Collins Mushroom Miscellany. Patrick Harding

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      King Alfred’s cakes Daldinia concentrica, growing on ash

      {John & Sue Buckingham/NHPA}

      We can find the answer to this question on the Beatles’ classic 1960s’ album Revolver, where they sang:

      Here, there and everywhere.

      Although the distribution of larger fungi, especially those referred to as mushrooms and toadstools, is not quite as extensive as it is for many of the less conspicuous, smaller fungi, the range of habitats that include at least some members of the fungal kingdom is enormous. Fungi, unlike plants, cannot make their own organic matter, so their distribution is largely limited by the availability of materials that they can utilise as fungal food. Some habitats, such as woodlands, contain substantial amounts of potentially available organic matter, whereas others, including the world’s oceans, are less favourable. Despite this, oceans are far from devoid of fungi, although most of the species that can put up with the saline conditions are microfungi.

      The average amateur mycologist, especially one with a culinary interest, concentrates on finding fruitbodies of the larger fungi including the agarics (mushrooms and toadstools), bracket fungi, puffballs and morels. For mycologists, knowledge of the habitat requirements of sought-after species is comparable to the way in which botanists and ornithologists are able to predict which flowers or birds they may find when visiting a particular habitat.

      Common species of mushroom and toadstool include those that are relatively catholic in their taste, but also those species that are restricted to a specific food source that is itself widely available. Rare species often demand exacting habitat requirements that are themselves uncommon. Other rare fungi may be limited by environmental factors such as temperature or water availability. In Britain the latter group are frequently at the edge of a wider distribution throughout mainland Europe.

      Dung roundhead (Stropharia semiglobata) is a very common ‘little brown job’ that grows on the weathered dung of a wide range of herbivores, including cow, sheep, horse and rabbit. It is found in pastures, heaths and even in woodland. It also grows on land fertilised with herbivorous dung and on clifftop grassland, where its normal requirement for animal dung is fulfilled by bird guano.

      In contrast, the nail fungus (Poronia punctata), an ascomycete with fruitbodies that are shaped like a nail or golf tee, only grows on horse dung and is virtually restricted in Britain to the New Forest where it grows on dung of semi-wild ponies. It is one of the fungal species with a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (see here). Until the early part of the 20th century horses, their dung and the nail fungus were all common. In the 21st century, even in those parts of Europe, including Britain, where horses are still kept for riding, the fungus is now very rarely found. It appears that the use of additives in horse feedstuffs and the use of artificial fertilisers on the pastures grazed by horses have affected the nature of horse dung, something that has not happened to dung from the less pampered ponies grazing on the largely unimproved land of the New Forest.

      Agaric fruitbody emerging through tarmac

      {Joe Blossom/NHPA}

      Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare) is one of the commonest toadstools to be found on the decayed wood of tree stumps, fallen trunks and timber used to make path steps or edging for garden borders. It grows on a very wide range of different tree species, both broadleaved and coniferous; just as its substrate is common so is the fungus. As the common name implies, it grows in dense tufts and, when young, has a sulphur-yellow cap, stem and gills, the latter turning purplish-brown as the spores mature. Sadly, this very frequent fungus is not edible as it has a very bitter taste, comparable to quinine.

      Birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) is nearly as common as sulphur tuft, despite being restricted to birch trees. This is because birch trees are very common in Britain and the fungus, which is a parasite on living trees, can continue to live as a saprophyte on dead ones. In contrast, oak polypore (Piptoporus quercinus) is rare enough to need protection in a manner similar to that for the nail fungus. It grows on dead wood in the trunks of veteran oaks, usually ancient deer park or forest trees (often over 400 years old) that were formerly pollarded. Unlike young birches, the number of veteran oaks is very limited and so too, as a result, is the oak polypore.

      The distribution and frequency of many woodland fungi are strongly influenced by their need for very specific habitats. Fungi that form mycorrhizal associations with tree roots (see here) often do so with only one or a limited number of tree species. Examples include the larch bolete (Suillus grevillei), associated with larch trees, and beech milkcap (Lactarius blennius), which is only rarely found away from beech trees. Some species obtain their food from tree fruits, including ear pick fungus (Auriscalpium vulgare), a small toadstool that grows only on partially buried pine cones. Other more common fungi feed on the discarded leaf litter that is a feature of deciduous woodland. Typical of these is wood woollyfoot (Collybia peronata).

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