To many people the word fungus probably conjures up unflattering thoughts of damp and decay yet fungi help trees and plants to grow and are agents for the recycling of nutrients from dead organic matter.
Fungi are normally found in meadows and woods and there are thousands of varieties. Although they are more common during the autumn and winter months they can be found throughout the year. It depends at what time of the year the fungus 'fruits' (produces its fungal body - the part seen above the ground).

The study of fungi is called mycology and experts in this field are mycologists. Generally speaking, the layman might call an edible fungus a mushroom and anything inedible or poisonous would be called a toadstool.

Some people scour the woods looking for mushrooms for culinary purposes - a risky pastime since there are specimens that can bring serious illness or death if mis-identified. What they are picking is the 'fruit body' of the fungus - the part above the ground (the mycelium). This contains millions of reproductive units, the spores, that are usually dispersed by the wind. However, most of the fungus is underground.

Unlike plants, fungi lack chlorophyll and so cannot make their own food by photosynthesis. Instead, they get nutrition from organic matter using a mass of underground threads (hypae) that permeate rotting wood and leaf litter etc.
Fungi are usually associated (or are symbiotic) with trees. In other words, fungi and trees 'work' together for mutual benefit. So in a mixed deciduous woodland, for example, there will be many different types of fungi.
The hyphae penetrate a tree's roots and the fungus gets its energy via photosynthesis of the tree's leaves. In turn, the tree gets essential elements from fungal action in the soil.

The tables offer a selection of fungi portraits (or just scroll down).

I confess that I was accumulating so many photos that were going into the 'unidentified' category that I tended to turn a blind eye to fungi when I saw them in the wild in order to minimise this growing problem. I find it tough identifying fungi. Lots of page-thumbing, so please excuse any mistakes. Better still, tell me about them! Thank you.
Over time, I hope to find 'homes' for the many that I have yet to place.