Turkey tails and their sibling species are very photogenic. They come in so many colors and arrangements. I like taking pictures of them, especially when they form their little "flowers", but since they are so common, they end up in an archive soon after.
Once in a while though I run into an absolute unit of a mushroom, and that is what I want to show you today.
This is my contribution to #FungiFriday by
@ewkaw
From far away it looked like an ordinary stump, but something was amiss. The edges were "out of focus", in stark contrast with another stump just beside it.
When I approached, it became clear that the top and sides are covered in dark fungal blades.
I've photographed it from all sides with a wide grin on my face.
Not to end it on one species, I have some other nice looking polypores I've encountered this year.
The following cousin of a turkey tail - trametes hirsuta - usually looks differently. Their delicate hair catch dust, dust catches moisture and moisture lets the algae grow giving them greenish tint. Those were apparently quite fresh.
Even the most common polypores can look quite nice.
Not a polypore, but still a dead-wood-eater, and in a nice yellow color.
Speaking of yellow - juicy chicken of the woods. Unfortunately as usual I just had to encounter it in a place where I couldn't pick it up (park in a city center), and even if I could, I'd not have any means of preparing it, because I was living in regular hotel room while on vacation.
The collection cannot omit my favorite birch polypore.
On a side note, I hope the mushroom season has not yet ended, although recent days were quite cold. Wish me luck on a hunt tomorrow :o)