FungiFriday - Puff

avatar

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 11.jpg


This was quite an unexpected find.
I was walking around woods and paths that I used to know very well. But years changed them, and even though I knew exactly where I was, it all looked different. Eventually, I reached a point where a very old shooting ground is. It is all abandoned and taken over by the forest. Lots of bushes, young trees.... generally a terrible mess. The only thing that is left is a brick wall and a long canal. I went to check on it, and there they were :)

Geastrum


The name, which comes from geo meaning earth and aster meaning star, refers to the behavior of the outer peridium. At maturity, the outer layer of the fruiting body splits into segments which turn outward creating a star-like pattern on the ground. The inner peridium is called a spore sac. In some species, the outer peridium splits from a middle layer, causing the spore sac to arch off the ground. If the outer peridium opens when wet and closes when dry, it is described as hygroscopic.
Source

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 9.jpg

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 10.jpg


This is the first time I actually found the Earthstars in Poland. I have seen them before in Portugal, but they were smaller and the star shape was more pronounced. The difference could be due to a different climate or it was a different species.

In Portugal, they were growing almost on pure sand and in a quite open area. In Poland it was all shaded with some gentle dappled sun, and the soil is more rich there too. So yea... they grew well :)

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 6.jpggeastrum earthstar mushroom pl 7.jpg

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 12.jpg

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 13.jpg

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 14.jpg


There were about 15 of them around. Bigger and smaller, but all looked like little flowers. The large ones were very mature, with the little open volcano on top. With a slight touch, they were puffing grey smoke (not smoke, but millions of spores, actually).

I am not even gonna try to figure out which exactly it is. In the link above to Wikipedia you have a huge list of all the species.


geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 2.jpg

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 4.jpg

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 5.jpg


Can you see the Wolf spider*?
Plenty of them around too.

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 1.jpggeastrum earthstar mushroom pl 3.jpg



Bonus shot:
Aliens made sure we know they were there :)

geastrum earthstar mushroom pl 8.jpg


How to join #FungiFriday:

  • when Friday comes (UTC time) post your own, original photo/drawing/art/food/anything-at-all of any type of fungi (yes, I will check and report stolen images or text!)
  • add #FungiFriday tag (it doesn't have to be your first tag)
  • Include "My contribution to #FungiFriday by @ewkaw" anywhere in your post.

Happy FungiFriday!

»«
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos, graphics and text are my own.



mushrooms footer.jpg



0
0
0.000
48 comments
avatar

That mess sounds like something you would happily drag home 😂

0
0
0.000
avatar

Oh you know me so well :D :D :D

You have no idea how many pretty sticks I saw!!

0
0
0.000
avatar

I have a bag full of 'pretty' leaves somewhere in the corridor. :D

0
0
0.000
avatar

They look like they’re sitting on the throne made especially for them to pose 😁

0
0
0.000
avatar

How, those ones were really particular, kind of strange and in an way, quite cute too ☺️

I’m curious to see if I can find some in the forest just near by :)

Have a great weekend !

0
0
0.000
avatar

I am sure you can! It is probably still a bit warmer than in Poland so you might get lucky :)

0
0
0.000
avatar

Sure it much warmer here, but still, we got our first frozen morning, but there, it must be so snowy !

You're there for Christmas ?

0
0
0.000
avatar

Aliens made sure we know they were there :)

Oh no! The last time they visited Spain, they took with them all the mushrooms 😫

Hope they are not from the same gang!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Nooo I forgot about those!
I hope not... maybe it is too cold there for them and mushrooms are safe :p

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hope dies last 😂

But as I said, I hope they are not the same aliens ;)

0
0
0.000
avatar

They grew legs and now are walking around.

0
0
0.000
avatar

:o
So many of them!

0
0
0.000
avatar

It never gets dry enough over here for them to turn inside out like that. I still keep looking for the ones with a skinny stem that open up like a flower.

0
0
0.000
avatar

This has been a great find dear friend @ewkaw, I have never seen one like it in person
What a beautiful place to walk and take beautiful shots of nature.
Beautiful photographs, I appreciate that you let us know about this beautiful find.
enjoy the weekend

0
0
0.000
avatar

It was a great find indeed :)
Have a great Sunday!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Wow, this type of mushroom is really beautiful...but it's even more beautiful if you find it when it just blooms...I once met it, where I live there are people who call this mushroom the dragon fruit mushroom.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I wonder why they call it like that. Do they grow around dragon fruit trees?

0
0
0.000
avatar

Looks like a facehugger is about to come out of there😄

0
0
0.000
avatar
(Edited)

These are some love looking fungi.....you alwsys comes up with some nice finding...interesting and amazing

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thanks! I like to look for new stuff... and there is still so many to discover.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Amazing looking mushrooms! Surely the aliens brought them here!

0
0
0.000
avatar

This is the first time I see this mushroom. They have a very different morphology. They do not exist in our country. But they are truly impressive and beautiful.🍄🍄

0
0
0.000
avatar

I dont see them often myself and I agree - they are beautiful :)

0
0
0.000
avatar

Beautiful photos.
I tried to identify this spider for 10 minutes, and only when I enlarged the photo, it was there. I think it's high time for glasses! 🫣

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hahaha maybe :D
But you are excused - it is not very big.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I love mushroom collection in the forest, this is the first time I have seen this type of mushroom. I read an enjoyable article. Thank you

0
0
0.000
avatar

Lovely photos and nice find. The name is very fitting. I could not find the spider - graffiti was easier to spot. 😀

0
0
0.000
avatar

I don't remember seeing this interesting mushroom anywhere or in any city in Turkey before. I think the texture of this mushroom is similar to ginger root. 🤔

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hello ewkaw!

It's nice to let you know that your article won 🥉 place.
Your post is among the best articles voted 7 days ago by the @hive-lu | King Lucoin Curator by szejq

You and your curator receive 0.2782 Lu (Lucoin) investment token and a 5.92% share of the reward from Daily Report 127. Additionally, you can also receive a unique LUBROWN token for taking 3rd place. All you need to do is reblog this report of the day with your winnings.

2.png


Invest in the Lu token (Lucoin) and get paid. With 50 Lu in your wallet, you also become the curator of the @hive-lu which follows your upvote.
Buy Lu on the Hive-Engine exchange | World of Lu created by @szejq

If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP or to resume write a word START

0
0
0.000