Fascinating fungi in Mirboo North

MIRBOO North’s Grace Adamo continues to share stunning photographs of local fungi on the ‘Mirboo North Community Notice Board’ Facebook page, giving people the opportunity to appreciate the diversity of species in the area.

“So many people walk by them and don’t even look,” she said.

Grace began enjoying daily walks in the bush about 15 years ago while exercising her dog, becoming increasingly involved in her surroundings, and soon bought her first digital camera to capture images of nature.

She has upgraded her equipment over the years but while she owns a macro lens, now usually relies on her iPhone as it is easier to carry.

Grace nominated Bird’s Nest Fungi, Nidula emodensis, as a highlight.

“I was looking for it for a long time and didn’t realise how tiny it was and I was walking by it,” she said, explaining it grows among leaf litter.

Grace said the peridioles that contain spores resemble birds’ eggs, adding that the whole structure looks like a bird’s nest.

The spores are released by the action of falling waterdrops.

The entire lifecycle of fungi interests Grace.

“I love watching a particular one evolve, mature and slowly decay; some last just a few days and others are still going after a couple of months,” she said.

Belonging to the ‘Victorian Fungi’ Facebook page as well as that for the ‘Field Naturalists of Victoria Club’ and studying a fungi guide help build her knowledge of many of her photographic subjects.

However, while Grace continues to learn more about fungi, she is happy to confine herself to capturing images rather than foraging for mushrooms.

“The more I know, the less interested I am (in foraging),” she said, explaining “You just know how badly it can go wrong.”

Despite its diversity, she doesn’t confine herself to fungi.

“Whatever is out there I’ll photograph it,” she said.

That includes orchids, some of which will soon be in flower.

All Grace’s images are taken around Mirboo North.

“I don’t stray; it’s all exclusively local,” she said.