New Forest Fungi

	New Forest Fungi: Lawyer's Wig

New Forest Fungi can be found in an often bewildering variety of shapes and sizes. In fact, of the 12,000 species found in Britain, around 2,700 are present in the New Forest, making this one of the most productive Fungus habitats in Western Europe.

And there are some real corkers out there, many with long histories of culinary, medicinal and other use.

The Fly Agaric is one of the commonest, and most distinctive. The white stem and bright red, white flecked cap usually appears quite late in the autumn, often under birch, with which it develops a mutually beneficial relationship. Broken up and soaked in milk, Fly Agarics are said to be effective fly deterrents – hence the name - and they were also used to combat bugs, which gave them the alternative name of Bug Agaric. Use as an intoxicant is quite well-known, but less so are curative properties for sunstroke, chilblains, chorea, bunions and cataracts.

The Stinkhorn, too, is equally recognisable. The fruiting body is a hollow, cylindrical stalk, at the tip of which is a conical cap covered in olive-green, spore-filled mucus so foul smelling that it is difficult to imagine anybody being tempted near. The stalk, though, emerges from an egg-shaped, underground globular structure considered to be a spirit egg useful for making love potions and cures for gout, rheumatism and epilepsy.

The Beefsteak Fungus, or Ox-tongue, has been likened in appearance to both a huge tongue, and liver. When old it becomes rather tough, but in all stages can be used to make excellent gravy. Young specimens, when sliced and grilled, pass for beefsteak, which led to another old country name: Poor Man’s Meat.

Similarly, Chicken of the Woods was once much sought after. Huge sulphur–yellow, overlapping fan-shaped plates make this one of the most instantly recognisable fungi, particularly at night when it seemingly emits a bright, phosphorescent light. It grows on oak and a number of other trees and has a fibrous structure which has been likened to both chicken meat and mellow cheese.

If collecting for the table, though, remember that some species are highly poisonous and can kill, so be sure only to use those known to be edible.

Remember, too, British Mycological Society advice – take no more than 50% of fruiting bodies, and then only from plentiful populations; and take care to avoid damage to surrounding vegetation, leaf litter and the dead and decaying timber on which the fungi grow.

And always follow the New Forest Fungi Collectors’ Code: commercial picking is prohibited; individuals are allowed to take a maximum of 1.5 kgs per day; and a number of areas - Burley Old Inclosure, Dames Slough Inclosure and Whitley Wood - are completely out of bounds to pickers.