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If you visit a park or woodland you might spot fungi, such as toadstools.

Fantastic Fungi Facts

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BE CAREFUL! Many fungi are poisonous. Never touch fungi you see

growing in a woodland, field or any other outdoor place.

Toadstool

A fungus is made up of very thin, hair-like threads called hyphae (hi-fee). Lots of hyphae make a mycelium (my-seal-ee-um).

The mycelium grows and spreads under the ground or through a rotting log or layer of rotting leaves. We don’t even know the fungus is there.

Once or twice a year, however, it is time for a fungus to reproduce. Then it produces a fruiting body. The part of a fungus we see is the fruiting body.

The fruiting bodies of fungi come in many different shapes and colours.

The fruiting bodies release microscopic spores into the air. Each spore might grow into a new fungus – just as a seed can grow into a new plant.

Fungi fruiting bodies

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Be a Fungus Spotter

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Fly agaric toadstools Chicken of the woods fungus

Sulphur tuft toadstools Blue roundhead toadstool

Cauliflower fungus Velvet shank fungus

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Be a Fungus Spotter

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Panther cap toadstools Yellow stagshorn fungus

Turkey tail fungus Scarlet elf cup fungi

Plums and custard toadstool Shaggy scalycap toadstools