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Fungi is one of the most interesting organisms
on earth.
they are extremely delicate and
usually only
last for a couple of days. Some
only for an
hour or so, so catching them can
be a
challenge. During rain and immediately
after rain
is the best time to see fungi in all its
glory. This
interesting fungi looks like a piece
of
honeycomb. It was growing on a dead tree. |
About Fungi
The Kingdom Fungi includes some of the most important organisms,
both in terms of their ecological and economic roles. By breaking
down dead organic material, they continue the cycle of nutrients
through ecosystems. In addition, most vascular
plants could not grow
without the symbiotic fungi, or mycorrhizae, that inhabit
their roots and supply essential nutrients. Other fungi provide
numerous drugs (such as penicillin and other antibiotics), foods
like mushrooms, truffles and morels, and the bubbles in bread,
champagne, and beer.
While there is no single fungal lifestyle, one thing common to all
fungi is that (unlike the green plants, for example) they do not
make their own food. Fungi get their nutrients from existing organic
matter and there are many sources of organic matter in the world -
leaf litter, dung, soil, animals, dead wood and living plants - to
name just a few. Fungi use them all.
Remember that wherever there’s organic matter, there’s almost
certainly some fungus that will exploit it. So looking through
bush like the Eloura Bushland, you are certain to find a large
variety of fungi just as I have.
Remember, they are very delicate and touching them will most
probably destroy them meaning that no one else will have the
opportunity to see them as you did.
 
 
 
 
These photos show some of the
diversity of fungi in the Eloura Bushland that you could see
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