Angel’sWings

FairyRings

....and some fungi thatyou probably won't see.These species are rare and arelisted in the UK BiodiversityAction Plan.

Massive!One of the largest, heaviest and oldest living thingsknown on earth is amushroom growing in NorthWestAmerica. It weighs in at an estimated 150metrictonnes, covers 890 hectares and is at least 2,400 yearsold. Now that’s amonster and the same Honey Fungus(Armillaria ostoyae) is widespread in Scotland!

Beastly connectionsJust as there are close associations of fungi with plants, there are alsoclose associations with invertebrate animals. In Scotland, somewoodwasps and beetles use fungi to help break down food for their larvae.Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) use special sticky knobs ontheir mycelium to capture eel-worms, using their body fluids as food.

Mushroom or toadstool?There is no scientific difference between themeanings of thewordsmushroom and toadstool, and althoughmodern usagesuggests that amushroom is edible and a toadstool is not, bothterms can be used to describe any fleshy fruiting body with acap and stem. The Scots term formushroom or toadstool ispuddock-stool, puddock being a Scots word for toad.

Thank fungi for cakesWithout yeast, itself a fungus, there would be no beer, whichwas of incalculable benefit to early civilisations for sterilisingcontaminated water. Nor would we have bread, some cakesandmeat substitutes, all made by the fermenting ability of fungi.

Twig gluing - an amazing adaptationThe Glue Crust fungus (Hymenochaete corrugata)keeps dead Hazel twigs for itself by gluing themto living branches in the canopy, thus preventingthem from falling to the ground wheremany otherfungi would be competing for the nutrients.

Fairies and witchesThink of ‘dingly dells’ and toadstools, and youwill almost certainlyconjure up fairytale imagery, with perhaps a hint of sinister unease.Fungi have held a strong and evocative place in British folklore, muchmore so than in other European countries, which perhaps partlyexplains why we eat them less. If comparing the number of specieson sale for eating, in the UK there are hardly any, in Switzerland thereare 78 and in Sweden there are at least 300!

Witches have played a part in fungimyths. Look for the growths on treesthat are amass of small twigs growing in a cluster, known asWitches’Broom, resembling a huge bird’s nest. In folklore these were thought tobe caused by witches flying overhead on broom sticks but actually this isa fungi from the Exoascus family.

A fungus calledWitches’ Butter (Exidia glandulosa), is a nasty-lookingolive-black gelatinous growth on decaying twigs, and it was thoughtthat witches and trolls scattered this about when theymilked cowsduring the night.

Fairies are important too. There was an old superstition that a girlcould improve her appearance by bathing her face in the dew on aMaymorning, but woe betide her if she did this inside a fairy ring! It was saidthat fairies could avenge themselves by spoiling her complexion withspots and blemishes. A fairy ring, which can often appear overnight, wasapparently the result of fairies dancing in a circle whilst humans slept.

Ourfantasticfungi arethreatened

Loss of sanddunes todevelopment

Removal ofdeadwood

Loss of unimprovedlawns and pasturesthrough ploughingor the addition of

fertilisers

Loss of waysideand hedgerowtrees

Clear felling ofancient woodland

Airbornepollution

Climate change

Unsustainablecollection

WhiteStalkballTulostomaniveumThis puffball is very rare. In Britain it is known only ontwo Scottishmountainswhere it grows amongstmosseson exposed limestone boulders.AUTUMNANDWINTER

© Liz Holden

HazelGlovesHypocreopsis rhododendriIn the UK, this amazing rubber glove-like rare fungushasmainly been found on standing, dead stems of Hazel,but also on living Hazel branches and living and deadbranches of Blackthorn. It is known in coastal woodlandsites inwestern Scotland.ALLYEARROUND

© Liz Holden

EbonyCupPseudoplectanianigrellaThis fungus grows on decayingwood, litter and soil inconiferous, usually pine, forests. Fruiting in latewinter,its shiny black cupsmake a stunning contrast to themelting snows inMarch.WINTERANDSPRING

© Liz Holden

Devil's ToothHydnellumpeckiiOften found beneath conifers, in dampweather Devil’s Toothproduces ruby-like drops of liquid on its cap. This liquidcontains amushroompigment called atromentin, whichhas anticoagulant properties similar to heparin. Lookunderneath the cap of a tooth fungus and youwill seetooth-like structures as opposed to gills or tubes. The nativepinewoods of Scotland are a hotspot for tooth fungi in the UK.SUMMERANDAUTUMN

©Mark Gurney and David Genney (top right)

The wild andwonderful world of

Scottish Fungi

Background

photo:Wood

Blew

it(Lepistanuda)©

LaurieCam

pbell

Witches Broom (Taphrina betulina)© Alan Watson/Forest Light

Honey Fungus (Armillaria ostoyae)© Joe Sutton, Plantlife

GiantWoodWasp (Urocerus gigas)©Holger Gröschl

© Liz Holden

© September 2009Plantlife Scotland, Balallan House, Allan Park, Stirling FK8 2QGTel +44 (0)1786 478509Email scotland@plantlife.org.ukwww.plantlife.org.uk

Fascinated by fungi andwant to know more?To find outmore about fungi in your area, contact your local councilrangers, theBritishMycological Society (www.britmycolsoc.org.uk),or Plantlife Scotland. There are several local fungus recordinggroups across Scotland that you could join.

The ScottishWildMushroomCode givesup to date information on collecting

mushrooms sustainably, and can be viewedon the Forest HarvestWebsite:www.forestharvest.org.uk

Join Plantlife today to help us protectour fantastic Scottish fungi

This booklet waswritten and produced by Plantlife Scotland, whowould like to thank RoyWatling andScottishNatural Heritage for theNaturally Scottish Series booklet, Fungi, whichwas an inspirationfor this leaflet and is available fromSNHPublications.

ISBN: 978-1-907141-07-2

Plantlife International – The Wild Plant Conservation Charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee.Registered Charity Number: 1059559 Charity registered in Scotland Number: SC038951Registered Company Number: 3166339, registered in England.

BRITISHLICHENSOCIETY

FairyInkcap

(Coprinellusdisem

minatus)©

LaurieCam

pbell

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Fungi youmight seein Scotland

WrinkledFieldcapAgrocybe rivulosaGrowing on rottingwoodchips, this beautifulspecieswas unknown toscience before 2003 andprobably came into theUK on bark chippingsimported fromoverseas.AUTUMN

©www.wildaboutBritain

YellowdropMilkcap Lactarius chrysorrheus (right)andWoollyMilkcap Lactarius torminosus (left)These are bothmilkcap fungi, identified by themilky substance that oozes out of the gills if theyare damaged.WoollyMilkcap grows only belowBirches,mainly on acid andmoist soil. YellowdropMilkcap is found in deciduouswoodland, usuallyunder Oak or Sweet Chestnut. AUTUMN© Liz Holden

Scotland’s astonishing variety of fungi often goes unnoticed. Spectacularspecies grow in ourmajestic Caledonian pine forests, in our Celtic rainforestsof the west, on our dramatic ‘alpine’ mountains of the highlands, among oursand dunes and amidst our lovely ancient pastures as well as thriving inparks and gardens.

Scotland's secret kingdomFR

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The beautiful Chanterellemushroom(Cantharellus cibarius) is a favourite

delicacy in Scottishmeals.© Lorne Gill

TheStinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)uses flies to distribute its spores

© Laurie Campbell

False Truffle(Elaphomyces granulatus)disperses its spores in thedung of animals that eat it.©Mavi Rodriguez Garcia

Amushroomshapewe all knowwell is the cap shape, as in the Fly

Agaric (Amanita muscaria), thebright red toadstoolwithwhite

spotswhich often appears in theautumn, and in fairy tales.

© Laurie Campbell

CommonBird'sNestCrucibulum laeveLike a delicate bird’s nest containing‘eggs’, this fungus grows onwoodlanddebris such as sticks, leaves, nutshells,needles, woodchips and dung.When araindrop falls into the 'nest', the 'eggs' areprojected out of the cup and use tiny, stickycords to attach themselves to newhomes.SUMMERANDAUTUMN

©Walter Burns

AnEarthtongueGeoglossumcookeanumThe Earthtongues are found in theshort grass of unimproved grasslands.AUTUMN © Liz Holden

FalseMorelGyromitraesculentaThis handsome fungus is usually found in sandypine forests. Not to bemistaken for the ediblemorel, this fungus contains gyromitrin, which thehuman digestive systembreaks down into thesame substance as rocket fuel so it is definitelyone to avoid eating! SPRING©Mary Bain

BirchPolypore orRazorstropFungusPiptoporusbetulinusThis bracket fungus isseen on standing andtoppled Birch trunks.Dried strips of it wereused to sharpen or“strop” barbers’ razors.ALLYEARROUND

© Liz Holden

WoodCauliflowerSparassis crispaFound around thestumps of old conifertrees, it can be aslarge as a footballand looks a bit likea cauliflower.AUTUMN

© Liz Holden

PinewoodGingertailXeromphalina campanellaLook out for clusteredmasses of small caps of thisdelicate fungus, which fruits on rotting conifer logs,usually old pine. AUTUMN© Liz Holden

AmethystDeceiverLaccaria amethystinaCommon and found growing in soil under trees.SUMMERANDAUTUMN

© Laurie Campbell

Artist’sBracketGanodermaapplanatumThis bracket fungus, often found near the base of or on the stumpsof old Beech trees, releasesmillions of rusty-coloured spores.It produces enzymes to break down livingwood. ALLYEARROUND© Laurie Campbell

BogBeaconMitrulapaludosaThis fungus grows in old ditcheswith slowlymovingwater.SPRINGANDSUMMER© Laurie Campbell

BitterBeechBoleteBoletus calopusAppearing in

coniferous anddeciduouswoodland,

the flesh of thisfungus stains bluewhen broken orbruised. Unlike

some other Boletusmushrooms it is

not edible.SUMMERANDAUTUMN

©David Genney

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatusThis common fungus is often seen onlawns, waste areas,meadows and alonggravel roads. It usually grows on burieddeadwood. The gills beneath the cap startout white, then become pink, and finallyblack. It secretes a black liquid filledwithspores, hence the ’ink cap’ name.SUMMERANDAUTUMN

©David Genney

OrangePeel FungusAleuria aurantiaThe brilliant orange, cup-shaped fruit bodiesof this fungus often resemble orange peelstrewn on the ground. It is found on bare clayor disturbed soil, for example along foresttracks, or even pushing up between the flagstones in your garden!SUMMERANDAUTUMN

©David Genney

Dryad's SaddlePolyporus squamosus‘Dryad's Saddle’ refers to the tree nymphs of Greekmythology called Dryadswho could conceivably fitand ride on thismushroom. It plays an importantrole inwoodland ecosystems by decomposing deadlogs or tree stumps, including Elm and Sycamore,but is also occasionally a parasite on living trees.SUMMERANDAUTUMN

© Laurie Campbell

FlyAgaricAmanitamuscariaCommon under Birch trees,this familiar red, spotted,poisonousmushroomwasused in times past as a flykiller, broken up intomilkor sprinkledwith sugar.SUMMERANDAUTUMN

© Laurie Campbell

Glistening InkcapCoprinellusmicaceusThis prettymushroomappears in clumps onstumps and logs of oldbroadleaved trees.Not just found inwoodedcountryside, it is alsocommon in urban parksand gardens.ALLYEARROUND

© Laurie Campbell

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judaeThis jelly fungus is conspicuouslyear shaped, and ranges in colour frompurple to dark brown or black, with arubbery texture. It ismost often foundon dead Elder trees but also on Elms.ALLYEARROUND

© Laurie CampbellTurkeytail Trametes versicolorThis is a stunning fungus found on fallen logs or stumpsof deciduous trees; in the late afternoon light its whitecrinkly edges glow like ice-rimmed cocktail glasses.ALLYEARROUND

© Laurie CampbellCommonPuffballLycoperdonperlatumThis puffballmushroomhas a top coveredin short spineswhich quickly rub off leavingamosaic like pattern. Atmaturity, a holein the top opens, releasing spores ina cloud-like burst when the body iscompressed by rain drops, a human touchor by a passing animal. It grows on theground inwoods under hardwoods orconifers, but is also common alongroadsides and in urban settings.SUMMERANDAUTUMN© Laurie Campbell

Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculareThis small gill fungus grows prolifically inlarge clumps on stumps, dead roots or the

rotting trunks of broadleaved trees.ALLYEARROUND

© Laurie Campbell

PorcelainFungusOudemansiellamucidaFound on deadBeech, theshiny cream caps of thisdelicate species look likeupturned fine china.AUTUMN

© Laurie Campbell

Sycamore Tarspot Rhytisma acerinumGrowing as black dots on the leaves ofSycamore trees and othermaples, thisfungus is an indicator of clean air. It issensitive to sulphur dioxide, a commonurban pollutant, so it is awelcome sightin cities, especially as it does not damagethe host tree.ALLYEARROUND

© Laurie Campbell

YellowStagshornCalocera viscosaLook carefully and this species can be seen very commonlyon dead coniferouswood, and as a survivor of frost, itmakesa bright and cheery sight on gloomywinter days.AUTUMNANDWINTER

© Laurie Campbell

PinkWaxcapHygrocybe calyptriformisThis belongs to the group of theoften brightly-colouredwaxassociatedwith unimprovedgrassland. Itsmain habitatsinclude lawns, grassymeadows,pastures andwoodlandmargins.SUMMERANDAUTUMN©RayWoods

Background

photo:Dryad's

Saddle(Polyporus

squamosus)©

LaurieCam

pbell

Background

photo:Waxcaps

(Hygrocybe)©

LaurieCam

pbell

What are fungi?Akingdomof their ownFungi are unlike plants and animals. In fact they are so different that they are put intoa special kingdom of their own.

Unlike plants, fungi can’t photosynthesize. In other words they lack the ability tomaketheir own food from sunlight and simple nutrients. Instead, fungi absorb nutrientsreleased by chemical action on thematerial on which they grow, whether this isthe bark of a tree, or soil, or leaves.

Mushroomsand toadstools – the tip of the icebergThemushrooms and toadstools that you see above ground are just the tip of a greatbiological iceberg. They aremerely the large and obvious reproductive structures – the‘fruit’ of the fungi world. Below the surface of the soil, under the bark of a tree or over itsleaves stretches an immense growth ofmicroscopic structures, hidden beyond our sight.

These hidden parts of fungi are composed of vastmasses of filamentsknown as hyphaewhich, bunched together, form amycelium.Themycelium produces a reproductive structure, which is a sporebearing body. Spores are the fungal equivalent of seeds.Mushrooms and toadstools are themost familiar form of thisreproductive structure but there are also brackets, cups,coral-like shapes, puffballs, flat sheets of tissue or gelatinous blobs.

Many, like the single-celled yeast fungi, are so small they are knownas ‘micro-fungi’.

Eco-heroesFungi are the planet’s natural recyclers.Many prevent the accumulation of dead plants andanimals by breaking them down into nutrients. These are then used by growing plants,providing a sustainable environment not just for nature, but for humans and their crops.

As well as breaking down deadmaterial, some fungi can exist in partnership with livingthings. Over 90 percent of our trees, shrubs andwild flowers depend upon fungi locatedwithin or upon their roots to survive. These fungi scavengemineral salts and othernutrients such as organic phosphate from the surrounding soil, which they in turnmakeavailable to their host plant. Fungi can also protect host plant roots from grazing byinvertebrates. In exchange the fungi receive sugars, carbohydrates and vitamins created bytheir host plants during photosynthesis. These associations are calledmycorrhizas, andmanymushrooms and toadstools we see in the autumn are involved in these processes.

Fungi also help humans fight disease and are the source of some of ourmost successful antibiotics. They provide food and shelter formanyinsects and other creatures and of course,mushrooms are used insome of the best restaurants in the world.

Not all fungi are heroes. Some fungi kill some of their host's cells, bethey plant, animal, other fungi or even humans. These attacks can becommercially damaging or cause illness but are generally not fatal.However eating fungi can prove fatal if youmake amistake and eatthe wrong variety as some are poisonous.

How do they multiply?Many fungi reproduce sexually by sheddingminute spores.These tiny bodies are the fungal equivalent of plant seeds.A singlemushroom shedsmillions of spores, which are usuallydispersed by wind, rain or contact with insects and other animals.

Some species have developedmore complexmethods. Truffles‘hide’ underground but emit an odour which attractsmammals todig themup and eat them. The spores are then liberated in their

dung. Truffles are considered a great delicacy and inmainland Europepigs and dogs are trained to find them.

Stinkhorns, growing erect in the woodland floor, emit a smellof rotting flesh. Attracted by the smell, carrion flies and beetlesvisit themushroom. The spores are embedded inmucuswhichsticks to the visitors’ feet. Spores are then deposited whereverthe insect lands and so are widely dispersed.

Some fungi don't reproduce sexually but rely on hyphaewhichdivide or break intomany parts. These grow into separate butgenetically identical individuals.

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