9 October 2010 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Top shaped, often several fused together, surface velvety then smooth, pale pinkish brown to yellow brown when young, then dark brown, to about 10 cm across Spines Pinkish to reddish brown, about 2 to 5 mm long Stem Stout, spongey, becoming water logged in wet weather, rooting, surface velvety, pinkish brown to dark brown, to about 2.5 cm across and 5 cm tall Flesh Tough, fibrous, moist, pinkish brown to dark brown, exuding a dark green to blackish stain on exposure to an alkaline solution such as KOH. Smell Mealy Taste Indistinct Season Late summer to autumn Distribution Rare Habitat On sandy soil in deciduous woods, favouring oak, beech and sweet chestnut Spore Print Pale yellow brown Microscopic Features Spores subspherical, knobbly (6-7) x (5-5.5) µm2 Edibility Inedible Notes The name of this fungus derives from the spongey stem. 
29 September 2010 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
The same specimen as in the first photograph. 2 October 2010 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
29 September 2010 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |