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Field Guide

Fungi

Intro

The Magna Carta is one of the world’s most famous documents, celebrated as a cornerstone of constitutional government.

The Conserving the Magna Carta exhibition invites visitors to find out about this important conservation project by showcasing the scientific research and analysis that has allowed this Magna Carta to return to display.

Species

Golden Chanterelle

Summary

Classification:

  • Species name: golden chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)

  • Genus: Chanterellus

  • Order: Agaricale

  • Class: Agaricomycetes

Characteristics:

  • Colour: Bright yellow, occasionally orange or white

  • Spore colour: colourless and white  

  • Habitat: Forest floors

  • Ecology: Mycorrhizal association.

Golden chanterelles are popular edible mushrooms characterised by their wavy edges and remarkable “false gills” which decorate a trumpet-shaped cap. The false gills formed underneath the mushroom’s cap are not sporophores, but indistinct gill units, developing as folds in the mushroom's spore-bearing surface. These vivid fungi are typically found growing individually or in small groups and develop at a slower pace than other mushrooms. Despite their slow growth, chanterelles are persistent, often being perennial, meaning they tend to grow in the same location year after year, provided mycelium systems remain undisturbed.

The chanterelle does not have true gills but folded structures that are sometimes called veins.

Species

Violet coral fungus

Summary

Classification:

Species: Clavaria Zollingeri

Genus: Clavaria

Order: Agaricales

Class: Agaricomycetes

Characteristics:

Colour: Violet – Pinky purple

Spore colour: colourless and white en masse

Habitat: damp forests and grasslands

Ecology: Saprotroph

This striking clavarioid fungus produces branching tubular structures, irregular forms that can measure up to 10 cm tall and 7 cm wide. These coral-like arms are incredibly brittle and diverge upward from a thick stem into smaller segments with rounded or moderately angular tips.   The Claveria Zollinger is a saprotrophic species, deriving nutrients from absorbing broken-down organic matter. Often found growing on moss in damp forests, this rare fungus colours ecosystems in solitary tufts or small groups of violet.

The chanterelle does not have true gills but folded structures that are sometimes called veins.