Fungi

there's more to fungi than merely mushroom-shaped species

There are two main reasons why I'd recommend fungi: they're weird and wonderful, and they can be found throughout the period before your hand-in.

The part you collect is of course only the fruiting body - most of the time a fungus goes about its business unseen, a network of hyphae (a mycelium) absorbing nutrients by decomposing plant material. Some networks are enormous - this article suggests an Armillaria fungus to be the largest, oldest organism in the world. Most plants have fungi associated with their roots which help them absorb water and nutrients (perhaps this enabled plants to initially colonise the land 600 million years ago). Fungi are also an important source of protein worldwide, and contribute to the production of many other foods. And we also owe the medical revolution of Penicillin to fungi - from Penicillium species. Some species have a darker reputation (hence the 'toadstool' of folklore), but I think that makes them even more interesting.

Tenniel's famous illustration from Alice in Wonderland

A disadvantage of choosing fungi is that you can't go collecting and then leave your specimens to deal with later. You have to identify them when they're fresh - that's when the diagnostic features are best. Some will just liquify if you leave them, and that doesn't make for a good looking collection. Most species require careful preservation - and that can change their shape, texture, colour and smell. So I can't stress this enough - you have to identify them when they're fresh :)

Rather specialist fungal habitat - Cordyceps on a tarantula. CC photo by Ian Suzuki.

Here are some tips for identifying your fungi.

And here are some suggestions on their preservation.

One advantage to choosing fungi is that they are relatively easy to find in the autumn. I've written a page on collecting for budding mycologists. It includes important points about some legal issues you should at least be aware of.

This link will bring up all posts tagged with 'fungi' (including any extra thoughts I've had recently and any other resources I've found).