Autumn fungi: one rarer and one more common

[spiralsheep]

Common: Parasol, probably Macrolepiota procera (marvellously toadstoolly cap)









Rarer: Honey Waxcap, Hygrocybe reidii (wonderful colour and pretty gills)

Comments

[untonuggan]

Glorious!

[spiralsheep]

The waxcaps are comparatively small and have a tendency to hide in the grass but the parasols can be dinnerplate-sized and often stand out. :-)

[untonuggan]

Those are some big mushrooms! Do they cluster near each other, or are they all over?

[spiralsheep]

They tend to grow in nearby groups but not close enough to touch in clusters. The oddest places I've found them are in thick undergrowth. Their caps can push brambles out of their way as they grow! Amazing.

[untonuggan]

Clearly fungi are going to take over the world.

[spiralsheep]

Nah, bacteria are going to take over the world. Fungi are merely their evil hench-minions. ;-)

[weaverbird]

Beautiful!

[spiralsheep]

Thank you! Nature does all the hard work. I merely cap it and post it. :-)

[blackmare]

Ohhh, these are so cool! Would you mind if I used one to make a sketch?

[spiralsheep]

I encourage people's artistic endeavours generally, and I always enjoy seeing your work on this com so PLEASE DO. :-)

[spiralsheep]

P.S. If you do and post the sketch then I'd love you to drop me a link if that's possible.

[el1ie]

Parasols are one of my favourites and how wonderful to see them captured in time!

I photograph tons of fungi, I adore it, but sadly never know the name of any of it - except the parasol, it grows in huge numbers in my sisters garden and I'm always impressed by the sheer size and how it can come and go in a couple of days.

I love that last photo, thanks for naming it, such a pretty thing, really love the way your photo has captured all it's beautiful form.

[spiralsheep]

Thank you. I was very lucky to find such photogenic parasols in differing stages of ripeness. Usually other people have eaten them all before I arrive with my camera! I was also very lucky with the light when I was photographing the waxcap, but there were several other interesting species nearby that were too difficult to cap well.

I find flickr groups are often helpful with identifying species:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiralsheep/10187543206/in/photostream/

[el1ie]

Thanks for the great link, I shall try and identify some of mine from these.

I seem to spot the most interesting ones the day I don't have my camera with me! Ha! Rain and more rain just lately, coupled with dirty dogs - not so good for cameras.

[spiralsheep]

I always spot pics when I'm not carrying so much as a phonecam, yes, and I had to switch the lights on here at 2-30pm this afternoon because the nimbostratus rainclouds made it so dark. Ugh. I need to fly south for the winter, heh.

[ysilme]

Awesome pics! I particularly love the fourth one.
We had some astonishingly large groups of mushrooms on our meadow last autumn, and later realised that they grew on places which had been used as cat loos... *g* Unfortunately I didn't manage to take a picture before they were destroyed in a hailstrom.

[spiralsheep]

Thank you!

The fruiting bodies of most fungi seem so solid but their part in the life cycle is often fleeting, with weather releasing their spores or animals eating and spreading them further.

I was caught out in a vicious hailstorm last month, with stone the size of frozen peas. OUCH. Thrilling though, especially the drumming sound of its leading edge approaching.