Scary Fungi
Scary Fungi! Did you know that Fungi are not plants? They are unique and separate life forms and have their own kingdom. After three solid days of rain, this group of fungi popped up in the back garden in a shady area of soil. They are not growing on rotten wood or tree roots. I looked through literally hundreds of mushroom photos on the internet, and didn’t see anything like this. Images are in order of how I imagine they progressed. They seem to actually bloom!
Pisolithus arhizus (aka P. tinctorius) – Image 1
First, a round, brown mushroom pops up, then the whole surface cracks open.
Pisolithus arhizus (aka P. tinctorius) – Image 2
Looks like an alien from another planet! More mushrooms pop up alongside the first, and when the surface is cracked open enough a darker “bloom” pushes out, right.
Pisolithus arhizus (aka P. tinctorius) – Detail
This I am calling a “bloom.” The surface is now peeled back like petals, and in the center, a cup pushes out, and inside that is a layer of blue mold.
Pisolithus arhizus (aka P. tinctorius) – Image 3
This one appears to be decomposing without a cup. The texture is very much like damp sand.
Pisolithus arhizus (aka P. tinctorius) – Image 4
I assume this one got covered in mold from all the moisture in the air, before the surface cracked open. Taken by itself, it looks more like a truffle, but when I see the others, I don’t think so. Help me identify this if you can. And what should I do with it (with any fungi for that matter)? Thanks for your help! – Kaye
Update: This fungi was identified in December, 2012, by Michael Wood at MykoWeb.com as Pisolithus arhizus (aka P. tinctorius) commonly referred to as Dog Turd Fungus.
Category: Fungi
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I have just heard from Michael Wood at MykoWeb.com and CaliforniaFungi.com, that it is a Pisolithus arhizus (aka P. tinctorius). There are so many fungi in the fungi kingdom, it’s mind boggling!
Wow!
Definitely Triffids
I had to look that word up, dear Dallas! How fun! Yes, it looks rather scary. I left it there, not sure what else to do. If you touch them the spores go everywhere, right?
some people say fungi are weird ,to some they are beautiful and to some they are disgusting.But to me they are incredible.in every photo i observed that they were taken from a precise angle.you could have become a photographer instead of a gardener
thank you! I am a photographer, by the way. Thanks for readying!