David

Close view of one section of the flower spike of a purple loosestrife, seen about a month ago when the flowers were at their height.

Blushing bracket fungus growing all aong a fallen tree trunk in Himley Plantation. The upper surface of most of the fruiting bodies had a dusting of mould growing on them. The lower surfaces (final picture) are “mazy” where the spores come out through pores, not gills.

Another day, another nightshade species. Black nightshade takes its name from the colour of the fruit, not visible yet because this plant was still flowering, with delicate-looking white flowers. When I too close-ups of one of the flowers, an aphid was getting in on the act.

A corral fungus, specifically an upright coral fungus (Ramaria stricta) growing at the edge of a small wood between the Smestow Brook and Railway Walk at Newbridge.

Bright colours on the ripening fruit (or are they berries?) of this woody nightshade. Sometimes also called bittersweet, but don’t try to test if that’s an accurate description of the taste. They’re poisonous. Not deadly, but giving a badly upset stomach. Every year, a hadful of children are so badly affected, they need hospital treatment.

Mould or a fungus growing on a red pepper. Most of the pepper had been used forty-eight hours earlier, with just a small slice left in the open. The mould formed a patch on the inner surface.