Francis Hickenbottom
@fhickenbottom.bsky.social
Retired physics teacher, interested in woodcarving, fungi, plants (especially alpines, cacti and succulents) and cosmology.
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
Entoloma atromadidum, sequenced find from a Cotswold Common. One of the Big Blue Pinkgill group that contains species yet to be determined. #FungiFriends #Mycology #Fungi #Mushrooms #UKWildlife #Naturalist #Nature
November 17, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Entoloma atromadidum, sequenced find from a Cotswold Common. One of the Big Blue Pinkgill group that contains species yet to be determined. #FungiFriends #Mycology #Fungi #Mushrooms #UKWildlife #Naturalist #Nature
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
Gliophorus psittacinus - Parrot Waxcap for Mushroom Monday. Love the way these so often blend in with their surroundings so well you can hardly find them until their age gives them away #FungiFriends #Fungi #Mushrooms #UKWildlife #Naturalist #Mycology #Nature #Naturalist
November 17, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Gliophorus psittacinus - Parrot Waxcap for Mushroom Monday. Love the way these so often blend in with their surroundings so well you can hardly find them until their age gives them away #FungiFriends #Fungi #Mushrooms #UKWildlife #Naturalist #Mycology #Nature #Naturalist
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
More slime molds; Ceratiomyxa with its translucent pillars (and a small isopod) #slimemold
November 17, 2025 at 7:52 PM
More slime molds; Ceratiomyxa with its translucent pillars (and a small isopod) #slimemold
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
The purple tinted Psathyrella bipellis, seen in wood chip beds under pine trees today #FungiFriends
November 16, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The purple tinted Psathyrella bipellis, seen in wood chip beds under pine trees today #FungiFriends
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
A mosaic of lichen on a Sussex fencepost #lichens #lichenGBI
November 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
A mosaic of lichen on a Sussex fencepost #lichens #lichenGBI
We've had some wet days recently, so I've been sketching a few of the misericords of @wakecathedral.bsky.social and this is one of my favourites. The cathedral has a good set of misericords.
November 14, 2025 at 11:35 AM
We've had some wet days recently, so I've been sketching a few of the misericords of @wakecathedral.bsky.social and this is one of my favourites. The cathedral has a good set of misericords.
I found this stunning Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) at Nostell Priory yesterday. #FungiFriday
November 14, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I found this stunning Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) at Nostell Priory yesterday. #FungiFriday
Cyanoboletus pulverulentus (The Ink-Staining Bolete) at Nostell Priory today.
November 13, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Cyanoboletus pulverulentus (The Ink-Staining Bolete) at Nostell Priory today.
Panaeolus papilionaceus (Petticoat Mottlegill) on decaying pony dung at Heath Common, Wakefield. I search for Poronia punctata on the common each year in the faint hope that the species might have survived here or, alternatively, a traveller might have bought a pony down in the New Forest area.
November 11, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Panaeolus papilionaceus (Petticoat Mottlegill) on decaying pony dung at Heath Common, Wakefield. I search for Poronia punctata on the common each year in the faint hope that the species might have survived here or, alternatively, a traveller might have bought a pony down in the New Forest area.
Members of the Mid-Yorks Fungus Group found a large patch of the aromatic resupinate fungus Mycoacia nothofagi on the vertical side of a beech stump. I initially picked up the smell of coconut but I later detected pineapple and other notes that I don't know how to describe.
November 10, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Members of the Mid-Yorks Fungus Group found a large patch of the aromatic resupinate fungus Mycoacia nothofagi on the vertical side of a beech stump. I initially picked up the smell of coconut but I later detected pineapple and other notes that I don't know how to describe.
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
Probably Hygrocybe mucronella, but two similar species: Hygrocybe alpina and Hygrocybe amara have been recently described and I'm not sure if either occur in Britain #FungiFriends www.ingentaconnect.com/content/wfbi...
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Probably Hygrocybe mucronella, but two similar species: Hygrocybe alpina and Hygrocybe amara have been recently described and I'm not sure if either occur in Britain #FungiFriends www.ingentaconnect.com/content/wfbi...
I spent an enjoyable couple of hours earlier today perusing a fascinating old book: An History of the Fungusses Growing About Halifax, by John Bolton. It's fascinating to look at the names being used to see how ideas about classification were forming 200 years ago.
November 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I spent an enjoyable couple of hours earlier today perusing a fascinating old book: An History of the Fungusses Growing About Halifax, by John Bolton. It's fascinating to look at the names being used to see how ideas about classification were forming 200 years ago.
Gloioxanthomyces vitellinus was a nice find in a chuchyard in North Yorkshire today. This id only the third site that I have found for this species.
November 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Gloioxanthomyces vitellinus was a nice find in a chuchyard in North Yorkshire today. This id only the third site that I have found for this species.
I was pleased to be able to add a Ramaria to my species list for the almshouses. A MYFG member spotted several clumps of Ramaria stricta (Upright Coral) yesterday.
November 2, 2025 at 8:40 AM
I was pleased to be able to add a Ramaria to my species list for the almshouses. A MYFG member spotted several clumps of Ramaria stricta (Upright Coral) yesterday.
Arrhenia acerosa (Moss Oysterling) was an interesting find on the croquet lawn of the Archbishop Holgate Hospital today during a foray with the Mid-Yorkshire Fungus Group.
November 1, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Arrhenia acerosa (Moss Oysterling) was an interesting find on the croquet lawn of the Archbishop Holgate Hospital today during a foray with the Mid-Yorkshire Fungus Group.
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
On this Halloween, a reminder that a sculptor included a Xenomorph gargoyle during the 1990s restoration of Paisley Abbey
October 31, 2025 at 11:07 AM
On this Halloween, a reminder that a sculptor included a Xenomorph gargoyle during the 1990s restoration of Paisley Abbey
Identification of little brown jobs can sometimes be challenging but substrate can give an important clue. Here's Naucoria striatula (Striate Aldercap) growing amongst the exposed, tangled roots of Alnus glutinosa (Common Alder). #fungi
October 30, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Identification of little brown jobs can sometimes be challenging but substrate can give an important clue. Here's Naucoria striatula (Striate Aldercap) growing amongst the exposed, tangled roots of Alnus glutinosa (Common Alder). #fungi
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
S, M, L Macrolepiota procera - Parasol mushrooms in the Wyre Forest #FungiFriends #ukwildlife
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 AM
S, M, L Macrolepiota procera - Parasol mushrooms in the Wyre Forest #FungiFriends #ukwildlife
Here are some miniatures seen during a foray that I led for Doncaster Nats today. The Physarum and the Didymium are slime moulds and the Mollisia and the Orbilia are ascomycete fungi.
October 29, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Here are some miniatures seen during a foray that I led for Doncaster Nats today. The Physarum and the Didymium are slime moulds and the Mollisia and the Orbilia are ascomycete fungi.
I found a patch beneath some birches on a reclaimed spoil heap that is rich in fungi. Amongst other species, there were many Amanita rubescens (Blushers) that were looking particularly good. #fungi
October 29, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I found a patch beneath some birches on a reclaimed spoil heap that is rich in fungi. Amongst other species, there were many Amanita rubescens (Blushers) that were looking particularly good. #fungi
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
It's waxcap time!
Hygrocybe coccinea, Hygrocybe chlorophana, Hygrocybe punicea and Gliophorus psittacinus
#mushroom #mushrooms #fungus #fungi #pilz #pilze #champignons #champignon #nature #natur #FungiFriends
Hygrocybe coccinea, Hygrocybe chlorophana, Hygrocybe punicea and Gliophorus psittacinus
#mushroom #mushrooms #fungus #fungi #pilz #pilze #champignons #champignon #nature #natur #FungiFriends
October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
It's waxcap time!
Hygrocybe coccinea, Hygrocybe chlorophana, Hygrocybe punicea and Gliophorus psittacinus
#mushroom #mushrooms #fungus #fungi #pilz #pilze #champignons #champignon #nature #natur #FungiFriends
Hygrocybe coccinea, Hygrocybe chlorophana, Hygrocybe punicea and Gliophorus psittacinus
#mushroom #mushrooms #fungus #fungi #pilz #pilze #champignons #champignon #nature #natur #FungiFriends
Reposted by Francis Hickenbottom
A gorgeous Neoboletus luridiformis - Scarletina Bolete seen in the Wyre Forest today #FungiFriends #ukwildlife
October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A gorgeous Neoboletus luridiformis - Scarletina Bolete seen in the Wyre Forest today #FungiFriends #ukwildlife
I've seen lots of Panaeolus semiovatus on the dung of ponies grazing on Heath Common, Wakefield but this is the largest specimen that I have encountered. #fungi
October 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I've seen lots of Panaeolus semiovatus on the dung of ponies grazing on Heath Common, Wakefield but this is the largest specimen that I have encountered. #fungi