Have you seen these fungi?
The British Mycological Society has just launched a recording project to get all amateur field mycologists involved in data gathering, no matter the level of expertise. They are asking for sightings of six easily recognised common fungi. The aim is to gather data on the distribution, times of fruiting and ecological associations of common, easily identifiable fungi.
The six species for recording and the needs for further information are:
The Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) - usually under Birch, but what other trees does it grow under?
The Fly Agaric is the archetypal red and white toadstool, white stem, ring and gills under a bright red cap, with white spots. It is usually found under birch trees but is also widely recorded with other hardwoods and several species of conifer.
Birch Polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) - grows on Birch, but does it prefer Silver Birch to Downy Birch?
It is always found attacking birch trees but we have little evidence as to whether there is a preference for the two common birch species and whether it is the same in different regions.
Jelly Ear/Jew’s Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) - traditionally with hedgerow Elder, but what else does it grow on?
It is traditionally associated with elder but is common on many other hardwoods, including some garden shrubs such as barberries.
Blushing Bracket (Daedaleopsis confragosa) - usually on Willow, but what other trees does it grow on?
It is often seen on willow and birch but also occurs on many other trees. A flat bracket which sometimes grows in tiers along branches, with a pale brown, concentrically ringed top and firm pores underneath rather than gills.
Stump Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme) - where / when does it grow, and on what trees?
This is the only puffball to grow on wood (which may be buried!)
Yellow Stagshorn (Calocera viscosa) - where / when does it grow, and on what conifers?
This is a bright yellow, many branched jelly fungus which is abundant on conifer stumps and fallen trunks. It may seem to glow in dark woodland as it is so brightly coloured!
Information needed includes date, place name, (including grid reference and vice-county if possible), the tree species under, on or near to which the fungus is growing, including on which kind of wood it is growing.
