A Fungus Foray (October 2025)

Although mushrooms can be spotted throughout the year, Autumn is when they tend to be at their most prolific. There are around 15,000 species of fungi in the UK, but of these only a third produce the fruiting bodies we know as mushrooms. Nevertheless, that is still a lot of mushrooms, and with many appearing superficially alike, it can be difficult to make a specific identification. This is obviously important if you intend to eat the mushrooms, as certain species are toxic, or can be fatal if consumed in sufficient quantity.

There are a number of features that help with identifying different species, such as the size of the mushroom, the colour and shape of its cap, whether it has gills or pores beneath, and if it has a distinctive smell. It also helps to note whether it's growing in association with a particular species of tree or occurring in grassland; in colonies or alone.  But there is always the caveat that mushrooms can vary in colour and size within species, and according to the stage of growth. There are other less obvious features, such as whether the gills attach to the stem (stipe) and if so in what way, features of the stipe itself, and the colour of the spores. Some of the more subtle differences between similar species may be difficult to distinguish in the field, and may need a magnifying glass and expert eye.

I photographed a few mushrooms last month (October) growing in, or very close to the garden. I've done my best to identify each one and they're hopefully correct, but given the difficulties outlined above, I can't give a cast iron guarantee!!

The first is very distinctive, and is called an Earthball. There are 4 types of Earthball in the UK and I think this one is the Leopard Earthball (Sclerodoma areolatum). It was spotted by Laila, one of our gardening group on 25th October. On closer inspection, it was apparent that there was a colony of them growing beneath the shrubs, at the far end of the tennis court bed.

This is a very distinctive mushroom with neither gills nor pores, which normally contain the spores - see the second photo below. In this case, the spores are contained within a ball-like casing, reaching about 4-5cms in diameter in this species. The tough skin, which is said to resemble the markings of a leopard, is only about 1mm thick. Eventually it ruptures exposing the spores inside to the wind and rain, which facilitates their dispersal. The stalk is short to non-existent and thin mycelial threads secure the fruiting body to the substrate.

The second mushroom has the common name of the Weeping Widow (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda). This was photographed on 5th October, growing in the grass. It is a fairly young specimen because the densely hairy cap is bell shaped with inrolled margins. As the mushroom matures the cap flattens and often becomes paler. However, it retains the central raised portion known as the umbo. The name is said to come from the drops of water which are blackened by spores and drip from the edges of the cap when moist, resembling tears.

Below is a very dainty mushroom known as the Conical Brittlestem (Parasola conopilus). These were found growing close to the Earthstars at the edge of the tennis court bed and photographed on 25th October. They stood at about 9mm tall and have a small bell- shaped cap which is a shiny chestnut colour when moist. It also has fine striations at the margin. As the mushroom ages, the cap opens out more and becomes a much more muted colour. The gills are brown with a purplish tinge. The stipe looks far too lanky in proportion to the cap and is easily broken; hence its name.

Next up, is a mushroom that is well known for breaking down dead and decaying wood, and is often found on rotten logs and tree stumps. It is called the Deer Shield (Pluteus cervinus). This fairly large mushroom was found growing at the base of the tree stump on the edge of the pocket woodland. It is a mature specimen such that the gills are almost flipped outwards, like the frilly underskirt of a dancer (as described on Mushroom Appreciation website). The cap can vary quite widely in colour, but the stipe and gills are always initially white. The gills are crowded and unattached to the stipe. The cap can be slightly sticky when wet, and its colour is thought to resemble that of deer skin, which is possibly the reason for its name (25th Oct)

The mushroom below is known as a bracket fungus, or a polypore, for the many pores that occur on the undersurface. These are found growing on decaying wood, forming bracket- shaped fruiting bodies, often in tiers, such as are seen here. I think this is the Mossy Maze Polypore (Cerrena unicolour) which is growing on a rotting log, alongside the beech hedge. Its wavy brackets are greyish and zoned, although some have a green tinge owing to the growth of algae on its surface. The underside is covered in a maze of pores, which develop into more toothlike structures as it matures (see edges). The dark line between the flesh and the pores is an identifying feature for this species (25th Oct).

And last but not least is the tiny Nitrous Lawn Bonnet (Mycena leptocephala) which I found growing in the fenced area just opposite the garden (26th Oct). It has a grey striated cap, which is barely 1cm in diameter. The gills are also grey and fairly wide spaced. The stem of this specimen was about 4cm in length, but very thin and fragile. These occur sparsely distributed throughout the grass in the fenced area but because of their size, are difficult to spot. Apparently, all the species in the group Mycena smell similar to chlorinated water, but as someone who has absolutely no sense of smell, I'm unable to verify that!!!

It is amazing to think that all the species, which are illustrative of the many different forms of fungi were found co-existing in a very small area. They are contributing to the varied flora and fauna of our wonderful park. All we need to do is take the time to stop and have a good look around us; we may be surprised by what we find!

If you're hungry for fungi, there's more about seasonal mushrooms at the Rec here, plus Denise's observations on pores and gills here. (But please don't take 'hunger' too literally - never try eating anything that you're not 110% confident about.) 

Words and pictures: Denise Long