Fungal associates of Salix repens in northern oceanic Britain and their conservation significance*

Macromycetes recorded from beds of creeping willow, Salix repens in the northern archipelagos of Shetland and Orkney are listed and discussed. Two components are demonstrated, an arctic-alpine group and one which is more typical of lowland frondose woodland communities in mainland Britain. The importance of maintaining, even encouraging the development of creeping willow beds with their attendant ectomycorrhizal fungi in conservation terms are explored.