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Top 10 Charismatic Megafunga
Find out about the most commonly-encountered fungi in the UK and Ireland.
Step into the spellbinding world of fungi and meet the superstars of Britain and Ireland!
Powered by data from the British Mycological Society’s Fungal Records Database for Britain and Ireland (FRDBI), we present the Top 10 most frequently recorded species - the fungi you’re most likely to encounter on forays across town and country.
Below we offer a glimpse into fungal habits and habitats, with images and identification tips to help you recognise each species in the wild.
Whether you’re recording, foraging, photographing, or just fascinated by fungi, this guide will help you spot and appreciate the “Charismatic Megafunga” of Britain and Ireland.
Compiled by Lily, Shehanaz and Harley - students at the University of Exeter - and Mark Ramsdale, Head of Training at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, and Chair of the British Mycological Society Fungal Education and Outreach Committee.
# 1
Turkey Tails
# 2
Hairy Curtain Crust
# 3
Candle Snuff
# 4
Sulphur Tuft
# 5
Amethyst Deceiver
# 6
Birch Polypore
# 7
Ochre Brittle Gill
# 8
Wood Ear
# 9
Common Bonnet
# 10
Brown Roll-Rim
About the FRDBI
Records of fungal fruiting observed by British Mycological Society members, local fungus groups and others across Britain and Ireland are recorded in the Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland. The FRDBI contains over 2.5 million fungal records, covering four centuries of recording, and the data is used by national bodies to support policy development and inform conservation initiatives.
The number of records of each species shown here was obtained from the FRDBI on 7 August 2025.