Fungi

Despite their superficial resemblance to plants, fungi are in fact more closely related to animals, but are sufficiently different to both to place them in their own domain. They don’t photosynthesise, and so rely on external sources for their nutrition – which they obtain from breaking down dead organisms, so they play a very important role in the food web.

Some of them are also exquisitely beautiful, others not so much (no offence puff balls) ~ so I enjoy photographing them when I can. I’ve divided these into their types based on the excellent brochure “Fungi of south-east Queensland” by the Queensland Mycological Society

Corals

These are usually soft and can grow upwards or downwards

Ravensbourne National Park, Queensland

Polypores

Polypores are hard woody brackets and leather like fans.

Puffballs

Puffballs around round and expand as the spores grow within them and are then released.

Mushrooms

Ravensbourne National Park, Queensland

Jellies

Soft and gelatinised, sometimes leathery.

To be classified…

Ravensbourne National Park, Queensland
Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland