Galerina Marginata, A Portrait

Day 18: Galerina marginata (sometimes listed as G. autumnalis) has several edible look-alikes, but its common name of "Funeral Bell" should give you a clue as to what will occur if you confuse it with any of them. A couple of distinguishing features will help you sort it out, but remember: it's better to throw away an edible species than to consume a poisonous one, so play it safe. If you see evidence of an annulus (ring) or roughness on the stipe (stem) which would hint that a ring might have existed, the 'shroom in question is most likely Galerina marginata. Also examine the gills. If they are lightly decurrent (i.e., running down the stem) or attached to the stipe (as opposed to notched), do NOT add one to your basket to take home for further analysis! Even in small amounts (residual spores, etc.), G. marginata can be deadly. That said, this common species is a potent decomposer, growing abundantly in colonies on rotting evergreen and hardwood, breaking down the wood structure with its mycelium. Even poisonous 'shrooms play a role in the Circle of Life in the forest. Let them do their job.

Schizophyllum Commune, Split-Gill Fungus

Day 157: If the peculiar "rotting lace" surface of Schizophyllum commune doesn't clue you in to its identity, you have only to turn over one of the fruiting bodies to examine the gills. Commonly called "Split-Gill Fungus," the lengthwise splits are easily visible with the naked eye, but here I have included a microscopic view (inset, right) so that you can see them more clearly. Schizophyllum commune is perhaps one of the most common fungi on the planet. In fact, it can be found on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. Although it is occasionally parasitic on living wood, it is primarily a decomposer, occurring on tree trunks and limbs already in the early stages of breaking down. This particular specimen gave me something to ponder. It was growing on a heavy Doug-fir limb, and the trees surrounding it for at least a hundred feet on all sides were Red Alder. How had that one limb come to be in their midst? No windstorm could have carried it there without damage being evident in the canopy. My sole theory is that it was brought in by a maintenance crew for bridge/trail repair, then left behind when it wasn't needed. In any event, Schizophyllum had found a happy home.

Crane Fly

Day 303: No, it's not the Mozzie from Hell. It's a Crane Fly, Tipula pubera to be precise, with no common name. It's easy to identify this one because no other Crane Fly with patterned wings can compare to it in size. Tipula pubera can attain a body length of an inch and a quarter! Most members of Tipula have very short lifespans, generally under two weeks. Their larvae feed on rotting vegetation, playing an essential role in the decomposition process. The adults do not feed as a general rule, although some occasionally sip nectar. Crane flies are harmless, although they are sometimes considered pests when they populate cultivated lawns or grassy sports fields.

Phlebia Radiata, Wrinkled Crust

Day 156: The crusts are a unique group of fungi which adhere closely to their substrate. They may appear on living or dead wood, and if a piece of tissue can be lifted, the underside can be observed to be without the pores noticeable in shelf fungi. The lower surface may be smooth, wrinkled or pimpled, and the upper surface may exhibit radiating folds and/or wart-like tubercles (both are present in this photo to some degree). Fairly common in the Pacific Northwest, Phlebia radiata (commonly known as Wrinked Crust or Radiating Phlebia) contributes to the overall ecology by facilitating the decomposition of wood. It largely affects hardwoods, but occasionally is found on conifers.