shrub had variegated green leaves.

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Coral spot fungus

Coral spot fungus

Coral spot is a common fungus which can be found on dead or dying wood, or branches which are dying back on living trees.

These were on a bough overhanging the stile from the Railway Walk onto the White Oak Drive housing estate.

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Collared earth stars, Compton

Collared earth star

Collared earth stars belong to a genus of fungi which spread their spores through a hole in the top of the fruiting body. The spores get their energy from raindrops falling on the fungus.

Collared earth star

Collared earth stars are uncommon: other types of earth star are even less common.

Collared earth star

These two were the largest and most accessible of a group which were growing near the former Compton station on the Smestow Valley Railway Walk.

Collared earth star

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Candlesnuff fungus, Compton

Candlesnuff fungus, Compton

Candlesnuff fungus, also called stagshorn, is a common fungus found on dead wood including tree stumps from autumn and through to winter.

Candlesnuff fungus, Compton

These were growing at the edge of the Railway Walk as it passed through Compton.

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Cluster of puffballs

Cluster of puffballs

Three views of a large cluster of small puffballs which were growing in the churchyard in Donington, Shropshire.

Cluster of puffballs

The church tower is just visible, out of focus, in the first picture.

Cluster of puffballs

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Lichen growing on moss

Lichen growing on moss

Lichens grow on many surfaces, as long as they can get enough moisture and the air is clean enough. But I never previously noticed any growing on moss.

Lichen growing on moss

This miniature ecology was on the wall of the churchyard at Penkridge.