Fungi are an enormous and very diverse group of organisms, with a structure broadly comparable to plants except that they lack chlorophyll and are unable to convert carbon compounds into sugars and other nutrients. Instead they draw nourishment through a web or mat of thin hair-like filaments or hyphae, developing in other living or dead matter, from which the fruit-bodies (mushrooms or toadstools) erupt, and are loosely defined as parasitic or saprotrophic, depending upon whether the host plant or animal is living or dead.
Like ferns and mosses, fungi reproduce by means of spores which are microscopic and only visible to the naked eye as a powdery deposit if a ripe fruit-body is left gills or pores down on a sheet of paper for an hour or so.
WARNING
Many fungi are poisonous and can kill or cause serious illness if eaten. Do NOT collect fungi to eat unless the identification has been verified by an expert mycologist.
Collectively some 9000 species of fungi have been recorded in the UK, of which 5,500 are Ascomycetes or ‘spore shooters’ including cup-fungi, morels and truffles, and 3600 Basidiomycetes , ‘spore droppers’, fungi with gills or pores, including puffballs. Here at Potteric Carr at the end of 2011, the species count stood at 322.
Many fungi are mycorrhizal , that is they form a symbiotic relationship with trees and plants through their roots which enables the plant to acquire nutrients, and in exchange provide the fungus with sugars and other carbohydrates to build their fruit-bodies, often the first visual evidence of their existence. Saprotrophic fungi have the power to break down cellulose in dead wood and leaf litter into glucose, as a usable food resource for the fungus before fruiting occurs.
Finally, there are the parasitic fungi which live on and damage their host plant or animal, causing necrosis or rot, and death to the host. Fungi therefore are somewhat like animals in that they have to obtain the organic compounds needed for life, in an easily convertible form, directly from the host.
© Derek Bateson 2012
( A revised list of fungi to the end of October 2012 recorded at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, compiled by Derek Bateson and Allan Parker).
Below are some examples of the fungi found at Potteric Carr NR.
Allopsalliota geesteranii left, © Derek Bateson and right © Allan Parker ARPS
Amanita
Left, Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria left, © Derek Bateson and right, © Allan Parker ARPS.
Left, Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria with 'spots' washed off and right, close-up of cap both images © Allan Parker ARPS
The Blusher Amanita rubescens © Allan Parker ARPS
Blewits ( Lepista )
Left, Wood Blewit Lepista nuda © Allan Parker ARPS and right, with secondary growth on cap © Mike Pullan
Wood Blewit Lepista nuda © Ken Woolley
Boletes ( Boletus )
Left, Cep (Penny Bun) Boletus edulis © Ken Woolley and right, Brown Birch Bolete Leccinum scabrum © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Bitter Beech Bolete Boletus calopus © Paul Morgan and right Bay Bolete Boletus badius © Derek Bateson
Bonnets ( Mycena )
Lilac Bonnet Mycena pura © Ken Woolley
Brackets
Left, Artist's Bracket Ganoderma applanatum © Ken Woolley and right © Allan Parker ARPS
Birch Polypore (Razor Strop Fungus) Piptoporus betulinus left, © Derek Bateson and right © Allan Parker ARPS
Leftt, Hoof Fungi Fomes fomentarius © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Blueing Bracket Postia subcaesia © Ken Woolley
Left, Blushing Bracket Daedaleopsis confragosa and right Beefsteak Fistulina hepatica both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Chicken of the Woods (Sulphur Polypore) Laetiporus sulphureus © Peter Dawson and right, Hairy Bracket Trametes hirsuta © Derek Bateson
Left, Turkey Tails (Many-zoned Polypore) Trametes versicolor and right Birch Mazegill Lenzites betulinus © Allan Parker ARPS
Smoky Bracket Bjerkandera adusta left, dark form and right, light form both images © Steve Clements
Brittlegills ( Russula )
Left, Fragile Brittlegill Russula fragilis © Derek Bateson
Yellow Russula Russula ochraleuca both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Brittlestems and Mottlegills ( Lacrymaria, Psathyrella and Panaeolina )
Weeping Widow Lacrymaria lacrymabunda both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Clubs, Spindles, Corals Etc,
Left Apricot Club Clavulinopsis luteoalba © Allan Parker ARPS
Pipe Club Macrotyphula fistulosa var. fistulosa left, © Allan Parker ARPS and right, © Allen Holmes
Left, Dead Man's Fingers Xylaria polymorpha © Derek Bateson and right, Candle Snuff (Stag's Horn) Xylaria hypoxylon © Allan Parker ARPS
Dapperlings ( Leucoagaricus )
White Dapperling Leucoagaricus leucothites Ken Woolley
Deceivers (Laccaria)
Deceiver Laccaria laccata left, © Allan Parker ARPS and right Derek Bateson
Earthballs ( Scleroderma )
Common Earth Ball Scleroderma citrinum © Allan Parker ARPS
Earthfans ( Thelephora )
Earth Fan Thelephora terrestris © Allan Parker ARPS
Earthstars ( Geastrum )
Left, Collared Earthstar Geastrum triplex © Derek Bateson and right, Beaked Earthstar Geastrum pectinatum © Ken Woolley
Left, Sessile Earthstar Geastrum fimbriatum and right, Striate Earthstar Geastrum striatum both images © Ken Woolley
Flask and Cup Fungi
Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca left, © Allan Parker ARPS and right, © Derek Bateson
Left, Orange Peel Aleuria aurantia and right, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungi Cordyseps militaris © Allan Parker ARPS
Flammulina
Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes left, © Derek Bateson and right © Ken Woolley
Funnels ( Clitocybe )
Clouded Funnel Clitocybe nebularis left, © Allan Parker ARPS and right © Derek Bateson
Left, Aniseed Funnel Clitocybe odora and right Frosty Funnel Clitocybe phyllophila both images © Allan Parker ARPS.
Honey Fungi (Armillaria)
Honey (Bootlace) Fungi Armillaria mellea left, © Allan Parker ARPS
Ink Caps
Shaggy Ink Cap (Lawyer's Wig) Coprinus comatus left, © Derek Bateson and right, Allan Parker ARPS
Common Ink Cap Coprinus atramentarius left, © Ray Collins and right, © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Glistening Ink Cap Coprinellus micaceaus and right, Trooping Crumble Cap Coprinus disseminatus © Allan Parker ARPS
Jelly Fungi
Left, hydrated Jew's Ear (Jelly Ear) Auricularis auricula-judae and right dehydrated both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Yellow Brain Tremella mesenterica left © Derek Bateson and right © Allan Parker ARPS
Witch's Butter Exidia glandulosa © Derek Bateson
Milkcaps (Lactarius)
Ugly Milkcap Lactarius turpis © Allan Parker ARPS
Morels ( Morchella )
Left, Morel Morchella esculenta © Roger Bird and right, Thimble Morel Morchella conica © Allan Parker ARPS
Mottlegills ( Kuehneromyces ) and Scalycaps ( Pholiota )
Sheathed Woodtuft Kuehneromyces mutabilis left, © Ken Woolley and right © Derek Bateson
Mushrooms ( Agaricus )
Wood Mushroom Agaricus silvicola left, © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Ken Woolley
Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus left, © Ken Woolley and right © Derek Bateson
Oysterlings ( Crepidotus )
Crepidotus epibryus © Ken Woolley
Oysterlings (Panellus)
Olive Oysterling Panellus serotinus © Allan Parker ARPS
Parasol Mushrooms ( Macrolepiota )
Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota procera left, © Ken Woolley and right, © Allan Parker ARPS
Shaggy Parasol Macrolepiota rhacodes left, © Ken Woolley and right, © Derek Bateson
Plums and Custard (Tricholomopsis)
Left, Plums and Custard Tricholomopsis rutilans © Allan Parker ARPS and right, showing gill formation © Derek Bateson
Puffballs
Left, Common Puffball Lycoperdon perlatum © Derek Bateson and right, Stump Puffball Lycoperdon pyriforme © Ken Woolley.
Left, Stinking Puffball Lycoperdon foetidum © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Giant Puffball Langermannia gigantea © Derek Bateson
Resupinate Fungi
Chondrostereum purpureum left, © Allan Parker ARPS and right, © Ken Woolley.
Left, Wrinkled Crust Phlebia radiata © Ken Woolley and right, Netted Crust Byssomerulius corium © Derek Bateson
Rollrims ( Paxillus )
Brown Rollrim Paxillus involutus left, © Allan Parker ARPS and right, © Derek Bateson
Roundheads ( Stropharia )
Left, Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea and right, Verdigris Roundhead Stropharia aeruginosa © Ken Woolley
Rustgills ( Gymnopilus )
Spectacular Rustgill Gymnopilus junonius © Derek Bateson
Saddles ( Helvella )
White Saddle Helvella crispa © Allan Parker ARPS
Elfin Saddle Helvella lacunosa both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Slime Molds
Left, and right Wolf's Milk Slime Mold Lycogala terrestris both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Dog's Vomit (Scrambled Egg) Slime Mold Fuligo septica and right, Slime Mold Mucilago crustcea both images © Allan Parker ARPS.
Stinkhorns
Left, emerging Stinkhorn Phallus impudicus © Allan Parker ARPS and right, mature © Derek Bateson
Left, over mature Stinkhorn feeding Slug and Fly © Derek Bateson and right, close-up of 'head' with Fly © Allan Parker ARPS
Toughshanks (Collybia)
Redleg Toughshank Collybia (Gymnopus) erythropus
Tufts and Brownies (Hypholoma)
Left, Snakeskin Brownie Hypholoma marginatum © Derek Bateson
Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasiculare left, © Ken Woolley and right, © Allan Parker ARPS
Waxcaps ( Hygrocybe )
Possible Oily Waxcap Hygrocybe quieta © Derek Bateson
Left, Scarlet Waxcap Hygrocybe coccinea and right, Blackening Waxcap Hygrocybe conica both images © Allan Parker ARPS