The Different Species of Fungi

All fungi have the same basic structure of hyphae, but their means of distributing the spores puts them in one of two groups.

BASIDIOMYCETES: they let there spores fall into air currents, so their fruiting body has to be at least a short height off the ground. They form there spores on stalks of cells known as basida, of which there are four per cell.

ASCOMYCETES: they form their spores in tubes called asci, which point upwards. When the spores are ripe, they are ejected for a few millimetres into the air. A change in humidity or air pressure is enough to trigger the release. As many asci discharge at the same time, the spores appear as a little puff of smoke.

FACT: Luckily very few fungal spores ever germinate, Langermannia gigantea, the Giant Puffball, has been calculated to produce over 10 billion spores!!!

BOLETACEAE- All Boleti grow on the ground. All form mycorrhizal associations with trees. They have a typical toadstool shape, but under the cap are tubes instead of gills. The flesh is usually white/cream in the cap, but if cut or bruised, can dramatically change to blue/green. Genera in this group include:

Boletus- has a dry cap and stem that may be covered with small dots of a fine net.

Suillus- has a cap that is slimy in wet weather and a smooth stem.

Leccinum- has a dry cap and scaly stem.

Tylopilus- has pink pores and a dark net on the stem.

AGARICALES- These have a typical toadstool shape, but with gills under the cap. The spores are formed on the surface of the gills, from where they fall into airstreams. Most are raised from the ground by a stem. Genera in this group include:

Amanita- Some of the most poisonous fungi are in this genus. It has a volva, either large, small, or as rings on the stem.

Lepotia- All are whitish with white spores, have a scaly cap, white gills free of the stem and a ring. The large edible ones are called Macrolepotia, small inedible ones retain the name lepotia.

Collybia- These are responsible for the breakdown of wood and leaves in woodland. The white gills free of or lightly attached to the stem. There is no ring.

Clitocybe- Has white gills marked decurrent. The cap is usually funnel shaped and the stem fairly short. They grow in deciduous woodland.

Mycena- Small white gilled fungi, adnate, usually with conical caps which may later open flat. The stems are long and slim. Some, ooze out clear or coloured sap from the stem when cut.

Coprinus- Their method of spore dispersal is unusual. The gills and cap liquefy so the spores are washed away by rain. Most live on buried wood so spores will end up on a suitable substrate. Either white or brown and tall.

Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe- They form the 'wax-caps'. The gills are thick, well spaced and waxy looking. The pale coloured species occurring in woodland are Hygrophorus, the grassland ones are the Hygrocybe. They are the most brightly coloured fungi around. They form a rounded cone cap. The cap is slippery when wet.

RUSSULACEAE- The fungi in this group have crumbly flesh and are generally brighter colours. Typically the gills extend to the stem, and the cap is usually funnel shaped, having a depressed centre. Genera in this group include:

Russula- Hard, brittle fleshed with white to yellow gills, most run from the stem to the edge of the cap. The cap is fairly thick fleshed. The stems are medium to tall and usually white. The spores range from white to saffron.

Lactarius- Known as the 'milk-caps'. If the cap or gills are broken, a milky juice oozes out. The colour of the milk may change after a few minutes. It is non-toxic but hot in taste. Gills are thick, adnate or decurrent, never free and the spores are white or cream. Sturdy fungi.

GASTROMYCETES- The members of this mixed group form their spores on a network of hyphae and basida which is initially contained in the fruitbody. These may be expelled through a central opening, as in puffballs, or released by the casing disintegrating. In Stinkhorns, a slime, containing spores is found on top of a stem. Flies disperse these spores. Truffles are formed underground and give off a scent attractive to animals. Animals eat this fungus and excrete the spores.

DISCOMYCETES- Known as the 'Disc fungi' these are saucer shaped and of various sizes, less than a millimetre to several centimetres. The spore layer is on the upper surface. Some have a stem carrying a convoluted head. Genera in this group include:

Morchellaceae- Morels are among the best known mushrooms. They appear in spring. They have the characteristic brain-like head. Morels occur where soil has been disturbed, and produce mass fruitings after forest fires.

Leotiaceae- These are tiny, mostly disc-shaped fungi, with spores in asci. Most are firm fleshed, almost rubbery. Some species grow in swarms on rotten wood while others are hidden among grass.