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 October 2025 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 29 October 2025):
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 david.mitchel@nifg.org.uk
The 50 most commonly recorded species recorded so far in Northern Ireland
These species are ranked by the number of records. This list will also however say a lot about the recording interests of our group as well as which species are particularly abundant! The results certainly reflect the amount of work done on grassland fungi !!
| Species | Common Name | No Records |
| Cuphophyllus virgineus var. virgineus | Snowy Waxcap | 866 |
| Xylaria hypoxylon | Candlesnuff Fungus | 689 |
| Gliophorus psittacinus | Parrot Waxcap | 637 |
| Cuphophyllus pratensis var. pratensis | Meadow Waxcap | 612 |
| Hygrocybe conica | Blackening Waxcap | 594 |
| Hygrocybe coccinea | Scarlet Waxcap | 549 |
| Trametes versicolor | Turkeytail | 518 |
| Hypholoma fasciculare | Sulphur Tuft | 492 |
| Laccaria laccata | Deceiver | 491 |
| Xerocomellus chrysenteron | Red Cracking Bolete | 479 |
| Stereum hirsutum | Hairy Curtain Crust | 446 |
| Hygrocybe insipida | Spangle Waxcap | 432 |
| Hygrocybe chlorophana | Golden Waxcap | 419 |
| Amanita rubescens var. rubescens | Blusher | 415 |
| Cystoderma amianthinum | Earthy Powdercap | 396 |
| Stropharia semiglobata | Dung Roundhead | 387 |
| Armillaria mellea | Honey Fungus | 353 |
| Russula ochroleuca | Ochre Brittlegill | 349 |
| Laccaria amethystina | Amethyst Deceiver | 346 |
| Gymnopus confluens | Clustered Toughshank | 328 |
| Hygrocybe punicea | Crimson Waxcap | 327 |
| Paxillus involutus | Brown Rollrim | 323 |
| Hypoxylon fuscum | Hazel Woodwart | 321 |
| Mycena pura | Lilac Bonnet | 321 |
| Rhodocollybia butyracea | Butter Cap | 315 |
| Lactarius blennius | Beech Milkcap | 309 |
| Lycoperdon perlatum | Common Puffball | 302 |
| Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus | Cedarwood Waxcap | 301 |
| Stereum rugosum | Bleeding Broadleaf Crust | 285 |
| Russula cyanoxantha | Charcoal Burner | 285 |
| Fomitopsis betulina | Birch Polypore | 283 |
| Russula nobilis | Beechwood Sickener | 280 |
| Hygrocybe quieta | Oily Waxcap | 278 |
| Apioperdon pyriforme | Stump Puffball | 272 |
| Lepista nuda | Wood Blewits | 270 |
| Auricularia auricula-judae | Jelly Ear | 270 |
| Rhytisma acerinum | Sycamore Tarspot | 266 |
| Hygrocybe reidii | Honey Waxcap | 265 |
| Russula nigricans | Blackening Brittlegill | 257 |
| Clitocybe nebularis | Clouded Funnel | 253 |
| Pluteus cervinus | Deer Shield | 236 |
| Amanita muscaria | Fly Agaric | 228 |
| Ganoderma adspersum | Bulging Bracket | 223 |
| Coprinellus micaceus | Glistening Inkcap | 217 |
| Boletus edulis | Cep | 216 |
| Leotia lubrica | Jellybaby | 215 |
| Marasmius rotula | Collared Parachute | 214 |
| Coprinus comatus | Shaggy Inkcap | 211 |
| Clavulinopsis corniculata | Meadow Coral | 207 |
| Leccinum scabrum | Brown Birch Bolete | 204 |
| Gliophorus laetus | Heath Waxcap | 203 |
| Mucidula mucida | Porcelain Fungus | 202 |
| Gymnopus peronatus | Wood Woollyfoot | 201 |
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.
