Coal Spoil Fungi

Coal Spoil Fungi Educational Walks &Talks all Habitats & Fungal species
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Surveying,Identification, Recording, Conservation & Preservation of all Fungi & their Habitats
Promote Coal Spoil habitat, its Biodiversity & essential preservation.

13/02/2026

Images of Blushing Bracket and some of it's lookalikes

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to ZLetter: DDaedaleopsis confragosa - Blushing BracketThis is for me an iconic species for Coal Spoi...
13/02/2026

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to Z

Letter: D

Daedaleopsis confragosa - Blushing Bracket

This is for me an iconic species for Coal Spoil habitat and its predominant host Willow. You can't throw stick without risk of it hitting a Willow of varying species, be it planted as part of remediation works, remnant of prior habitat / land use including ancient hedgerows, or self seeded. As such, the likelihood of D.confragosa not being found is fairly remote. Being a saprobic species, found on dead sections of veteran trees, dead or dying branches and trunks, it will be just as happy growing from Birch ( 2nd highest host in my records) and Alder, and rarely other broadleaf species.

Although occasionally you will encounter this species completely resupinate without shelf / bracket formation, It's variable colour and size of bracket can cause some confusion with learners. Most often seen is the typical fan shape, which may also be described as kidney or oyster shaped. Solid colour or zonate banding from almost white, to deep rich mahogany through to port red or rich burgundy and black as it matures and desiccates. Before desiccating and turning black with age, its entire surface, but more readily observed its poroid underside, will blush a pink to port red stain when a thumb is pressed into its surface.
A species that can look quite similar, and most often found on Birch is Trametes ( Lenzites) betulina, more so when its very small as gill formation are very thick, but pressing with thumb will show no colour change. If you encounter gill like structure that does stain pink/ red retain a specimen as you may Daedaleopsis confragosa var. tricolour or something more exciting such as D. septentrionalis

Like all fungi, this is a species that is hosting various species of insects living withing its pores, rearing larvae or providing a valuable food resource, so if your needing a sample for DNA, microscope or educational purposes, pop it into a sealed container to capture the eruption of insects and return them to where found if possible.

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to ZLetter: CChromocyphella muscicola - Moss EarTime to get beady eyes out again to find these!At jus...
12/02/2026

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to Z

Letter: C

Chromocyphella muscicola - Moss Ear

Time to get beady eyes out again to find these!
At just 1.5mm, and largest I've encountered have been 4mm, these do take some effort to find.
Associated with mosses, and occasionally liverworts, you'll most often find these on the underside branches of any tree or shrub species hosting Bryophytes from your grand Oaks to Gorse. Also, areas of host bryophytes which are Northern facing or heavily shaded- they distinctly dislike desiccating rays of sunlight. Occasionally you may even find it on mosses not growing on trees - it doesn't seem too fussy!
There are also no limits to where you'll find it from wetwoodlands throughout the year, to carpark tree lines on a soggy winter day.

This species has the jury out on whether it is necrotrophic ( kills its host before consuming) or symbiotic with its Bryophyte hosts, but you will very often see a yellow halo or completely colourless patch of moss directly surrounding mature fruiting bodies, which leads towards necrotrophic behaviour.
Although literature and records dictate this to be a winter species, in reality you'll find it at any time when moisture levels are sufficient, including following rain in summer.
Get in the habit of looking at mosses to maximise your opportunity to find these, and you wont waste your time as you'll also encounter lots of other interesting fungal species.
Due to its fairly unique look, this basiomycete spore dropper will trick your eye into thinking its an ascomycete due to its cup shape and lack of gills or pores. Should you look under a microscope, the basidia will be revealed, but don't panic if you've not yet moved towards working with a microscope as with good clear images ( most modern phones can achieve this) an ID can be confirmed with some confidence.
Initially pale/ cream somewhat scurfy looking hairy outer surface, but maturing to ochre colour due to its spore mass being brown, with interior fertile surface darkening as the spores develop.

Have you already found it? Post your images below !

11/02/2026

Images of Bjerkandera adusta including amber droplets from Guttation

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to ZLetter: BBjerkandera adusta - Smoky BracketWe're going back to basics for this one and from site...
11/02/2026

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to Z

Letter: B

Bjerkandera adusta - Smoky Bracket

We're going back to basics for this one and from site surveys past 2 weeks - It's looking Fungtastic all round !

It's a species often posted online incorrectly as Turkey Tail / Trametes versicolor as beginners and experienced recorders alike will forget to check the underside of this saprobic polyporoid ( pored surface) resupinate.

Easily recognised when growing without brackets due to its smokey grey fertile surface with sharp contrasting crisp white margin. However, when growing in bracket form, its upper zonate bands of varying shades of cream - brown cap surface looks very much like that of Trametes or Stereum species - ALWAYS check the underside of your fungi! The individual brackets rarely exceed some 6cm, although I have checked microscopically several which have been as large as 3inches - fungi produce spores because they need to, and will grow accordingly to reach optimum air flow. You will find this species in tight tiers, singularly or sporadically - Fungi will do what they want! When a tree or branch is hit with direct regular wind / air flow, these are the occasions you will see it in fully resupinate form with no brackets.
Why not try this yourself - use string, tissue paper or as I prefer, the good old wet finger , and you will see or feel the airflow direction - standalone or trees in more exposed areas are you most likely candidates to observe fully resupinate.
If the brackets are considerably larger and very thick, you may have the rarer Bjerkandera fumosa. I have only encountered this species in Ancient woodlands, and only on Oak and Beech. Although the pored surface is somewhat lighter, as is the upper surface, as fungi are prone to natural variability, check microscopically to confirm if you think you have fumosa.
B. adusta grows readily on any broadleaf species and occasionally conifer.

Like all Fungi, Bjerkandera adusta has the ability to Guttate, where beads of colourless, amber or almost red droplets will be observed on fertile surface. This is caused by the fungi exuding excess fluid which contain tannings from their host tree - hence the variable colour. Best seen after heavy rain or early mornings, and if you have skill at photography, as always a stunning phenomenon to capture in the right light. I lack photography skills, but have attached a taster of what you can see.

Have you already found it ? Or maybe you've photographed Guttation ? Post your images below!

Round 2!!COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to ZLetter: AAscobolus lignitalisIf the idea of microscope work puts you into a cold panic d...
10/02/2026

Round 2!!

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A to Z
Letter: A
Ascobolus lignitalis

If the idea of microscope work puts you into a cold panic driven sweat of overwhelm, or maybe you feel just wouldn't interest you, this maybe the species, or just one of the species from the Ascobolus group that may sway you - just look at those purple zebra striped spores!!
The last 2 images were taken for me by the exceptional photographer John Leach as I couldn't quite capture the Asci which are visible in this group as I don't clean up images or photo stack. Zoom in and take a look!

These were New to Wales, and from a former Colliery Coal Spoil site in 2020.

Granted, you need keen beady eyes to spot these - if you'd not guessed what they are growing on, it's Alder cones, and the sporocarps are hidden between each 'scale' of the seed cone - these fungi are no larger than 1.5mm when fully mature.
Don't let their tiny size put you off from looking - those vivid colours are a sharp contrast against the dark dull colour of the cones and although maybe just specks when emerging, they can be spotted, with an eye lens revealing their stunning features.
Unlike most Fungi, the Asci ( spore producing flask) are visible to the naked eye as they mature and push through the surface, again eye lens or microscope will reveal this jaw dropping feature.

Many Ascobolus are host specific or host type restricted, with majority being coprophilous dung specialist.
In the case of Ascobolus lignitalis, it seems to be more opportunistic, taking advantage of multiple resources of organic material, which means more opportunity to find it!
Hand search through leaf piles, tree cones, check surface of compost heaps and potting mulch. organic seed pots are a great source for Ascobolus species. Take the plunge and get up close and personal with animal dung - herbivore being the easiest starting point including rabbits. You may not find this one, but you will find Ascobolus species.

There are just a handful of UK records, so if you chase kudos in your recording efforts, and County Firsts, this is well worth the time checking - as are all Ascobolus.
Being saprobic on organic material, they don't have a season, instead its optimum point of decay when fruiting occurs - so you have 12months of the year!

Have you already found it ? Pop your photos below 😊

09/02/2026

All 26 species from the 1st round of Coal Spoil Fungi species A-Z! Round 2 and back to A starts tomorrow!

That's the end of the 1st round of Coal Spoil Fungi A-Z! 🥳Next round starts tomorrow.Q: Are these species that you can o...
09/02/2026

That's the end of the 1st round of Coal Spoil Fungi A-Z! 🥳
Next round starts tomorrow.

Q: Are these species that you can only find on Coal Spoil habitats?
A: No! Coal Spoil has an amazing mosaic habitat that can replicate or features of Wetlands, peat bog, Wetwoodland, coastal dune, meadow grassland, acids heath... The list goes on. Species for Flora, Fauna and Fungi found within those habitats can be found on spoil, and in some instances are the only habitats left with regions for these species to cling onto existence.
There may be the odd post where some species are currently only known from Spoil, and in those instances I will make that clear, but the challenge is still on to find in your own areas.

Q: Can anyone find these species?
A: In theory YES! It will take time and enthusiasm for some, but there is no reason why you can't. As there are varying degrees of skill, I will do my best to post combination of species that require higher level of skill such as microscope work, but hopefuly that won't put you off and you'll be encouraged to reach out for help from myself and others. There will be many that only require you to follow ID features, with some iconic species mixed in too such as the Cobalt Crust.

Q: I've found a posted species - What next?
A: Post your photo with pride on relevant post shout loudly and share with your family and friends! Don't forget to get it recorded via LERC apps, iRecord, Local Record Centres, CATE2, FRDBI, iNaturalist or any other recognsied platform - I use LERC Wales App.

Every record counts no matter how common the species so please record ALL your Fungal finds.

What's been your favourite species so far, and had any inspired you to get out and find them for yourself on Coal Spoil or any other habitat ? Post your successful finds below and add any feedback - constructive also appreciated 🙂

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A - ZLetter: ZClavaria zollingeri - Violet CoralEven though this rare species, assessed by IUCN Red Lis...
08/02/2026

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A - Z

Letter: Z

Clavaria zollingeri - Violet Coral

Even though this rare species, assessed by IUCN Red List as ‘Vulnerable’, is on the CHEGD Grassland Fungi list, it is a species that can be found in both woodlands and grasslands ....and absolutely some of the more mature Coal Spoil sites.
The 1st image below is from a site that was reclaimed no earlier than 1990, a former spoil less than 40 years old with a CHEGD count exceeding National Importance ticking all boxes.
Coal Spoil habitat simply doesn't read the books, and hosts some of UKs rarest Flora, Fauna and Fungi at a timescale that defies the written rules of 'ancient grassland'.

This species used to be straight forward based on its pink to neon bubblegum, violet or purple shades, but now a complex that requires microscope and advised DNA sequence to determine if you have the other 2 options of Clavaria violaceopulchra or Amethystina..... or something else!
Currently unassessed, hopefully they can be fast tracked by IUCN to at least equal of Zollingeri status to ensure continued high scoring of sites where these are found to aid preservation and conservation their ever decreasing habits.
Found between July - November, add it to this years tick list if you've not found it yet.



Have you found already this species on Coal Spoil or any other habitat? Post your photos below!

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A - ZLetter: YYellow Stagshorn - Calocera viscosaY. Almost as challenging as tomorrow's Z!Unless your l...
07/02/2026

COAL SPOIL FUNGI A - Z

Letter: Y

Yellow Stagshorn - Calocera viscosa

Y. Almost as challenging as tomorrow's Z!
Unless your lucky enough to find Ypsilonidium bananisporum, you're going to fall short.. it's now on my bucket list 😁

Sticking to common names, we have of course Yellow Stagshorn.
Providing you access to conifers, and with thanks to Larch die-back disease endemic throughout the UK, this is a species that everyone could tick off their list.
You'd be hard pressed to find a Colliery or Coal Spoil site that doesn't have conifer, either as part of its reclamation for plantation or remediation tree planting, and also historical past with conifer used in pit props and rail sleepers. Also, many conifers will self seed from nearby sites, or dispersed wider areas by vector, as demonstrated in many restoration projects where non native conifer seedlings and saplings are being removed.
Being another saprobic species and growing from both roots and trunks of dead or dying trees, Plantations that have been harvested or cleared are an easy go to if your looking for abundance to quickly tick it off your regional list for recording. However, if your a photographer, and you looking for a stunning example with perfect subdued lighting then a mixed woodland being largely left to nature or minimal management will be the place to go and worth the time and effort to seek it out. Its a species that can be found 12 months of the year providing conditions are right, and as an added bonus, if weather is dry and warm after growth, it darkens to almost flame orange / red tones and can look even more spectacular.
It may assume that as this species lacks gills or pores that it would be an ascomycete, but its a spore dropping basidiomycete!
Mistakes with ID can be easily made if beginner or forgetting to check all features. Looking very much like several species of yellow/ orange branching or forked Ramaria or Clavaria including 'grassland' species which frequently appear in woodland such as Ramariopsis Crocea or Clavulinopsis corniculata , especially when growing from roots or buried wood, its easily distinguished by its texture which when wet is viscid.
Another feature of this species is its amazing deep 'rooting', and if dug out can be several inches long within the trunk of a tree.

Have you found it ? Pop your images below 😊

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