Here is an odd fungi...

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:44 pm

Well maybe not that odd but I seldom find them like this or maybe it is that I am not just looking... Might be an earth star of some sort.

EOS 20D w/EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro, 1/200 sec.@ f/20 ISO 100, Canon 220EX Speedlite w/diffuser off camera, PP: Photo Impact 6 LOC: Linville Falls Nature Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway WNC.

rovebeetle · Post by **rovebeetle** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:35 am

Funny - that looks like the Barometer Earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus), but the puff ball in the center is missing.

Cheers

Aynia · Post by **Aynia** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:40 am

Very nice. Looks like a creature rather than a fungus!

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:51 am

Cool shots Ken,i like the fact you posted 2 pics. The first a record shot to show what it is and the second a more personal and subjective view

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:44 am

Harry commented:

that looks like the Barometer Earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus), but the puff ball in the center is missing.

Could be a Barometer Earth Star there Harry. My Smithsonian guide references such also. Maybe the puff ball has deteriorated due to weathering. There were two of them and it appeared as both had been there for a long period of time.

As Aynia commented, it does look a bit like some kind of creature, waiting either to take the advantage and grab on to something or maybe just crawl away. There were two of them almost side by side and as Larry pointed out, I took one to show the entire fungus and then another close up to show the venous markings. What ever species of mushroom it is, it is the first like it that I have noted in my wanderings through the mountains here.

Thanks Aynia, Harry and Larry

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:02 pm

Here I found another two, while out hiking the mountains today!

This time the puff ball is present.

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:16 am

Oh cool,I never see anything like that round here!

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:46 am

Thanks Larry

From what I have read, they close up when the weather is dry and the open when it begins to rain, so the rain drops can splash out the spores. Since these were open, it must be going to rain and it did some hours later as I was getting ready to leave the area. I found one other that was partially open.

Aynia · Post by **Aynia** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:56 am

With the puff ball they are really amazing.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:00 am

Aynia wrote:

With the puff ball they are really amazing

Actually this is the first time that I have come across them. They are really quite small, at least the ones here are, and blend in well among the dead autumn leaves here in the mountains.

Thanks Aynia