Fungi can be many colours, shapes, sizes and have many associations. Most common in late autumn but fungi can appear throughout the year.
Fungi are essential to woodland decay and recycling of nutrients. This process can begin in mature trees as well as damaged trees and standing stumps. But, for the most part, fungi thrive in response to fallen wood, standing stumps, and breaking down vegetation on the woodland floor - in short, rot. In an ancient woodland, the woodland floor is rich in a wide variety of fungal communities. The byproducts of this natural process increase water retention, invertebrate populations, nutrient recycling, and provide homes to a wide range of mammals and birds.
If you want to learn more, join an expert-led fungus foray such as those organised by the Lynsted with Kingsdown Society. The latest Fungus Foray was led by Martin Newcombe (opposite), recorder, on 28th October 2023 (2023 report). You can see the earlier 2005 Toll Wood Report.
If you are not CERTAIN about the fungus in front of you - treat it as inedible (most are). BBC Countryfile Magazine has listed "Best Mushroom Identification Books".The Woodland Trust lists eight most poisonous fungi found in the UK.
The images on this website should not be relied on for identification purposes.
Note: Images with black margins are from "Open sources" as we don't always have our own images from Toll Wood foray reports.
Key:
# - Society fungus foray (2005)
* - Society fungus foray (2023) - Recorder Martin Newcombe
Fungi found in or adjacent to Toll Wood
Agaricus bitorquis uncertain
- Pavement mushroom
- Meadow adjacent
* Agaricus campestris
- Field Mushroom
- Meadow adjacent
* Armillaria mellea
- Honey Fungus
- On elm
Auricularia auricula-judae. Spring
- Jelly ear (also Jews Ear Fungus)
- Common on deciduous, esp elder
Old examples
* Auricularia auricula-judae. Autumn
- Jelly ear (also Jews Ear fungus)
- Common on deciduous, esp elder
* Auricularia auricula-judae. Autumn
- Jelly ear (also Jews Ear fungus)
- Common on deciduous, esp elder
# Auricularia mesenterica
- Tripe fungus
- on elm
* (also 2023 - S Vaughan)
# Auricularia mesenterica
- Tripe fungus
- dead
Bjerkandera adusta possible?
- Smokey Polypore
- common on dead wood
Buna-Shimeji, Hypsizigus tessellatus possible?
- Brown Beech mushrooms
- Honey fungus look-alike?
Caprinus picaceus
- Magpie Inkcap
- present
Caprinus picaceus - gills
- Magpie Inkcap
- present
* Clavulinopsis corniculata
- Meadow Coral
- present
* Coprinellus disseminatus
- Fairy Inkcap
- On elm
* Coprinellus disseminatus
- Fairy Inkcap
- On elm
* Coprinopsis lagopus
- Hare'sfoot Inkcap
- On elm
* Coprinopsis nivea
- Snowy inkcap
- adjoining field and in the wood
# Coprinus micaceus
- Glistening Ink-cap
- on dead or buried wood
# Coprinus micaceus
- Glistening Ink-cap
- on dead or buried wood
Daldinia concentrica
- Cramp balls or King Alfred's Cakes
- Almost exclusively on ash
# Diatrype stigma
- Common tarcrust
- favours beech
* Entoloma clypeatum
- Shield Pinkgill
- Under elm
Fuscoporia ferrea
(alt. Phellinus ferreus)
- Cinnamon porecrust
- merged colonies
- a huge family, difficult to be certain of identification
- favours hazel, causing rapid decay to white rot
* Galerina hypnorum
- Moss Bell
- In adjoining field
* Hemimycena tortuosa
- Dewdrop Bonnet
- Tiny
- On elm
# Hypoxylon multiforme
- Birch woodwart
- black warty cushion-like
Langermannia gigantea
- Giant puff ball
* Lepiota castanea
- Chestnut dapperling
- Elm
Macrolepiota procera
- Parasol mushroom
- West edge of the Toll Wood meadow
- Found in groups and singly
-- also 2023 Foray in adjoining meadow
Macrolepiota procera
- Parasol mushroom
- West edge of the Toll Wood meadow
- Found in groups and singly
-- also 2023 Foray in adjoining meadow
# Macrolepiota rhacodes
- Shaggy parasol
- >12cm open diameter
* Marasmius oreades
- Fairy Ring Champignon
- In adjoining field
- image Sarah Vaughan
Marasmius rotula (query)
- Collared parachute
- White cap, brown stem
- Common on twigs and roots, occasionally leaves (06.23 SV)
* Mycena capillaripes
- Pink edge Bonnet
- In adjoining field
* Mycena flavoalba
- Ivory Bonnet
- In adjoining field
* Mycena hiemalis
- Bonnet
- On elm
* Mycena hiemalis - gills
- Bonnet
- On elm
* Mycena rorida (Roridomyces rorida)
- Dripping bonnet
- On elm
* Mycena rosea
- Rosy Bonnet
- Under elm
Phlyctis argenti
- Whitewash Lichen
# Piptoporus betulinus
- Birch Polyphor/ Razor strop fungus
- exclusive to Birch
# Pluteus cervinus
- Deer Shield
- Dead wood
# Pluteus salicinus
- Willow shield?
- dead wood
* Polyporus squamosus
- Dryad's Saddle
- Elm, beech & sycamore
(also 2023 foray)
* Polyporus squamosus
- Dryad's Saddle
- Elm, beech & sycamore
(also 2023 foray)
# Psathyrella candolleana
- Pale Brittlestem
- widespread
# Psathyrella multipedata
- Clustered Brittlestem
* Psilocybe semilanceata
- Magic Mushroom/ liberty cap
- In adjoining field
# Rhytisma acerinum
- Tar Spot
- sycamore leaves
* Stereum gausapatum
- Bleeding Oak Crust
- Elm
Suillus collinitus - possibly
- Boletus
- Associated with pines usually [no live pines present - a dead Scots Pine sits inside the shaded woodland]
Trametes versicolor
- Turkey Tail
- near Elm and Hornbeam
(also 2023 foray on elm stump)
Xylaria hypoxylon
- Stag's Horn or Candlesnuff
- Near wild cherry
(also 2023 foray)
# Xylaria polymorpha
- Dead Man's Fingers
- on dead wood
(image from 2023 foray - S Vaughan)Trees associated with Fungi
If you want an idea of which trees live with which fungi - you could start with a very interesting article and supporting table compiled by Attila Fodi, published on "Wildfooduk" website.
TED Talks on mycorrhizal fungi:
- Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard on the secret language of trees
- Suzanne Simard on how trees 'talk' to each other. Suzanne Simard is a pioneer in building our understanding of the 'wood wide web'.
