With all the damp weather we’ve been having lately, it’s no wonder our outdoor paths are abounding with mushrooms galore. But how good are you at naming your fungi? Can you tell you your chicken of the woods from your turkey tail, or your beefsteak from your candlesnuff? Join us as we take a mini adventure of discovery through the magical world of mushrooms and toadstools.

Mushrooms and toadstools might be associated with ancient taboos, but in the world of nature and biodiversity, they play a mighty important role, forming huge networks that link and support trees and other woodland life. Fungi come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours and it can be really interesting to see what you can spot as you go about your outdoor adventures. This guide identifies some of the most common mushrooms, toadstools and lichen that you’ll be most likely to come across as the damp sets in.

Beard lichens

Beard lichens look like tassels flowing from tree trunks and branches. They are pale grey-green, and some bear distinctive disc-like fruits. Not to be confused with horsehair lichens will look similar but are finer and more brown in colour.

Beefsteak fungus

Often found in broadleaf woodland growing on the lower trunks of oak trees, this repugnant woodland fungus is identified by its resemblance to a raw cut of meat, although in its younger form, it looks more like a tongue poking out of a tree trunk. It even oozes a blood-like substance when cut!

Candlesnuff fungus

Growing to 6cm in height, candlesnuff fungus has an appearance like a snuffed-out candle wick. It has a black base, grey mid-section and white tip.

Chanterelle mushroom

A much loved cooking ingredient and forager’s favourite thanks to its succulent and delicate flavour, chanterelle is used by chefs across the world. Yellow or orange in colour and bearing the scent of apricots, chanterelles are a very common sight in woodlands.

Chicken of the woods

Distinctive in appearance, bright yellow with bands of orange when young and fading to cream as it ages, and velvety soft to the touch, chicken of the woods is often found growing on the trunks of trees such as oak and cherry.

Common inkcap

Inkcaps were traditionally used as a source of ink for important documents to prevent forgeries. The fungus grows in tufts, emanating from decaying wood and often appearing after a downpour. It can grow quite tall, up to 17cm, and has a distinctive conical cap and shaggy edge which can sometimes ooze an inky liquid.

Fly agaric

Well known, captivating but extremely toxic. Fly agaric is the mythical home of fairies and magical creatures. Often found growing in birch woodland, it is a tree’s friend as it transfers nutrients into their roots. Caution! Consumption can lead to hallucinations and psychotic reactions.

Morel

Much revered and easy to recognise, the morel is a favourite edible mushroom. With its strong, nutty flavour and nice earthy smell, this fungus is found growing in a range of habitats, including woodland. Be sure to cook it though if you want to savour it, because it is poisonous when raw.

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Oyster mushroom

These large, fleshy oyster-like mushrooms are commonly found throughout UK woodlands. Sporting a fan-shaped cap, they are edible and smell a little of aniseed.

Shaggy parasol

A large, stocky mushroom with a cap that can grow anywhere from 5 to 15cm across and a height of 20cm. The cap is convex when mature, and sports raised brown scales giving it a shaggy appearance. Good to eat, but beware, as one in 25 people are intolerant.

Stinkhorn

Stinkhorn is a tall mushroom that can grow up to 25cm in height, resembling a phallus when the fruiting body is fully emerged. Once it is fully emerged, the young cap oozes a spore-bearing sticky gel known as gleba, which attracts flies and other insects. It emits a smell like rotting flesh, hence the name.

Turkey tail

Turkey tail is a bracket fungus made up of semi-circular caps that grow around tree trunks. The caps are thin and tough, with velvety rings of colour. Colours are mixed around brown, yellow, grey, purple, green and black, but always with a cream or white outer margin. The caps often form a tiered appearance, much like a turkey’s tail.

Off fungus spotting soon?

If this guide has inspired you to set off on a fungus spotting expedition, don’t forget to be VERY careful if you are foraging for mushrooms to eat, as there are many poisonous species about. And if you fancy a spot of mushroom cooking once you have collected some safe and tasty species, don’t forget your outdoor cooking kit!