It’s damp and drizzly again and while I might not like the weather there are certainly things that thrive when it’s moist outside. Fungus for example. Jack and I haven’t been to the forest in a few days and I was surprised to see this big bright piece of flaming fungus grown so large in 3 days. I swear it wasn’t there on Friday. It fits right in with the October colours all around it, but I didn’t expect to see fungus in a frilly orange party dress.
Flaming Fungus, ©voyager, all rights reserved
Pretty orange frills, ©voyager, all rights reserved
It is beautiful bright color, but I fear it spells doom for the tree.
Well, shit, Charly. I love that tree. It’s a grand, mid-aged black cherry.
Well, I am not a mycologist, but it looks like Laetiporus sulphureus. or another species of that genus. When growing on a living tree, it causes the heartwood rot that I have mentioned with regard to my own cherry tree -- the tree can grow for years without apparent damage on the outside (excepting the occasional fungus), but it gets hollowed out and eventualy breaks. Coincidentaly, Laetiporus sulphureus. growth on a cherry tree was exactly an example used in situ to explain heartwood rot to us during my studies at the uni.
Sorry for being a killjoy, but that tree is a ticking time bomb.
The fungus is likely edible, but I would let first let the species confirm by someone more familiar with it before eating it.
I agree with Charly: I too think it is Laetiporus sulphureus. Some portions are edible, but some people have a reaction to it, and even so it must be very thoroughly cooked so I too would advise caution.
I really love the slug logjam going on behind it in the second photo. “There’s not enough room on this tree for all of us!”
The glistening wetness is beautiful.
There’s a fungus amongus!
So shiny!
@Marcus : :D
What a bright beautiful fungus! Those grow here sometimes too and I’m always fascinated by them.
We finally got a good soaking here the last few days and I’m hoping the first mushrooms will start to appear everywhere any time now. I’ll go looking for them in the weekend…