Fungi and More

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Fungi and More

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Being poorly understood by many, fungi are often much maligned. Most of us are familiar with mushrooms which are the fruiting bodies of fungi.

Fungi are neither plant nor animal and they play very important roles in the forests of the Pacific Northwest and indeed all over the world. While some species of fungi are parasitic and cause diseases in trees and plants (the mushrooms of some of these parasitic ones are actually good to eat), others are beneficial species. Beneficial species bind with the roots of trees and plants enabling them to gather water and nutrients from a much larger area than the plants and trees would be able to access by themselves through their root systems alone. Many species of orchids will not germinate or survive without the right species of fungus present for just this reason.

Fungi are also important for breaking down the cellulose in wood and other materials, making nutrients available for other plants. Some fungi also improve the physical structure of soil. Certain species of fungi are important as food for wildlife and people while other species have antibiotic properties.

My photographs are not intended as identification guides for mushrooms. Proper guidebooks should be consulted before any mushroom is eaten as some species are extremely deadly.

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