Fungi of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Part one

Leratiomyces ceres is a common and striking fungus found throughout the garden’s many woodchip mulched beds. Commonly known as the Redlead Roundhead, it is recognisable by its bright red, slimy cap and white, often slightly wooly stem. This fungus is an alien species thought to have originated in Australia or New Zealand- it was first recorded in Somerset, England in 1957. The fungus is thought to be spreading further north through the popular use of woodchip mulches in parks and gardens.

Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca is another common and easily recognisable fungus found among woodchips and leaf litter in the vicinity of conifers. The common name of this fungus is the False Chanterelle, and while it does bear a passing resemblance to the popular edible chanterelle, H.aurantiaca is orange in colour and possesses true gills, rather than the false gills or folds of the yellow chanterelle.

Stropharia aeruginosa is a wonderful blue- green mushroom, which has been found under Populus yunnanensis trees on the garden’s Chinese Hillside. The beautiful cap colour fades to greenish yellow then almost white as the mushroom ages.

Macrocystidia cucumis is frequently found throughout the garden in Autumn and is, at first glance, a rather nondescript little brown mushroom. On closer inspection, however, this fungus has a strong and memorable smell- likened to oily fish or cucumbers. The common name for this mushroom is the Cucumber Cap.

Several Agaricus species grow at the Botanics, including Agaricus campestris, Agaricus xanthodermus, and Agaricus augustus- commonly known as The Prince. A.augustus has been found in varied habitats throughout the garden- particularly with Pine trees but also under Birch. The Prince is a delicious edible that tastes of almonds.

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