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 dead…
Tag: summer
Spring field caps / Spring / Summer / Edible The Spring Field caps (Agrocybe praecox) are one of the early arrivals in the fungal calendar, popping up in grassy areas and woodland edges as the days start to warm. Its pale, honey-coloured cap and stout stem make it a charming…
Smokey Bracket / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Smokey Bracket (Bjerkandera adusta) is a subtle yet fascinating fungus that you’ve likely walked past countless times without even noticing. Found on decaying wood, especially hardwoods, it’s a common sight in UK woodlands year-round. Its smoky-grey…
Cinnamon Bracket / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Toxic The Cinnamon Bracket (Hapalopilus nidulans) is one of those mushrooms that stops you in your tracks during a woodland walk. Its warm, cinnamon-brown colour and soft, velvety texture make it stand out against the dull greys and greens…
Egghead Mottlegill /Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The first time I came across the Egg head Mottlegill (Panaeolus semiovatus), I was struck by its delicate, egg-shaped cap and intricate mottled gills. This is one of those fungi that catches your eye in horse pastures and other…
Bronze bolete / Summer / Autumn / Edible A lovely mushroom, the Bronze Bolete passes our three bolete test rules which are, ‘red or blue may make you spew, if it’s bitter leave it out of dinner.’ This is a good chunky edible mushroom and although we don’t find it…
Spotted Toughshank / Summer / Autumn / Inedible The Spotted Toughshank (Rhodocollybia maculata), is a common woodland species that catches the eye with its distinct appearance yet isn’t suitable for the table. Known for its pale, cream-to-tan cap speckled with characteristic dark spots, this tough and fibrous mushroom is more…
Shaggy Scalycap / Summer / Autumn / Inedible The Shaggy Scalycap is the one mushroom you could potentially confuse with the edible honey fungus mushroom, it’s well worth getting to know as we come across it regularly. Scientific Name Pholiota squarrosa Common Names Shaggy Scalycap Family Strophariaceae Habitat They are…
Deadly Webcap / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Deadly Toxic The Deadly Webcap (Cortinarius rubellus) is one of the most dangerous mushrooms found in the UK, European and North American forests. With its deceptively ordinary appearance, this species has been responsible for numerous cases of severe poisoning and fatalities.…
Clustered Domecap Cap / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Scientific Name Lyophyllum decastes Common Names Clustered domecap, Fried chicken mushroom, Gravel mushroom, Chicken mushroom Family Lycophyllaceae Habitat Late summer – November Grows out the ground (not on wood) in a variety of places- grass, leaf litter, gravel and…