Topography of Fungi

[tWITCH]

Still learning on the fungi front and I need some help.

Nor am I sure that topography is the right expression but hey ho it will do.

What is happening in the photo?

Is it all one thing?

I've viewed lots of photos on site and I'm still confused as to what I have photographed!

[Stewy]

I'd say that it is a Birch Polypore but don't take my word for it!!!!!!!

[tWITCH]

That's what I thought but the bits underneath it are foxing me!

[Chris Yeates]

hi

I don't think that topography is the right term, though on second thoughts they are such variable and intriguing organisms that it probably is somewhat apt!

what you have here is a birch polypore Piptoporus betulinus

you have also hit on one of the problems with fungal identification - they are very variable in their appearance (remember that you are looking at the fruits of the fungus and that those fruiting bodies can vary considerably under factors such as age, position on the substrate, weather conditions etc.); the original Roger Phillips book - published by Pan - wa good in alerting beginners o the fact that a fungal fruitbody can look very different at different stage of its 'life'

I think that all the contributors to this site will agree that you just need to keep at it - when you find a fungus look for all the surrounding fruit bodies which might be the same species - they often are!

the great advantage of digital photography is that you can take lots of photo's . . . do so when you post a request for an ID on the site try to include a range of specimens, don't be afraid to pick the fungus (carefully, handling at little as possible) and show view of the underside; note what it was growing on etc.; all this helps people to ID material

a final tip - with smaller species, if your camera isn't quite up to it, and you have a scanner then they are excellent for taking 'photos' and have the advantage that the colour renditon is better than nearly all cameras (but don't scratch the glass on the scanner!

hope this helps

Chris

[tWITCH]

Thank you Stewy & Chris for you comments.

And thanks again Chris for taking the time to post such a lengthy and informative comment.