Collecting, Identifying and Recording Fungi

Fungi are essential components of woodland ecosystems, playing important roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, soil formation and relationships with plants and other organisms. Yet much of their diversity remains poorly understood.

At the Reffwngiwm, we are developing a fungarium – a collection of preserved fungal specimens accompanied by photographs, field observations and identification records.

By systematically collecting, identifying and recording fungi, we hope to build a better understanding of the woodland’s fungal diversity and ecology. These records will contribute to our long-term conservation work and provide material for future scientific study.

Everyone is welcome to contribute, regardless of their experience. This guide explains the methods we use to collect, document, identify and preserve fungal specimens.

Step 1: Preparing for a Foray

We provide the necessary equipment during our organised fungal forays, but members are encouraged to make observations and contribute records whenever they visit the woodland.

Field equipment

Appropriate clothing: Waterproof footwear and suitable outdoor clothing. Woodland conditions can be wet and uneven.

Collection basket: A sturdy basket with a relatively flat base is ideal for carrying specimens without damaging them. Avoid plastic carrier bags, which trap moisture and encourage deterioration.

Specimen boxes: Small tackle boxes or compartmentalised containers are particularly useful for collecting and separating delicate fungi.

Paper bags: For keeping individual collections separate and preventing specimens from becoming mixed together.

Knife: Useful for removing portions of tough bracket fungi or examining internal structures. For most mushrooms, however, we aim to collect the complete fruitbody, including the base of the stem, which often contains important identification features.

Notebook and pencil: For recording observations in the field. A waterproof notebook is particularly useful in wet weather.

Phone or camera: Photographs are an essential part of our records. A phone with GPS can also help establish the precise location of a collection.

Small trowel: For carefully lifting specimens where part of the stem or base is buried.

Numbered collection tags: These allow us to associate each specimen with its photographs and field notes.

Ruler: For including a scale in photographs and recording measurements.

Step 2: Safe and Ethical Collection

Our purpose is to study and document the fungi present in the woodland, not to collect them for consumption.

We aim to minimise our impact while gathering specimens that will contribute to the fungarium.

Collect selectively

Not every fungus needs to be collected. Many observations can be recorded through photographs alone. We generally collect specimens when they are needed for identification, microscopic examination or preservation.

Take only what is necessary

Where fungi are abundant, a small representative collection may be appropriate. Where only a few fruitbodies are present, consider leaving them undisturbed.

Particularly unusual or potentially rare species should be documented in situ, with collection undertaken only where justified and authorised.

Protect the surrounding habitat

Move carefully through the woodland, avoiding unnecessary disturbance to vegetation, deadwood, mosses and soil.

If you move leaf litter or other material to examine a specimen, replace it afterwards.

Collect complete specimens where appropriate

For many mushrooms, the base of the stem is important for identification. Carefully lift the entire fruitbody rather than simply cutting it at ground level.

Keep collections separate

Different species should be placed in separate containers or paper bags, each clearly labelled with its collection number.

Always follow the woodland’s collection permissions and any restrictions applying to protected species or habitats.

Step 3: Collecting and Recording Specimens in the Field

Good field records are just as important as the specimens themselves.

Many identifying characteristics, including colour, smell, texture and habitat associations, may be lost or altered after collection.

For this reason, we begin documenting each specimen before removing it from its habitat.

Assigning a collection code

Every collection receives a unique reference code that connects the specimen to its photographs, field notes and subsequent identification.

We use the following system:

Collector’s initials – Year – Day of the year – Collection number

For example:

JS-2026-302-01

This identifies:

JS: Collector’s initials
2026: Year of collection
302: Day of the year (29 October)
01: First collection made by that collector on that day

The collection number increases with each subsequent collection.

This code must accompany the specimen throughout the entire process, from collection in the woodland to its eventual storage in the fungarium.

Field collection method

1. Photograph the fungus in its habitat

Before collecting, take at least three photographs:

A close-up showing the fungus and its identifying features.
A wider photograph showing the surrounding habitat.
A photograph of the complete specimen after collection, including the underside and stem base where relevant.

Where possible, include a scale in the photographs.

2. Record the location

Note the collection location using a GPS reference, grid reference or identifiable position within the woodland.

3. Record growth habit and substrate

Make notes on how and where the fungus is growing.

For example:

Growing individually, scattered or in clusters.
Growing on soil, leaf litter, deadwood, living wood or another substrate.
Growing directly from a log, stump, branch or buried wood.
Whether other fruitbodies of the same apparent species are present nearby.

4. Record habitat characteristics

Note the surrounding vegetation and environmental conditions, particularly:

Nearby tree species.
Woodland type and canopy cover.
Soil conditions and moisture.
Mosses, leaf litter and other relevant vegetation.
Any other features that may help explain the fungus’s ecology.

5. Collect the specimen

If collection is appropriate, carefully remove the fruitbody, retaining important structures such as the stem base.

Place it in a suitable container or paper bag and attach its collection number.

6. Record distinctive characteristics

Some features are best recorded while the fungus is fresh.

These might include:

Colour and changes in colour when handled or damaged.
Texture and consistency.
Distinctive odours.
Bruising or staining reactions.
Any other unusual characteristics.

Do not taste specimens as part of our volunteer recording procedure.

7. Upload field observations

Where possible, upload photographs and observations to iNaturalist or an appropriate biological recording platform.

Include the collection code so that the digital observation can be linked to the specimen preserved in our fungarium.

Step 4: Identification and Recording

Once specimens have been collected, we begin the process of examination and identification.

Some fungi can be identified confidently from their visible characteristics. Others require microscopic examination or further investigation.

A specimen that cannot immediately be identified can be particularly valuable, provided we have recorded sufficient information and preserved it appropriately.

Identification equipment

We use a range of equipment and reference materials to support identification:

Recording sheets: Standardised forms for recording the distinguishing characteristics of different groups of fungi.

Ruler or callipers: For measuring dimensions.

Colour reference charts: To help describe colours consistently.

Identification glossary: A reference to the terminology used when describing fungal structures.

Hand lens and microscopes: For examining structures that are difficult or impossible to distinguish with the naked eye.

Identification guides and keys: To compare observations with published descriptions.

Aluminium foil: For obtaining spore prints.

Specimen labels: To maintain the association between each specimen and its collection records.

Identification method

1. Arrange and label the specimens

Place the specimens on a clean examination surface, keeping their collection numbers clearly visible.

We use large white boards, which provide a useful background for examining and photographing specimens.

2. Complete the recording sheet

Choose the appropriate recording sheet and systematically examine the specimen.

Depending on the type of fungus, relevant characteristics might include:

Cap shape, size, colour and surface texture.
Gill, pore or spine structure.
Stem dimensions, ornamentation and attachment.
Flesh colour and texture.
Bruising reactions or colour changes.
Odour and other distinctive features.

Record measurements and observations before the specimen begins to deteriorate.

3. Attempt identification

Use identification guides, keys and other available resources to establish the most likely identification.

Where possible, identify the fungus to species level.

If a confident identification cannot be made, record the most precise classification supported by the evidence, such as genus or family.

Uncertain identifications should be clearly marked as provisional rather than recorded as confirmed species.

4. Examine microscopic characteristics

Where necessary, use microscopy to examine spores and other diagnostic structures.

Microscopic observations, measurements and photographs can be added to the specimen’s record.

5. Take a spore print

Spore prints can provide useful information about spore colour and may be retained with the specimen.

Where appropriate:

Place the spore-producing surface over a clean piece of aluminium foil.
Allow sufficient time for spores to be deposited.
Carefully remove the specimen.
Allow the print to dry completely.
Fold the foil to protect the deposit and place it in a labelled envelope.

Record the spore print colour on the identification sheet.

Spore prints are particularly useful for many gilled mushrooms, although they are not necessary or practical for every type of fungus.

6. Record the identification

Enter the identification, name of the person making it, identification method and level of confidence on the recording sheet.

Where a specimen cannot be confidently identified, retain it for further examination.

Our aim is to create records that can be independently checked and, where necessary, revised as our understanding develops.

Step 5: Preserving Specimens for the Fungarium

Preserved specimens allow us to revisit identifications, undertake microscopic examinations and potentially carry out DNA analysis.

We therefore aim to preserve representative collections in a way that protects their scientific value.

Drying

Once photographs, measurements and fresh characteristics have been recorded, specimens should be dried as soon as practical.

We use a nine-tray Excalibur dehydrator, with the specimens arranged on mesh screens to allow good air circulation.

A moderate drying temperature, around 40°C, is suitable for many specimens. The important requirement is to dry them thoroughly and promptly without allowing them to deteriorate.

Larger mushrooms may need to be sectioned to allow them to dry properly.

The collection code must remain with each specimen throughout the drying process.

Storage

Once completely dry, specimens are placed in labelled protective packaging, such as paper envelopes within sealed storage bags or containers.

Each collection should be stored with:

Its unique collection code.
The completed recording sheet or a reference to its digital record.
Any available spore print.
The identification and details of the person who made it.

Specimens must be fully dry before being sealed to prevent mould developing.

The collection is then stored in a cool, dry environment, protected from moisture, insects and physical damage.

Preserving material for future DNA analysis

Some specimens may require DNA sequencing to establish their identity or investigate relationships between species.

Thoroughly dried fungal material can remain suitable for DNA extraction, allowing specimens collected today to be studied using techniques that may become available in the future.

Where appropriate, we may retain a separately packaged, clearly labelled tissue sample specifically for molecular analysis.

Step 6: Recording and Sharing Our Findings

The final stage is to bring the information together.

Each collection should have a complete record connecting its field observations, photographs, identification notes and preserved specimen.

These records contribute to our growing understanding of the fungi present in the Reffwngiwm.

We aim to make our findings available through our website and appropriate biological recording networks, helping to improve knowledge of fungal diversity in the wider region.

Our records will also contribute to the development of a fungal-centred conservation and management plan for the woodland.

List of Recorded Species

Our growing [List of Recorded Species] provides an overview of the fungi and other organisms that have been identified within the woodland.

The list is regularly updated as new species are recorded and existing identifications are confirmed.

A Growing Collection

The Reffwngiwm Fungarium is both a practical conservation resource and a shared learning project.

Through our regular fungal forays, volunteers can develop their identification skills, learn about woodland ecology and contribute to a growing collection of scientific records.

Some specimens may be familiar and easily identified; others may require further examination, specialist knowledge or DNA analysis. Each collection offers an opportunity to learn more about the extraordinary diversity of fungi living within the woodland.

By carefully collecting, documenting and preserving these organisms, we hope to create a lasting resource for conservation, education and future research.

A Guide to Collecting, Identifying, and Recording Mushrooms for the Fungarium