Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Lots of rain leads to lots of mushrooms

Our summer started off wet and cool and seems like it might end that way as well. But, with lots of wet weather comes an increase in the number of fungus that can be spotted in yards, along trails and growing on trees. Some of my favorites from this summer:
Tremella reticulata
I picked these today while out running as I did not have a camera along and really wanted to know what they were. The larger of the two specimens is about three inches around and was growing on the root (or adjacent to) of a birch. The other specimen is made up of two branches each a couple of inches long and was found near a different species of hardwood. They were all over the place alongside the Superior Hiking Trail off of Beck's Rd.
Tremella reticulata or White Coral Jelly Fungus
Seen on hikes earlier this summer:

Sac Fungi

Phyllotus porrigens - Angel's Wings (?)

Underside of Angel's Wings

Itsy bitsy sac fungi found in the soils adjacent to Mission Creek.
The fungus pictured above and below was growing in one of the slumped areas along Mission Creek. This was one of the hardest hit areas in the 2012 flood. I found these along the area that was rehabbed to become part of the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon and Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultra course in the Fond du Lac neighborhood.
Smaller then the tip of my finger, that's a pine needle in upper right corner. 


As you may be able to guess I am rather fascinated with tiny mushrooms. The two above were found growing in a bed of moss.

 The group below are such a great red color.

I found these growing next to the lilac in my front yard while doing some yard work.
Xylaria sp?, possibly Xylaria polymorphs or Dead Man's Fingers (Sac fungi)

1 comment:

Samantha said...

The ones in the moss are my favorites. And yes everyone, when she says she picked them running, she means she stopped mid run, grabbed one up, and carried it with the rest of the run!