Forest scenes and senses from the Tsitsikamma

The Tsitsikamma is famous for its stunning scenery, magnificent forests and exciting adventures.  I often wonder how many people visit here and marvel at the big things but totally miss the little ones.  Ferns with new leaves opening up, soft moss growing on a rock, bracket fungus on the side of a log, the sound of a forest stream slowly flowing through the underbrush and over a little waterfall and the call of baboons in the distance.  What about the sound of the wind in the trees, the breaking of a branch falling down, the smell of the moist forest and the red flash of a Knysna Loerie overhead followed by it's ko-ko-ko call.  Suddenly I yearn to be in the forest, somewhere I go to feed my soul and always leave behind a piece of my heart.  

Bracket Fungus

Usually you spot bracket fungus on the forest floor but after seeing two lots of brackets in the Tsitsikamma looking down (see here and here) I nearly walked right by this bunch of bracket at eye level growing on an upright dead tree stump.

Brown bracket

Although orange bracket fungus are easily spotted in the indigenous forests of the Tsitsikamma there are a number of less brightly coloured bracket fungus that can be spotted growing on mostly dead trees as well.  In this case I found this branch full of a light brown bracket.  Its because of things like these that I should just be left to walk through the forest on my own to explore and take photos without being rushed by the rest of the Pride.

Orange bracket fungus

Walking through the Tsitsikamma forest you see shades of green, brown and grey, but every now and then there is a bright flash. The red from under the wing of a Knysna Loerie gliding from branch to branch, a tiny colourful flower or an orange bracket fungus growing on a piece of dead wood.    

Moss and mushroom

Hyobanche sanguina

I get very excited when I find something new and hiking along the Guinea Fowl Trail in Port Elizabeth the other day was one of those exciting days.  I saw Hyobanche Sanguina, commonly known as Cat's Paw, for the first time.  Cat's Paw is a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of shrubs.  The clustered red flower reaches about 150 mm in height and it's soft furriness along with the protruding white anthers forming the characteristic cat's nails gives it it's name.  They are normally found in sandy soil and the underground stems may reach up to 2m before producing flowers.  

This is my 1000th post in The Firefly Photo Files.  I can hardly believe that I have actually done a 1000 posts.  At times I've had lots to post and then there seem to be short dry patches where I haven't been out somewhere for a while and don't have anything to share.  I want to thank everybody who visits on a regular basis and to those who pop in a comment every now I then I just want to say that I really appreciate it.  Here's to the next 1000 posts.

Edible bracket fungus

I just can't seem to walk past a mushroom or bracket fungus (or a great number of other things for that matter) without stopping for a photo.  This was the case again the other day and I am sure will be the case again many times in the future.

From previous research (and nobody has told be otherwise yet) these are edible bracket fungus although I haven't tried eating it myself yet.

Fungus scales

The Funnel Woodcap fungi on this tree makes it look like it has scales

Forest fairy realm

This scene presented itself to me while exploring the Knysna forests and I just had to take a photo of it.  Looking it it and then closing my eyes I can imagine being in the forest.  The shades of green and brown all around, the moist forest smell, the cool forest air on my face, the cracking of leaves underfoot while walking down a path... Need I say more?

Collection of little mushrooms

I found this collection of tiny little mushrooms in the Drakensberg early in the year.  I haven't been able to find anything on them in my nature books though.  You can see in the second photo it looks like some of them have "opened up" as can be seen from the broken edges.  Actually makes them look like mushroom flowers.

Little upside down bracket umbrellas

You will always find something interesting to photograph in a forest doesn't matter if it is a stream, waterfall or the smallest mushrooms and insects.  The big problem is trying to find out afterwards what it was that you photographed.  My The Wildlife of Southern Africa book normally has most of the answers... well, like I said, most of the answers.

These little bracket fungus are probably some kind of Funnel Woodcap, only problem is that they grow upside down.  So does it make them Umbrella Woodcap?

Yellow bracket fungus

I found this yellow fungus growing on a burned log in the Tugela Gorge in the Drakensberg.  I have search all over and is struggling a bit to find out what it is.  The closest I have been able to track down is Tremella mesenterica (common names include the yellow brain, the golden jelly fungus, the yellow trembler, and witches' butter). 

Orange Lacquered Bracket

I was at a Christmas party over the weekend and found these Lacquered Bracket fungi growing on tree stumps lying in the garden at the venue.  They grow up to 500 mm in diameter and is found either singly or in groups.

They are corky in texture when young, but turn woody when they mature and is found in Summer and Autumn.

Mushroom

Ink Cap Mushroom

The other day after some rain a lone Ink Cap Mushroom popped up in the backyard. It's named such because the blackened mushrooms were boiled in water with cloves to produce ink in the early days. The mushroom has a white skin with tan coloring across its shaggy looking outer flesh. Just after it appears, the cap is still closed and has an oval shape like a closed umbrella.

As the oval grows and spreads out, the mushroom begins to form an umbrella-shaped cap. As the mushroom ages, the gills beneath the cap darken and become blackened with an inky coloring that actually begins to drip dark black fluid as it deteriorates. Unfortunately the lawnmower guys were there that day so by the evening the mushroom was gone and I couldn't get a shot of it open.

Decaying branch

I am always amazed at the wonders of nature, specially when finding bracket fungus somewhere in a forested area. Bracket fungus plays such an important roll in the forest's circle of life. It helps to decompose wood which get fed back into the soil to add nutrients to it. And of cause it makes for very interesting photographs, specially when its brightly coloured like the ones in the picture.

Umbrella mushroom

I found these petite little mushrooms in my back yard the other day and I realised. Fairies and pixies also need umbrellas to hide under when it rains.

Bracket Fungus

I have a thing for bracket fungus. I'm always fascinated when I find some of it out on a walk. Bracket fungus are normally found on dead hard woods in the form of their characteristic shelf or bracket shaped fruiting bodies called conks. Bracket Fungus is a very important part of the a forest's existence as it helps to break down plant matter, in this case tree matter, to be reintroduced into the soil. Although the actual conk grows on top of the dead wood, it puts it's root system into the wood and breaks it down from the inside.

Edible Bracket

I stumbled on this bracket fungus growing on a tree stump in Somerset East. Back home I found the following information about it. Edible bracket fungus is normally found on dead hardwood trees in summer and autumn. It normally grows up to 350 millimeters wide and 5 millimeters thick either singly or in clusters. The cap is normally smooth but leathery or woody in texture. The colours range from white to creamy while they can have a fragrant spicy smell.

Wild orange mushrooms

I found these orange-brown wild mushrooms while walking the other morning and has no idea what they are. I checked my Wildlife of Southern Africa book and it wasn't in there. I also checked the internet but the answer seems to be eluding me. Anybody know? Joan probably will.