Photographs of fungi

Agaricus macrosporus

Agaricus sylvaticus Blushing Wood Mushroom

Aleuria aurantia Orange Peel Fungus

Aleuria aurantia Orange Peel Fungus

Amanita muscaria Fly Agaric

Sam finds a troop of Fly Agarics

Children are quite safe with mushrooms in the wild, providing they don't try to eat them! But then, you wouldn't allow your child to put a worm or sprig of laburnum into their mouth, would you?

Sam's troop of Fly Agarics

Armillaria mellea Honey Fungus (note the rhizomorphs on the left)

Auricularia auricula-judea Jelly Ear

Bjerkandera adusta Smoky Bracket

Boletus parasiticus (parasitising a puffball)

Calocera cornea Small Stagshorn

Colocera viscosa Yellow Stagshorn

Claviceps purpurea Ergot

Claviceps purpurea Ergot

Claviceps purpurea Ergot

Clavulinopsis corniculata Meadow Coral

Clavulinopsis fusiformis Golden Spindles

Coprinus comatus Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig

Coprinus micaceus Glistening Inkcap

Cordyceps militaris Scarlet Caterpillarclub (parasitic on insect pupa)

Craterellus cornucopioides Horn of Plenty

Craterellus cornucopioides Horn of Plenty

Craterellus cornucopioides Horn of Plenty

Crepidotus variabilis Variable Oysterling

Crucibulum laeve Common Bird's Nest

Cultivated mushrooms: Agaricus bisporus, three species of Pleurotus, and Leninula edodes

Cyathus striatus Fluted Bird's Nest

Daldinia concentrica King Alfred's Cakes or Cramp Balls

Exidia thuretiana White Brain Fungus

A Fairy Ring (of Hebeloma crustuliniforme around the remains of its original host tree)

Fistulina hepatica Beefsteak Fungus

Fistulina hepatica Beefsteak Fungus

Fistulina hepatica Beefsteak Fungus

Ganoderma applanatum Artist's Bracket (growing from a fallen log)

Ganoderma (luccidum?) as Lingzhi - sold as a medicine

Geastrum fornicatum Arched Earthstar

Geastrum triplex Collared Earthstar

Guignardia phylloprena on holly

Guignardia phylloprena on holly

Hygrocybe chlorophana Golden Waxcap

Hypholoma fasciculare Sulphur Tuft

Laccaria amethystina Amethyst Deceiver

Lactarius deterrimus False Saffron Milkcap

Lepista flaccida Tawny Funnel Cap

Lepista flaccida Tawny Funnel Cap

Lepista nuda Wood Blewit

Lepista nuda Wood Blewit

Lycoperdon echinatum Spiny Puffball

Lycoperdon perlatum Common Puffball

Lycoperdon perlatum Common Puffball

Lycoperdon perlatum Common Puffball (sliced open to show the spore mass inside)

Macrolepiota rhacodes Shaggy Parasol (a very large mushroom, but look at the coin)

Marasmius setosus (a very tiny mushroom, on a penny to compare with the Shaggy Parasol)

Marasmius setosus (on beech litter)

Mycena metata

Nectria cinnabarina Coral Spot

Neobulgaria pura Beech Jellydisk

Otidea onotica Hare's Ear

Oudemansiella mucida Porcelain Mushroom

Peziza badia Bay Cup

Peziza badia Bay Cup

Phallus impudicus Stinkhorn

Phallus impudicus Stinkhorn (a young 'egg' sliced to show the unexpanded 'mushroom' inside)

Phellinus ferruginosus Rusty Porecrust

Pleurotus cornucopiae Branching Oyster Mushroom

Pleurotus ostreatus Oyster Mushroom (cultivated)

Psathyrella multipedata Clustered Brittlestem

Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (a fungus that has teeth rather than gills or pores)

Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (a fungus that has teeth rather than gills or pores)

Puccinia buxi Box Rust

Ramaria fumosa

Ramaria fumosa

Ramaria stricta Upright Coral

Rhytisma acerinum Sycamore Tarspot

Rhytisma acerinum Sycamore Tarspot

Rotting fruit and vegetables

Russula chloroides Blue Band Brittlegill

Russula mairei

Russula ochroleuca Ochre Brittlegill

Scleroderma citrinum Common Earthball

Coprinus comatus Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig

Insects shelter under the cap of of Hebeloma crustuliniforme

Taphrina Witches' Broom

Taphrina Witches' Broom

Trametes versicolor Turkey Tail

Trametes versicolor Turkey Tail (in winter)

Tremella mesenterica Yellow Brain

Tremella mesenterica Yellow Brain

Tremella mesenterica Yellow Brain

Tricholomopsis rutilans Plums and Custard

Xylaria hypoxylon Candle Snuff Fungus

Xylaria hypoxylon Candle Snuff Fungus

Xylaria hypoxylon Candle Snuff Fungus

Xylaria polymorpha Dead Man's Fingers

Amanita muscaria. The Fly Agaric, so called because pieces of the fungus soaked in milk were found to attract and stupefy flies. (c) Roy Anderson.

Oudemansiella mucida. This glistening white, translucent fungus grows on trunks and branches of beech. (c) Gordon Dickson.

Hygrocybe intermedia. One of the Waxcap fungi which mostly grow on soil amongst grass. (c) Gordon Dickson.

Flammulina velutipes. The Velvet Shank grows in tufts on dead broad-leaved trees (e.g. elm) and shrubs (e.g. gorse). (c) Nick Legon.

Lactarius vietus. One of the Milk Caps, so called because milky drops of 'latex' exude from any injuries. (c) Gordon Dickson.

Stropharia aeruginosa. The Verdigris Toadstool, not uncommon in parks, gardens and woods in summer and autumn. (c) A.W. Brand.

Pseudomerulius aureus. A fungus that grows on the surface of dead coniferous timber. (c) Nick Legon.

Phallus impudicus. The Common Stinkhorn, often smelled before seen! Smell of rotting flesh attracts flies and they disperse the spores. (c) Nick Legon

Helvella crispa. Not a mushroom at all, but a curious white fungus bearing its spores over the convoluted upper surfaces. (c) Nick Legon.

Calocera viscosa. Yellow Stagshorn, another fungus that produces spores over the upper surfaces of its branched fruitbody. (c) Gordon Dickson.

Mitrula paludosa. Bog Beacon. May be shaped like a mushroom, but it's not - the spores form over the upper parts of the heads. (c) Gordon Dickson.

Collybia butyracea. Caps feel greasy and so the common name is Butter Cap. (c) Roy Anderson.

Tricholomopsis rutilans. Plums and Custard. 'Plum' for the magenta fibres and scales on the cap and 'custard' for the yellow gills. (c) A. W. Brand.

Pleurotus ostreatus. Oyster Mushroom. On trunks and stumps of broad leaved trees in summer and autumn. (c) Roy Anderson.

Geastrum triplex. One of the Earthstars. Spores mature inside the container and puff out when it is struck by raindrops or twigs. (c) Gordon Rutter.

Cyathus stercoreus. A Bird's Nest Fungus. The spores are wrapped up in the 'eggs' which are splashed out of the 'nests' by rain. (c) John Webster.