Even though it’s only been a couple of days since it last rained here in Seogwipo, the forest was surprisingly dry, and after nearly a 5-hour loop on a 5km trail, I reckon I found just as many species worth taking photos of.
I was spoiled the first time at Seogwipo Recreational Forest and didn’t even make it a third of the way.
However, this time, I did manage to find (and almost step on) a couple more Pseudocolus fusciformis, aka “stinky squids,” on accident while observing a row of Crown-tipped Coral Fungus (Artomyces sp.).
As they age, the tips start to dry out and look like burnt candle wicks.
I observed flies attracted to the dark green and slimy gleba (spore mass). Its fetid odor, comparable to “fresh pig manure,” attracts insects that help disperse the spores.
Off of the track, I spotted a patch of around twenty yellow Hygrocybe sp. or waxcaps and would later come across smaller orange ones.
This tiny Galerina sp. (Moss Cap) was the smallest mushroom I found that day. A group of Korean hikers, curious about what I was doing, stopped and were surprised to see such a tiny thing blown up on my camera screen. The cap was ~2mm.
Rotten stumps closer to the creeks had plenty of Oysterlings (Crepidotus sp.) growing. These common-looking mushrooms are pale cream-white on top, but the pinkish spores and gills underneath are more interesting.
A young gem-studded puffball popped up next to a branch.
My last find was a bright orange, velvety-textured cap species growing from a log. Given the brownish spore color, it may be a Gymnopilus sp., aka Rustgills.
The sky turned dark, the wind came in suddenly chilly, and I felt some raindrops, my sign to pick up the pace and head on out. Overall, a successful foray.
Those coral fungi are amazing!
Nature is so amazing. Thanks so much.