A walk in the woods this time of year will turn up a vast array of mushrooms and other fungi. Here are just a few of the more photogenic specimens we spotted on a walk near the family cottage on Monday afternoon. Click on a thumbnail to view the full-size image.
- Ramaria sp., coral fungus
- Hericium americanum, lion’s mane: looking it up today, I discovered this bizarre fungus is edible, delicious and easy to cultivate in sawdust or other wood waste.
- Fomes fomentarius, tinder polypore: one of the fungi found in the possession of the 5,000-year-old Ice Man, it is useful in starting fires. It may also be useful as a source of natural dye.
- A much older tinder polypore on a fallen tree. This species is perennial, producing a new layer each year.
- Lycoperdom pyriforme, pear-shaped puffball: considered edible but not particularly tasty, this small puffball occurs abundantly on fallen branches in the woods around our cottage.
- Unidentified mushrooms
- Unidentified fungus
- Unidentified bracket fungus