Autumn Colours

Leaf of Norway Maple, Acer planatoides.  Hayes Common, 18 October 2015.

Norway Maples look remarkably similar to Sycamores, but have spikier leaves that turn vivid red-brown in autumn.  Sycamore leaves in autumn tend to be covered with the big black spots of tar spot fungus, and look much less colourful.

Of course, it is not only tree leaves that show the colours of the season.

Russula species.  Keston Common, 27 September 2015.

There are colourful fungi everywhere too  This one is probably the Beechwood Sickener, Russula nobilis, but there are other similar species.  It grows under and around beech trees.

Yellows are often represented by this common species.

Stereum hirsutum, Hairy Curtain Crust.  Keston Common, 26 September 2015.

It groes on dead wood and is very common on the cut or broken ends of fallen trunks or branches.  Later on it will have lost some of its brightness.

There are other colours too, less often associated with autumn, such as this:

Laccaria amethystina, Amethyst Deceiver.  Keston Common, 27 September 2015.

The Amethyst Deceiver is often found in shady areas of woodland.  You might wonder how such a fungus could deceive anyone.  It's certainly easy to spot when fresh like this, but it's possible for the cap to fade with age and look like any one of several other species.

I have been taking lots of fungus photos so there will be more in subsequent posts, not all as colourful as this, unfortunately!