Species of the Month: December 2025
Holly Parachute (Marasmius hudsonii)
Holly Parachute is a diminutive fungi, found on damp and decaying Holly leaves. Considered rare, this species may really be overlooked due to its tiny size and unusual growing location.
The species is very small, at a maximum of 45mm tall and 6mm in diameter. Several individual fungi can be found on a single holly leaf - the image at the bottom of the page gives an idea of the size. Holly Parachute has a reddish brown stem and off-white cap, both of which are covered in red-brown hairs. These hairs, plus the growing location and size make this species unmistakable. It can be found in woodland and hedgerows, wherever Holly is found.
You can find more image and information about Holly Parachute on NatureSpot and First Nature.
Holly Parachute is actually comparatively well recorded in south Wales, as Glamorgan Fungus Group have sought out the species in previous years. However there are still only 79 records and plenty of gaps to fill! You can view the 1km distribution map of the SEWBReC area on Aderyn here.
You can view the Wales-wide distribution map on Aderyn here.
If you spot Holly Parachute during a festive walk this December (or at any other time of year) please send us the record, ideally via SEWBReCORD or the LERC Wales App. Instructions on how to submit records are available here.
