Honey fungus is devastating to trees and shrubs in the forest although it adds to the biodiversity creating a "dead wood habitat."
It is most significant on beech and birch in the new forest often seen in big clusters around tree stumps. It has the nickname bootlace fungi as long black rhizomorphs (acting like the fungi root system) can be seen like bootlaces just beneath the bark of an infected tree all year round spreading the fungi from tree to tree.
Honey fungus is also bioluminescent and was the inspiration of Willow the wisp illuminating the forest as well as being used by our men in the war to rub on their lapels so the can be identified by their allies in the dark.
At this time of year the fruiting bodies put on an amazing show, but sadly detrimental to their host 🌳🍄
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