Fungi

Devon is home to a wide range of woodlands including Dartmoor’s upland oak woods, estuarine oak woods, wet woodlands, and river gorge woodlands. These habitats provide a rich and varied environment for fungi, supporting species that help with nutrient recycling and those that form mycorrhizal relationships, as well as those thriving on decaying wood.

There are several Devon Species of Conservation Concern in this habitat.

• Gilded bolete (Aureoboletus gentilis), with its velvety golden cap, thrives in nutrient-rich soils beneath broadleaved trees. It is associated with ancient oak woodlands of the Dart valley.
• Other colourful species like oldrose bolete (Imperator rhodopurpureus) and devil’s bolete (Rubroboletus satanas) flourish in warm, calcareous woodlands associated with the south coast of Devon, their bold red colours serving as a warning of their toxic nature.
• Pink crownOf a tree - refers to the upper parts, including the branches, stems and leaves. More (Sarcosphaera coronaria) appears in spring as a lilac, cup-shaped fungus, often pushing through disturbed soil along woodland edges on calcareous woods associated with the south coast woodlands of Devon.

The survival of these fungi relies on the protection of Devon’s diverse and ancient woodlands, preserving old trees, deadwood and the undisturbed soils with their networks of fungi mycelium. Disrupting these old woodland soils through planting, ploughing, or other land-use changes can damage these fragile networks, making it difficult for many fungi to survive.

Soils in newer plantations, especially those on former agricultural land, have extremely limited potential for fungi. Lack of fungi will impact on the health of the trees.

Veteran trees and parklands in Devon play a crucial role in supporting fungi, including species associated with old trees and species associated with unimproved grasslands. Traditional orchards, a specialist form of wood pasture, are valuable fungal habitats. Devon Species of Conservation Concern include:

Oak polypore (Buglossoporus quercinus), a UK Red List species, grows on the trunks of mature oaks, forming large, thick, cream-coloured brackets that contribute to wood decay and nutrient cyclingThe process of nutrients being moved around and reused in the sand by animals and other organisms. More.

Zoned rosette (Podoscypha multizonata) is a striking, ground-dwelling fungus that forms layered, rosette-like structures at the base of old trees, particularly oaks. As these trees age and their wood starts to rot, they create ideal conditions for wood-decaying fungi and mycorrhizal species, contributing to nutrient cycling.

Devon’s grasslands – especially unimproved meadows, old pasturelands, and maritime grasslands – are rich habitats for fungi, including rare and threatened waxcap species. These ecosystems provide organic matter and herbivore dung that support fungal decomposers, while some fungi form symbiotic mycorrhizal relationships with plant roots.

Old grasslands, especially pastures on Dartmoor, Exmoor, East Devon heaths, and the Blackdown Hills, and the maritime cliff grasslands of the north and south Devon coasts are of national significance for grassland fungal communities. Some sites such as Lundy Island are of international importance.  

Other grassland communities are found in churchyards, parklands, and in agriculturally unimproved situations. The latter are increasingly rare, but are often associated with steep slopes.

Date waxcap (Hygrocybe spadicea), a striking but increasingly scarce species, has a glossy, chestnut-brown cap and prefers well-grazed, ancient grasslands. Known from Dartmoor, Exmoor and maritime grasslands.

Olive earthtongue (Microglossum olivaceum) stands out with its unusual greenish-black, tongue-shaped fruiting body, emerging from mossy turf.

Nail fungus (Poronia punctata) is a rare and distinctive species that grows on old horse dung, with tiny white fruiting bodies resembling nails. Once widespread, it has become increasingly scarce – possibly extinct in areas like Dartmoor – due to changes in grazing practices and dung composition. A major threat is the use of veterinary treatments such as dewormers and insecticides, which render horse dung unsuitable for decomposer fungi.

Ballerina waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis), one of the most iconic waxcaps, displays a delicate, pink, tutu-like cap, thriving in traditional, unfertilised grasslands. Many Devon records are from churchyards.

Devon’s sand dunes, particularly at Dawlish Warren and Braunton, are a great habitat for fungi due to the presence of decaying organic matter and the ability of fungi to thrive in harsh, nutrient-poor conditions. Some fungi play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and dune stabilisation by interacting with plants like marram grass. Devon Species of Conservation Concern include:

Sandy mushroom (Agaricus devoniensis), a rare UK Red List species, thrives in these environments, recognised by its pale cap and distinctive earthy scent. Dawlish Warren is the type locality, meaning that it was first named as new to science from here.

Wetlands are a crucial habitat for fungi – they provide moisture and organic matter for fungal growth. Fungi break down complex plant matter into nutrients which can then be used as a food source for other living organisms.

Slapton Ley is a key site, where over 2,500 species have been recorded. Other wetland sites include Widdicombe Ley, South Milton Ley, South Huish Marsh, and the reedbeds of the Tamar and Exe estuaries.

Bogs and mires, characterised by Sphagnum mosses, also provide vital habitats for specialist fungi. While lowland bogs occur in areas such as the Pebblebed Heaths and the Blackdown Hills, upland bogs on Dartmoor and Exmoor are valuable habitats but are relatively unexplored in terms of their fungal diversity. Wet areas within Culm grasslands similarly support unique bog communities.

Saltmarshes, though limited in extent, offer another important fungal habitat, particularly in the estuaries of the Exe, Tamar, Tavy, and Taw-Torridge. These areas are known to harbour nationally scarce species, with similar valuable  habitats in the Teign, Otter, Axe, Dart, Avon, Erme, Yealm and Plym.