Words and images by Jennifer Carter
Instagram: @jennifer.l.carter
The naming and renaming of wildlife is a fascinating topic, and one which is widely discussed. A great example of the varied and intriguing ways in which species are named are Fungi.
Fungi are thought to have appeared on earth around 1-billion years ago, but it wasn’t until 1753 that they began to be formally named.
Common names vary enormously. One species often has multiple names, and sometimes one name is shared by multiple species. Some are named very logically, based on a physical trait.
Stinkhorn and Fried-chicken Mushroom are named after the distinctive smell they omit, to attract flies who will spread their spores. Others, like the Scarlet Elf Cup pictured here, are named after the way they look. A more sinister approach brings us names like The Sickener and Lead Poisoner. Both sound like something to be avoided, and for good reason.
Some names, however, are less obvious. There are often stories behind these names, entrenched in folklore and old wive’s tales. Take these King Alfred’s Cakes for example. The story goes, Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, took refuge from Vikings in the house of a peasant woman. She, wanting something in return for his protection, asked that he watch over her cakes. Alfred let them burn and, ashamed and embarrassed at being scolded by the woman, scattered the cakes to get rid of the evidence. Stories can be kept alive when a species is named after them in this way.
This autumn, take a look around you when you are out, take some photos, and maybe come up with your own names for what you find. A great activity for the kids on a walk, and sure to generate some laughs!
Please don’t touch or pick mushrooms or fungi. Many are highly toxic and hard to identify.
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