Favoritos de ccantley

After having lived in Macon County for two years, and hence seen my share of Hill Cane, Arundinaria appalachiana, I was struck still by seeing these two examples on the floodplain of the Haw River in Chatham County.

Even iNat's artificial intelligence thinks they are Hill Cane. So, I have gone with my impression, and that of iNat.

What say ye?

About two years ago I found this fork-fronded Pleopeltis michauxiana, but it was in a bit of a sad state, what with being overshadowed by weedy Eleagnus. At that time I removed (up-rooted) the nearby Eleagnus in the hopes that the fern would then have a better chance at survival.

Today, with I must say a little worry on my mind, I revisited the fern, and found it in rude health. It brought a smile to my eyes.

This photo was taken ten minutes or so before the arrival of Gary Perlmutter (Herbarium Associate with the North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill), who upon arrival accompanied me on a walk down the river. The reason I took this photo was that the orange color had attracted my attention whilst photographing a Physcia americana on the same tree. I did not then know what the orange color was due to.

However, serendipity intervened when, whilst on our walk, Gary Perlmutter pointed out an orange-colored lichen on an Ilex opaca (American Holly), and explained that it was in fact a Script lichen who's photobiont was extruding beyond the surface of the fungal thallus. Once again, thank you Gary!.

Only after I arrived home did I realize that what I had photographed earlier was the same lichen species having its host phytobiont doing the same thing.

This group was collected by Gary Perlmutter (Herbarium Associate with the North Carolina Botanical Garden) for the Lichen Herbarium at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Gary Perlmutter very kindly accompanied me today, and made herbarium collections of lichens of interest.

On bedrock in the channel of the Haw River, and at a position/height that is inundated for many months of the year.

Immediately to the right, in the photo, is the water of the river, beneath which more individuals of this lichen reside on rock that is probably perpetually below the water's surface [A separate observation will be made for these submerged individuals, and a link posted here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/163523814].

3rd photo shows thallus color in the hydrated condition (doused with river water).

4th photo shows the lichen, and to the right the submerged rock with more individuals that likely exceedingly rarely experience desiccation/are normally perpetually submerged.

For the Bilobella braunerae (Short-legged Springtail, photos 5-6), cf. inaturalist.org/observations/163159355
For the Peeling Oysterling (Crepidotus mollis), cf. inaturalist.org/observations/163740699
The same Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon), May 30, (UV), inaturalist.org/observations/166090488

Thanks to Chuck Cantley for bringing this species to my attention.

• abundant isidia on the margins of lobes, and on the periphery/rim of the apothecia
• scattered isidia on the thallus surface, yet older thallus is fairly covered in isidia (top of photo)

My initial impression is Parmotrema reticulatum - except for the distinct presence of isidia, which Parmotrema reticulatum does not normally have.

On a twig, found on the ground, then placed on the rock for a photo session.

On a twig found on the floodplain of Deep River.

This photo was taken while illuminating the isopods with a UV pen flashlight. Interestingly, they fluoresced blue, just like the isopods that are infected with the Isopod Iridescent Virus. These wood lice were the normal gray color under regular light.

The entomopathic fungus attacked and killed this ant: spores from a fruiting fungus body infected the ant passing by, the mycelium (branching, thread-like structures) grew inside the body, ultimately killing the host, and these forms sprouting from the corpse are fruiting bodies of the fungus preparing to start the cycle again

Our guided nature walk leader showed us a similar parasitic fungus, inaturalist.org/observations/158479395

Most similar to Rhizoplaca glaucophana, but differs from that species in having apothecia at the central region of the thallus instead of at the thallus periphery.

On exposed bedrock in the channel of the Haw River. So far, every population I have found is located thusly, and within 50 to 100 cm of the normal flow level, but below the usual flood level.

I don't know about this being a Chrysanthemum Leafminer (Phytomyza syngenesiae) but it was the top iNaturalist autoprompt suggestion and at least a leafminer; photo close-cropped, cropped, then full size

For the wild Pink Garlic (Allium trifoliatum) growing adjacent, cf. inaturalist.org/observations/154935205

On bare soil humus on a slope to a creek in mixed hardwood forest, on a warm day following rain showers. Chromelosporium fulvum has erect, septate conidiophores with an unbranched main axis bearing 7 to 12 sporogenous ampullae, the spore-bearing heads, needle-like clusters. Conidia develop simultaneously on denticles located on the surface of each ampulla. The fungus first appears as fine, white, aerial mycelium. The spores form in a few days, changing the color to light yellow or golden brown; the thick, white, fluffy mycelial edges remain. The globose conidia are lightly pigmented tan-brown and cover each ampulla at maturity. The mold, easily air-borne, is opportunistic, and not readily tolerating other organisms.

On the down-stream side of a boulder in the Haw River Channel. Lichen located above the normal water line, but below the high-water/flood level.

NOTE: The lichen of observation differs from Psora crenata in the position of the apothecia on the thallus body. In the lichen of observation, the apothecia are centrally located, whilst in Psora crenata the apothecia are marginal in position.