Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 12, 2018
The aptly-named mayfly orchid is considered locally common in some parts of its native eastern Australia. That said, it is never so abundant as some species of its namesake: “The 2014 hatch of the large black-brown mayfly Hexagenia bilineata on the Mississippi River in the US was imaged on weather radar; the swarm flew up […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on May 16, 2018
It’s been a while since we’ve featured a parasitic plant species. Parasites are often thought of negatively, due to their incursion on the livelihoods of other species. However, they’re undeniably fascinating! This large parasitic climber is Cassytha melantha, also known as coarse dodder-laurel.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on January 23, 2018
The fruiting body of Hygrocybe miniata, or vermilion waxcap, is scientifically known as its basidiocarp. Its vibrant colouration makes it stand out on the dull forest floor.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 14, 2017
Native to Western Australia, and close to the southwest coast in particular, common brown pea is a small shrub reaching ~1.2m (4 ft.) in height. It is typically associated with sandy soils.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on April 12, 2017
The genus Humidicutis contains approximately eighteen known species worldwide. Nine species, including Humidicutis taekeri, have been recorded in Australia; others are native to North America, Central America and Europe. A collection of photographs of some of the other beautiful Humidicutis species has been published by the Atlas of Living Australia.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on February 15, 2017
In its native Australia, Alyxia ruscifolia is known by the common names chainfruit, prickly alyxia, native holly, and moonya. It is a shrubby member of the dogbane family, or Apocynaceae; the family also contains growth forms such as trees, climbers, scramblers, herbs, and stem succulents. Alyxia is a moderately-diverse genus, with 14 species in Australia, […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 28, 2015
Pycnoporus coccineus is a widely-distributed white rot fungus in countries bordering the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It grows in broad-leaved and coniferous trees. It is commonly called orange bracket or scarlet bracket, after its brightly-hued fruiting body. This fruiting body, termed a conk, is firm, fan-shaped, and variably-sized. As you can see from today’s photo, […]
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