I think this beauty is the urchin earthfan - Thelephora penicillata. It is usually found on the forest floor amongst the mosses and leaf litter, fruiting into little jagged cushions. But this one seems to have decided to gain a little extra height by clambering up and enveloping some tormentil plants!
It looks like the process is killing the vegetation. This is considered an ectomycorhizal fungus and I think it is not attacking the tormentil, just not giving it enough space. I did see something similar last year where a large fern had gained a very frilly earthfan ruff round the base of its fronds and that was showing no ill effects from its hangers-on.
Scientists have proven that a wildflower steeped in folklore for its medicinal powers has genuine healing qualities—and the potential to hel
"Scientists have proven that a wildflower steeped in folklore for its medicinal powers has genuine healing qualities—and the potential to help combat antibiotic resistance. Tormentil, a yellow wildflower found in heath and boglands in the UK, Ireland and across Europe, can inhibit the growth of one of the world's most deadly pathogens.
Surveying bogland plants for potential
A team of researchers from the University of Southampton, the NatPro Centre in Trinity College Dublin and Brunel University of London examined 70 bogland plants from across Ireland for their potential antimicrobial activity.
They discovered that Tormentil inhibits the growth of the multidrug-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, one of the World Health Organization's top priority pathogens. It means Tormentil has the potential to contribute to the development of new antimicrobials.
How tormentil boosts last-resort drugs
Ronan McCarthy, Professor in Microbial Biofilms at the National Biofilms Innovation Centre, University of Southampton, led the study which is published in the journal Microbiology and forms part of the project "Unlocking Nature's Pharmacy from Bogland Species."
He said, "It was extremely exciting to discover that this particular plant was inhibiting growth of this pathogen, and especially interesting because there is a long historical use of this plant in medicine to treat infection.
"Colistin is a last resort antibiotic, it's our last line of antibiotic defense. When a pathogen is resistant to that there are few other options. We have discovered that there is potential for Tormentil to increase the efficacy of colistin to prolong its effectiveness and make it work better."
Folklore and long medical history
Tormentil, with its buttercup-like yellow flowers, has been used for centuries to treat infection and is referenced in Irish and other folklore. Its name is derived from the "torment" of pain it was believed to cure.
"This study underscores the value of revisiting plants long rooted in traditional knowledge and folklore and shows us that nature still has much to teach us," said project co-lead John J. Walsh, NatPro Associate Academic Director and Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy at Trinity College Dublin.
Tormentil was used as far back as the 1850s, with its roots boiled in milk to treat colic in children, and its roots used to treat toothache, wounds and stomach issues.
Professor McCarthy said, "We have uncovered historically why Tormentil was used—and it wasn't used by accident. Granted, Tormentil was not as efficacious as modern medication, but in the 1850s, for example, options were fairly limited.
"There is evidence it was used for oral issues such as gum disease, and for gastrointestinal issues. Its use by physicians would have faded with the advent of modern medicine and antibiotics in particular.""
A common, low-growing and creeping perennial Potentilla erecta (tormentil) is a wildflower of acid grassland, heathland and moorland, but it can also be found alongside roads. It has yellow, buttercup-like flowers, but with only four petals and provides nectar for solitary bees.
Autumn and hebe leaves and snail out the front at home, brown mushrooms and a stunning amethyst deceiver on a walk at Puttles Bridge in the New Forest on a rainy day today 19/10/2025 and a brown mushroom at Blashford Lakes yesterday. It felt very rewarding to see the amethyst deceiver a key mushroom species we like to see each year and one of my favourites that we'd trying to see for weeks on a walk which was so wet, just showing no matter the weather you never know what you'll see if you get out.
Other highlights on the walk were Carrion Crow, holly berries, tormentil and Chaffinch heard with many Starlings and Blue Tit heard enjoyed at home too. Another relaxing weekend enjoying autumn's delights.
Tormentil tea allegedly offers protection while journeying to the realms of the dead. It ensures that you’ll return---and return alone! Drink a cup of tormentil tea before embarking on your journey or any other necromantic methods.
(from The Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells by Judika Illes)
