Thelephora Terrestris

Day 93: Thelephora terrestris may look like a shelf fungus (polypore) from above, but its fans are soft and flexible and the underside is leathery and smooth. Commonly called Earthfan, it is ectomycorrhizal, which is to say that it forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots of certain plants, in this case those of conifer species. It is often considered a "weed" in greenhouses and conifer plantations because of its abundance, but in fact it is an important part of the carbon cycle in the forest. The network of hyphae (mycelial filaments) it forms around the roots of its symbiotic partner permit better uptake of water and minerals from the soil. Friends have often heard me say it: fungus is at the root of everything, and quite literally in instances such as this.