Cramp balls..

The complexity and diversity of fungi, mushrooms, toadstools and all their ephemeral kingdom is on display here in the garden.

It is always a treat to welcome our friends Andy and Ann to join us, but especially so when we can draw on Ann’s considerable expertise with all things fungal!

Saturdays foray together included:

Crested coral

Edible - but insipid I’ve read.

Crystal brain

This jelly fungus is only seen in this form during and after rain - of which we’ve had plenty over the past couple of days.

Steely bonnet

A lovely little thing, easily overlooked growing on the side of oaks. Tiny little fruiting bodies are not much more than one millimetre in diameter.

Glistening inkcaps. And cramp balls (or King Alfred’s cakes).

Cramp balls are also known as King Alfred’s cakes. Carrying cramp balls was once believed to cure the carrier of cramps.

Nothing rare. Just fascinating.