Päiväkirja-arkisto kohteelle toukokuu 2020

toukokuu 7, 2020

March Salt Spring Island Fungus of the Month: Coccomyces dentatus

March's fungus is the strange and lovely Map Fungus, Coccomyces dentatus. This fungus grows on fallen leaves from plants in the Ericaceae family, like Oregon Grape or Arbutus, and draws maps with black lines and dots.

observation by dianalynn1

The black lines, called "zone lines", divide areas of the leaf colonized by different individuals of the species. The dots are hexagonal structures that open their triangular panels to release spores when the fungus is mature - you can see the one at the center of this photo opening.

observation by dianalynn1

Map Fungus breaks down fallen leaves and recycles their nutrients into the soil. The zone lines may remain visible even on old crumbling leaves, like the lead in a stained glass window, if they are held up to the light.

It wasn't found on Salt Spring Island, but I want to share this especially colourful leaf map anyway, photographed by Richard Droker for Mushroom Observer:

The parks may be closed, but fungi are waiting everywhere in unlikely places to delight us, even in a handful of fallen leaves. I hope you are able to find a few.

Julkaistu toukokuu 7, 2020 02:56 IP. käyttäjältä corvi corvi | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti