Fruiting Body Collection (#5)

Stinky squid fungus

Pipe club fungus (Clavariadelphus fistulosus) on a tree branch

Bracket fungus (class Basidiomycetes). This fungus forms these fruiting bodies to spread its reproductive spores through surface pores. Photographed in Vermont, USA

Honey fungus mushrooms or bootlace mushrooms (Armillaria mellea). This fungus is found on or around the trunks of coniferous and deciduous trees

Fungus (Lepista caespitose). Photographed in Russia

Fruiting bodies of fungus, Cordyceps
Parasitic fungus. Fruiting bodies from a parasitic fungus of the Cordyceps sp. Three brown club-like fruiting bodies are seen emerging from the forest ground

Parasol mushrooms, Lepiota procera
Parasol mushrooms. The fruiting bodies of Lepiota procera, the Parasol mushroom. This large mushroom produces a flattened pale brown cap of up to 25cm diameter

Fly Agaric funghi in Windermere Cumbria UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

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"Fruiting Body: A Fascinating World of Mushroom and Slime Moulds" Nature's artistic creations never cease to amaze us, especially when it comes to the diverse forms and structures found in fruiting bodies. From the iconic Fly agaric mushrooms with their vibrant red caps speckled with white dots, to the intricate patterns of mushroom gills observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), these organisms captivate our imagination. But it doesn't stop there. The world of fruiting bodies extends beyond mushrooms alone. Take, for instance, the fruiting bodies of Rhizopus oligosporus, a type of mold used in food fermentation processes like tempeh production. These tiny structures play a crucial role in transforming ingredients into delicious culinary delights. Moving on from molds to lichens, we encounter the enchanting Cup lichen (Cladonia floerkeana). Its cup-shaped fruiting body adds an ethereal touch to forest floors or rocky landscapes where it thrives. And then there are slime moulds – peculiar organisms that blur the line between fungi and protists. In Buckinghamshire, England's woodlands during November, Stemonitopsis typhina sporangia can be spotted growing on bark edges. These slimy masses release spores as they mature—a mesmerizing sight captured through focus stacking photography techniques. Another slime mould species found in Buckinghamshire is Metatrichia floriformis. Its line of split-open sporangia reveals delicate spore-filled interiors against a backdrop of winter scenery—nature's own miniature explosions frozen in time. Zooming even closer into this microscopic world brings us Lamproderma scintillans—a slime mould boasting 1mm tall sporangia that shimmer like stars under magnification—an awe-inspiring spectacle hidden within nature's nooks and crannies.