Forterra's Property Manager, Jacob Stone, recently attended "Fungi Fun," a Forterra Nature Discovery™ walk led by naturalist Ryan Johnson of Firecraft NW. Here's Jacob's report (it's a great read): Did you know there are more types of mushrooms than all the species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals combined? On this Forterra Nature Discovery™ walk at Maxine G. Morse Nature Conservancy, we approached identifying mushrooms from multiple angles, from the individual characteristics, their role in the ecosystem, and from the ecological conditions they are found in. We learned how spores are released from gills, pores, teeth, and other mechanisms to allow for reproduction. We learned about skirt and volva, which protect the delicate fruiting body as it emerges from the ground. These characteristics, along with spore color, are the initial indicators used when identifying mushrooms. Mushrooms play three major roles in ecology; connecting plants through their mycelial network, decomposing organic matter, or acting as parasites. Each of these roles are vital in our ecosystem, and choice edibles can be found in all categories. This forest is dominated by Douglas fir, which has known relationships with over 1000 mushrooms. The Dryer's polypore (pictured on slide five in the images), fills two ecological niches: it acts as both a parasite and a decomposer. In addition, this mushroom is a great fire starter and can even be used to safely carry fires from one location to another as its pores slowly burn. Thank you, Ryan, for a great day! Check out our upcoming Forterra Nature Discovery™ events in November and December >>> https://lnkd.in/g3gFSk-C
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