Tragic mushrooms?

[urbpan]

These chicken mushrooms Laetiporus sp. grew from a tree in a part of the zoo that very few people see. I see almost everywhere, and I didn't discover these mushrooms until they were done releasing their spores and beginning to decompose. As far as the fungus that produced them is concerned this is exactly as it should be--the mushrooms have fulfilled their purpose.

People who like to eat wild mushrooms will see this as a tragedy, a missed opportunity. One of the most sought-after kinds of mushroom, allowed to wither on the tree, instead of grilled or fried and in some ape's greedy belly.

Comments

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

eh. i love to eat wild mushrooms, but i love mushrooms in all their stages. this is a perfectly natural part of its (and its ecosystem's) cycle. i still think it's gorgeous :)

(i call L sulfureus (or whatever its taxonomy is these days) "sulfur shelf" to avoid confusion with "hen of the woods" or whatever. common name mileage may vary.)

(i do occasionally get cranky about mushrooms though, as once when in seattle someone kicked over the most gorgeous little fairy ring of A muscaria when it was about half mature. jerk :/ )