Violet coral — the fungus

To my mind, fungi rank among the weirdest of all living things. However, 'weird' can mean fascinating (again, to my mind, which I'm sure some people consider at least as weird as fungi) and in some cases beautiful. This exquisite, tiny fungus grew with several other similar clusters on one of the tracks through the Totara Reserve a short distance up the valley from my place. I'd been there on a beautiful sunny afternoon a few days ago with excellent friends, one of whom spotted these spectacular clusters. I'm still waiting for the identification to be confirmed, but I'm fairly sure these will turn out to be violet coral (Clavaria zollingeri).

Update (2 August 2015): The initial ID was violet coral, but after some conferring the experts have decided this is in fact Ramariopsis pulchella.

All content © 2015 Pete McGregor

A small strange world

These tiny fungi (compare them to the moss capsules), so small I almost overlooked them, sprouted from near the top of a large log on the forest floor not far from the start of the No. 1 Line track. Fungi must surely be among the strangest, most alien forms of life on the planet.

All content © 2015 Pete McGregor

Autumn, and the orange pore fungus appears

The orange pore fungus, Favolaschia calocera, has appeared along the No. 1 Line track. These small, striking fungi were nowhere to be seen when I climbed the track a little over a week ago; now, they're abundant in a tangle of fallen branches beside the track. No doubt other patches will appear elsewhere over the coming weeks.

All content © 2015 Pete McGregor

Autumn on the way

February's not even over and already the fungi show themselves. This is Cyclocybe parasitica (formerly Agrocybe), one of several clusters of recently emerged fruiting bodies on the old poplars. The stag has stripped the velvet from his puny antlers; light comes later in the mornings and leaves earlier in the evenings; the first university semester begins tomorrow.

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Forest floor fungi

Low on the No. 1 Line track where tawa trees are common, I came across these tiny fungi growing from the litter. I liked the late afternoon light so opted not to use the flash.

Still awaiting an identification from the NatureWatch experts. Genus Mycena.


[16 May 2014, Olympus OM-D EM-1, 12–40mm f/2.8 at 40mm, ISO 200, 4s at f/8]

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Toadstool season

Insects might be less abundant now autumn's here, but the tiny world compensates with a proliferation of fungi. Sometimes you have to look hard, though — these are common at the moment along parts of the No. 1 Line track, but they're so small they're easily overlooked. I'll add an identification if I get one from NatureWatch.

Update: These are Galerina sp. Apparently they often grow in moss, which is where I noticed them along the track. Many species are highly toxic.


[4 May 2014, Olympus OM-D EM-1, 60mm f/2.8 macro , ISO 200, 1/200 at f/8; diffused flash]

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Orange pore fungus

The orange pore fungus, Favolaschia calocera, is apparently a recent arrival to New Zealand but is now widespread and considered a weed species in native forests. It's certainly not hard to find growing on fallen branches along the No. 1 Line track, which is where I photographed these fruiting bodies this afternoon.


[18 April 2014, Olympus OM-D EM-1, 60mm f/2.8 macro , ISO 200, 0.6s at f/8]

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor