MUSHROOM SEASON

Macrolepiota procera, the parasol mushroom, is a basidiomycete fungus with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a parasol. It is a fairly common species on well-drained soils. It is found solitary or in groups and fairy rings in pastures and occasionally in woodland. It is widespread in temperate regions of Eurasia and possibly North America. It is a well-regarded edible mushroom.

This was found on our lawn here in Melbourne, so obviously it has also been introduced to Australia. Take care as it resembles some toxic species! Notably, Chlorophyllum molybdites, which causes the largest number of annual mushroom poisonings in North America due to its close similarity to Macrolepiota. Never eat any mushrooms found in the wild that you are unsure of their edibility!

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

FUNGI

Fungi are relatively well-evolved living things that are neither plants nor animals, and they include a diverse group of organisms, such as yeasts, moulds, and mushrooms. They are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by absorbing them from their environment. Fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems by decomposing organic matter and forming symbiotic relationships with plants and animals.

It's mushroom time in Melbourne, and although many people collect wild mushrooms to eat, as they are delicious, it is important to distinguish them from toxic toadstools and poisonous mushrooms, because ingesting those may cause serious illness or death...

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

LICHEN

A lichen (do you say LY-kən or LITCH-ən???) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship, where each organism gains benefits from the other. Lichens are important forces in nutrient cycling and act as producers which many higher trophic feeders feed on, such as reindeer, gastropods, nematodes, mites, and springtails.

Lichens have properties different from those of their component organisms. They come in many colours, sizes, and forms and are sometimes plant-like, but are not plants. They may have tiny, leafless branches (fruticose); flat leaf-like structures (foliose); grow crust-like, adhering tightly to a surface (substrate) like a thick coat of paint (crustose); have a powder-like appearance (leprose); or other growth forms.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.