Wildflowers: Mushrooms

One day in the spring, after a little rain, a yellow blob appeared in our barkdust path. Research tells me it is Dog Vomit Slime Mold, a very unlovely name for a pretty but inedible mushroom, Fuligo septica. That has inspired me to start a new section under wildflowers, although mushrooms are not wildflowers. Neither are trees but I seem to have posts about all sorts of flora other than flowers in this blog. By the next day, this slime mold turned dark but I forgot to get another photo... maybe next time one appears in our bark dust path. Barkdust, apparently, is where it came from.

Fuligo septica

In the fall, more mushrooms appeared. Here are Slippery Jacks (identified by Barbara Millikan), numerous in the grassy path in the ponderosa pine section of our arboretum. Barbara says they are edible but not choice as they are slimy when cooked, but they can be dried, powdered, and used as flavoring.