Porca vacca!

“Porca vacca!” is an Italian exclamation meaning “Holy cow!” Its literal translation is “Piggy cow!”

Under the pine trees are the small, familiar shapes of the Bovine Bolete, Suillus bovinus.

Suillus comes from the same root as swine.

I suspect the jersey cow colour is responsible for their bovine name. They are also found in herds.

It’s when I look underneath that my sense of wonder is sparked. Porca vacca!