Fungi

Fungi are not plants, as was thought to be so in the past, but in a separate Kingdom of their own.  In most cases, the main body of the fungus is hidden from view.  It is a network of threads (hyphae) collectively called a 'mycelium', which permeate the substrate on which the fungus grows.  The hyphae absorb nutrients and water from the substrate.  The reproductive spore-producing structures, such as the familiar mushroom or bracket, are the visible parts of the fungus. 

The Fungus Kingdom is extremely diverse, and includes many microfungi that are rarely recorded.  Most of the larger species are in one of two major divisions or Phylum, based on the way the fungus reproduces.  Basidiomycota (sometimes called 'spore-droppers') include mushrooms and toadstools, brackets, corals, puffballs, jellies, rusts and smuts. The Ascomycota or 'spore-shooters' includes cups, morels, yeasts and many other smaller fungi.  

Taxonomy is very complicated and is liable to change as the true relationships between species are worked out.  In the sections below, we have grouped fungi into categories based on their structure and appearance rather than their place in the scientific taxonomic hierarchy.  There is more information under each section.

Recording fungi

Always note the substrate or host-plant on which the fungus is growing, and the habitat.  To identify many large species, it is helpful to get a good photograph of the cap (from the top), the gills or spore-producing structures (from underneath) and the stipe or stem (from the side) - three images from three angles, rather than images from much the same angle. 

Always note the texture of cap and stipe; the smell; and the presence of any staining or 'milk' produced when the cap, gills, stipe or body of the fungus is bruised. 

The colour of the spores can be very helpful.  It is best seen by taking a spore-print from a collected specimen - advice on doing this is in many of the resources below.  For some fungi, microscopic examination of the spores may be needed for identification.

Resources

The Leicestershire Fungi Study Group is a great place to start if you want to learn about fungi. They welcome new members. Their annual programme of study forays is led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable leaders. There are also indoor microscopy sessions held in Leicester. This is a really excellent way to broaden your knowledge, and make friends who share your interest in fungi.

There are many field guides, but none of them contain all the fungi you will find, or have all the photos or information you need, so it is a good idea to check several different books and websites. 

• Kibby, G. 2020-2022. Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain & Europe, Volumes 1 - 4. (privately published)
• Laessoe,T. & Petersen,J. (2019)  Fungi of Temperate Europe. Princeton University Press, Volumes 1 and 2
• O'Reilly, P. (2016). Fascinated by Fungi. First Nature
• Sterry, P. & Hughes, B.  (2009). Complete guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools.  Collins
• Wood, E & Dunkelman, J.  (2017).  Grassland Fungi: a Field Guide.  Monmouthshire Meadows Group

Useful websites include Pat O'Reilly's First Nature website,  the Buckinghamshire Fungus Group, the Hampshire Fungus Recording Group and Fungi Outer Hebrides. 

The British Mycological Society website is a good source of information, mostly aimed at the expert. 

If you know of other websites or books that you would recommend, do let us know: info@naturespot.org

Agarics and other fungi with caps and gills

In this section are most of the commonly recorded 'mushrooms and toadstools' with spore bearing gills underneath the cap.  Most of these are Agarics and related species, but we have included some families that have caps and gills but are unrelated - e.g. the Russulaceae. 

For most species, the spores fall from the gills and are dispersed by the wind.  Spore colour is an important way of identifying species and it may be necessary to take a spore print from a collected specimen.  As well as noting the colour, smell, texture, milk/staining, habitat and substrate, also note:

• the way the gills are attached to the stem or stipe; cutting vertically through the cap and stipe will help to see this (some examples are here: decurrent; adnate; adnexed/free)
• the colour of the gill edges (example: velvet shield)
• whether there is a ring around the stipe (some examples: wood mushroom;  porcelain fungus)
• whether there is a volva or sac at the base of the stipe (example: false death-cap)
• whether there is a veil or the remains of one under the cap. (example: birch web-cap

Psathyrellaceae - Brittlestems, Inkcaps

A large and difficult family, with many species needing microscopic examination to separate them.  Spores are dark brown or black.  Many of the inkcaps and brittlestems have a veil which remains as fibres or woolly fragments or granules attached to the cap and stipe, although they may be lost as the cap ages. Inkcaps have gills that deliquesce into an inky-black dripping mass; brittlestems and other species have gills that shrivel but do not deliquesce. 

Note that the very similar Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus) is in a different family - the Agaricaceae.

In the species accounts below, an exclmation mark after the Red camera icon indicates that microscopic examination is needed, or habitat must be recorded.

Pseudoclitocybaceae - Goblets

Rickenellaceae - Moss-caps

Although these species have gills, they are not in the order Agaricales, but in the related order Hymenochaetales.  They are very small and fragile species, with deeply decurrent gills, found in grasslands and lawns

Russulaceae - Milkcaps, Brittlegills

Milkcaps (Lactarius) exude latex from their cap and gills when bruised.  As well as the colour, smell, texture of the cap, etc., the taste and colour of this 'milk' when fresh or drying aids identification. The taste may be mild, bitter or acrid - taste a very small bit of the cap on the tip of the tongue and spit it out afterwards.  See saffron milkcap (orange milk), oak milkcap (white milk) and birch milkcap (white milk changing to yellow) for examples.  Many are strongly associated with a particular species of tree, so it is important to note habitat and associated trees when recording. Some authorities now place some species in a separate genus Lactifluus.  Kibby, G. (2014)  British Milkcaps : Lactarius & Lactifluus. (privately publ.) is recommended.  

In the milkcap galleries below, an exclamation mark after the red or amber camera icon means that information on smell, taste, texture or milk is needed.

Brittlegills (Russula) often have brightly coloured caps and white/cream gills and stipe.  The gills are very brittle and crumble when handled.  They can be very difficult to identify, and often spore-print colour and the reaction of the stipe to iron salts is needed to identify them.  Many are strongly associated with a particular species of tree, so it is important to note habitat and associated trees when recording.

Although these species have gills, they are not in the order Agaricales, but in the related order Russulales.