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Wy'East Shroom August, 2007 What Is It?

Last post 10-30-2007, 9:53 AM by Thomas M. 4 replies.
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  • Wy'East Shroom August, 2007 What Is It?

     10-29-2007, 2:45 PM

    • Joined on 01-28-2007
    • Vancouver, WA
    • Posts 112
    • Top 75 Contributor
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    I found these mushrooms near Wy'East Basin on the north side of Mt. Hood, near where the Vista Ridge Trail meets the Timberline Trail. They were on a fallen log about 3 feet above the ground. The area is mostly shady. I think it was on August 29th of 2007. I have never seen this type before and I assume that they are not very common. Does anyone recognize them???? That's a standard size bottle cap for size.

  • Re: Wy'East Shroom August, 2007 What Is It?

     10-29-2007, 6:19 PM

    I'm having a challenge picking out the shape. Are we looking at the pink stuff or grey stuff? Some open and some closed?

    One section almost looks like un-opened Earth Stars, in the 2nd and 4th photos, but I doubt they would grow up on a log - but I'm not certain.

    Next time you zap a few pics, try to get some close-ups at about the distance in this album...

    Mushroom Album

    Sometimes spore prints are needed, but I have a feeling that yours won't have too many look-alikes.

    Can you crop a clear enlargement from part of one image and post that?

    Are the open looking things some of them too?
    M. D. Vaden of Oregon

    Atlas Grove & Grove of Titans Redwoods
  • Re: Wy'East Shroom August, 2007 This Is It !

     10-29-2007, 11:02 PM

    • Joined on 01-28-2007
    • Vancouver, WA
    • Posts 112
    • Top 75 Contributor
      Male

    This is the reply that I received from Judy Rogers of the Oregon Mycological Society. She is quite expert at identifying mushrooms.

    "Thanks, Thomas - they came thru fine and very easy to identify.
    The first 3 pics of the pink and gray round balls are Lycogalla epidendron, the "bubble gum" slime mold (not a true fungus). It has been quite common this year and fun to find. It crawls around the woods in an amoebiod state until it finds a suitable log, then forms up into these balls, pink at first, then turn gray as they dry out. The shell breaks off and the powerdery spores are dispersed by insects and wind.
     
    The last pics are of the tiny bird's next fungus, Nidularia. Since the top has eroded away and I can't see the color of the little "eggs" (really are spore capsules) and some other details, I won't put a species name to it. The shape of the cup that holds the spores is structured so that rain drops will plop inside, and bounce the "eggs", or spore capsules out, they usually land on nearby woody debris, capsule erodes and the spores are exposed, germinate and attach to the wood. It is a wood decomposer and very common. There are a large number of species of bird's nest fungi (named for it's shape) in the area and are fun to find.
     
    Judy"
  • Re: Wy'East Shroom August, 2007 This Is It !

     10-30-2007, 6:06 AM

    That sounds about right. I read your post "this type" as singular, and figured we were looking at 3 stages of development for one species. But bird's nest fungi came to mind. There is one type in that photo album link I posted.

    The bird's nest fungi are not too hard to spot as long as we're not looking up at the mountains and trees most of the hike.

    Hadn't seen that "bubble gum" slime mold before. If the tip about the log is right, I'll start looking for that more.

    M. D. Vaden of Oregon

    Atlas Grove & Grove of Titans Redwoods
  • Re: Wy'East Shroom August, 2007 This Is It !

     10-30-2007, 9:53 AM

    • Joined on 01-28-2007
    • Vancouver, WA
    • Posts 112
    • Top 75 Contributor
      Male

    Good eye! I didn't know I was looking at two different types either. I was surprised that I got "two-for-one" from Judy Rogers of the OMS.
    Your site is awsome. Love those 'shrooms ! ! ! ! !

    Thomas

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