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Amanita muscaria - the "Fly Agaric"
This fungus is highly poisonous and is named the "Fly Agaric" because it was used to make the toxin in fly killers
WARNING
There are over 600 major species of fungus in the UK and nothing on this web page will in any way enable an inexperienced person to distinguish the edible from the deadly poisonous. Reliance on information on this page for culinary purposes is entirely between and your doctor.
An immature example of the Fly Agaric before the cap has fully opened
Amanita citrina
This fungus is a non- poisonous relative of the Fly Agaric but has an unpleasant taste and is dangerously similar to other poisonous Amanita species such as A. virosa (the "Destroying Angel"). It is characterised by a distinctive smell of raw potatoes.
Trametes versicolor
Note the distinctive annual growth rings on this bracket fungus
Trametes gibbosa
A white relative of
T. versicolor, again with growth rings. Note how the new growth has enveloped a still-living leaf
The underside of T. gibbosa showing the pores
Russula queletii
Many of the Russula species are edible or have a peppery taste used for flavouring - and this one is hot! Hot!! HOT!!!
Russula ochroleuca
A yellow-coloured relative of R. queletii
Russula emetica
This species is harmless when cooked but as its name suggests, may cause vomiting if eaten raw
Lactarius subdulcis
Members of the Lactarius genus are known as "Milk Caps" because they exude a milky liquid when damaged. Droplets of "milk" can just be made out in the photograph.
Hypholoma fasciculare
- "Sulphur Tuft"
This fungus is usually found in clumps on dead wood and tree stumps. Young specimens contain a substance which makes them glow in the dark.
Hypoxylon fragiforme
This fungus is quite small and is like charcoal. When cut open it shows concentric growth rings.
Chlorosplenium aeruginascens
This tiny fungus (only about 1cm diameter) is a bright blue-green and its main body (mycelium) turns the wood on which it grows the same colour.
Boletus scaber
Many Boletus species are edible, especially B. edulis (the "Cep") but this species is regarded as worthless, having no real flavour. This particular specimen is actually two that have grown up next to each other.
The underside of the
B. scaber specimen above showing the pores. Part of one of the "twins" has been sectioned to show the internal structure of the cap.
Boletus queletii
As well as being edible, many of the Boletus species change colour when bruised and/or cut open. This species bruises blue-black on the pores and the flesh of the cap and gills stain blue when exposed to the air.
Calocera viscosa
- "Stags Horn"
This fungus is quite small but is a characteristic yellow-orange colour which makes it stand out in the leaf litter and on old tree stumps.
Polyporus betulinus
- the "razor-strop fungus"
This woody bracket fungus was once used to sharpen cut-throat shaving razors. It is a major killer of silver birch trees.
Ganoderma applanatun
A relative of Polyporus betulinus, above, it is superficially similar when young like this one. They cause serious heart-rot to deciduous trees, especially beeches.
A large mature specimen of G. applanatum in Epping Forest c. 1975. The size can be judged by the fact that the blade of the knife is 6 inches long.
Grifola sulphurea
Another "polypore", this species attacks both deciduous and coniferous trees and is a major cause of decay. This example was on a coniferous stump
Cortinarius obtusus
Lycoperdon exipuliforme
A "puff-ball". Like many species of puff-balls, this one is edible when young. Later the "ball" becomes filled with dust-like spores which squirt out when a sudden impact bursts it (usually this is by the impact of raindrops, thus ensuring the spores are distributed in wet weather).
Lepiota procera
"The Parasol Mushroom"
Many Lepiota species, including this one, are edible and have an excellent taste. Note the size compared with the 6 inch blade of the knife. These are from Epping Forest (and were delicious!).
Lepiota clypeolaria
A relative of the Parasol Mushroom, this species is too small to consider eating!
Stereum hirsutum
The whole of this clump covered an area of over a square foot and what is shown is just one small part
Pholiota lucifera
Most of the Pholiota species have a characteristic orange colour
Coprinus comatus
"The Shaggy Inkcap" or "Lawyer's Wig"
The various Coprinus or "Ink Cap" species are characterised by their habit of "autodigestion". The gills - and sometimes the cap as well - gradually dissolve to release the spores. In earlier times the resulting black liquid was used as ink, hence their common name. This species is edible before autodigestion starts (i.e. in the condition seen here).
An example of C. comatus undergoing autodigestion
Tricholoma irinum
This fungus has a characteristic sweet smell
Phallus impudicus
"The Stinkhorn"
The green-black sticky head is where the spores are formed. It produces a strong smell of rotting meat which attracts flies which land on the head and carry the spores away on their feet thus helping spore distribution.
This specimen was photographed in Epping Forest c. 1975
Mycena pura
This small fungus has a delicate rose colour and smells of raddishes
Laccaria amethystina
When moist this fungus is entirely a deep violet colour but dries to a pale browney-mauve. It is edible.
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