Comox Valley Nature

Notes and photos by Alison M. distributed to the Botany Group on November 7.

After the extremely hot dry summer, many of our favourite fungi have been noteworthy by their almost total absence. In Strathcona Provincial Park, both in the Buttle area and up on the Plateau, there have been none of the brightly coloured Cortinarii, nor the Hydnella (e.g. H. peckii – strawberries & cream) and very few amanitas. With the recent heavy rains there are more mushrooms appearing, but for some the optimal period is over for the year, as the temperatures dip and frost and snow start to cover the subalpine.

Here are a few more mega polypores (adding to Jocie’s list in Spectacular polypores) from trails in the Park, as well as a couple of massive bear’s heads. [Click a photo to enlarge it.]

1. Conifer-base polypore (Heterobasidion occidentale – formerly annosum). This huge polypore was at the base of a dead conifer on the steep flanks of Mt Elma. It differs from the red-belted conk (Fomitopsis mounceae) by being much more bumpy on the upper surface, less regular in outline, often lacking the red/orange band and is found only at the base of dead trees. In spite of its former species name, it can be perennial, as the one in the photo.

2. Bondarzew’s polypore (Bondarzewia mesenterica – formerly occidentale) on the Elk River trail. (Compare the specimen in Jocie’s photos #8 and #9 in the Spectacular polypores post.) This one measured almost 15 inches across (handle of hiking pole is about 5 inches). It was aging, and the underside could not be photographed in its entirety. The photo of a broken piece shows how the irregular pores become jagged ( almost tooth-like) with age.

3. Conifer sulfur shelf (Laetiporus conifericola) – another huge aging polypore that has lost its brilliant orange and yellow colour. There were many examples on the Elk River trail of even older specimens which become dull white, and will last over the winter . Broken pieces can be scattered around the original location as a result of critter activity. The second photo shows the bright yellow/orange colour of a younger specimen, from the flanks of Mt. Brooks above Helen Mackenzie Lake.

4. Greening goat’s foot (Albatrellus ellisii). A largish (6-10 inches wide) ugly specimen that looks like a bolete, but has an irregular-shaped cap, cracked surface, very thick stipe, thick flesh and decurrent wide pores. It stains a blue-green colour when broken, as do some of the boletes, but is overall very tough.

5. Bear’s heads (Hericium abietis). This fall we have seen several large specimens 20-30 feet up conifers. Here are two dead conifers just off the Elk River Trail. The fruiting bodies of the fungus would be 12-15 inches in diameter and at that height definitely squirrel food. I include two photos from a downed trunk in the Divers Lake area for a closer view.

From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 24.

I was over on the west coast last weekend, which was almost as wet as this weekend! While wandering the Wickaninnish beach dunes, I was surprised to see that several dune plants were still in bloom. Of course it is further south than it is here, and balmier, but still…. And while some were still in bloom, others had strewn their seeds about. Not often does one get to observe blooms and seeds at the same time!

Seaside dune habitats are quite rare on the east side of Vancouver Island, having been mostly destroyed by development. There are dune remnants at Goose spit, Point Holmes, Airforce Beach and Tree Island (also known as Sandy Island) in our area, and most of these species can be seen in these places. [Click a photo to enlarge it.]

1. Yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia)

2. Black knotweed (Polygonum paronychia)

3. Beach-carrot or beach glehnia (Glehnia littoralis)

4. Corky seeds of beach-carrot

5. American sea rocket (Cakile edentula)

6. Seeds of sea rocket

7. Sea sandwort (Honkenya peploides)

8. Kinnikinnick berries (Arctostapholos uva-ursi)

9. A neat mushroom growing out of the kinnikinnick, looks like a scaber stalk in the genus Leccinum, possibly the manzanita bolete (Leccinum manzanitae)

10. Large-headed sedge (Carex macrocephala)

11. Dune view

From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 16.

I’ve seen some spectacular polypores this fall! Those that grow attached to dead trees and fallen logs are often called “bracket fungus” or “conks.” All have pores underneath rather than spines or gills. Here are a few examples of the harder/woody polypore types (not including turkey tails and other polypores that are more thin and delicate). [Click a photo to enlarge it.]

Please let me know if any of these are misidentified,

1. Dyer’s polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii) – Miracle Beach Park

2. Rosy polypore (Rhodofomes cajanderi) – Robert’s Lake area, north of Campbell River

3. Red-belt polypore complex (genus Fomitopsis) – Miracle Beach Park

4. West coast reishi or varnish conk (Ganoderma oregonense) – This one is quite decayed…with a licorice slug eating it, Miracle Beach Park

5. Artist’s bracket fungus (Ganoderma applanatum) – Miracle Beach Park

6. Hoof or tinder polypore (Fomes fomentarius) – On a fallen big-leaf maple, Miracle Beach Park

7. Willow bracket (Phellinus igniarius) – Growing on the willows at my Mom’s property, Miracle Beach area

8. Bondarzew’s polypore (Bondarzewia occidentalis) – From the Shepherd’s Creek trail near the Ralph River Campground, Strathcona Park

9. Top view of Bondarzew’s

10. Pine polypore (Porodaedalea pini) – On a mountain hemlock, from a ski last winter near Helen Mackenzie Lake

From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 10.

This is always a good time of year for moss watching (especially after the rain). Two members have sent links to interesting moss-related articles, and I’ve included a few random photos of common mosses to get you in the mood! Look out for “moss man” when in the woods.

Luise says: “Here’s information about a project that uses moss (bryophytes) to monitor atmospheric deposition/pollution. Using our friend – stair step moss. I’m hoping to do this on Denman.”

Mandy sent this article from the Guardian featuring writer Robin Wall Kimmerer: “Mosses are a model of how we might live“.

Some moss photos [click a photo to enlarge it]:

1. Electrified cat’s tail or gooseneck moss (Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus). Used to be in the genus Rhytidiadelphus.

2. Sorry, no common name for this one…I call it the “big shiny moss” (Homalothecium magaptilum). Lots in Miracle Beach Park.

3. Stereodon subimponens (used to be in the genus Hypnum)

4. Rough moss (Claopodium crispifolium)

5. Wavy cotton moss (Plagiothecium undulatum)

6. Moss man…he’s out there, getting you to look at moss!