Fascinating fungi facts
Think you know your stinkhorn from your death cap? Join us to explore a medley of mushrooms.
When autumn woodlands are bursting with colour there is just as much activity amongst the leaf litter. The season's fruiting fungi are pushing their way on to the woodland scene.
To help you unlock this fairytale kingdom here are ten enchanting fungal facts:
1. There are more than 3,000 different types of mushrooms and toadstools in the UK.
Worldwide there are thought to be literally millions of different species of fungi, with a wide variety of forms from tiny single-celled yeasts, to the colossal honey fungus.
The fungi that we commonly identify as mushrooms are in fact the short-lived fruiting bodies of fungi preparing to release their spores.
2. Some mushrooms use animals and insects to transport their spores.
The shape of a mushroom often reflects how it disperses its spores. The stinkhorn fungus relies on insects and attracts them with a putrid-smelling, sticky spore cap.
Meanwhile the fruit bodies of the common puffball fungus rely on the forces of nature to disperse their spores. Rain water activates the release of the spores, which are then naturally carried away on the wind.
3. The hat throwing fungus is the fastest living thing on the planet.
A number of fungi, including the hat throwing fungus, are able to self disperse their spores by ejection.
This incredible fungus escapes the undergrowth by tracking the sunlight that penetrates the vegetation and ejecting its spores through gaps in the leaf litter - at an acceleration a whopping 20,000 times gravity.
4. The ghost orchid relies entirely on its relationship with fungi for nutrients.
Orchid seeds can lie dormant for long periods of time waiting for the right conditions to grow. During this time the seeds rely on the nutrients supplied to them by the many thousands of fungi that live in the soil.
Unlike other orchids, the ghost orchid does not grow leaves. Instead it continues its relationship with fungi thoughout its adult life. (This type of relationship is called symbiotic.)
Explore our guide to find the best places to see orchids.
5. A gram of woodland soil can contain over 1 million microscopic fungi.
Fungi do not photosynthesise but acquire the nutrients essential for growth from organic material such as dead wood or leaf litter.
Fungi produce nutrient-absorbing threads called mycelium that extend through the soil like an intricate web. These fine threads secrete enzymes that break down complex molecules such as lignin found in wood.
These underground fungi networks are essential for woodland life, helping to recycle and replenish essential nutrient stores.
6. Lichens can be used as barometers for environmental quality.
Fungi also form symbiotic relationships with green algae (and cyanobacteria) creating diversely coloured mat-like structures known as lichen.
Many of us recognise lichen as the algae-like layer that covers rocks, fence posts and paths. In the UK alone there are more than 1500 different lichen varieties.
Unlike many other cap fungi, the turf navel-cap forms lichen relationships. This tough little fungus forms a lichen partnership with its algal partner in harsh conditions often at high altitudes.
7. The St. George's mushroom fruits in spring as well as autumn.
Although autumn is the main fungi fruiting season, many of our native mushrooms have adapted to a second earlier fruiting season in spring.
Scientists believe that mushrooms are fruiting twice a year in response to the global rise in temperature brought about by climate change.
8. The Jew's ear fungus is able to dry out and rehydrate to disperse spores.
This strange gelatinous species forms clumps of ear-shaped fruiting bodies that are able to dry out and rehydrate to spore. Handy if you live in an area prone to unpredictable weather.
9. The Razor-strop fungus was once used by barbers to polish razors.
This common bracket fungus, when dried out, can be used to sharpen blades and was once used by watchmakers to polish moving components. It also has antibacterial properties.
Amazingly a sample of this birch bracket was found in the burial site of a mummified man dating back 5,500 years. The remains, also known as the Otzi the Iceman, were found in the Austrian mountains.
10. There are 14 species of deadly mushroom in the UK.
One of our deadliest fungi is the death cap toadstool.
This fungus has a plain appearance and looks very similar to many edible mushrooms but it hides a nasty secret. It contains a high concentration of poisonous amatoxin, which breaks down the enzymes responsible for your cell metabolism. That can be fatal, so best all round to avoid this one.
If you are interested in wild food foraging check out Andy Hamilton's beginners guide to foraging.
Fungi forays
If you need help with your mushroom identification get in touch with the iSpot team. Remember, unless you are with an experienced guide who knows their fungi, picking and eating is not advisable. Not only can fungi be fatally poisonous, you might be picking a very rare specimen.
Many nature reserves are holding fungi forays throughout autumn, where you can learn more about the medley of mushrooms exploding across the countryside. Many walks offer you the chance to quiz an expert as they guide you through the tricky process of fungi identification.
For a list of The Wildlife Trusts' events contact your local Wildlife Trust.
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