Monday, 13 December 2021

Earthtongues Near the Library

Once again the little patch of dry sandy naturestrip by the library in Preuilly sur Claise is revealing another interesting species. In November it is time for the earthtongue fungi to pop their heads up.

Earthtongue Geoglossum cookeianum, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

They are very like the dead man's fingers Xylaria longipipes that I've found in the forest, but the earthtongues Geoglossum cookeianum don't grow on fallen wood like the dead man's fingers do. Also the earthtongues are a flattened into a spoon shape rather than rounded into the club shape of the dead man's fingers.

Earthtongue Geoglossum cookeianum, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

This is a localised species, not uncommon, but often overlooked. South-west and central France seems to be the heartland of its distribution.

5 comments:

chm said...

Is this interesting patch of land officially preserved in any way?

Susan said...

chm: no, but at least the mairie is taking an interest in what I'm telling them about it these days.

melinda said...

I've never seen or heard of these. Interesting

Susan said...

melinda: They often go unnoticed.

Katie Zeller said...

I have never seen those - will start paying more attention.

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