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How to collect

This page provides advice about how to collect fungi in the field for for identification. There are additional pages to help you look for field characteristics, deal with specimens once you get home and on microscopic examination.

General notes:

  • Aim to collect fresh specimens in good condition (note that some fungi do grow on other old fungi and may be of interest!). Single specimens in poor condition often cannot be reliably identified. 
  • Collect fruit bodies from the base as the characteristics of the stipe base and associated structures can be invaluable in identification. Note that some fungi have root like structures or compact ‘resting’ structures (sclerotia) below the surface. 
  • Aim to collect 2-3 specimens of each to give you enough material to work with. A range showing the fruitbody development with age can be useful in some genera e.g. Cortinarius. If one specimen is present, you can often find others nearby. 
  • Make field notes of what the fungus is growing in (substrate) and what nearby trees are present. Was the fungus growing in a tuft, trooping or by itself – you will be amazed how easy it is to forget these things when you get back to the lab. 
  • Make field notes of any ephemeral characters such as the smell (check immediately – a smell often fades very quickly) and any changes in colour. 
  • Photographs can be an invaluable aid to recording field characters, but see advice on taking photos for identification. 
  • Small species of toadstools, corticioids and most Ascomycetes are best collected on the substrate.

All unwanted fungal material should be disposed of thoughtfully and discretely. When searching for corticioid species or microfungi on logs or branches, please replace any dead wood that you turn over or disturb.

Equipment:

  • Never collect fungi in polythene bags, they accelerate decomposition and you will end up with an unidentifiable mush! 
  • Keep collections separate – you can use twists of grease proof or waxed paper or old plastic tubs and boxes (Fig.1). Small fungi can be kept in good condition by the addition of a small amount of moss or other suitable moist material. Remember to keep your containers reasonably clean – spore contamination from a previous occupant can cause all sorts of unhelpful diversions in the lab. 
  • A good sized, flat bottomed basket is ideal for carrying collections. Plastic carrier bags are equally efficient (as long as the collections are in individual containers) but don’t look as nice! 
  • An old knife or penknife is invaluable for the proper collection of fungi.





















Fig.1:
A selection of equipment for collecting and recording fungi