This weird fungus has many descriptive name: strawberries and cream, the bleeding tooth fungus, the red-juice tooth, the Devil’s tooth. These names comes from it’s behaviour. In damp conditions, it exudes bright red droplets on its surface.
It forms ectomycorrhizal relationships with conifer roots. It’s found mainly in North America and Europe. It’s not poisonous, but not edible either — it tastes very bitter. It has been used in natural dyeing.
This fungus produces atromentin, a compound with blood-thinning and antibacterial properties. Its cap is young and velvety, with a pale brown flesh and brown spore print, and the underside is covered in short, dense spines.
You are reading the Wildest Treasures section — a quiet corner of the Grow Wild in Forest Soil.
From today’s walk, where I also was so lucky to meet some children playing outside in the sunshine.