Scientific Name

Inonotus dryadeus 

Common Names

Oak Polypore, Oak Bracket, Weeping conk and Warted Oak Polypore

Family

Hymenochaetaceae

Habitat

An infrequent find in northern Britain but fairly common in Wales and southern England. They are parasitic and are found near the base of living and dead oak tree’s and occasionally on other broad-leaf trees such as beech and birch.

Description

The oak bracket fungus doesn’t really have any specific uses, apart from playing a vital role in the woodland ecosystem but they are amazing to find especially when they’re dripping with ‘honey’!

Identifying Features: 

Cap:

The bracket is up to 65 cm across and typically 10–15 cm thick. The upper surface is cream to rusty brown and velvety or hairy. When young and fresh, amber-coloured droplets ooze from tiny pores in the dimpled surface, especially around the edge. the liquid it secretes makes the bracket look as if it is dripping honey. Please don’t taste it, trust me the similarities end there! As the bracket ages, it starts to smell pretty unpleasant. They are more often found singularity but do sometimes occur in tiers. 

Its rusty brown flesh is soft at first, becoming corky and fibrous with age. The caps become blackened and cracked over winter, and sometimes persist for several years.

Pore/tubes:

The underside is buff in colour and there are 4 to 6 fine pores per millimetre. These are initially greyish-white but mature to yellow.

Smell:

Unpleasant especially as they age.

Spores:

White.

Known hazards

Not thought to be toxic but they are tough and bitter making them inedible. 

Potential lookalikes

Could possibly be confused with the Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica) which also grows on Oak trees but this has a softer texture and oozes red juice when cut.

The Shaggy Bracket (Inonotus hispidus) looks very similar but this is usually found growing on Apple or Ash rather than Oak, has a much smoother surface and has a brown spore print.

References:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/oak-bracket/

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/pseudoinonotus-dryadeus.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inonotus_dryadeus

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Scientific Name

Clathrus archeri

Common Names

Devils fingers, Octopus Stinkhorn

Family

Phallaceae

Known commonly as the Stinkhorns.

Habitat

Rare in the UK only appearing in southern areas, but its distribution is widespread over the globe. Preferring warmer tropical regions and Native to the southern hemisphere like Australia and New Zealand. 

Saprophytic, found in areas with abundant decaying matter in moist areas such as leaf litter and bark chippings under vegetation like trees, shrubs and sometimes also in fields.

June- September in southern Britain and channel islands where its warmer.

Description

A magnificent find indeed! Smelling and looking like tentacles of rotting flesh, quite a spectacular and unusual fungi, easy to see how it’s earned its common name Devils fingers with its border line disturbing appearance, you could easily be excused for thinking you’d stumbled across a hatching alien egg!

Identifying Features

Fruiting body

The fruiting body grows in two distinct phases first forming an egg called a suberumpent egg. 

The egg is off white to light brown, gelatinous, slimy and ball-like about 2-3cm.

Next the thallus emerges from the egg with 4-6 (typical) to 8( rarely) starfish/ octopus-like legs. Each leg can grow to 10cm. They emerge vertically then spread out horizontally making the total width about 20cm. The flesh is mostly bright red, with older gleba turning darker.

Stem

None

Pores/gills 

Neither pores or gills, like other Phallaceae (Stinkhorns) Clathrus archeri produces a smelly sticky substance called gleba that houses the spores, this attracts insects like flies and beetles that will then spread the spores.

Spores

Olive brown

Smell

Unpleasant, like rotting flesh or dung attracting insects who then assist with spore dispersal.

Uses

In food

Beyond some weird initiation test, with its stench its unlikely anyone would remotely consider eating this, however its not actually been proven to be toxic but still all resources strongly recommended against consumption.

The egg stage of some Stinkhorns are eaten by the brave and curious but there is no record for the egg of devils fingers .

Medicinal Uses

None known

Harvesting

Being rare and not edible there’s no reason to disturbed it, so best left untouched.

Known hazards

Potentially toxic but unknown.

Potential lookalikes

Starfish Fungus (Aseroe rubra) very rare in Britain, similar but has a thicker stem and each tentacle is divided.

Extra Notes

Clathrus archeri produces compounds similar to the scent of rotting flesh. This compound production supports evidence of convergent evolution between fungi and angiosperms.

The generic name Clathrus means ‘a cage’, and although not too relevant to Devil’s Fingers it does seem entirely appropriate when applied to Clathrus ruber, the Red Cage Fungus, which is the type species in the same genus. 

References

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/fungi/devils-fingers-fungus

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/clathrus-archeri.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrus_archeri

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Scientific Name

Typhula fistulosa, synonyms Clavaria fistulosa

Common Names

Pipe club

Family

Typhulaceae

A type of Clavaroid fungi, which is one of the most basic forms of fungi fruit body and has arisen numerous times through fungi evolution.

Habitat

Saprophytic, growing in broad-leaf woodlands and woodland edges, particularly with birch. Sometimes growing off dead wood but more commonly seen growing off leaf litter. Can be easily overlooked being mistaken for twigs or stems. 

Description

Very peculiar fungi, resembling worms suspended out the ground, Uncommon in Britain and Ireland, but can be seen from June to November.

Identifying Features

Fruit body

Colour- Mainly ochra with light to mid brown at the base and dark still where it attaches with root like structures. Sometimes more orange tones towards the tip.

Shape- An unbranching tubular shape, becoming slightly wider towards the tip, often flattened on one side sometimes with a twist. Soft longitudinal grooves. Growing upwards either straight or more often with a wave between  5-30cm tall and 5-10mm wide. Typically fruits in multiples. 

Pores/gills

The spores are released from the smooth surface of the tips on the fruit body. No visible pore or gills

Smell

No distinctive

Spores

White

Known hazards

None known

Potential lookalikes

Other types of non branching club fungi such as Golden Spindles (Clavulinopsis fusiformis) but this grows in denser clumps and is yellow in colour.

Uses

There are no recorded uses for this fungi.

Extra Notes from the foragers

The generic name Typhula comes from Latin and means slightly smokey. Much more obvious, and again from Latin, is the specific epithet fistulosa, which simply means shaped like a pipe or a tube.

References:

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/typhula-fistulosa.php

 Fungi of temperate europe vol 2 by Thomas Laessoe and Jens H Peterson

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Scientific Name

Leotia lubrica

Common Names

Jelly Baby, The lizard tuft, The ochre jelly club, The slippery cap, The gumdrop fungus, Yellow jelly babies

Family

Leotiaceae

Habitat

Found growing in woodland among moss, plant detritus or other habitats, the fruit bodies are typically found in large numbers They occur in all kinds of woodland but most commonly with conifers. While it has been conventionally regarded as a saprotroph, molecular, isotopic and other lines of evidence have suggested they are a mycorrhizal species.

Description

Commonly known as Jelly babies, these rubbery fungi look at first glance like cap-and-stem mushrooms, but beneath the irregular caps the surface is smooth rather than being gilled. Despite their common name, these little fungi are inedible, the name is due to their texture rather than their taste.

Identifying Features: 

Cap:

The fruiting bodies range from 1 to 6 centimetres in height. When young they are conical in shape. When the body reaches around 2 millimetres in length, the tip of the cone begins to expand, forming the head. The heads are initially round but soon develop wavy margins. Up to 15mm across, the fertile upper surface is smooth, shiny and usually greenish brown or yellowish.

The underside is paler in colour, and smooth.

Stem:

The head is attached to a central stalk, which is around 2–8 cm tall and 3–10 mm in diameter. The stalk is typically cylindrical, but can be flattened, and occasionally has furrows. The colour is similar to that of the head, though more yellow, and the surface is covered in very small granules of a greenish colour.

Smell:

No distinctive smell.

Spores:

White.

Uses

In food

Despite their common name these fungi are inedible, due to they’re slimy texture although some guides do list them as edible.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known hazards

No known hazards.

Potential lookalikes

A first glance they look similar to the Winter Chanterelle (Craterellus tubaeformis) but Chanterelles have ‘gills’ under the cap rather than just being a slimy blob on a stalk.

References:

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/leotia-lubrica.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leotia_lubrica#cite_note-Phillips-8

https://www.mushroomexpert.com/leotia_lubrica.html

https://www.jeremybartlett.co.uk/2015/11/07/jelly-baby-fungus-leotia-lubrica/

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The Red Belted Polypore (Fomitopsis pinicola) is a bold and beautiful bracket fungus found growing on dead or dying coniferous trees, occasionally hardwoods, throughout the UK and across the Northern Hemisphere. This distinctive polypore gets its name from the reddish, rust-coloured band that often appears along the edge of its otherwise brown, white, and amber-toned cap. With its hard, woody texture and multi-coloured, varnished appearance, it’s one of the easiest shelf fungi to spot in the wild.

While not edible due to its tough, inedible flesh, the Red-Belted Polypore is of great interest to naturalists and herbalists. It plays an essential role in forest ecosystems by breaking down wood and returning nutrients to the soil. In this post, we’ll help you identify Fomitopsis pinicola, understand its ecological role, and explore how it’s been used in traditional medicine and mushroom dyeing.

Common Name

Red-belted polypore, red belted conk

Scientific Name

Fomitopsis pinicola

Family

Fomitopsidaceae

Habitat 

Can be seen in all seasons as it is a perennial polypore growing for many years from the same spot. Can be found on old conifers also Beech and Birch trees

Saprophytic also occasionally parasitic. 

Very rare in Britain but common in Scandinavia and Slovenia.  

Identifying Features:

There is a characteristic orange/ red band between the new growth and previous years growth which is easily recognisable and a key feature.

Hoof shaped bracket fungus that grows directly off wood, no distinguishable stem, broadly attached to the host tree.

Upperside:

Hoof or shelf shaped, varies in colour and ratios of colour but will be darker coloured on the older portion where it attaches to the tree in either dark grey, slate or even purple tones and then an orange/ red band on the rim is most often seen but is not always present, then followed by a white band where the upper surface meets underside. Younger specimens can display more orange. The surface has radial band like ridges (zonate) which have accumulated with subsequent years growth. It has a firm woody texture, smooth and shiny with a layer of resin that melts if a flame is put to it.They can reach 30 cm across.

Underside:

Polypore- lots of tiny holes like sponge which are at the end of tubes this is the structure that releases the spores. White in colour which hardly bruises, ageing a yellow brown.

Smell:

Can vary from unpleasant and sour to water melon rind.

Spores:

Light lemon yellow, released in late summer autumn.

Uses/ edibility

Inedible as its very hard and bitter so not a culinary mushroom,  but it has a have a huge array of medicinal properties it has been attributed to which generally are obtained from making an extraction or drying and powdering the conk.

Immune modulating from the polysaccaride content, broadly anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties have been used by our ancestors from many regions of the world.

A study on mice in 2020 showed it has anti-diabetic potential and research is continuing.

Was dried powdered and put on wounds as it would help stop bleeding, reduce chance of infection and aid healing

Has been used historically as a tinder to help carry an ember to the next settlement.

If found best left as it is very rare.

Known Hazards

none

Potential lookalikes 

Hoof fungus- (Fomes fomentarius) The red/orange belt is not always visible making it easier to mistake for the hoof fungus which is the same hoof shape but lacking the coloured band.

Ganoderma’s . This is a genus or several resinous bracket fungi that can also look very similar, you can tell them apart as Ganoderma’s have a heavy rust brown spore deposit which is usually visible on and around the fungi. Many Ganoderma’s underside also bruises a light brown.

Extra Note

Pinicola stands for growing on pine trees.

To tell the age of a conk you cut it open and count how many bands of tubes there are, each band represents a year (or seasons) growth.

Has been used in Korean and Chinese folk medicine for cancer prevention and anti inflammatory.

Source

Nature-first.com

Edible mushrooms by Geoff Dann 

Fungi of temperate Europe vol 2 by Thomas Laesson and Jens H.Peterson

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33389867/

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The Black Bulgar (Bulgaria inquinans), also known as Black Jelly Drops, is a distinctive woodland fungus that grows on dead or dying hardwood, particularly Oak. Its dark, gelatinous, disc-like fruiting bodies often appear in clusters, giving fallen branches a glossy, almost tar-like appearance. While it may resemble some edible jelly fungi, Black Bulgar is generally considered inedible due to its tough texture and unappealing consistency.

Despite its unpalatable nature, this fungus plays an important role in woodland ecosystems, breaking down decaying wood and recycling nutrients.

Scientific Name

Bulgaria inquinans

Common Names

Black Bulgar, Black Jelly drops, Bachelor’s Buttons, Rubber Buttons

Family

Bulgariaceae

Habitat

They are saprobic and it normally grows on branches and bark of dead Oak and Hornbeam. It can also be seen growing on Ash trees due to Ash dieback disease.

Description

An common and easy to identify fungus but unfortunately they are inedible and possibly toxic.

Identifying Features: 

Cap:

The cap generally has a diameter between 0.5 and 4 cm. It has a flat top when young but later becomes more cupped. They are more or less disc-shaped. Soft and gelatinous when young and moist, they have a leathery texture when older. These mushrooms generally grow in medium sized clusters.

Pores and tubes:

The under surface is covered in tiny leaf-like scales described as squamulose. The colour is almost uniform across the entire fruiting body.

Smell:

No distinct smell.

Spores:

Blackish brown, they will blacken your finger if you rub your finger across them,

Known hazards

They contain a substance called furanocoumarin which can absorb ultraviolet radiation, when high-energy ultraviolet radiation is obtained, furanocoumarin is destroyed in cells like a “bomb”. They can bind to DNA, hinder normal replication and destroy cell membranes, leading to cell death. During this process, melanin deposits can also be triggered, leading to skin rashes, long blisters and blackening of the skin. One to leave alone then!

Potential lookalikes

They are quite a distinct mushroom but they could be  confused with Witches’ Butter (Exidia glandulosa), as it has a similar colour and jelly-like flesh, but it is much softer and has white spore print.

Extra Notes

The scientific species name ‘inquinans’ means polluting, befouling or staining due to the way they can stain your hands when touched.

Black Bulgar is the only Bulgaria species known to occur in Britain.

References:

Foraging Mushrooms Guide

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/bulgaria-inquinans.php

https://www.echemi.com/cms/72289.html

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The Daisy family, scientifically known as Asteraceae, is the largest family of flowering plants in the world having over 32,000 species! It comprises mostly herbaceous plants especially in the UK, and makes up a huge portion of our most showy and valued flowers. Asteraceae is so large it’s incredibly varied, and the only shared characteristic within the family are the flowers which we will explore in more detail.

By Forager Kelly

Uses and edibility

Loved by herbalists for its plethora of medicinal properties from plants like Echinacea, Arnica, Milk thistle and Chamomile to name a few. Some of our food crops come from the Daisy family like lettuce, sunflowers and artichokes. For the forager it’s a real mixture, there’s some wonderful edibles but unfortunately some poisonous ones too. There are no golden rules to pick out the edibles unfortunately like there are in some other families. However you can, from the flowers at least narrow it down to the Asteraceae family which is a huge win!

Just please be aware some individuals can be sensitive to this family – learn more about it here

A few of best edible in the Family for the Forager…

Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale),

Chicory (Chichorium intybus),

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium),

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris),

Ox eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare),

Common daisy (Bellis perennis),

Burdock (Aarctium lappa)

Some of the poisonous Daisies to watch out for…

Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris)

Winter heliotrope (Petasites pyrenaicus)

How to Identify the Daisies

Aster as in Asteraceae means star, named for the shape of the flowers. The majority of the flowers in this family have what’s called disk inflorescence or compound (composed of two or more) flower heads. 

A flower as we know generally means the seed bearing part of the plant containing the reproductive organs, but in different species of plants there may be one individual seed producing structure then surrounded by petals or if in the daisy family, multiple or even 100s together forming a central disk surrounded by petals ( known as ray florets).

An excellent example of this magnified is a sunflower, which I’m sure you will have noticed is a central disk of many seeds. 

1. A central disk on the flower

2. Large number of petals

The vast majority of daisy family flowers have numerous petals, for any flowers with 8-30 plus petals I would start my inquiry in this family first.

However there are a few exceptions like Yarrow with 5 and Pineapple Weed with none.

So now hopefully on your walks you’ll feel more confident on recognising the Daisy family!

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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 oak and beech, this fungus thrives in damp, shaded areas of woodlands across the UK, often appearing after heavy rain.

While it may look like something straight out of a magical forest, the Yellow Brain is inedible due to its rubbery texture and lack of flavour.

In this post, we’ll explore how to identify the Yellow Brain, where to find it, and its fascinating role in the woodland ecosystem.

Scientific Name

Tremella mesenterica

Common Names

Yellow brain, golden jelly fungus, yellow trembler, witches’ butter

Family

Tremellaceae

Habitat

Yellow Brain fungus grows on dead wood that has been attacked by wood-rotting fungi of the Peniophora genus.  Very little or none of the Peniophora may be visible; this is because Yellow Brain feeds on the mycelium rather than the fruiting body, and that can be deep inside the timber rather than on its surface. The fruiting body of the crust fungus does not even have to be present, therefore, it may look as though Yellow Brain is feeding directly on the host wood.

Description

This fungus doesn’t have the typical shape or structure of other woodland fungi. It looks like an orange gelatinous mass. It is not a wood-rotter itself, but a parasite on the mycelium of crust fungi.

Identifying Features: 

Overall it has an irregular shape and is smooth. The lobes are tough and greasy or slimy when wet and harden as it dries out. It ranges in colour from a pale yellow to bright orange, then rusty orange when dry.

Smell:

No distinctive smell.

Spores:

White to pale yellow

Known hazards

No known hazards.

Potential lookalikes

They are quite distinctive about the only look-a-like is its close relative Tremella aurantia, this is another parasitic species that attacks members of the Tremella genus, most often The Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum)

Uses

In food

Although some claim the fungus to be inedible or non-poisonous while other sources say that it is edible but flavourless.

In China, the fungus is apparently used by vegetarians to prepare an immuno-modulating cooling soup with lotus seed and lily bulbs.

Notes on herbal uses

Some Tremella species produce polysaccharides that are of interest to the medical field, because of their biological activity; several patents have been filed in China regarding their potential  use for cancer prevention or immune system enhancement, although further research is needed.

Extra Notes from the foragers

According to European legend, if Yellow Brain fungus appeared on the gate or door of a house it meant that a witch had cast a spell on the family living there. The only way the spell could be removed was by piercing the fungus several times with straight pins until it went away. This is why yellow brain also has the common name of ‘witches’ butter’.

In Sweden, yellow brain fungus was burnt to protect against evil spirits.

References:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/yellow-brain/

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/tremella-mesenterica.php

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The Collared Earthstar (Geastrum triplex) is a truly unique fungus that looks like it’s stepped straight out of a fairy tale. Found in woodlands across the UK, this fascinating mushroom starts as a simple puffball before splitting open into star-like rays with a central spore sac. Its striking, otherworldly appearance makes it a favourite among fungi enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

In this post, we’ll guide you through how to identify the Collared Earthstar, where to spot it, and why this mushroom is such a special discovery for anyone exploring the natural world.

Scientific Name

Geastrum triplex 

Common Names

Collared Earthstar, The saucered earthstar, The triple earthstar

Family

Geastraceae

Habitat

Collared Earthstars are a saprobic species, deriving nutrients from decomposing organic matter. The fruit bodies are usually found growing singly or more commonly in groups in hardwood forests where much humus has accumulated.

Description

A fairly common fungus in Autumn, often appearing in  the same area every year. 

Identifying Features: 

Immature fruit bodies are spherical, resembling puffballs but with pointed beaks As the fungus matures, the outer layer of tissue (the exoperidium) splits into four to eight pointed segments that spread outwards and downwards, lifting and exposing the spherical inner spore sac. The spore sac when young is white and firm, but ages to become brown and powdery. Often, a layer of the exoperidium splits around the edge of the spore sac so that it appears to rest in a collar or saucer, hence their common name. 

On top of the spore sac is a small pointed beak, (the peristome) which has a small hole. Spores are released from the hole as breezes blow across it, and much larger puffs of spores escape when raindrops hit and compress the spore-sac.

Collared Earthstars are generally larger than other Earthstar species, the diameter of the spore producing sack can be up to 5cm and the ‘arms’  can be twice that size when fully outstretched.

Smell:

No distinctive smell.

Spores:

Brown

Known hazards

No known hazards.

Potential lookalikes

They are quite distinctive when mature but In its ‘egg’ stage the Collared Earthstar is very difficult to identify; it looks quite similar to many other members of the gasteromycetes group of fungi, though they tend to be smaller than the Collared Earthstar. Think Stinkhorn.

Uses

In food

Not real uses in food, while non toxic they are tough and leathery

Medicinal Uses of Collared Earthstar

Earthstars were used medicinally by the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Blackfoot called them ka-ka-toos, meaning “fallen stars”, and according to legend, they were an indication of supernatural events. 

In traditional Chinese medicine, G. triplex is used to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract, and to stanch bleeding and reduce swelling.

But there is little evidence to suggest they are effective.

References:

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/geastrum-triplex.php

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-earthstars

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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 the forest floor. While it’s not specifically rated as an edible, its unique look and ecological role make it a fascinating find for anyone exploring UK woodlands.

Appearing year-round, but most visible in autumn and winter, Dead Man’s Fingers plays an important role in breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

In this piece, we’ll explore how to identify this spooky fungus, where to find it, and why it’s an essential part of the forest floor.

Scientific Name

Xylaria polymorpha

Common Names

Dead mans finger 

Family

Xylariaceae

Habitat

Dead man’s fingers is a saprobic fungus specialising in consuming the polysaccharides in timber which leaves soft, nutrient-rich debris on which many invertebrates feed. So found on or near (and connected) to the stumps of dead beech trees and  sometimes other broad-leaved tree stumps.

Description

They are fairly common in the UK and they can also be found worldwide. A great site to see especially around Halloween. 

Identifying Features of Dead man’s fingers: 

Looking like badly bruised and swollen fingers they often appear in groups looking very much like hands. Individual ‘fingers’ technically called stromata can be really variable in shape and size, but generally around 3–10 cm tall and 1–4 cm wide. It is more or less cylindrical to club -shaped. When young they are pale grey with a whitish tip, getting darker with age. The pale covering (conidia) is a coating of asexual spores produced in the early stage of their development. The stroma‘s surface is covered with tiny pores (perithecia) which release the spores but they cannot be detected by the naked eye.

Stem:

A small stalk attaches the fruiting ‘finger’ to the dead wood.

Smell:

No distinctive smell.

Spores:

Black

Known hazards

No known hazards.

Potential lookalikes

Dead Moll’s fingers (Xylaria longipes) is similar but slimmer, smaller and less robust and they occur most often on the stumps and fallen branches of sycamore trees. 

Uses

In food

Not classed as toxic but very tough and unappetising.

Medicinal Uses 

In traditional Indian medicine, this fungus is used dried, powdered and mixed with sugar to promote lactation after childbirth.

Extra Notes

The Xylaria part of this fungus’ name comes from the same Greek work as xylem, and simply means wood. Polymorpha means, in many shapes.

References:

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/xylaria-polymorpha.php

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/dead-mans-fingers/

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