David Pattyn / Ruppell's griffon vulture (Gyps rueppellii) flying in to land on carcass. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, August

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest, with Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) growing on the trunk of a tree, Stuzica primeval Forest, Unesco World Heritage Site, Poloniny National Park, Western Car...

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Horse's hoof / Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) on tree trunk, European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest, Stuzica primeval Forest, Unesco World Heritage Site, Poloniny National Park, Western Carpathian...

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Horse's hoof / Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) growing on dead tree, Morske Oko Reserve, Vihorlat Mountains, Western Carpathians, Eastern Slovakia, Europe, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ruiz / Bracket fungus (Phellinus igniarius ?) on fallen dead tree trunk beside Krinice River, Kyov, Ceske Svycarsko / Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic, September 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ruiz / Bracket fungus (Phellinus igniarius ?) on fallen dead tree trunk beside Krinice River, Kyov, Ceske Svycarsko / Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic, September 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Biancarelli / Polypore fungus (Coriolus versicolor) on a stump in Corkova Uvala virgin forest, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, October 2008

Kirkendall-Spring / Many Zoned Polyphore {Coriolus /Tramates versicolor} growing on a fallen log, Big Redwoods State Park, California, USA

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) tree trunk with bracket fungi on bark and holes made by woodpeckers. Letea forest strictly protected nature reserve, Danube delta rewilding area, Romania

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstra / Fir (Abies sp), Beech (Fagus silvatica) and Spruce (Picea abies) old-growth virgin forest in Special Forest Reserve with bracket fungi growing on bark, Velebit Nature Park, Rewilding Europe area, Vel...

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstra / Fir (Abies sp), Beech (Fagus silvatica) and Spruce (Picea abies) old-growth virgin forest in Special Forest Reserve with bracket fungi growing on bark, Velebit Nature Park, Rewilding Europe area, Vel...

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstra / Fir (Abies sp), Beech (Fagus silvatica) and Spruce (Picea abies) old-growth virgin forest in Special Forest Reserve, Velebit Nature Park, Rewilding Europe area, Velebit mountains, Croatia, June 2012

Adrian Davies / Fallen European beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), with Bracket fungus (Ganoderma australe) growing on stump, Sussex, England, UK, October.

Adrian Davies / Southern bracket fungus (Ganoderma australe) growing on an ancient Beech (Northofagus) tree, Sussex, England, UK, October.

Adrian Davies / Southern bracket fungus (Ganoderma australe) growing on an ancient Beech (Northofagus) tree, Sussex, England, UK, October.

Adrian Davies / Southern bracket fungus (Ganoderma australe) growing on an ancient Beech (Northofagus) tree, Sussex, England, UK, October.

Philippe Clement / Many zoned polypore bracket fungus (Coriolus versicolor) and Candlesnuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon) growing on tree trunk in autumn forest, Belgium, October

Philippe Clement / Hen of the Woods fungus (Grifola frondosa) growing from base of tree in autumn forest, Belgium, October

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Turkey tail fungus (Trametes versicolor) on dead wood surrounded by Woodruff (Galium odoratum) Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Jabruson / Bracket fungus growing on old dead tree trunk, an unidentified species, Bai Hokou, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, Central African Republic

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Bracket fungi growing in old-growth beech forest in a WWF Reserve near Piatra Craiului National Park, Southern Carpathians, Rewilding Europe site, Romania

Andrew Parkinson / Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) growing on tree trunk in a deciduous woodland. Derbyshire, UK,

Andrew Parkinson / Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) found growing in a deciduous woodland. Derbyshire, UK,

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / (Chrondrostereum purpureum)bracket fungi on fallen oak tree, Bolderwood, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK, October.

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / (Chrondrostereum purpureum) bracket fungi on fallen oak tree log, Bolderwood, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK, October.

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Chicken in the Woods / Sulphur Polypore (Laetiporous sulphureus) fungus. Linwood, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK, August.

Adrian Davies / Ochre cushion fungus (Hypocrea pulvinata) growing on old fruit body of Birch Polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) England, December.

Adrian Davies / Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) growing on fallen Beech trunk, Sussex, England, UK, October

Adrian Davies / Birch polypore / Razorstrop fungus (Polyporus betulinus) growing on fallen birch log, Sussex, England, UK, October

Colin Varndell / Weeping polypore bracket fungus (Inonotus dryadens) in prime condition, Powerstock Common, Dorset, UK, October

Colin Varndell / Weeping polypore bracket fungus (Inonotus dryadens) in prime condition, Powerstock Common, Dorset, UK, October

Philippe Clement / Birch bracket fungus / Razor strop (Piptoporus betulinus) on fallen Birch tree in forest, Belgium

Ann & Steve Toon / Birch bracket fungus (Piptoporus betulinus) Northumberland National Park, UK, September.

Christian Ziegler / Bracket Fungus (Favolus brasiliensis) mushrooms, Barro Colorado Island, Panama

Alex Hyde / Sulphur Polypore / Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporous sulphureus) growing on tree trunk. Nordtirol, Tirol, Austrian Alps, Austria, 2300 metres, July.

Alex Hyde / Sulphur Polypore / Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporous sulphureus) growing on tree trunk. Nordtirol, Tirol, Austrian Alps, Austria, 2300 metres, July.

Philippe Clement / Cinnabar Red Polypore (Pycnoporus cinnabarinus / Polyporus cinnabarinus) on mossy tree trunk. Belgium, November.

Andrew Parkinson / Dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosus) Derbyshire, UK

Andrew Parkinson / Dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosus) Derbyshire, UK

Robert Thompson / Willow bracket fungus (Phellinus igniarius) growing on beech tree, Tynan Estate, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK, September

Ernie Janes / Gills of the bracket fungus (Pleurotus pulmonarius)

Matthias Breiter / Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) fungus growing on tree trunk, Tongass National Forest, Alaska

Klaus Echle / Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium) peering out of its hole in tree trunk next to bracket fungus. Black Forest, Germany, June.

Klaus Echle / Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) investigating bracket fungus on tree trunk. Black Forest, Germany, July.

Klaus Echle / Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) sniffing bracket fungus on a tree. Black Forest, Germany, July.

Gary K. Smith / Fungi, Dryads Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) fresh fruiting bodies on fallen tree stump. Norfolk, UK, May.

Philippe Clement / Tinder bracket fungus / Hoof fungus / Tinder polypore / Horse's hoof (Fomes fomentarius) on fallen tree trunk in autumn Beech forest. Ardennes, Belgium, November.

Philippe Clement / Tinder bracket fungus / Hoof fungus / Tinder polypore / Horse's hoof (Fomes fomentarius) on fallen tree trunk in autumn Beech forest. Ardennes, Belgium, November.

Adrian Davies / Hoof Fungus or Tinder Bracket (Fomes fomentarius) growing on Birch (Betula) tree trunk. Scotland, UK, February.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / Carpathian Beech Forest with bracket fungi on fallen Beech tree trunk Bieszczady, Carpathian Mountains, Poland, September.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / Carpathian Beech (Fagus) forest with bracket fungi. Bieszczady, Carpathian Mountains, Poland, April.

Nick Upton / Horse's hoof / Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) growing on European beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree trunk, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, July.

Jouan & Rius / Bracket fungi (Ganoderma sp) on decaying wood, Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia

Toby Roxburgh / Artist's Fungus (Ganoderma applanatum) growing on Beech tree (Nothofagus genus), surrounded by brown spores, banks of the River Usk, Wales.

Gary K. Smith / Alder Bracket fungi (Inonotus radiatus) on common Alder (Alnus glutisona) Norfolk, UK, October

Adrian Davies / Dyer's Mazegill (Phaeolus schweintzii) growing near pine tree, England, UK, September

Adrian Davies / Dyer's Mazegill (Phaeolus schweintzii) growing near pine tree, England, UK, September

Adrian Davies / Giant Polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) growing in clusters on woodland floor, UK, August

Adrian Davies / Giant Polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) growing on woodland floor, UK, August

LYNN M. STONE / Chicken Mushroom / Chicken-of-the-Woods / Sulphur Shelf Mushroom (Laetiporus sulphureus) growing on log, Niantic State Forest, Connecticut, USA

Adrian Davies / Hen of the Woods Fungus (Grifola frondosa) growing at foot of tree in woodland, UK. October

David Kjaer / Hornet (Vespa crabro) nest on side of tree, with bracket fungus and Hornets flying in and out, Gloucestershire, England. September

Robert Thompson / Oak bracket fungus (Inonotus dryadeus) growing on tree trunk, Deerpark NNR, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, January

Robert Thompson / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) growing on tree trunk, Tollymore Forest, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, September

Alan Watson / Backlit oyster fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) temperate forest, Tomies Wood, Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland, Europe

Alan Watson / Bracket Fungi on fallen tree trunk, Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

Alan Watson / Cluster of Oyster fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus) Tomies Wood, Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland, Europe

Robert Thompson / Beef steak fungus (Fistulina hepatica) growing on tree trunk, Barnetts Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Robert Thompson / Beef steak fungus (Fistulina hepatica) amongst moss, Toyylmore Forest Park, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK

Robert Thompson / Artist fungus (Ganoderma applanatum) growing on tree stump, Tollymore Forest, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, October

Alan Watson / Bracket fungus on a Bullwood / Cacao cimarron tree (Sloanea berteriana) in lowland tropical rainforest at 400 metres, Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve, Dominican Republic.

Mike Wilkes / Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) perched on branch beside bracket fungus, Warwickshire, UK

Stephen Dalton / Coal tit (Periparus ater) in flight, about to land on branch covered with bracket fungi, UK controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Marsh tit (Poecile palustris) in flight, about to land on branch covered with bracket fungi, UK, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Oyster fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) UK

Stephen Dalton / Oyster fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) growing at base of tree, UK

Philippe Clement / Turkey tail / Many zoned polyphore (Coriolus / Tramates versicolor) growing on tree stump

Philippe Clement / Smoky bracket / White rot fungus (Bjerkandera adusta) growing on tree trunk, Belgium

Philippe Clement / Oyster mushroom / Oyster bracket fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) growing on tree trunk in forest, Belgium

Philippe Clement / Oyster mushroom / Oyster bracket fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) growing on tree trunk in forest, Belgium

Philippe Clement / Lumpy bracket fungus (Trametes gibbosa) on tree stump, Belgium

Sven Zacek / Hollow rotten tree with bracket fungus, woodland habitat, Estonia

Sven Zacek / Hollow rotten tree with bracket fungi, woodland habitat, Estonia

Sven Zacek / Bracket fungi (Innotus radiatus) growng on dead pine trees in boreal forest, Estonia

Adrian Davies / Birch bracket fungus / Birch polypore {Piptoporus betulinus} on Birch tree in beech woodland, UK

Alan Watson / Buttress roots of an Altingia tree (Altingia excelsa) and Bracket fungi in tropical rainforest, Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand

Alan Watson / Bracket fungi growing on fallen tree in tropical rainforest, Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand

Alan Watson / Bracket fungi growing on fallen tree in tropical rainforest, Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand

Robert Thompson / Birch bracket fungus / polypore {Piptoporus betulinus} growing on birch trunk, Clandeboye Estate, County Down, Northern Ireland, October

Robert Thompson / Oyster mushroom {Pleurotus ostreatus} Annagarriff Wood NNR, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK

Robert Thompson / Bracket fungus {Daedaleopsis confragosa} Brackagh Moss NNR, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Robert Thompson / Artists' fungus {Ganoderma applanatum} Killevy Castle, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, January

Robert Thompson / Artists' fungus {Ganoderma applanatum} under fallen Beech trunk, Castle Coole, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, Ocotber

Robert Thompson / Many-zoned polypore {Trametes / Coriolus versicolor} on fallen birch trunk, Peatlands Park, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK, December

Laurie Campbell / Dryads Saddle Fungus (Polyporus squamosus), Berwickshire, Scotland, UK, July

Laurie Campbell / Many-zoned Polypore Fungus (Coriolus versicolor), growing on dead Elm timber, Berwickshire, Scotland, November

Wild Wonders of Europe / López / Decaying tree trunk with bracket fungi growing on it, Moricsala Strict Nature Reserve, Moricsala Island, Lake Usma, Latvia, June 2009