Razor-strop

The one fungus that has been present throughout my month of looking is the birch polypore or birch bracket fungus. This is probably the commonest polyporous bracket fungus. Not perhaps the most interesting fungi to look at but in the past dried pieces were carried by hunter-gatherers as tinder for starting fire. More recently its white rubbery flesh was used to smooth the edges of razors - hence its other common name of the razor-strop fungus. Although quite large this is a fairly young one. As they age they become more hoof-shaped and change colour to grey-brown.