Fungi, Lichen & Slime Molds 3

For some strange reason, I love seeing this Rust Fungus growing on Rock Cress : ) This macro shot was taken yesterday, when several of us went south of the city, to the Connop Estates (near Turner Valley), for the first out-of-town botanizing trip of the year. Such beautiful scenery of rolling hills, with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. It was cold and very windy - a nightmare to flower photographers! This is the only photo I took of this small plant that is remotely usable, but it gives you an idea of what this Rust can do to this species. "Puccinia monoica is a rust fungus of the genus Puccinia that inhibits flowering in its host plants (those of the Arabis genus) and transforms host behavior in order to facilitate sexual reproduction to pass on its genes. Infection occurs when the fungus sends its throughout the stem of the mustard plant, siphoning off some of the nutrients of its host. However, to reproduce, Puccinia monoica must exchange genes with the Puccinia inside another mustard plant. The fungus sterilizes the plant, preventing it from sending up its own flowers. Instead, the fungus forces the infected plant to turn clusters of its leaves into brilliant "flowers" (pseudoflowers)." From Wikipedia.

This beautiful, thin fungus looked so perfect. Found growing on a small tree at Bebo Grove on 29th October last year.

This was just a small patch of yellow on a tree trunk, found when several of us spent a few hours botanizing Susan Wright's land, south of Calgary, on May 19th. The weather was so overcast that most of the photos I took on that outing didn't come out, and this one is a little blurrier than I would have liked. Fascinating lichen, but I don't know the ID, unfortunately. Thanks, Doug (dougwaylett) for the ID, "a very wet, thus green coloured, Xanthomendoza hasseana".

When a few of us were out on Susan Wright's land on May 19th, recording all nature species found, one length of fencing had a mini-garden (Usnea lichen, I think) growing on top of each fence post. It would have been so tempting to add a pair of those plastic eyes you can buy to this one, lol!

I'm assuming that this is just a small specimen of Rusty Gilled Polypore, Gloeophyllum sepiarium. Photographed on 30th August 2010 at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park.

Macro shot of what I am assuming is Witch's Butter jelly fungus. I always love coming acoss some of this in the forest - the colour is just so vibrant, almost glowing. This was taken on a drizzly, grey day when a few of us went south of the city to Susan Wright's property to record all plants and wildlife found there. This was one of about three photos that came out - the rest need to be deleted. Hoping the sun starts to work very soon, like tomorrow, ha? Just the amount of rain we are getting here sure turns my thoughts to all those people who have suffered tremendously from recent flooding and, of course, those whose lives have been changed forever by the horrific tornadoes down south. The power of Mother Nature cannot be beaten!

This, apparently, is a Morel mushroom, but it's very different from other Morels that I've seen in the past. Couldn't find a photo of one like this on Google Images, when I had a quick look last night. Found on Saturday, the first day of the May Species Count, at Votier's Flats, Fish Creek Park. Always feels good to find something new : ) Saturday was a day of many hours of walking. Yesterday, Sunday, the second day of the May Species Count, a few of us covered the Priddis area, south west of the city, which involved driving the backroads for the day, stopping at various sloughs along the way, and calling in at a few people's properties to see certain birds. I always enjoy this day out each year.

I'm still coming across the occasional mushroom photo from last fall, so thought I'd post this one before our 2011 mushroom season properly begins. These ones are so delicate, but I love the shape and pattern of their cap. Photographed at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park (SW of the city) on 7th September 2010.

This one tiny patch of brilliant orange Cup Fungus (macro image) was growing on mosses on the forest floor at Maclean Pond, when I drove out there on Frday to see what kinds of things I could find. Not a whole lot going on yet, but I was happy to see a little Wilson's Warbler, with its black cap, flitting from tree to tree. I'm not sure what the dark purple/brown growth is, over on the left hand side.