A to Z of British Fungi

<NO VALUE> A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V X
Scientific Name Common Name Description
Calloria neglecta Calloria neglecta

Tiny red-orange discs found clustered on the dead stalks of Stinging Nettle plants.

Calocera cornea Small Stagshorn

A bright yellow to orange coloured fungus that appears as small gelatinous fingers growing on old wood. They are usually single fingers but are occasionally branched and are sticky when wet....

Calocera pallidospathulata Pale Stagshorn

Yellow fungus with gelatinous fruit bodies that grow, densely crowded on dead or rotting branches, stumps and twigs of broadleaf and coniferous wood.

Calocera viscosa Yellow Stagshorn Calocera viscosa is, as its name suggests, very greasy and therefore, in texture if not general appearance, unlike the true coral fungi. It is commonly known as the Yellow Stags-horn Fungus.
Calocybe carnea Pink Domecap

This small and edible fungus is found in small troops on grassland, meadows and roadside verges. The domed cap is smooth and pale pink  to rose pink in colour. The stem is smooth,...

Calocybe gambosa St George's Mushroom Appearing in April, Calocybe gambosa has the common name St George's Mushroom. It is a good edible species, distinguished from other pale species of springtime by its mealy smell. Fruiting from April...
Calvatia gigantea Giant Puffball

An easily recognised fungus by it's often massive size. Generally round and white with irregular lobes and a thick leathery skin, which is easily peeled away. There may be white cords where it is...

Candelariella reflexa Candelariella reflexa
Cantharellus cibarius Chanterelle

The cap is yellow, depressed in the middle with a wavy margin and the underside is an apricot - yellow colour and strongly wrinkled with the gill-like veins running down the short stem. Found...

Cantharellus tubaeformis Trumpet Chanterelle A sometimes large, well camouflaged mushroom usually found in late autumn to early winter. Edible and good, but not as esteemed as it's golden cousin.
Catinella olivacea Catinella olivacea
Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa

A small fungus found growing in rosettes on the bark of fallen trees and branches in general.

Ceratiomyxo fruticulosa var. arbuscula (2) Ceratiomyxo fruticulosa var. arbuscula
Chaetosphaerella phaeostroma Chaetosphaerella phaeostroma Spore shown in Cotton Blue
Chalciporus piperatus Peppery Bolete

This small bolete is commonly found in coniferous woodland and also with Birch trees, sometimes growing near Amanita muscaria. The cap is pale yellow ochre to light brown in colour and...

Cheilymenia fimicola Cheilymenia fimicola

A common, small cup or disc shaped orange fungus that is frequently found in meadows and pastures growing om animal manure.

Cheilymenia stercorea Cheilymenia stercorea Small orange-red conical, sessile cup fungi, densley clustered and hairy. *Inedible*
Cheilymenia theleboloides Cheilymenia theleboloides
Chlorociboria aeruginascens Green Elfcup Initially shaped like a goblet with a very short stem, the fruit bodies flatten with age and develop wavy edges. Individual fruit bodies are 0.5 to 1cm in diameter and usually less than 1cm tall. The...
Chlorophyllum olivieri Chlorophyllum olivieri

This fungus  is possibly a common species normally misidentified as Macrolepiota rhacodes. Reported to be edible but may cause stomach upsets in some people.

Chlorophyllum rhacodes Shaggy Parasol

This fungus can be found growing either singly or in clumps in mixed woodland, parkland and gardens. It can reach large sizes and the cap is white with a dark umbo and recurved brown scales.The...

Choiromyces meandriformia Choiromyces meandriformis
Chondrostereum purpureum Silverleaf Fungus

This fungus is a common parasite on fruit trees and forms leathery, lilac to deep purple patches with a white edge. It causes Silver-leaf disease on Plum and Cherry trees.

Ciboria amentacea Ciboria amentacea

A cup shaped fungus found on the male catkins of Alder, Hazel and Willow.

Ciboria batschiana Ciboria batschiana

A small cup shaped or flat fungus found growing on old acorns in broadleaf woodland under Oak during Autumn..

Ciboria caucus Ciboria caucus

An ascomycte. Occurs on fallen male alder or willow catkins Microscopy inset: note the bluing at the tips of the asci in Melzer's solution

Ciboria coryli Ciboria coryli
Clathrus archeri Devil's Fingers fruit body 5x4cms egg shaped, whitish volva breaking into 4-8 starfish-like arms up to 10cm long. red to pink, with olivaceous-black spore-bearing material on the inner side. flesh smells strong,...
Clathrus ruber Red Cage Fruit body egg shaped, white to greyish volva, bursting open to show a lattice, 10x6cm, orange-red with greenish-black sporebearing material on the inside; the mycelium commonly forms into rooting...
Clavaria fragilis White Spindles

An upright, white, spindle shaped fungus found growing amongst grass in meadows and pastures.

Clavaria zollingeri Violet Coral

This is an unmistakable fungus that is violet with coral shaped branches found in meadows, pastures and unimproved grassland growing in lines or circles. The branches are rounded or can be pointed...

Claviceps purpurea Ergot
Clavulina cinerea Grey Coral

Grey coral like fungus with extensively branching fruiting bodies found growing solitary or in small groups on soil in woodland, often along woodland trails.

Clavulina coralloides Crested Coral

This fungus forms small clumps similar to marine coral and is pure white to pale cream in colour with the branches having pointed, divided tips.

Clavulina rugosa Wrinkled Club

This common and widespread fungus is usually simple, club-shaped and white to cream but occasionally develops antler-like branches

Clavulinopsis corniculata Meadow Coral

This is a coral-like species that has a variable appearance, depending on local conditions, especially grass length. It can be short and tightly divided or tall and loosely branched and the colour...

Clavulinopsis laeticolor Handsom Club

A bright golden-yellow club-like fungus that grows either solitary or in groups in the soil of mixed woodlands.

Clavulinopsis luteoalba Clavulinopsis luteoalba

A small club-shaped yellow fungus that grows either solitary or in groups on soil in short grassland.

Clitocybe nebularis Clouded Funnel

This is a variable blue-grey, mid-grey to even yellowish fungus, appearing in troops and rings, often in large numbers fairly late in the year.

Clitocybe amarescens Clitocybe amarescens
Clitocybe costata Clitocybe costata
Clitocybe dealbata Ivory Funnel

This is a small to medium sized fungus commonly found in grassy areas such as lawns, parks, fields and at the edges of woodland. It is deadly poisonous and can be found growing with edible...

Clitocybe fragrans Fragrant Funnel Cap glattened-convex sometimes slightly depressed, hygrophanous, pale yellowish-brown when wet. whitish-cream when dry with darker centre. margin finely striate.   Stem. concolorous with cap....
Clitocybe geotropa Trooping Funnel Convex at first with a broad prominent umbo, becoming depressed, the margin remaining strongly incurved, pale yellow-buff when young, later more flesh coloured. Stem. A swollen base, concolorous...
Clitocybe gibba Common Funnel

The Common Funnel Cap is common and widespread but is easily confused with other funnel shaped fungi that are poisonous.

Clitocybe metachroa Clitocybe metachroa Smallish buff or tan agaric with darker center and greyish white, decurrent gills.
Clitocybe odora Clitocybe odora

Young specimens are a pale blue colour fading to light grey as they age.

Clitocybe phaeophthalma Clitocybe phaeophthalma
Clitocybe phyllophila Frosty Funnel
Clitocybe rivulosa Fool's Funnel

A lethally poisonous fungus with a shallowly depressed whitish-grey cap the grows in trooping rings on grassland, often in sandy soil.

Clitocybe sinopica Clitocybe sinopica

A small rare species of fungus witha bright, reddish-brown cap that may be found in small troops around the edges and clearings in coniferous woodland and on heathes.

Clitocybe vibecina Mealy Funnel

A small fungus with a pale greyish-brown cap that is found growing in soil in mixed or coniferous woodland, usually with bracken.

Clitopilus prunulus The Miller

 This fungus is very variable in shape, the white to greyish cap can be domed to flattish, or even funnel shaped and fruits from Summer to late Autumn.

Collybia butyracea Butter Cap

This fungus is a common species often found in large numbers. It has a greasy, grey-brown to red-brown cap with an umbo and the stem, which is dry and fibrous, is slender at the top and club...

Collybia confluena Clustered Toughshank

This species of fungus is found in dense clumps in deciduous and coniferous woodland and it's aromatic smell helps in identification.

Collybia cookei Splitpea Shanklet Grows on rotting Russula/Lactarius
Collybia dryophila Russet Toughshank Cap convex Becoming flattened and often wavy at margin; variable in colour from whitish or pale buff to light tan. Stem. Base swollen, flushed tan, darker towards base. hollow. Flesh. whitish,...
Collybia fusipes Spindle Toughshank

This fungus is found in and around the base of broadleaf trees, mainly Oak and Birch and occasionally Beech.

Collybia ocior Collybia ocior

A small fungus with a tan or dark brown cap found growing on rotting stums, bark and litter in woodland.

Collybia peronata Wood Woollyfoot

A common, small tough species with a yellow-brown cap that is radially streaked with dark-brown when young but becomes pale and wrinkled with age. The stem is tough and can be twisted without it...

Collybia tuberosa Lentil Shanklet Growing on decayed Lactarius
Colpoma quercinum Colpoma quercinum A tar-spot fungus (Order: Rhytismatales) very common on dead attached oak twigs, though often found in an old 'effete' state.
Coltricia perennis Tiger's Eye

This is an unusual polypore in that it grows in soil rather than on wood. The surface is silky  and yellow/golden brown in colour with dark and pale zones.

Conocybe aporos Conocybe aporos Favours calcareous soil. Typically a spring species.
Conocybe arrhenii Ringed Conecap

A small, orange-brown fungus with a distinct ring on the stem found growing in soil.

Conocybe filaris Fool's Conecap

A poisonous fungus that is yellowish-brown in colour and found in grassland, roadsides or on wood chips from Summer till Autumn.

Conocybe lactea Conocybe lactea

A small fungus with a conical cap and long stem found growing in grassland, sand dunes and roadside verges.

Conocybe pubescens Conocybe pubescens

A small, frail agaric found either solitary or in small trooping groups on well manured soil or dung in or close t0 coniferous woodland.

Conocybe tenera Conocybe tenera

A small and fragile fungus with a brownish-yellow cap commonly found on soil in grass ar the edges of woodland.

Coprinellus disseminatus Fairy Inkcap Note: need to distinguish from the similar Psathyrella pygmaea (see below) - that has cystidia on gill edge, which the Coprinellus lacks.
Coprinellus domesticus Firerug Inkcap

A tall fungus found in woodland either solitary or in small tropping groups on stumps, logs ot buried wood.

Coprinellus micaceus Glistening Inkcap

This fungus is found in dense clusters among and around the base of rooting trees and fallen broadleaf wood of all kinds. 

Coprinopsis atramentaria Common Inkcap

This fungus has an egg-shaped, grey to grey-brown cap with a red-brown centre. The cap surface is smooth and ridged  and the stem is silvery white and has a hollow centre. The cap gradually...

Coprinopsis nivea Snowy Inkcap

A fragile agaric found growing solitary or in groups on horse or cow manure and manured straw.

Coprinopsis picacea Magpie Cap Tall dark grey-brown agaric with conspicuous white scaly patches. Cap: Ovoid or cylindrical becoming convex then broadly campanulate, margin finally reflexed and splitting radially. Dark greyish-...
Coprinopsis radiata Coprinopsis radiata

A small and delicate egg-shaped fungus found either solitary or in groups on horse manure.

Coprinus auricomus Coprinus auricomus
Coprinus cinereus Coprinus cinereus

A small fungus found growing on rotting or manured straw.

Coprinus comatus Shaggy Ink Cap

When young, this fungus has a tall, egg-shaped or elongated cap that is covered in shaggy, recurved scales. The cap and white gills gradually blacken and dissolve with age until only the stem...

Coprinus cordisporus Coprinus cordisporus A tiny dung-inhabiting fungus; the spore shape is characteristic.
Coprinus lagopides Coprinus lagopides

A tallish off white fungus found scattered in groups or solitary on soil or charred wood.

Coprinus lagopus Hare's Foot Inkcap

A tall grey coloured fungus growing solitary or in small groups in soil or among leaf litter in shaded woodland and sometimes at the edges of fields.

Coprinus niveus Snowy Inkcap

A fragile fungus found growing either solitary or in small groups on cow or horse manure and manured straw.

Coprinus radians Coprinus radians
Coprinus species Coprinus species
Coprinus sterquilinus Coprinus sterquilinus

Found growing solitary or clustered in meadows and pastures with manure, preferable horse dung.

Coprobia granulata Coprobia granulata

A small orangish coloured, disc-shaped fungus that is commonly found throughout the year growing on cow manure.

Cordyceps gracilis Cordyceps gracilis
Cordyceps militaris Scarlet Caterpillar Club

Like many of the Cordyceps species, this fungus grows parasitically on buried insects, usually a Butterfly or Moth larvae. The club shaped cap is covered in minute red raised dots while...

Cordyceps ophioglossoides Snaketongue Truffleclub

A small brownish to black club shaped head on a slender yellowish brown stem.

Coriolus versicolor Many zoned Polypore
Cortinarius acutus Cortinarius acutus
Cortinarius alboviolaceus Pearly Webcap

Both the cap and stem are a pale silvery lavender to almost white in colour. The cap is rounded with a broad umbo and the stem is club-shaped and dark to deep violet at the top. It is found...

Cortinarius bolaris Dappled Webcap

This poisonous species has a red, initially rounded cap that is covered in red scales and flattens with age. The stem has a fine cobweb like zone at the top.

Cortinarius delibutus Yellow Webcap

An occasional species that is found in deciduous woodland, commonly with Beech or Birch.

Cortinarius hemitrichus Frosty Webcap

This fungus has a grey-brown cap flecked with white veil fragments and a delicate to sharply pointed umbo. The stem in silvery-white becoming brownish and has zoned banding beneath an indistinct...

Cortinarius livido-ochraceus Wrinkled Webcap
Cortinarius praestans Goliath Webcap

Cap to 20cms, viscid, violaceous chesnut to chocolate brown. Margin wrinkled, inrolled slightly, typically with white patches of cortina around the edges. Cap when old becomes unrolled large...

Cortinarius psammocephalus Cortinarius psammocephalus
Cortinarius purpurascens Bruising Webcap

This fungus grows in both broadleaf and coniferous woodland, preferring an acid soil. It has a dark, reddish brown cap that is sticky when wet. The cap spreads and flattens with age. The gills are...