Transformation of a log

Fungus, unknown species

Svartskog, Norway

What we see as a mushroom with a stalk and a cap is the fleeting moment when the various species of fungi are busy dispersing their spores. Shortly these two beautiful specimens will vanish, but inside the log this, and likely several other fungi species, will continue to transform and decompose the log. A forest without fungi would be very bleak compared to what we see in a healthy and undisturbed forest, as they are the transformers of nutrients.

Many species of fungi remain hidden to us for years if the conditions are not right for reproduction and spore growth, but they are still hard at work supporting trees and plants throughout the forests. Some summers are so dry that when the autumn arrives there are hardly any mushrooms to be seen, and I have experienced autumns where I have hardly seen any fly agaric which is the most eye catching of all.

The autumn of 2017 was an exceptional year in that regard, and the summer must have been the best in many many years for the majority of fungi species as I have never seen so many exceptional species and numbers here. And I have lived here for 30 years!

As with most of the species I have posted from 2017 this was found in the forest up the hills behind my home. Yet another great example of how amazing things are just where you are if you care to look.

Image Copyright © 2017 +Morten Ross
Image Capture Date: 20 September 2017 18:40
Altitude: 38 meters

#fungus #mushroom #autumn #svartskog