2016/17 collections: fungi

I thought it might be useful to review some of the best collections that were handed in this Spring, so you can gain inspiration from them. Although they might be a of different taxonomic group than you choose, there are plenty of tips that apply pretty generally.

A couple of the fungi collectors did extremely well, getting marks in the high 70s.

The person who marked these was very impressed with the quality of the specimens. I would suggest this means that they're not damaged (eg. by nibbling) and were at their peak of loveliness when collected, with all the useful features for identification (like the gills) being mature but not over-mature and decaying. It also implies that they were preserved properly (carefully air-dried or put in the freeze drier) and aren't deteriorating in their case.

The marker commented on the good way in which they were attached inside the cases so they could be accessed and examined. Both are in deep cases with hinged lids that can be opened. The large fungi are pinned directly to the board inside and can be easily removed. The smaller fungi in the collection in the top photo have been glued to neat cardboard backings to support them, and these are in turn pinned and so can be removed.

The collection in the lower photo was praised because the labels include the substrate on which the fungi were found - this is often a very useful clue to correct identification. In fact the good detail on the labels was noted (along with a couple of spelling mistakes!).

The upper collection included more specimens than the lower one, but some were incorrectly identified - the comments about the field diaries suggests that the markers expect to see you finding and documenting more examples than you can identify confidently, and that you won't submit all the specimens you find. So although one contained over ten more specimens than the other, they did get similar marks - it's quality, not just quantity.

Both students included specimens from the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, but the marker noted that in one collection 'only 2 were Ascomycota, rest Basidiomycota' as though a better split might have been preferable.

Finally, both monographs were praised for drawing on the specimens in the collections to illustrate their points. And the field diaries also got good marks (for good detail, drawings and in situ photos) but suspicions were raised over how much had been completed actually in the field. This is something that's repeated so many times that I know it'll help your mark if you get into the habit of scribbling stuff down when you're out collecting.

It made me smile to read on one of the mark sheets the rarely uttered line "I particularly liked the Schizophyllum commune." You will know if you are turning into a fungi nerd if you take a look at this species and find yourself agreeing. I certainly loved this strange and weird specimen when the student brought it in for freeze-drying.