Woodland walk - some ID questions.

[THOaken]

Hello. I was on a woodland walk and a few species caught my eye which I don't think I've seen before.

Might this be a gorse bush? The name just popped into my mind as I recognised the flowers.

And what tree might this be? I don't know my conifers that well. I know Scots Pine and the names of many, however I haven't identified them. Here are photos of the general shape, the bark and the foliage.

I'm aware of the names of fungi, but I haven't started identifying them yet. I thought this was very nice to see as this tree was absolutely covered. Light brown underside and black on top.

And lastly, when I was walking back I spotted this as it was quite unique. Perhaps it grows near water as there were a few streams near where they stood. I don't really have a reference point for this plant and so can't guess at a name.

 

[lou1661]

1, yes Gorse
2, Possibly Douglas fir
3, no idea, mycology is not my strong point.
4, Wood spurge

 

[THOaken]

1, yes Gorse
2, Possibly Douglas fir
3, no idea, mycology is not my strong point.
4, Wood spurge

Thanks very much for your contribution. Good to know that I was right about the Gorse. Wood spurge however looks quite different on the Wikipedia page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_amygdaloides. Hm, strange, this picture in this link is accurate and it has the same name as Wood Spruge. http://www.easybloom.com/plantlibrary/plant/wood-spurge-1 There seems to be two different plants with the same name?

 

[lou1661]

the pic on the wiki page is showing the flowering head, not the leaf structure.

 

[Mesquite]

The fungi are old bracket fungi, possibly polypore.

The last plant is definitely a euphorbia but could be an escapee from a garden

 

[Oakleaf]

1, Is gorse. Squeeze a flower between your fingers - it will smell of coconut.

 

[Kepis]

There seems to be two different plants with the same name?

The photo you link to on the Wikipedia page is not the leaf it's the flower

 

[Shewie]

1, Is gorse. Squeeze a flower between your fingers - it will smell of coconut.

And tastes of almonds apparently, I've tried plenty but they never taste of much

 

[Macaroon]

When Gorse is out of flower, then love is out of fashion.................................

 

[demographic]

Yup, gorse. My mother made gorse flower wine when I was a kid. Think she only did it once cos its a bit labour intensive picking the flowers but it was still nice all the same.