By Jo Mead, Partnerships Ranger in Franz Josef
We can often get fixated on the grandeur of the Southern Alps and the centuries-old rimu forest in this amazing place where we live and work in Westland.
The grandeur of the Southern Alps
However if we stop and look down at our feet among the leaf litter and fallen branches, we can find sights that are just as incredible — funky fungi as well as some spectacular mosses and ferns to discover.
Amongst the leaf litter and broken branches
Here are some photos I’ve recently taken of the amazing fungi, ferns and mosses I’ve come across.
Yellow wax-gill fungus on Mananui Tramway south of Hokitika
We’re stumped on this one. We’re calling it “waxy orange-peel fungus” for now
Saprophytic fungus eating a woodpile.
Pore fungus – can anyone tell us which one it is? It’s living on a log along the Canoe Track at Lake Kaniere
Polystichum (we think) with capsules ready to release spores
Beautiful kidney fern about to release spores
Jelly fungus living above a prickly gorse carpet at Waita River
Fungal fairy forest along the Lake Wombat track near Franz Josef
We love getting out and exploring the undergrowth – “fungi hunting” we call it and most of our autumn walks are dedicated to the search of fungi. Great fun and it is amazing to see the life at the bottom of the forest floor for a change.
http://coastingnz.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/fungle-in-the-jungle-mushrooms-and-other-fungi-of-nz/