Years 2003 - 2015
The mushrooms of Russia vary widely in appearance and habitat. Some grow in association with particular trees, while others develop on fallen leaves, needles or wood. We explore this diversity through photographs taken mainly in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Our collection includes individual specimens, groups of mushrooms and close-up views of features that are difficult to see in a wider shot.
The familiar cap and stem represent just one form of fungal fruiting body. Tree trunks may support bracket fungi and thin, spreading crusts, while cup-shaped, spherical and branching forms can be found among moss and leaf litter. Fungi that look very different may perform similar ecological roles, while those with a similar shape may belong to different groups.
The visible fruiting body produces and releases spores. The mycelium grows within a suitable substrate, such as soil, forest litter, wood or the tissues of another organism. An absence of fruiting bodies above ground therefore does not necessarily mean that the fungus itself is absent.
Fungi can be divided into several broad groups according to how they obtain nutrients.
| Group | How they obtain nutrients | Ecological role |
|---|---|---|
| Mycorrhizal fungi | Form symbiotic associations with plant roots | Participate in the exchange of nutrients between the fungus and the plant |
| Saprotrophic fungi | Break down dead organic matter | Recycle the nutrients it contains |
| Parasitic fungi | Draw nutrients from the tissues of a living host | Affect the health and development of plants and other organisms |
These differences help explain why mushrooms are not evenly distributed across a forest. Some depend on particular tree species and the condition of their roots; others require fallen wood, damp litter or wood at a particular stage of decay. A fruiting body growing beside a tree trunk does not, by itself, prove that the fungus feeds on that tree's wood.
Our photographs show mushrooms in the surroundings where they were found. Moss, needles, fallen leaves, bark and twigs add context to the specimen itself. These details are useful when comparing finds and exploring their habitats.
Taiga, mixed and broadleaved forests, forest-steppe and tundra differ in vegetation, soils and climate. A single list of “common Russian mushrooms” would therefore be too general. Even within one region, a pine forest, a damp spruce stand, a birch woodland and an urban park can support different combinations of species.
In northwestern Russia, comparisons between coniferous and mixed forests, parks and areas rich in dead wood are particularly revealing. Our collection includes photographs from around Toksovo, Orekhovo, Dibuny and other locations. Each image records a particular specimen, accompanied by a date and caption, rather than presenting an idealised example of a species.
Fruiting depends on a combination of temperature, moisture and the characteristics of the species. The calendar date alone tells only part of the story: the same patch of forest may look very different after a dry spell and after prolonged rain. Photograph dates document observations; they do not predict what will appear in the following season.
When comparing photographs, consider the following:
We therefore encourage looking through a series of photographs rather than relying on a single clear image. Our penny bun collection, for example, includes young and mature specimens, overall views and different angles photographed at several locations. Such series help illustrate variation in appearance.
Photographs provide material for exploration and comparison. A match in colour or cap outline does not confirm a species identification: some groups require features that cannot be seen in a photograph.
The collection offers several ways to explore mushrooms, with browsing by name, family, photograph date and location. The sections bring photographs together with supporting information, helping place individual specimens in the context of their visible features and habitats.
If you know the name, start with the alphabetical lists of Russian and Latin names. These also include synonyms, helping connect different names used for the same taxon. To explore related groups in sequence, use the classified list of mushrooms with photographs.
Species pages bring together photographs, names and details of individual finds. The information available varies: not every photograph has coordinates, and some captions remain in English in the Russian version of the collection.
The expandable sections on the homepage contain annual photo montages. Clicking a thumbnail opens the corresponding mushroom page. The photographs grouped by date let you explore finds recorded on a particular day, while captions and available map links provide location details.
The collection documents the observations included here, rather than providing a complete inventory of fungi in Russia or the Leningrad Region. The number of photographs of a species does not indicate how widespread it is, and the absence of a photograph does not mean that the species is absent from the region.
Russian web-forums Planeta Gribov, V Kontakte, and Griby Sredney Polosy for learning names of local mushrooms.