Leverett Pond, part one

[urbpan]

On Thanksgiving day, cottonmanifesto and I took the dogs for a walk around Leverett Pond, a wide spot in the Muddy River, in Olmsted Park. It was cold and drizzly, but we found some interesting things on the walk that made it worth the weather. The highlight was a huge burnt and fallen beech tree, bristling with (and here I'm struggling with finding language that aptly connotes the magic of the creatures) fungal fruiting bodies (alas, the language fails) of every conceivable texture and many varied colors.




Here is the burnt surface of the tree, bearing the fungus Irpex lacteus (previously seen here).

Cotton (as she has come to be known, in all but real life) stands by the base of the fallen tree. More Irpex is visible.



Close-up of Irpex distinctive spore-bearing surface.



This fungus loves dead and dying beech tree branches. I think it's lovely, and it often erupts from the bark in patterns that follow the hidden grain of the wood. It's called coral spot or Nectria cinnabarina





This one is larger than the coral spot. I believe that it's Hypoxylon fragiform



Maggie kept on top of things.



I didn't photograph even half the species on the tree. Fortunately, cottonmanifesto photographed more, and you can see her pictures here.