In 1971 Peter Wilberforce published part 2 of the list, the Ascomycetes, based in large part on the
list of the well known mycologist W. D. Graddon. Wilberforce's list totalled 182 species. Also in
1971 Bernard T. Ward put together part 3 of the list, the Myxomycetes including 107 species plus 27
varieties. These three lists bring together a total of 1074 species, not including varieties. Species
have continued to be added with a more rapid increase in records in recent years due to the input of
new mycologists such as Colin Plant, Audrey Yelland. Peter Holland and myself. In 1981 the present
author published an addendum to the Forest list which added 97 records. Plant and Kibby (1984) in
a study of Southern Epping Forest added a further 21 new records, bringing the total in published lists
to 1192
Despite this steady addition of records, it must be stressed that it is still very easy to add new records
to the list on almost any walk through the woods. The genera containing the smaller, less dramatic
species, or where the species groups need detailed microscopic work to identify the species, are still
woefully under-recorded. If we review the families of the gilled mushrooms in Boardman's 1970 list
this becomes readily apparent. Most of the families have had very few additions in the 53 years since
Pearson's list, in particular the Tricholomataceae and Coprinaceae, both large families where
numerous species remain unrecorded in the forest, mostly due to lack of available expertise.
Hygrophoraceae: only 2 additions but this seems to represent a genuine lack of species in the Forest,
they are rarely collected, even those listed as common by Pearson.
Pleurotaceae: 4 additions, the smaller species of genera such as Crepidotus need further study.
Tricholomataceae: only 13 additions in this large family. Genera such as Clitocybe, Collybia,
Marasmius, Mycena and Omphalina all with numerous, small, often difficult to identify species, will
all reveal new species to anyone with the specialist literature and a microscope.
Clitopilaceae: no additions.
Rhodophyllaceae: only 15 species listed, a difficult group to identify but undoubtedly much better
represented in the Forest than is apparent from the list.
Cortinariaceae: only 15 additions. A taxonomist's nightmare, the difficult genus Cortinarius will
continue to yield new records with increased study and the availability of recent monographs. Inocybe,
a genus rich in microscopic characters but with species often rather similar macroscopically is urgently
in need of study.
Bolbitiaceae: no additions to the 9 species listed, the genus Conocybe is common in the Forest and
a number of species remain to be added.
Strophariaceae: only 3 additions. The smaller Hypholoma species, and the genus Psilocybe are
definitely under recorded. The recently published British Flora (Watling and Gregory 1987) for this
group will be a great help in identifications in the future.
Coprinaceae: only 9 additions. This will probably be one of the most rewarding areas to study, with
the recent publication of a good British flora (Orton and Watling. 1979) this family is much easier to
tackle and the Forest is a rich source of species.
Agaricaceae: only one addition in Boardman's list although a number added since. The Forest is
rather poor in species of Lepiota so numerous records are not expected. Agaricus, however, has proved
to be well represented.
Volvariaceae: 2 additions. Pluteus has been rather poor despite the apparent abundance of suitable
habitat; this may improve in the near future with the increase in dead wood.
Amanitaceae: 2 additions. There are unlikely to be any great numbers of additions in this rather
small family.
Russulaceae: 17 additions in Boardman's list and others added since. The two genera Russula and
Lactarius require detailed microscopic study and although very well represented in the Forest will
probably continue to provide new records. Some species need re-recording and their apparent absence
now, despite regular searches, is puzzling since the habitats are ideal, i.e. R. lilacea found under
Hornbeam.
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