Yellow Brain Fungus / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica), also known as Witch’s Butter, is a striking jelly fungus that’s hard to miss with its vibrant, golden-yellow colour and gelatinous, brain-like texture. Found growing on dead and decaying hardwood, especially…
Tag: winter
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…
Corn Salad/ Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Corn Salad (Valeriana locusta), also known as Lamb’s Lettuce, is a mild and tender wild green that has been enjoyed for centuries. Found in grassy areas, meadows, and fields across the UK, this nutritious plant is packed with vitamins and makes…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Crowberry / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Foraging for wild edibles can be a delightful and rewarding experience, especially when you stumble upon lesser-known gems like the wild Crowberry. Known scientifically as Empetrum nigrum, this hardy berry thrives in the cool, temperate climates of the UK, offering a…
Bruising Webcap / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Bruising Webcap (Cortinarius purpurascens) is a captivating and somewhat enigmatic mushroom tha is found primarily in coniferous and mixed woodlands across Europe and North America, this mushroom is distinguished by its striking colour changes upon handling. The Bruising Webcap…