Learning our Turkey-tails from Jelly ears!

Since the start of the month, we have been out a couple of times each week to ID the fungi in Castlemilk Park. Fungi is something I have not tried to ID before, and for the majority, it is has been quite difficult - second and third opinions have been crucial, and that’s just for the common ones! We’ve found around 20 different species so far, this is pretty cool considering the peak season for fungi is over. I have yet to identify the majority of our finds, but I am pretty sure about the ‘Wood ear’, ‘Stag’s horn’ and the ‘Late oyster’ fungi below.

Wood ear fungus ( jelly ear, tree ear) - apparently makes a good Jaffa cake!

Stag’s horn fungus ( candlesnuff fungus, carbon antlers) - an anti-viral wonder that’s active against tumours.

Late oyster mushrooms (olive oysterling) - known in Japan as ‘Mukitake’ and cultivated for liver disease treatment.

I’m loving photographing them - I don’t have to creep up or chase them!

The polypores have been the trickiest to ID. These are a group of fungi that are also known as bracket or shelf fungi, and are mainly found on trees.

I think this might be turkey-tail fungus due to its wonderful multi-colouring.

Not sure about this one, but I’m thinking willow bracket or hoof fungus.

We have loved our recent, unplanned dive into the world of mycology. Jared has told me the fungi are “pretty cool and rather neat”, although I get the feeling he misses the hunt for butterflies. I‘ve proven to him how, like butterflies, they can be colourful- check these ‘Elf cups’ and Jelly fungi out. I’m not sure about the exact species, the ‘Elf cups’ would need to go under a microscope and the jelly fungus could be ‘Purple jelly-disc’ or a rather purple ‘leafy brain fungus’.

Elf Cups - folklore says the elves of the wood drink the dew from them.

I’ve had more shouts for ‘Purple jelly-disc’ than ‘Leafy brain’ - is anybody sure?

At the beginning of this week, I joined the fungus group for the Clyde and Argyll area, as I’m hoping they can help me out with a specific ID. It is a very exciting one! I found a meaty looking fungus that I presumed to be something else, however, an observer on Inaturalist (a fantastic app for all species ID help) suggested that it is a very rare Jubilee Waxcap - which only started being classified in 2013! As far as I am aware, there are no verified records of this in Scotland - so we all have our fingers and toes crossed here! I’ve dug out an old microscope for it, prepared slides, and dried samples for possibly sending away to Kew! I am waiting to hear back if they would like to try and run DNA tests, I'm uncertain the reply though as it is an old specimen. I am not joking though - the kitchen was turned into a lab yesterday but this has been good for Jared to see and ask me about. I’ve told him he should feel like a real explorer now - just like John Muir! I will leave you with photographs of it in all its slimy glory. I look forward to sharing the result, if any, with you all!

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Aside from our ID work, we have been reusing tins and plastic bottles to make planters. Using the usual kiddy craft materials you find in schools, Jared has made a ‘bee planter’ and a ‘caterpillar planter’ for his chives and forget-me-nots.

We have also turned some pinecones into Christmas tree decorations.

I felt these should have a blog of their own! Stay tuned!