Credit: Kathleen Scavone
There is no doubt about it, fall presents enjoyment in many forms with its kaleidoscopic colored leaves, cooler temps for walks in the country, invitations to try out tasty beverages such as a pumpkin latte, and digging out those cozy sweaters from last year. One of the most impressive events that occurs in autumn is the proliferation of fleshy fungi!
The science of mycology is a whole branch of biology that studies fungi, their genetics, and other properties that I can appreciate as a novice. Over time, mushrooms have been a source of traditional medicine, tinder, and food. I respect nature enough to know that I am not an expert; therefore, I will not collect mushrooms to eat.
Mushrooms are sometimes classified as vegetables; however, technically, they are not really plants since they are part of the kingdom of fungi. Mushrooms, those alien-looking fruiting bodies, are defined by Wikipedia as “fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source.”
The marvelous array of specimens that pop up almost daily is a delight to behold, whether I learn their names or not! Under the bay trees, I see small, beige mini-umbrellas that look to invite Hobbits to tea. Next to the pistachio tree, up popped slick, orange, flattened specimens that appear to have taken on the hues of the tangerine colored leaves of its host. There are trunks of alders lost from drought or storms near the creek that have lovely blooms of velvety angel-wing-appearing masses. Earthstars are an eye-catching species I note in the less damp areas that bloom open like, well, an Earthstar! Another surprising specimen I spied was a perfectly round, white sphere that opened itself into a fairy-like umbrella the very next day. All of these whimsical, fantastical fungi have a role to play in the ecosystem, that of decomposition.
While the rain breathes moisture into the lands, go out and appreciate the life beneath the soil. The fungi that underpin our planet are silently at work, aiding in the cycle of life. Whether elegant or otherworldly, the mushroom and its lifecycle, with its wood-wide web of mycelium under our feet, captivates us with its mystery.
