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

Cups, Ears, Morels, Saddles, etc.

This grouping includes some of the larger brownish or dull-coloured cups and the yellow, orange or red coloured cups.  Also includes are the large morels, saddles and ears.  They are all ascomycetes, in the class Pezizomycetes.  In ascomyctetes, the fertile surface or hymenium is external and on the inner side of the cups and ears or the folded head of morels and saddles.   The spores are shot out of the hymenioum when they are ready. Identification of many species is difficult, and in some groups the taxonomic relationships have not been sorted out.  Some are in species complexes while this is established - expect changes in names when this happens! 

Identification to species may be impossible from field photos, and may require microscopic examination by an expert; when this is needed there is an exclamation mark after the red camera icon in the gallery below.  Very difficult genus include the Eyeslash fungi (Scutellinia), the Elf-cups (Sarcoscypha), the Ears (Otidea), the small cups found on cowpats (Cheilymenia) and the large Peziza cups. We do welcome records of the genus only for these difficult fungi; it is better to do this that try and match your photo to an image of a species in a book or on-line.  Information on species identifcation is hard to find but there are a few on-line keys:

• A key to Eyelash fungi (Scutellinia) by Laessoe & Petersen is on MycoKey.com - here
• A key to Otidea (Ears) by Laessoe and Petersen is on MycoKey.com - here 

Otideaceae - Ears

There are many UK species, and identification is difficult and usually involves microscopic examination.  A key by Laessoe and Petersen is on MycoKey.com, here