Are you a woodland manager or contractor? Do you have areas of undisturbed hazel woods/scrub?
Then the Carmarthenshire Biodiversity Partnership would like your help.
We are looking for records for the rare Hypocreopsis rhododendri Hazel Gloves fungus. It has recently been found at two sites in the county and more records would be welcome.
H. rhododendri is usually found in the UK on standing dead stems of hazel, but has also been recorded on living and cut hazel branches and living and dead branches of blackthorn, willow and wild rose. Its pale tan, bracket-like appearance with extending finger-like lobes make it very distinctive.
The scientific name of the fungus (Hypocreopsis rhododendri) stems from the fact that it was once found growing on Rhododendron maximum in the USA: it is not found on rhododendron in the UK.
The best time to look for hazel gloves is between August and March, although fruit bodies may still be visible into the summer.
If you find this fungus please get in touch. If possible take a photo and record the grid reference. (UK Grid Reference Finder – http://gridreferencefinder.com can help you do this).
Contact: Biodiversity Officer, 01558 825390, Biodiversity@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Pictures by Jon Hudson and Sam Bosanquet.
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