Greetings! I want to share some of my summer fungi findings.
This post goes for #AmazingNature contest.
This is not a complete stranger - its an old well-known friend, Coprinus comatus, aka lawyer's wig. I made a few posts about it in the past. This is not a rare mushroom, its well-spread across all Europe and Northern hemisphere, and besides that it is very photo-friendly, and I always took photos when I see it. You never get bored of it!
Its amazing nature's creature, full of qualities (none of them is medicinal, tho). One of its names is 'ink cap'. You will ask why? theres an intresting story behind it. While aging, dehydrating, this mushroom transforms into a dirt, very sticky dense black dirt (actually its mushroom's spores) - that can be used as inks.
The process looks like this: this liquid dirt obtained from overmature dehydrated fungi should be filtered, glue and flavoring (clove oil) are being added. Whats so special about those inks? They were used to protect especially important documents: government papers, important bills of exchange, etc. The protection is based on the fact that after the ink dries, the spores of the fungus (!) form a unique pattern, which then is examined under a microscope and copied/remembered; it is impossible to forge the inscription formed by the spores of the fungus. An amazing nature's creation - and no less amazing implementation of it by humans.
Note the green grass on the right -- it is stained with said black sticky dirt. If you dont believe it is the same mushroom, as this white handsome fellow from above -- I swear, it is it! Just as 5-6 days have passed. Those mushrooms love to pop up in huge colonies. And they do age badly... in a very photo-friendly way. Amazing and spectacular sight.
Surprisingly, these mushrooms are edible! They are relatives of champignons (family). They can be eaten while they are young, while the body of the mushroom is white - if only black parts are visible, it means mushroom is not young anymore and cannot be eaten. This specie is relative to Champignons - both relate to Agaricaceae family. Some consider that these mushrooms are tastier than champignons. I personally don't know, haven't tried it yet.
By the way, if you like alcohol, pay attention to another amazing property of the mushroom: it is incompatible with alcohol! The substances in the mushroom, reacting with ethyl alcohol, form a combo - a poisonous toxin. That is why this mushroom was used in the old days to treat alcohol addiction. An amazing talent of humanity is to use nature to its advantage, to use everything that it creates, even poisons.
Another ink caps specie - Coprinus sp.
Ink caps are also may be referred to as 'umbrella mushrooms' (but its not a scientific name). They are useful in one more way, especially during the rain:
...as they can be a shelter! And umbrellas cost more in the rain, did you know?
And the last one for today. Surprisingly, this is not a hare's poo, if you think so you are wrong -- that a puff-balls colony! They are edible, until over-matured.
| location: | Russia | Summer 2020 | natural lighting |
| camera/lens: | Canon 5D | Sigma 150mm | raw-conv. |
Now, its time to part ways, I wish you good luck -- and Good Hunting!
Oh, and Happy #FungiFriday to you!
And a little reminder: we have a nice fun challenge at HIVE, hold by @EwkaW
I hope many of you will join, as there are only 2 simple rules:
- when Friday comes, share your fungi with us! post your own, original photo/drawing/art/food/anything-at-all of any type of fungi (yes, stolen images will be checked and reported !)
- add #fungifriday (not necessarily must be your 1st tag). that's all!