Oysterlings

I was in a very shady north-facing beech hanger this afternoon. On such a steep slope, much of it has been left to its own devices for years. As well as the standing and fallen beech, cherry and ash trees, where enough light gets in there is a mass of matted old hazel, dogwood and bramble bushes. Here, every branch and twig was dripping with both water and bracket-like white fungi. This was one of the Crepidotus species, probably variabilis, but it is difficult to be sure without checking the spores. This is one of those species which is much more beautiful viewed from beneath. I'm now beginning to warm to the many invented common names that the British Mycological Society introduced about 10 years ago - I think 'Oysterlings' works well for this group of fungi.