Fungi Special

Fungi Special Earl Plato

Albertine Stranges knows what to say. Her vivid description of a giant fungus at the front of her Parkway home near Chippawa was too much to resist. Armed with two mushroom guides and her description I headed out on this mid-September day.
“Pie shape” was one of her descriptions. Located near the base of a pine tree it was an amazing sight. As Albertine described over the phone this huge circular growth had a double ring. The colour was a velvety brown if you can picture that. Peterson’s guide says , “very large, dingy brown, rounded to a flat cap.” What is this fungus? My guess is that it’s
a COMMANDER. They grow near coniferous trees. This one fits that description. Peterson says that the flat cap can be up to 40 cm across!
He adds it “forma a double ring.” This one does. Albertine was curious about the bumps that rose on its surface. Peterson said, ... the thick cap can be flat or humped.” This one had several bumps in the centre. Albertine will watch the progress of these ‘bumps’ and give me a call.
The Genus of this fungus is Catathelasma. Look it up. Catathelasma imperiale known as the ‘Commander.’
I lay on the ground trying to see its gills but I did not want to damage its structure. Peterson says - “Its edible.” No thanks this time.
***
Brag time. Our two Butterfly bushes with their violet-hued blooms were magnificent this year/ On my wall hangs the photo of a Silver-spangled fritillary resting on one of the bushes out front of my little retirement home. Guess what? Sure we have had Monarchs but then came a Tiger swallowtail. I zoomed in and captured its glory. Brag time Plato. Then this week a pair of Giant Swallowtails arrived. I took at least six shots and ONE turned out. Love those posing butterflies. Last night Elaine found a Monarch caterpillar nestled on a Milkweed plant on Nigh Road. She delivered it to son-in-law Ken for his classroom. What is as beautiful as a Monarch butterfly chrysalis? Jade-green studded with glistening gold it’s plump and rounded. It appears lidded. From it emerges the adult Monarch butterfly. Amazing work of the Creator as it is destined for a 2,000 mile trip to Southern Mexico.