Hazel Gloves Fungus
A flagship species for Scotland's Atlantic Hazel
Hazel Gloves, or Hypocreopsis rhododendri, is a fungus found in Atlantic hazelwoods. As the focus for conservation action by Scottish Natural Heritage's Species Action Framework, this species guided AHAG's work in our first five years. In this time we have learnt a lot about Hazel Gloves distribution and ecology through lots of volunteer survey and a programme of ecological research as part of a Ph.D. study at the University of Aberdeen. See the references below for more information.
The presence of an equally fascinating fungus, Hymenochaete corugats, so called the 'Glue Fungus' because of its habit of gluing deadwood up in the hazel canopy, is a good indicator that Hazel Gloves might be about. It is now thought that Hazel Gloves is probably parasitic on Glue Fungus!
If you find Hazel Gloves please send us the details and we'll make sure they are added to national databases and our map.
Further reading:
Grundy, K. C., Taylor, A. F. S., Woodward, S. & Genney, D. R. 2014. Hazel gloves fungus: ecology and implications for conservation management. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 782
Report on hazel gloves Hypocreopsis rhododendri, a UK BAP ascomycete fungus (with reference to willow gloves H. lichenoides) (ENRR541)