Every species in the database has its own page with photos, identification features, classification and recent observations.
Opening a Species Page
Click a species in the Fungi Index, or click the species name on an observation.
At the Top
- The scientific name, with the common name where there is one. English names follow the British Mycological Society’s recommended list.
- The photo gallery. Reference photos from the NBN Atlas are credited to their photographer, with their licence.
- Key details such as the season it usually fruits in, whether it’s toxic, whether it’s native, and its conservation status.
The Tabs
- About: a description of the species and its ecology.
- Macro: features you can see in the field, such as the cap, gills or pores, stem and flesh.
- Micro: microscopic features such as spores, for advanced identification.
- Map: where the species has been recorded on Field Mycologist UK, following each observation’s location privacy.
Not every species has every tab filled in yet. The database grows over time.
Conservation
Where relevant, a Conservation section shows:
- The species’ IUCN Red List category
- UK legal protection (Schedule 8 or Section 41). Observations of protected species have their locations protected automatically. See Protected Species and Location Privacy.
Classification and Synonyms
- Classification shows the full classification (phylum, class, order, family and genus) from the NBN Atlas.
- Synonyms lists older names for the species. If you record an observation under a synonym, it’s saved under the accepted name automatically.
Reference Sources and Latest Observations
- Reference Sources lists the sources used for the species information.
- Latest Observations shows recent community sightings. Compare them with your own find, especially confirmed ones.
Using Species Pages for Identification
- Look at several photos, as fungi vary a lot with age and weather.
- Check that the season and habitat fit your find.
- Look out for similar species mentioned in the description.