I’ve Taken a Lichen’ To You ;D
At first glance lichens don’t exactly fill you with wonder and amazement but more a sort of “oh-cool-that-rock-has-mold-on-it…”ment. However we know better than to judge a book by its cover and you can be forgiven for this as the popular opinion about lichens up until the 1800s was that they were an example of rocks spontaneously coming to life. Instead lichens exist as a near perfect symbiotic organism between a fungus and a photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria. The fungus provides protection, water and in some cases minerals from the substrate (sometimes acquired by dissolving rocks) while the algae produces the food source via photosynthesis. The truly interesting thing about this mutualistic lifestyle is that while we can grow all species involved separately in the lab, they don’t look the same. The fungus grown without the algae is simply a mess of hyphae yet when the algae is introduced it changes into its usual form that best utilizes the photosynthetic abilities of its partner. It’s also been found that introducing different species of algae to the same species of fungus can lead to strikingly different morphologies.
Lichens are found in some of the harshest environments on Earth such as the Antarctic, deserts or even certain species on piles of toxic slag. Despite this most species are incredibly sensitive to air pollution and are a good indicator as to pollution levels.
Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Basidiomycota.
A phylum that holds the many species of bracket/shelf fungi. These type of fungi are most commonly found growing on trees, whether the tree be alive or dead. Quite of few of these species are parasitic and are the cause of the death of a tree. They’re quite long-lived due to their hardness and many grow colorful circles around their semicircular body. This particular shelf fungi was found in France and developed beautiful blue circles.
(via sugaratoms)
Cool some toadstools, and a frog! In the bottom, left corner of this image is an example of brilliant camouflage. This Choerophryne sp. frog was only discovered in September of 2009 when it’s cricket like call gave it away.
This one is cool. This is the result of Divaricatic acid recrystallized from acetone. Divaricatic acid is commonly found in some species of lichen.
My boyfriend found these fungi in his woods.
This is the Sarcoscypha coccinea or ‘Scarlet elfcup’, it grows on decaying wood on damp parts of the forest floor.
The red cups appear in early spring and their colour is caused by the presence of five different carotenoid pigments, including beta-carotene.
I recommend you all go follow this girl now. Just saying. I won’t be responsible for what happens if you don’t.
(via botanicalbalthazar)
Here we see Cookeina tricholoma which is a prime example of a cup fungus.
The wee guys seen in this photo are Crinipellis perniciosa. This fungus is quite neat because it leads to a plant disease known as witch’s broom, in which a tree is chemically induced into producing lots of offshoots giving the appearance of a broom.
This is one of the weirdest fungi that I’ve ever had the pleasure of stumbling across myself. This gem is Aseroe rubra and the name literally translates to something akin to “disgusting juice red” which is referring to the slime that it’s spores are suspended in. The slime in turn smells of rotting meat.
Sarcosphaera coronaria is the only member of it’s genus. It’s a cup fungus that is threatened in 14 countries. The cup itself grows to have a diameter of 12 cms (4.7 inches) and splits from the top down.
Lactarius indigo is a pretty cool mushroom. It’s edible, blue, quite wide spread and secretes blue “milk” when cut that turns green when exposed to air.
Rather than simply being a mushroom submerged underwater Psathyrella aquatica actually fruits under water and only for periods of 11 weeks. This is obviously fairly different from you’re regular mushroom or toad stool and pretty darn awesome if you ask me.
Shown is a recently discovered species of bioluminescent fungi known as Mycena luxaeterna, which as some of you may be able to deduce means “eternal light mushroom”. They’re found in Atlantic forests and grow to have a cap about less than 2 cm in diameter.
Cordyceps unilateralis. Most of you won’t recognize the name, but some of you may have heard of the effects. What C. unilateralis does is effectively make zombies out of ants. Once an ant is infected the fungus quickly grows inside the ant and eventually takes over it’s brains. At this stage it pilots the zombie ant to the underside of a leaf where the ant under the command of C. unilateralis latches onto the leaf with it’s mandibles. At this stage the fungus dissolves the innards of the ant to fuel it’s own growth but leaves the carapace and mandible muscles attached and even reinforces the ants protection. After some time the fungus explodes out of the ant and spreads it’s spores to infect more ants below.
