Ramaria flava Previously Clavaria flava |
I have always loved fungi. So much so that, although my degree states ‘Genetics’ I practically duel-majored in genetics and microbiology. Several of my modules through undergraduate were either mycology or microbiology with my core genetics modules.
Fungi are fascinating organisms of which mushrooms or cap fungi are the
most complex. I get very excited when I see one and have to stop and take some
photos. We had a few popping up in our bushveld last year. I knew what one of
them was, but the others still remains un-identified. This year we have had so much rain (in short burst) that the mushrooms have been popping up all over the lawn!
Fungi are made up of chitin; hard, sturdy cellular structures similar
to plants, but grow as mycelium (thread-like structures) and do not contain
chlorophyll (green photosynthesising pigment)… so they are not quite plants.
They obtain their nutrients from other organisms, either through decomposition
or parasitism, similar to animals, but they form fruiting bodies that contain
spores… they are not quite animals either. Therefore, mushrooms seem to occupy
a world between that of plants and animals. Scientists still argue about their
taxonomic classification, but have placed them squarely between plants and
animals under eukaryotic organisms.
Table 63 Basimycetes Kunstformen der Natur (1900) Kurt Stober Online Libnrary |
Fungi have diverse habitats and each group has their own unique spore
formation that distinguishes them.
Division
|
Common
Name
|
Genus
representatives
|
Spore
Type
|
Typical
Habitat
|
Disease
examples
|
Oomycota
|
Water moulds
|
Pythium,
Phytophthora
|
Oospore
|
High humidity or running water
|
Potato blight (Irish famine caused by Phytophthora)
Damping off disease of seedlings (Pythium)
|
Zygomycota
|
Bread moulds/span>
|
Rhizopus
|
Zygospore
|
Terrestrial, Soil, decaying plant or
animal matter, some parasitic
|
Food spoilage such as Rhizopus stolonifer (black bread
mould) on strawberries
|
Ascomycota
|
Sac fungi
|
Neurospora,
Saccharomyces (brewer’s yeast),
Morchella
(morels),
Tuber (truffles)
|
Ascospore
|
Soil, decompos-ing plant matter and
several parasitic or disease causing
|
Dutch elm (Ophiostoma spp.), chestnut blight (Claviceps spp.), ergots, white/brown wood rots
|
Basidiomycota
|
True Fungi
Club Fungi
Cap Fungi
Mushrooms
|
Amanita,
Agaricus,
Boletus, Cantharellus
|
Basidiospore
|
Soil, decompos-ing plant matter,
several parasitic or disease causing
|
Black stem, wheat rusts, corn smuts,
wheat bunts
|
Note that Deuteromycota no longer exists due to it being non-spore forming stages of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota
Fungi increase in complexity as you move from Oomycetes (simple fungi) to Basidiomycetes (higher fungi). The groups can be simplified into three major types of fungi: moulds, yeasts and mushrooms.
Fungi increase in complexity as you move from Oomycetes (simple fungi) to Basidiomycetes (higher fungi). The groups can be simplified into three major types of fungi: moulds, yeasts and mushrooms.
Moulds are filamentous
fungi, the ones as fluff on your bread! The compact fluff is termed mycelium
and is made up of many single thread-like structures known as hyphae. Moulds
also produce spores, borne on specialised reproductive organs known as conidia.
Conidia are seen as little black spots on top of some of the hyphae. (Oomycetes
& Zygomycetes).
Pin mould on peach |
Yeasts are unicellular
fungi. These are utilised in many culinary disciplines, such as beer brewing,
wine-making, soy sauce production, bread making and myco-proteins are made from
these. Several nasty diseases and infection are also caused by this set of
fungi, specifically Candida albicans
systemic infections. Some ‘culinary mushrooms’ are also in this group, such as
Morels and Turkey Foot. Technically morels and bract fungi aren’t mushrooms,
but ascomycetes, the difference is that ascomycetes have pores and not gills.
(Ascomycetes)
Mushrooms are macroscopic fungi, capable of producing large fruiting bodies. This edible fruiting body is what we most often associate with mushrooms, but this is only a small part of the whole organism. The rest is usually found under the ground as a large mycelium network. The fungi spores drop onto favourable decaying matter as a nutrient source. The mycelium grows in the matter and when the weather is optimal (wet and cool) fruiting commences. First fruiting is noticeable as small buds (similar to button mushrooms) with the cap still attached to the stalk. Later the fruits mature and spread out the cap to release spores with the wind (Portobello mushrooms are buttons that have matured). (Basidiomycetes).
Morel, Morchella septentrionalis, Folds instead of gills |
Mushrooms are macroscopic fungi, capable of producing large fruiting bodies. This edible fruiting body is what we most often associate with mushrooms, but this is only a small part of the whole organism. The rest is usually found under the ground as a large mycelium network. The fungi spores drop onto favourable decaying matter as a nutrient source. The mycelium grows in the matter and when the weather is optimal (wet and cool) fruiting commences. First fruiting is noticeable as small buds (similar to button mushrooms) with the cap still attached to the stalk. Later the fruits mature and spread out the cap to release spores with the wind (Portobello mushrooms are buttons that have matured). (Basidiomycetes).
On to the veld mushrooms… I came across several Beaked or Beret Earthstars,
Geastrum pectinatum, of the
Geastraceae Family. They are leathery and inedible. The ‘star’ termed the
exoperidium is made up of 5-10 spikes. During hot and dry periods, the spikes
shrivel and lower the globe (endoperidium) to the ground and may event curl
around it to protect it. During rainy and wet weather, the spikes swell and
lift the globe from the ground floor to expose the globe. Falling raindrops or
passing animals expel puffs of spores out from the ‘beak’.
Can you spot them? Beaked earthstar Geastrum pectinatum |
Beaked earthstar Geastrum pectinatum |
Beaked earthstar Geastrum pectinatum |
Beaked earthstar Geastrum pectinatum |
... I poke-poke them and they go poof-poof ... quite amusing such simple things J
This is the one I wasn’t able to identify. My ‘Mushrooms of South Africa’ book is fairly complete, but didn’t have one that looks like this. Here are some pictures;
Unknown Mushroom |
Unknown Mushroom |
Unknown Mushroom |
It smelled wonderfully mushroomy... Termitomyces? Macrocybe? I did not eat it, hence why I am still here posting blogs J
On to the ones on the lawn... at least I could ID all of these.
Yellow stinkhorn P rubicundus Smelly things which flies love! |
No common name, but considering its species name, it could be 'Small Agaric', Agaricus diminutivus |
'Small Agaric', Agaricus diminutivus |
Blackening Wax Gill, Hygrocybe nigrescens |
Termite fungus, Termitomyces microcarpus Comes up after rains from termite burrows beneath the soil |
Termite fungus, Termitomyces microcarpus |
Termite fungus, Termitomyces microcarpus Looks like a good place to find fairies! |
Common puffball, Vascellum pratense |
Glistening Ink Cap, Coprinellus miaceus |
Glistening Ink Cap, Coprinellus miaceus |
Shaggy Ink Cap, Coprinus comatus |
A lichen growing on the Acacia trees |
Note!!! Do not eat any mushroom you cannot ID 100%, else you'll be N
I end off with this last stunning mushroom...
I found this one growing on the grass clippings in the veld, fairly common to find in Autumn.
______________________________________________________________________________
False parasol, Chlorophyllum molybdites |
______________________________________________________________________________
Please share with fellow gardening enthusiasts via the various sharing buttons at the end of posts/pages! Else you can vote for posts through the Google reactions bar at the end of articles. To stay up to date I have provided several reader and social networking platforms with which to subscribe: Twitter, Pinterest, RSS Feed Reader or Email/Follow directly using the Blog Followers widget on the left hand side toolbar. Thank you for reading and please feel free to ask if questions arise - I appreciate comments and ideas too! 😆
_________________________________________________________________________________