Fungi

The grassy slopes on the embankments of Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs have been found to support significant populations of rare waxcap fungi. Waxcap fungi are important in conservation terms because they are indicators of high quality unimproved grassland habitats. In fact, these are often known as waxcap grasslands. Although waxcap fungi were once common, they are very intolerant of any chemical fertilisers, and as most of our countryside is now treated with fertilisers to increase yields, waxcaps are becoming increasingly rare.  Although waxcaps like nutrient-poor grasslands, they also prefer grazed meadows where the grass is short. Obviously the reservoir embankments are not grazed, but the relatively frequent mowing of the grass has a similar effect to grazing.

So far 28 species of waxcap have been found in the grasslands surrounding the reservoir. This is an impressive array and means that the site qualifies as one of international importance for waxcap fungi. In September 2005 the Countryside Council for Wales notified the embankments of both Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for grassland fungi.

Waxcap fungi are very attractive and many of them are bright colours such as red and yellow.  For any fungi aficionados, the following species have been recorded on the reservoir embankments:

Hygrocybe aurantiosplendens R. Haller Aar.

Hygrocybe calyptriformis var. calyptriformis (Berk.) Fayod

Hygrocybe calyptriformis f. nivea (Cooke) Bon

Hygrocybe cantharellus (Fr.) Murrill

Hygrocybe ceracea (Sowerby) P. Kumm.

Hygrocybe chlorophana (Fr.)  Wünsche

Hygrocybe citrinovirens ( J.E. Lange) Jul.  Schäff.

Hygrocybe coccinea (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.

Hygrocybe colemanniana (A. Bloxam) P.D. Orton & Watling

Hygrocybe conica (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.

Hygrocybe flavipes (Britzelm.) Bon

Hygrocybe fornicata var. fornicata (Fr.) Singer

Hygrocybe glutinipes var. glutinipes (J.E. Lange) R. Haller Aar.

Hygrocybe ingrata J.P. Jensen & F.H. Møller

Hygrocybe insipida ( J.E. Lange) M.M. Moser 1967

Hygrocybe intermedia (Pass.) Fayod

Gliophorus irrigata (Pers.) A.M.Ainsw. & P.M. Kirk

Gliophorus laetus (Pers.) Herink

Hygrocybe mucronella (Fr.) P. Karst.

Hygrocybe pratensis var. pratensis (Fr.) Murrill

Gliophorus psittacinus (Schaeff.) Herink

Hygrocybe punicea (Fr.) P. Kumm.

Hygrocybe quieta (Kühner) Singer

Hygrocybe reidii Kühner

Hygrocybe russocoriacea (Berk. & T.K. Mill.) P.D. Orton & Watling

Hygrocybe splendidissima (P.D. Orton) M.M. Moser

Hygrocybe virginea (Wulfen) P.D. Orton & Watling

Hygrocybe virginea var. fuscescens (Bres.) Arnolds

If you would like to find out more about waxcap fungi, the following websites are of interest:

University of Wales, Aberystwyth waxcap website

Northern Ireland Fungus Group waxcap pages