Fungi, Lichen & Slime Molds 1

Saw several of these absolutely fascinating fungi (smaller than actually seen here) at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park this afternoon. The star rays were curled under with all the Earth Stars I saw there, not spread out in the shape of a star. "The Earth Star is a striking soil fungus, so named because the outer wall of the spore-bearing body splits open into a star. One metaphor refers to the rays standing on their tips, like a ballet dancer standing on their toes. Like other earthstars, the outer, leathery wall (peridium) splits open into the rays of a star, but the rays fold down into "legs" that support the spherical spore case that sits on a short stalk or pedicel. The rays are firmly attached to a clump of mycelium and leaf debris." From "The Amazing Fungi " website.

Sorry - I'm afraid you might just get a bit sick of seeing fungi, as I have taken SO many photos of different ones in this past week! These pink fungi were only very small - my photo makes them look much bigger than they actually were. They were growing quite near the edge of the trail I was on, too. Doug - many thanks for the ID; much appreciated!

Came across this rather fine Coral fungus yesterday, on a walk at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. Trying to find more species of fungus can become almost - addictive, LOL? "Coral fungi, also sometimes called antler fungi, are mushrooms that are so named due to their resemblance to aquatic coral or antlers."

I found a few of these enormous mushrooms in the dense forest at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park this afternoon. If I remember correctly, this one was something like 8" or 9" across. Many of them are covered in a tangle of soil and dead leaves when they push their way up through the forest floor, but this one was clean.

I barely noticed this narrow piece of tree bark lying on the forest floor, tipped with these very small fungi. I had noticed a tiny patch of white in among the trees and was happy as can be to find these photogenic mushrooms. I did hold it up in a sunnier spot a few feet away.

I was so happy to find this little family of mushrooms growing on an old tree stump at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park yesterday. This huge natural area is about a 40 km drive from the city and I tend to feel very cut off from human contact when I go there. Feels quite creepy, but I am slowly getting used to the area and walk a little further each time I go. There is such a huge variety of fungi at the moment, so it has become a little addictive, LOL.

I'm having quite a rare, totally lazy day today, not going anywhere and doing nothing but sit at my computer, LOL. Just playing around with a mosaic using a few recent and fairly recent fungi images and decided that I would upload it to Flickr. I think one of my favourite mushrooms was the "goblet", number 12, because it was such a perfect and unusual sight. Perhaps the most amazing was number 6, the blue fungus, never seen before and not seen since : ) 1. Mini parasols , 2. Coral fungus , 3. Earth Star fungus , 4. Growing at the tip , 5. Like mini Ravioli , 6. Blue fungus! , 7. King of the mushrooms , 8. Deep in the forest , 9. Family living on a tree stump , 10. Sitting in the sun , 11. Mushroom milestone , 12. Mother Nature's goblet , 13. Mushroom of the day , 14. Gills galore , 15. Bolete mushroom , 16. A pink surprise Created with fd's Flickr Toys .

Sorry - yes, it's ANOTHER Mushroom, LOL! Even worse news is that I still have lots of other fungi species to eventually upload : ). Found at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park.

Thanks so much again, Jim, for an ID - Slime Mold. Having to use my flash has lightened the colour a little, but it was such a beautiful colour. Purely by chance, I caught sight of a tiny splash of orange on the end of an old, fallen log and was delighted to see all these VERY tiny pinhead spots of colour. Not as sharp as I would have liked, but you still get an idea of what it is.