Collins Fungi Guide: The most complete field guide to the mushrooms and toadstools of Britain & Ireland

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Finally, it should be noted if the gills are deliquescing or self-liquefying and turning inky, a characteristic of many species in the genera Coprinus, Coprinopsis, Coprinellus and Parasola. The sixth title in the bestselling Collins Guide series, this book covers the fungi of the British Isles, with considerable relevance for Europe and the wider temperate world. Spores and most other features of microscopic interest do retain their form more or less indefinitely and can be examined at leisure after small pieces of dried tissue have been macerated in warm water, Melzer’s reagent ( see here), methylene blue or cotton blue (see here). It should be remembered nonetheless, that for some fungi, such as those in the genera Lactarius and Russula, features like spore print colour, taste and smell are of such importance for identification that accurate naming of dried specimens without detailed notes on the fresh material is often impossible.

The NHBS Guide to Fungi Identification

Fungi are not related to plants or animals because they differ from them in many important ways. Whereas the basic structural elements of plants and animals are cells which, en masse, form tissues, fungi are built up of uniquely different microscopic tubular thread-like bodies with multiple nuclei called hyphae; and collectively hyphae form, not tissue, but mycelium (although the word ‘cell’ is used widely in relation to small fungal structures that look like cells). The reproduction of fungi also differs greatly from plants in that they produce, not seeds, but microscopic structures called spores.

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The second edition draws on an additional three years of surveying done over a wider area, adding 23 new species to the 177 already described in the first edition Although the Law and its interpretation is rather complex, and no prosecutions have yet been brought, it is clear that deliberately and knowingly collecting magic mushrooms is illegal unless you intend immediately to destroy them or pass them to someone who is licensed to hold them. Licences are held by such bodies as the two Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Edinburgh but are unlikely to be issued to individuals. If you collect magic mushrooms without knowing what they are, it appears you will only commit an offence if you retain them once they have been identified. You will not be committing an offence of possession if magic mushrooms are growing uncultivated on your premises.

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Identification: A grey to fawn cap that is at first egg-shaped and then later bell shaped. The surface is smooth and splits into a few tiny scales from the apex, the edges are often wavy and split. Stem is white and hollow. Cap is around 4-8 cm across and stem is 5-15 cm tall. In certain groups, application of one of the following reagents to the cap, stem or hyphae gives a characteristic colour reaction: Two or three fruit bodies of each species should be adequate for identification, and perhaps five or six if the material is to be preserved as part of a permanent collection. It is unlikely that the time available to the average amateur collector will permit the examination and identification of more than about six or, at the most, ten unknown species from each collecting expedition. To take home more than this is wasteful therefore – especially as the main autumn collecting period lasts only a few weeks during which time perhaps ten trips may be made. Mushrooms is my personal take on the world of fungi in Britain, about the pleasures of searching for mushrooms and toadstools, and why they matter. I have written it as a narrative, in current TV parlance as a ‘journey’, beginning with the extraordinary diversity of fungi and the ways in which they exploit the natural world to the history of the fungus foray and the controversy over gathering wild mushrooms for the pot. In the process I zoom in on the nature of names, both Latin and English, at the places which hold the greatest diversity of fungi, and our attempts to conserve rare and vanishing fungi. It is, I hope, a refreshing and amusing look at this ‘third world’ of life, written without jargon and in lively style. I hope it can be read with pleasure by anyone. It is full of lovely colour photographs.

The list of those species that are classed as magic mushrooms is only provisional and there is uncertainty about the validity of some of the chemistry on which it is based. Nonetheless, it does have legal standing. The relevant species are indicated in the text of this Guide. Equipment For collecting

Basic Guide to Identifying Fungi Basic Guide to Identifying Fungi

Forget about the ‘little brown fungi’ for now. Try getting to know an accessible group such as the waxcaps or the boletes, or the puffballs and their ‘relatives’. It will teach you a lot about the differences between species and the places to look for them. September is upon us with morning mists and a slight chill in the air… it must be mushroom time! Around this time of year, books on mushroom identification and natural history appear with almost as much certainty as the fungi themselves. Two of our favourite mycologically-minded authors, Peter Marren and Geoffrey Kibby, give some useful and interesting tips for the keen mushroom hunter. From mould to yeast, fungi are a diverse kingdom with over 15,000 species in the UK. Fungi are made up of different microscopic thread like bodies called hyphae, and collectively hyphae form mycelium. Mushrooms or toadstools are the reproductive, umbrella shaped fruiting bodies of certain fungi. These organisms can be found in almost every natural habitat, but more kinds of macro-fungi tend to be found in woodlands, as they provide a rich and continuing nutrient source and a wide range of microhabitats. Be aware that some fungi are very poisonous and many others may make you unwell. Some people have allergic reactions after eating certain species. Make quite sure you can identify fungi by attending a field course or foray led by an expert before you start collecting.

Dilute or concentrated solutions of hydrochloric, nitric or sulphuric acids. These acids are extremely dangerous chemicals and should only be used by those experienced in their handling. Microscopic features

Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools - NHBS Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools - NHBS

Some fungi cannot be identified without a microscope, however those in this blog can be identified using macro characteristics displayed by the fruiting body. Most are umbrella or mushroom shaped with gills on the cap underside. Below are some key characteristics to look out for when identifying:Nearly 2400 species are illustrated in full colour, with detailed notes on how to correctly identify them, including details of similar, confusing species. Note the relationship of the fruit bodies one to the other. This is especially important with agarics which may occur as solitary individuals, attached to each other in various ways in tufts or clumps, or trooping (groups of isolated individuals growing close together but not obviously attached). Many people come into mycology via a desire to try eating something a little more exotic than the shop bought mushroom. There are many edible species and they can have tastes and textures quite unlike the cultivated species. Hunting for edibles can be a wonderful experience but there are several rules to follow if your hunt is to have a happy outcome: Last week we published a blog post with advice on purchasing a hand lens, plus a useful comparison chart showing the various lenses you can buy from NHBS.