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