Come on a fungal foray at Kew
By: Christina Harrison - 26/09/2011
At this time of year there are some very special appearances in Kew Gardens. Why not come on a fungal foray to discover some weird and wonderful new friends.
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Living not far from Kew Gardens and Richmond Park, I have to admit to being lucky, as I can easily escape from the busy streets of west London. One of the things I enjoy most when walking in these areas is coming across plants and fungi that I’ve never seen before. Last week I spotted a large zoned rosette fungus (Podoscypha multizonata) in the Park and have since learned there’s an even bigger one in Kew under an ash tree. I am determined to hunt it out. See Tim Entwisle's blog Talking Plants - there's a great picture of it there!
If, like me, you love to spot fungi why not take a look at our feature in the latest Kew magazine about the amazing range you can discover in Kew’s grounds. There is a vast array of colours, shapes and sizes and they are all intriguing. You can also read our fascinating interview with Kew's mycology expert Dr Brian Spooner, about how he became interested in this field.
Earthstar fungus at Kew
Record breaker
One Kew specimen, Rigidoporus ulmarius, now sadly thought lost, earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records in 1995 for being the largest fungal fruiting body on Earth (at 4.8 metres in circumference)! But fear not – around 2,750 other species have been spotted here, so you’ll definitely see some if you come along on your own fungal foray. You’re especially likely to spot fresh mushrooms a couple of days after a good rain shower, and by looking in mulched flowerbeds and in Kew’s Natural Areas at the southern end of the Gardens.
Rigidoporus ulmarius was once the largest fruiting body on Earth!
The amazing fungarium
Kew’s work with fungi dates back many years and there is a ‘fungarium’ collection that houses 1.25 million specimens here. Britain has around 13,000 species of fungi (compared to 2,100 species of native flowering plants and ferns) but the overall total number is unknown. It is thought that 90 per cent are still yet to be discovered. A mind-boggling thought.
Kew also works with Natural England and with other organisations including the University of Aberystwyth on research projects. One aims to discover how many waxcap species exist in Britain, in order to determine how best to conserve them.
- You can find out much more by following the links on the Kew magazine page.
- Please do not pick fungi from the wild – leave them to disperse their spores naturally and be appreciated by others.
- Christina -
Related Links
- All about the work of Kew's mycology team
- Learn more about fungi
- Discover fungi in autumn
- Check out mycology books at kewbooks
- Explore profiles of Kew's plants and fungi
- Talking Plants blog
Tags: extraordinary | massive
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About Christina
Christina accepts a Kew Publishing award at the Garden Media Guild awards in 2012.
Christina joined Kew in 1999 after finishing a BSc. degree in Plant Ecology and an Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture. After initially working as a horticulturist in Kew’s Arboretum and the Hardy Display section (on the Grass Garden) she went on to become Festivals Interpretation Officer between 2002-2008, helping Kew’s onsite visitors understand what makes Kew tick. In the meantime she completed an MA in Garden History, a subject that continues to be one of her passions.
Christina was short-listed for a Garden Writers Guild award in 2007 for one of her articles in Kew magazine, and is the author of Kew’s Big Trees, published in 2008. She became editor of Kew magazine in September 2008. “I see Kew magazine as a window on the world of Kew,” she says. “I hope between its pages the many facets of Kew’s work and the people who make it happen are revealed for all to see and encourage readers to continue to support Kew.”
- If you would like to publish material from this blog in a separate publication, please get in touch with Kew’s Press Office at pr@kew.org. See our full Terms & Conditions here.
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