Orange Tube-Like Horn-Like Stinky Fungus aka. Stinkhorn
2 comments Posted by John Gardner at 12:23 PMI have often seen these stinky mushrooms popping out of recently mulched gardens; however, I've never taken the time to get to know them properly until now. 
This silly mushroom is a stinkhorn from the Mutinus genus. I did some research to discover the species and I've narrowed it down to M. caninus or M. elegans. The best way to differentiate between these two species is the position and length of the spore slime (the stuff that looks like poop). The problem is that my spore slime seems to have been disturbed. 
If you haven't noticed, I did get very close to these mushrooms. The smell is very thick and not very appetizing, at least to humans. I noticed many gnats and flies running around the sticky, brown slime. They do eat it, but they also get the slime stuck to their feet. For a mushroom, that's a pretty ingenious way to spread spores.
For more information on stickhorns check out MushroomExpert.com
I was enjoying a nice visit with my family the moment I received a telephone call from my dear friend Amanda. She reminded me of a time last year when she discovered morels outside of her apartment (click to view photos). There was a moment of silence over the line. Of course, she found more at her new apartment! Fungus seems to follow her where ever she goes - I'm not so sure that's a good thing. However, Silvia and I were invited to a wonderful morel pasta dinner.
After the first bite, I quizzed my taste buds searching for something that would blow my mind. But however delicious the fungus is, I will have to agree with my father's words, "A mushroom is a mushroom." Now that I think about it, I do remember a particular fungus that passed through John Gardner years ago. The fungus was called black fungus. The black jelly like fungus was revealed to me at an Asian restaurant in Ptuj, Slovenia. If I recall, it is tasty but the texture is bizarre and the black stains the teeth.
Due to a low pressure system lingering above our wonderful state, we have been graced once again with bloom of interesting mushrooms! Keep your eyes to the ground as you go on your morning jog, or just a simple afternoon stroll. Just this morning I stumbled across an interesting specimen. "Wow! An exploding nipple mushroom," was the first thing that popped into my mind. Consequently, the name is actually earthstar mushroom. I'm not quite certain of its specific epithet, so I will reveal only the genus: Geastrum. For more information, just click here!
Last week, my neighbor Amanda says, "John, I have to show you something." She seems so excited, like she has found a stash of gold or jewels. I follow her to a flower bed covered with rotting leaves. She points and tells me to scan the shaded area - morels! What a find! These are very rare, very delicious mushrooms (not to be confused with false morels which can be deadly). The reason they are so rare is because they are difficult to culture. Why is it difficult? Morels have a unique life cycle compared to most other fungi. To learn more click here.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
I returned to Artist Point near Mountainburg, Arkansas to search for the Galearis spectabilis - common name: Showy Orchis. Two years ago, I noticed this plant nestled in the lush moss only a foot or so away from the walking path. I wanted to revist the location the following year to catch the bloom so that I would be able to correctly identify the plant. I failed again. Up until recently, I promised myself to be on time - I would not miss the flower a third time! Sunday as I searched desperately to find the orchid, my mind began to wonder if something had happened: poachers, harsh weather, pollution, physical damage by fallen trees or animals. Having given up, I began to accend up the hillside when I noticed a familiar location next to a young Beech tree. My eyes focused on a little clump of dead orchids. Something did happen, but I am not sure what killed the Showy Orchis.
While in the area, I spotted some of nature's intricate designs:
We even decided to stop by the recently completed Lake Fort Smith and see how the fish were doing.
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