Notes and photos from Alison M., distributed to the Botany Group on August 30. Click a photo to enlarge it.
Fall approaches and there are even a few fungi bravely raising their heads up on the mountain after sporadic rains in the past couple of weeks. We have found some bolete types, including Boletus edulis, though unfortunately either the bugs had found them first or else the fungus became the substrate for another fungus or Hypomyces (photos 1 to 3).
There were also examples of B. mirbailis, B. smithii and Leccinum montanum (photo 4) with its distinctive scabrous stalk.
At Mt. Elma last Saturday in a nice cool damp spot below the north-facing flank of the ridge, there was a cluster of the beautiful deep purple Cortinarius violaceus (photo 5).
Finally a golden Ramaria, of which we also found lots of very dehydrated examples. I am hoping that the rain we are now getting will help dampen the incredibly parched soil everywhere
