We had a wee tandem around ‘the block’ to visit a coniferous plantation in search of some ‘different’ fungi. There were loads! It’s taken a wee bit of looking up, and some remain unknown – however, here are a few of my favourites. They include some from a couple of other locations too.
Stumbling around the forest, Malcolm came across this amazing specimen [Main photo and below]. We’d never seen a furry, fluffy fungus before!
(And is that the cutest miniature snail abseiling down to the soft landing?)
Powderpuff Bracket Fungus
After some research and investigation worthy of a few fig rolls, I found out that this is a Powderpuff Bracket Fungus! Never was there a better name! And most definitely one of the most photogenic fungi I’ve ever seen!
There’s not a lot of information online about the powderpuff bracket fungus, nor is it in any of my mushroom books. Postia ptychogaster is found in coniferous woodland, on rotting stumps or logs – just as we found ours.
(Did that sound really smug?)
In complete contrast, a spiky-looking fungus [below]!
It is in fact a young Puffball – to keep with the puffy theme. It’s in the Lycoperdon genus. The mature puffball ‘puffs’ spores when disturbed/ dented or trampled – an impactful dispersal strategy!
Other names include ‘Devil’s Snuffbox’ and ‘Wolf Farts’. The latter name comes from the scientific name; luco means wolf in Greek, and perdon as in ‘pardon me’!
I have no idea what these next fungi are. ‘Twiggy-stemmed fungus’ didn’t bring up any leads! Lovely wee things with an interesting textured cap too.
This trio of transluscent fungi are also unknown species to me.
A cute little one next – a Pine Bolete – perfect habitat! It was like a little button compared to its cousins…
A particularly pale Birch Bolete [below]. Found under a silver birch tree, funnily enough. Away from the plantation, this was in in a small, broadleaved wood. You can see the pores (as opposed to gills or teeth) which look quite bread-like here.
The fungal spores fall from the pores to be dispersed by the wind. Handy having a relatively long stem.
Last but not least of the bolete, the prized Boletus edulis – Penny Bun, also known as Cep or Porcini! Also loved by creatures great and small. Malcolm dehydrated the one on the left in the picture below. We ate it (with Chicken of the Woods and Chanterelle) on toast for lunch!
Truly scrumptious!
A penultimate plunge into a splash of colour.
A young Waxcap [top]; Russula sp., aka Brittlegill [middle left]; Yellow Stagshorn [bottom] which remind me of an appreciative crowd at a festival. And an unknown red and white bracket-type fungus that wouldn’t look out of place in a coral reef [middle right]!
And to end, another unidentified being. I think it is a fungus! It could also, conceivably, be a kind of lichen/ algae/ moss or mould!
For more fungi features, have a look at my recent Shaggy Ink Cap blog; a brush with some Hair Ice; some Fly Agaric art; an extract of Shaggy Ink Cap Ink; an enchanted nest of Elf Cups; a stinky encounter; and a frolic with Faeries and Fungi. Phew!
And the colour in the witch hazel leaves did indeed leach into the water! Fascinating to watch the colour leave the leaves in a short space of time; the leaves left a somewhat peely wally version of their former selves.
