Fungi and Lichen
Wednesday November 12th, 2014
11 AM 35 degrees Fahrenheit
clear, windy
Today was all about fungus! On Marsh Island and in the Arboretum there is a good variety of fungi, and these are just a small portion of what is out there. I enjoyed spotting these fungi and lichen. It was rewarding each time to find another species and actually be able to get the ID for them, even though I don't know the names of some. Fungus can grow in so many places, and often it is there, and we just don't see it because it doesn't have a cap to give itself away. There are tons and tons of roots and tiny fungi hiding all around us, but we only see the beauty of it when it gets enough moisture to make itself more noticeable. Fungus is very important for the overall health of an ecosystem. They are a great source of nutrients for the organisms that grow with them. Little animals like rabbits and squirrels eat mushrooms, and when fungus breaks down it replenishes the soil, plus it is the only organism that digests wood.
Fomitopsis pinicola
"Red Belted Polypore"
Such an awesome fungus! It was growing on the bark of a neighborhood tree.These often grow on dead logs, so it is cool when you see one off a living tree. The white shell always faces the ground, so if a tree dies and lies horizontally, the fungus will slowly turn itself so that the white under side is facing the ground!
Stropharia aurantiaca
Stropharia auarantiaca
These mushrooms were growing in bark chips. The cap is very slimy and the color is quite vibrant.
Unknown. Could just be a mycena, but I think it is something else. It is a little larger, but all the same it is just a little brown mushroom.
Mycena
Lultheria vulpina "Wolf Lichen"
Unknown. Could be similar to turkey tail, but it doesn't grow in the same way. Instead of jutting out, it lies flat. It also is more of a pink than a brown.
Trametes Vericolor
Trametes Versicolor
Trametes Versicolor
"Turkey Tail"
I saw a lot of turkey tail today! It grows on fallen trees as far as I can tell. It is fairly easy to ID because of the thin quality and stripe pattern. I notice that it tends to grow in large groups of mushrooms, you don't just see one turkey tail anywhere.
Mycena
Mycena
Nidulariaceae
"Bird's nest Fungus"
Today this was found in a pile of dirt basically. There as leaf and twig debris around, but it was very cold, and these were practically frozen. They congregate in little patches like this. To me, this is just a really interesting mushroom. They look like bird's nests; they have a cup shape and are filled with little "eggs" that carry the seeds for sprouting new fungus. When it rains, the seeds fall onto the ground, and that is how they get distributed.
Marasmius oreades
"Fairy butter"
I found this fungus right next to the turkey tail mushroom. Very little of it, but it is so interesting with it's bright color and jelly texture. Some people even use it in cooking.
My spot today was really pretty overlooking the water. It was soooo cold, but it was bright and crisp looking. I am so glad that I took a picture of the Arboretum bridge last week while it was still colorful, because today there were barely any leaves at all. It was kind of sad because the trees were bare, but it definitely marks that a new season is arriving. Today totally felt like winter, and I assume that it will be colder yet in the next few weeks. I am amazed at how clear the sky was because last week was so cloudy. I noted that there was a lot of frost on the ground which is a first for this year. There were a lot of frozen leaves, mud, and grass where the sun was not hitting.
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