Dead man’s fingers / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) is a striking and slightly eerie fungus that earns its name from its unusual appearance. Found growing on decaying hardwood, particularly around tree stumps and buried roots, this fungus resembles blackened, finger-like shapes emerging from…
Category: winter
Shaggy Bracket / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Shaggy Bracket (Inonotus hispidus) is a bold and fascinating fungus often found on deciduous trees such as ash and apple across the UK. Its large, shaggy-looking brackets and rusty brown colour make it a distinctive sight, particularly…
Chaga / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a unique fungus prized for its medicinal properties and revered in traditional medicine for centuries. Growing primarily on birch trees in colder climates, this irregular, black, crusty growth may not look like a…
Amanita Muscaria, or the Fly Agaric, the iconic and quintessential mushroom (or toadstool) of European folklore, is one steeped in much myth and legend, both urban and otherwise. Some (mostly mis-informed) people have been brought up with the belief that it is deadly poisonous, others believe it to be the…
Poison Pie / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Toxic The Poison Pie (Hebeloma species) is a group of toxic mushrooms often found in woodlands, grassy areas, and even parklands across the UK. With their smooth, pale-brown caps and cream-coloured gills, they might look like an edible treat to an…
Common Dogwood / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Toxic The Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a familiar sight in hedgerows, woodlands, and gardens across the UK, admired for its vibrant red stems in winter and clusters of creamy white flowers in spring. As the seasons turn, its…
Snowberry / Autumn / Winter / Toxic The Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is a striking shrub originationg in North America. It adds a touch of magic to UK hedgerows and gardens, especially in autumn and winter. Its clusters of pristine white berries stand out against the bare landscape, making it a…
Clematis / Summer / Autumn / Inedible Clematis vitalba, often called Traveller’s Joy or Old Man’s Beard, is a familiar sight in hedgerows and woodlands across the UK. This vigorous climbing plant is known for its feathery seed heads and clusters of creamy white flowers that brighten the countryside in…
Tuberous polypore / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Tuberous Polypore (Polyporus tuberaster) is a delightful find for me. Known for its edible qualities and distinctive growth habit, this mushroom grows from an underground sclerotium—a hard, tuber-like structure that gives it its name. Found on…
Splitgills / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Splitgill (Schizophyllum commune) might be small in size, but it’s a giant when it comes to intrigue. This delicate, fan-shaped fungus is one of the most widespread mushrooms on the planet, thriving on deadwood in a variety of…