The NIFG hold as many records of fungi, both our own and those already published, that we can lay our hands on. It is a fairly comprehensive dataset for what recording has been done. 

We are part of the CEDaR network (Centre for Environmental Data and Recording at the Ulster Museum), so all our records can be put in context with other groups of organisms. We also supply our data to the British Mycological Society database.

This map shows the number of species recorded per 10km square in Northern Ireland up to August 2008 and the very pleasing aspect is the widespread coverage of records!

   

Compare this to the recording map prior to the NIFG being formed in 1996

      

Statistics available (last updated 2 August 2008):

The 50 most widespread species recorded so far in Northern Ireland 

The most commonly recorded associated species

The Fruiting times of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in Northern Ireland

These are some statistics from the database. If you have any other queries, I will try and answer them. Contact me at

The 50 most widespread species recorded so far in Northern Ireland (last updated 17 March 2000)

These species are ranked by the number of 10km squares they have been recorded in. This is a better indication than the number of records as various recording methodologies have meant that different species are recorded in different ways. This list will also however say a lot about the recording interests of our group as well as which species are particularly abundant! There are 186 10km squares in Northern Ireland. The results certainly reflect the amount of work done on grassland fungi !!

Rank Species No 10km Squares
1 Hygrocybe conica var. conica 124
2 Hygrocybe virginea var. virginea 123
3 Hygrocybe psittacina var. psittacina 113
3 Xylaria hypoxylon 113
5 Hygrocybe coccinea 111
6 Hygrocybe insipida 110
7 Trametes versicolor 108
8 Hygrocybe pratensis 102
9 Stereum hirsutum 101
10 Cystoderma amianthinum 98
11 Laccaria laccata 97
12 Stropharia semiglobata 96
13 Hygrocybe chlorophana 93
14 Hypholoma fasciculare 91
15 Hygrocybe reidii 88
16 Armillaria mellea 86
16 Hygrocybe russocoriacea 86
18 Collybia butyracea var. butyracea 85
19 Hygrocybe quieta 83
19 Paxillus involutus 83
19 Stereum rugosum 83
22 Russula ochroleuca 79
23 Rhytisma acerinum 76
24 Collybia confluens 75
24 Lactarius blennius 75
26 Hygrocybe ceracea 74
26 Hypoxylon fuscum 74
28 Piptoporus betulinus 73
29 Clavulinopsis helvola 71
29 Lycoperdon perlatum 71
29 Mycena pura var. pura 71
32 Clitocybe nebularis 70
32 Lycoperdon pyriforme 70
32 Pluteus cervinus 70
35 Lepista nuda 69
36 Boletus chrysenteron 67
36 Panaeolus papilionaceus var. papilionaceus 67
38 Tremella mesenterica 66
39 Russula mairei 64
40 Russula nigricans 63
41 Auricularia auricula-judae 62
41 Clavulinopsis corniculata 62
43 Chlorociboria aeruginascens 61
43 Marasmius rotula 61
43 Russula cyanoxantha 61
46 Amanita rubescens var. rubescens 60
46 Coprinus micaceus 60
46 Entoloma conferendum 60
46 Geoglossum fallax 60
46 Hygrocybe punicea 60
46 Laccaria amethystina 60
46 Lactarius subdulcis 60
46 Xylaria polymorpha 60
54 Collybia peronata 58
55 Coprinus comatus 57
55 Ganoderma australe 57
57 Oudemansiella mucida 55
58 Clitocybe fragrans 54
58 Lepista flaccida 54
60 Hygrocybe laeta var. laeta 53
60 Hypoxylon multiforme 53
62 Bolbitius vitellinus 52
62 Hygrocybe irrigata 52
62 Lactarius quietus 52
62 Tricholomopsis rutilans 52
66 Phallus impudicus 51
67 Coprobia granulata 49
67 Daedaleopsis confragosa 49
69 Ascocoryne sarcoides 48
69 Exidia thuretiana 48
69 Hypoxylon fragiforme 48
69 Nectria cinnabarina 48
73 Inonotus radiatus 47
73 Russula fellea 47
75 Hygrocybe fornicata 46
75 Russula delica 46
77 Calocera viscosa 45
77 Lycoperdon nigrescens 45
77 Macrolepiota rhacodes var. rhacodes 45
80 Leotia lubrica 44
80 Scleroderma citrinum 44
82 Agaricus arvensis 43
82 Clitopilus prunulus 43
84 Amanita muscaria 42
84 Clavulinopsis luteoalba 42
84 Flammulina velutipes 42
84 Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca 42
84 Lactarius tabidus 42
84 Psilocybe semilanceata 42
90 Armillaria gallica 41
90 Boletus edulis 41
90 Scutellinia scutellata 41
93 Clavulina coralloides 40
93 Hygrocybe virginea var. ochraceopallida 40
93 Vascellum pratense 40
96 Clavulinopsis fusiformis 39
96 Diatrype stigma 39
96 Hygrocybe miniata 39
96 Meripilus giganteus 39
100 Clavulina cinerea 38
100 Hygrocybe calyptriformis 38
100 Hygrocybe virginea var. virginea 38
100 Lacrymaria lacrymabunda 38
100 Psathyrella candolleana 38

Hygrocybe conica

The most commonly recorded associated species

A word of caution with this list. Identifying which species a piece of dead wood is is not easy. Recording the species of tree an ectomycorrhizal fungi is associated with is also very difficult. The actual tree may be 100m away. This list however gives an indication of the most commonly associated species. The dominance of beech is notable given that it is not a native Irish species. 

Rank Species Common Name No Records
1 Fagus sylvatica Beech 3453
2 Quercus Oak 2108
3 Betula Birch 1292
4 Corylus avellana Hazel 1188
5 Quercus petraea Sessile Oak 682
6 Betula pendula Silver Birch 496
7 Alnus glutinosa Alder 465
8 Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine 449
9 Larix Larch 446
10 Betula pubescens Downy Birch 434
11 Poa Meadow-Grass 390
12 Pinus Pine 304
13 Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore 290
14 Bos domestic Domestic Cattle 288
15 Picea sitchensis Sitka Spruce 277
16 Fraxinus excelsior Ash 264
17 Salix Sallow 201
18 Picea abies Norway Spruce 157
19 Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak 115
20 Tilia Lime 114
21 Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas Fir 109
22 Ulex europaeus Gorse 97
23 Ovis domestic Feral Sheep 90
24 Ilex aquifolium Holly 68
24 Ulmus Elm 68
24 Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn 68
27 Salix cinerea Grey Willow 67
28 Sambucus nigra Elder 66
29 Prunus laurocerasus Cherry Laurel 60
30 Abies procera Noble Fir 59
30 Pinus contorta Lodgepole Pine 59

 

The Fruiting times of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in Northern Ireland

Records of the genera Boletus, Cantharellus, Cortinarius, Hydnum, Inocybe, Lactarius, Leccinum, Russula, Suillus, Tricholoma are plotted here against time. The result shows an extended fruiting season which reflects our mild oceanic climate.

 

 

Cortinarius sp.

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