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Fungi and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
varies. However, on balance, it would seem that the diversity and types of invertebrates found in most
habitats is strongly influenced by the types of fungi present.
Table 1: UK BAP fungi - a summary
Species Species Priority SAP Conservation
recorded BAP done Status
in Essex species
Amanita friabilis - RDB
Armillaria ectypa - Yes Yes RDB
Bankera fuligineoalba - Yes Yes* RDB
Battarraea phalloides Yes Yes Yes RDB; S8
Boletopsis leucomelaena - Yes - RDB
Boletus purpureas - RDB
Boletus regius - Yes Yes RDB; S8
Boletus satanas Yes Yes Yes RDB
Buglossoporus pulvinus Yes Yes Yes RDB; S8
Clavaria zollingeri - RDB
Cortinarius praestans - RDB
Geoglossum arenarium - RDB
Gomphus clavatus Yes - RDB
Haploprous odorus - RDB
Hericium erinaceum Yes Yes Yes RDB; S8
Hydnellum aurantiacum Yes Yes Yes* RDB
Hydnellum caeruleum - Yes Yes* RDB
Hydnellum concrescens Yes Yes Yes* RDB
Hydnellum ferrugineum Yes Yes Yes* RDB
Hydnellum mirabile - Yes - RDB
Hydnellum spongiosipes - Yes Yes* RDB
Hydnellum peckii - Yes Yes* RDB
Hydnellum scrobiculatum Yes Yes Yes* RDB
Hygrocybe calyptriformis - Yes Yes RDB
Hygrocybe spadicea - Yes Yes RDB
Hypocreopis lichenoides - RDB
Hypocreopis rhododendri - Yes Yes RDB
Microglossum olivaceum - Yes Yes RDB
Phellodon confluens - Yes Yes* RDB
Phellodon melaleucus Yes Yes Yes* RDB
Phellodon tomentosus Yes Yes Y'es* RDB
Poronia punctata - Yes Yes RDB
Ramariopsis pulchella - RDB
Sarcodon glaucopus - - Yes* RDB
Sarcodon fuligineo-violaceus - Yes - RDB
Sarcodon imbricatus Yes Yes* RDB
Sarcodon scabrosus - Yes Yes* RDB
Squamanita schreieri - RDB
Tricholoma colossus - RDB
Tulostoma niveum - Yes Yes RDB
Includes: whether the species have been recorded in Essex; whether or not they are a priority BAP species;
whether a Species Action Plan (SAP) has been produced (* - one of the 14 threatened stipitate hydnoid
fungi); and lists other conservation designations (S8 - listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981; RDB = included on the provisional Red Data List for fungi (Ing 1992)).
Fungi are also important in their own right. They contribute significantly to our overall biodiversity
and add to the intrinsic value and of beauty of our countryside. Many species are rare and endangered,
and require conservation action to ensure their survival. There are around 72,000 named fungi worldwide,
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)