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Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams

Fungus among us...a little help please?

12 years ago

I have different fungi in the garden. Several years ago, we cut down some trees, and I think this first red looking growth may be from the decaying roots of a camphor tree.

This shot is dry weather:

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This shot is really while it was raining, so it is wet.

{{gwi:616895}}

And two different types at least are growing on the stump of a cut sweetgum tree, this one on the vertical growth:

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and another on the same stump which looks different:

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and here is another on this sweetgum horizontal on the roots:

{{gwi:616898}}

There was another very red series of patches of fungi growing probably on the roots of a dead pine stump, but they were in the grass, and my DH raked them up into the trash before I took a photo.

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Comments (7)

wizzard419
12 years ago
I know it's unlikely but the sweetgum ones might be shiitaki, they are a common species to grow them on. I wouldn't suggest harvesting them but it's possible.
indiana_ron
12 years ago
Identifying mushrooms with photographs only cannot be relied upon as positive identification. Here are some possibilities, check several resources and see if you can come up with a match based on your closer observation.

First two photos: Ganoderma lucidium ( the "lingzhi" or "reishi" mushroom is steeped in history and lore, check it out.)
Third photo: Fomitopsis spraguei
Fourth photo: Bjerkandera adusta
Last photo: Another polypore mushroom, unsure on ID.

(All of your mushrooms are polypore mushrooms. These mushrooms have tiny pores on the underside of the cap where spores are produced; often grow from wood in a shelf-like manner.)

Study hard and good luck. Ron
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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
12 years ago
Nice pics!

Josh
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the replies. I've added your information and disclaimers to my cardfile of plants. When you garden, you just never know where nature will lead, do you?

Indiana_Ron, I will be paying closer attention to these fungi appearing around my garden. I am not even THINKING about eating any home grown fungi, I am simply curious about what made them appear all over the garden. Of course, I do not use commercial fertilizer (except the Sierra tabs or granules), I don't put out poisons, except for the pyrethrin compounds, because of my two little dogs. I was asking in case there was something poisonous growing which might appeal to a dog's appetite.

I was intrigued by the plant/fungi with the peachy red coloring, never saw it before. But today, I found a similar plant which is dried up more, and it was perhaps attached to an azalea or camellia sasanqua stump. We had to cut down some really ancient azaleas last winter, and the stumps for them seemed to be a foot across at the soil line.

Greenman, the first two pics were taken with a Sony Sureshot T700 camera, which is so small I have trouble holding it still. The last few pictures are done with my new camera, not a DSLR, but a larger camera with a lot of bells on it. The Nikon Coolpix P500 got it on a Black Friday sale last week. Easier to grip this one and I am having a lot of fun learning how to take advantage of all its features.
wizzard419
12 years ago
As I always say, when in doubt, feed it to someone you don't like first.
User
Original Author
12 years ago
Wizzard419 sez:
"As I always say, when in doubt, feed it to someone you don't like first."

Ah, yes!!!
Good point. I know just the person for the test 'shroom. :)
KatyaKatya
12 years ago
Shiitake are stipitate-pileate, that is to say have caps and stems.

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