Fungi Information Sheet

There are over 15,000 species of fungus in the UK. They are not plants or animals, but belong
in their own kingdom.

Fungi don’t just grow in the soil - some species grow in water, in the air, on plants and even in
and on animals’ bodies. They are all around us, but the ones we notice are the mushrooms or
toadstools that pop up in the autumn woods or in a dewy meadow.

Habitats Autumn Life

Although fungi grow across many habitats
in the UK, they are most commonly found
in woodland or grassland. They need
moisture and often feed on dead wood or
other plant matter. Look on tree trunks, at
the base of trees, on leaf litter, on fallen
branches or around tree stumps.
Autumn is the best time of year to go
looking for fungi. The damp conditions
are ideal for them to grow and reproduce.
The mushrooms contain spores, which
are like seeds. The spores travel in the air
until they settle on a moist surface and
start growing their hyphae - the little
root-like threads.

An Underground Network
Mushrooms and toadstools are actually
just the fruit of the fungi. Under the
ground or in the dead wood beneath them,
the fungus is made up of a network of
thread-like hyphae which together make
up the mycelium. The mycelium absorbs
the fungus’s food, which is the broken-
down plants. Fungi actually help the
wood or fallen leaves to rot more quickly,
so that the fungi can use their nutrients.
Look, Don’t Touch!
The Forest’s Invisible Friend
Fungi are very important to their forest
or woodland home. As they break down
dead wood or plants, they release
nutrients into the soil. These nutrients
help plants to grow. The underground
mycelium also acts as an extension of
a tree’s roots, helping the tree to absorb
water and nutrients from a wider area.
Scientists have discovered that some
fungi networks also connect tree to tree,
allowing trees to share nutrients and help
each other to survive.

Fungi can be poisonous. It is not safe to touch any fungus. You would have to be a fungi
expert to know which fungi are safe and which are deadly and even very experienced
people have been known to get it wrong. Observe and photograph any fungi you find, but
do not touch or remove them.

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