New Zealand field trip September 2009

[fermi de Sousa]

Since the Chernobyl Disaster from April 1986 and radioactive fallout I personal don't consume wild collected edible funghi anymore.
All are regarded suspicious due contamination with Cäsium-137...

maybe that explains why on over night field trips i've seen Mountain Goat glowing in the dark
Cheers Dave

Errrr, Dave I think that might be due to something you've been eating ... or drinking....or...
cheers
fermi

[David Lyttle]

I will just mention some fungi are phosphorecent before some of this speculation gets out of hand .  It is quite erie to see rotting wood glowing in the dark; the cause being biological and not due to radioactive contamination.

[ranunculus]

I will just mention some fungi are phosphorecent before some of this speculation gets out of hand .  It is quite erie to see rotting wood glowing in the dark; the cause being biological and not due to radioactive contamination.

Perfect for a light snack, David?   

[Maggi Young]

I will just mention some fungi are phosphorecent before some of this speculation gets out of hand .  It is quite erie to see rotting wood glowing in the dark; the cause being biological and not due to radioactive contamination.

A Fungus expert on the radio yesterday warned against the consumption of one species in particular (though, of course, I cannot remember which!   ).... which is notorious for its ability to accumulate heavy metals  and other nasties  .  He is a retired mycologist from RBGE.

[kiwi]

While the Fungi is on topic, My son and I have got home from Lake Daniels in the Lewis pass. Check out these beauties, the first 2 look like brains! Sorry no idea of the names, David may be able to help there?
Bush Robins were everywhere and really curious.
The Sluice box bridge-can you spot the shadows of 2 trout?
Beauty of the bush.
Prince of Wales ferns.
The Lewis pass tarn.
Great couple of days despite the weather.

[fermi de Sousa]

Shades of Lothlorien! It really is Middle-Earth!
cheers
fermi
PS loved that glacial blue river water!

[ranunculus]

SUPERB, Doug ... thanks for posting!

[kiwi]

Cheers guys, it really is an amazing and beautiful place. Just a couple of other photos that might be of interest. 2 more fungi, names unknown. My son preparing for a leap - the track was submerged in some areas. Lake Daniels and another angle of the Lewis pass tarn.

[David Lyttle]

Doug,

The first two fungi pictures are Gyromitra tasmanica which the same species that I showed in one of my previous pictures. It is interesting that it appears to form fruiting bodies in the spring. We have never found it in autumn (May).

The first of the second set is a large woody bracket fungus - I cant identify the species.
The second mushroom I cannot identify either.

[David Lyttle]

I will just mention some fungi are phosphorecent before some of this speculation gets out of hand .  It is quite erie to see rotting wood glowing in the dark; the cause being biological and not due to radioactive contamination.

Perfect for a light snack, David?   

If you want to vary the menu a bit you might try fireflies (or glow worms or jellyfish); whatever appeals to your taste.