?? Elephants ear fungus ??

[KeenTeen17]

I went to Gait Barrows nature reserve on a walk in July and one of the women on the walk said this fungus was 'elephants ear' fungus. I haven't heard of this fungus and can't see anything it could be

[NickCantle]

It's a dead and withered Polyporus squamosus Never heard it called that

[KeenTeen17]

she said she was a beginner and the one she remembered was elephants ear

so its a dryads saddle. thanks Nick!

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

so its a dryads saddle. thanks Nick!

I trust that lady was not one of those participating in forays I've led who prefer English names . . . no, come to think of it I'd have come up with Fairies' Mud-Flaps!!

you see how English names help us get close to the fungus?

Dryad's Saddle - so much clearer than Polyporus something - I mean the latter implies something with lots of pores, rather than a fungus made of leather being ridden by a Greek woodland sprite . . .

I await the renaming of Ear-pick Fungus, Candle-snuff, Dead Man's-whatever-bits because they don't conform to the "translate-the-Latin-into-English-and-confuse-everyone school"

just a mini rant - not trying to revive that old (but tasty) debate

glad you're sorted now KT - Happy New Year!

Chris