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fungi 2011

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Liz Heard View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liz Heard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jun 2017 at 1:22am
Hi Chubsta and Suzi

The bracket fungus with the scaly cap is Dryad's Saddle Polyporus squamosus (Dryad meaning a tree nymph or spirit in Greek mythology/folklore.)

This is a quite frequent find on trees and logs and said to be edible but only when young and fresh. However, I've never tried them myself because personally i can't get past the species very strong, mealy smell which i find utterly repellent.
Sweaty Trolls Saddle more like.

Agree with Suzi that the plant is an Iris. If you found it well away from human habitation or other activity (such as a fly-tipping location) and feel you can rule out a garden escape of one of the many exotic Iris cultivars, then this is very likely Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima which grows in woodlands and sea cliffs with a scattered distribution across the south. It is one of only 2 native Iris species along with the aquatic Yellow (or Flag) Iris.
It certainly looks like that to me. But if you can return to the spot again then it's possible to confirm ID by (1) crushing a leaf; you should get a disagreeable (though not disgusting) smell which is likened by some to roast beef. Or (2) later in the year, you should see clusters of large bright red seeds hanging in clusters like painfully inflamed Chalfonts. These persist through the winter sometimes.

Cheers
Ben

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chubsta View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chubsta Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jun 2017 at 8:22am
Hi, thanks very much for the id's, the bracket was very fresh and extremely 'spongy', can't remember any smell at all but I was getting distracted by nettles at the time so may have missed that, plus it was a very windy day, it is a shame the photo doesn't give an idea of the scale of the thing though as it was huge, by far the biggest we have seen.

I will go with the id of the Iris, it was in old woodland near Canterbury and well away from where anyone would dump garden rubbish, our next walk there will be much later in the year so guess will be able to confirm via the berries, thanks very much!


Edited by chubsta - 16 Jun 2017 at 8:22am
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