Almost every corner of the globe is home to a wide array of different organisms. But despite this diversity, there are groups of animals that share the most unlikely of similarities. Sticking to the UK, each week for 12 weeks I will test your skills in identifying 12 different organisms that share one characteristic. They can be a plant or a fungi, a bird or a mammal, a fish or an insect!MAGICAL MYSTERY QUIZ#11Thirty year old horse hooves.
Haven't got a clue, but don't like the reference to 'horse' as I got eaten alive by horse flies down the wood last Sunday!!!
I will have to put my thinking cap on for this one I think...
Best
Higgy
Just playing around with some of the letters came up with a couple of unlikely ones,Horse Thistle or Horse Radish Tree.No doubt both totally off the planet but at least it will start the ball rolling until the wiser ones get going.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Clue: Five thousand years ago, it took just four pieces.
Marestail
Cin J
Cos' I'm in a cheeky mood today... I would say you are currently 'cold' with Marestail. Try again maybe?
LOL I should have got that as it is a complete nightmare plant for us here and I'm pulling it up daily and still can't defeat it!!! LOL
Well it is also known as Horsetail but I am now going off track and thinking Ground Elder - which is currently overtaking my garden
Anything to do with the discovery recently that fertiliser was used 5000 years ago ?
I shall not fuel anymore clues, all will be revealed tomorrow.
Congratulations to all of you who guessed Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius). First a bit about the clues! First clue: Thirty year old horse hooves. This refers to the fact that this fungus looks like a horse’s hoof. The fruiting bodies of this fungus are perennial and survive for up to thirty years – hence, thirty year old horse hooves. The second clue: Five thousand years ago, it took just four pieces. This refers to Otzi the 5,000 year old Iceman who was found with four pieces of Tinder fungus about his person. It was concluded that these pieces were most likely used as tinder to start a fire with.
Varying in colour from silvery white to nearly black, this fungus can grow up to 45 cm (18 inches) across and up to 25cm in thickness and can be found most typically on the trunks of Poplar, Willow, Alder and Sycamore. Despite its fruity smell, the Tinder fungus is not considered edible. The Tinder fungus is also known as Hoof fungus, Tinder conk and Ice man fungus, to name but a few.
A picture of Tinder fungus is found here.
Did you know that: in addition to medicinal purposes, tinder fungus is also used in timber production.
Keep an eye out for next week’s (and sadly last) magical mystery quiz!
Take care,
Claire