On Pertusaria sp. (TBD) on scrub oak bark. Appearing black but actually dark brown overall. Capitulum 0.25mm wide by 0.18mm tall. All parts K+? (second to last photo). Some violet reddish color but not intense, maybe pigments bleeding? [EDIT: confirmed K- (last photo)]. Stalk disintegrates in K (photos). Stalk prosoplectenchymatous, 0.29mm. Ascus cylindrical, ~39-45x6µm. Spores dark brown, subglobose, ~6.5x5.5µm.

nofilter Rare Albino Coastal Redwood, exact location kept secret for its safety

A ghost in the forest

We humans,
simple creatures that we are,
have two sets (copies) of chromosomes,
and approximately 3 billion base pairs of DNA.
A base-pair is effectively the alphabet of DNA,
the blueprint of life.

The Coastal Redwood has six sets of chromosomes,
and 27 billion base pairs of DNA.
It is the second longest genome ever sequenced,
nine times longer than our own.

And somehow,
in all that genetic complexity,
of nearly infinite variations...
at least 6 copies of the exact same mutations,
found each other amongst the billions,
like identical sextuplets...
creating this wondrous beauty.

albinoredwood

Growing on Baccharis pilularis. Found by Theresa Halula.

Spores measure

(42.5) 47.9 – 58.9 (69.7) × (24.3) 24.9 – 28 (29.9) µm

Q = (1.5) 1.8 – 2.4 (2.5) ; N = 16

Me = 52.9 × 26.9 µm ; Qe = 2

This is the recently born calf named "Google" on Happywhale (or Maybelline locally) for the distinctive white patches around its eyes. Its mother ( CRC-12529) was with it.

https://happywhale.com/individual/67832

Substrate: on mossy, decorticate wood

Habitat: humid, semi-disturbed primary rainforest (illegal logging), ~850m

Ecoregion: Madagascar Lowland Forests (AT0117) WWF | WKP

Collectors: D. Newman, J. Shay, E. Randrianjohany, R. Letsara & V. Razafindrahaja

Collection #: n/a

Leather Oak. Pear Galls are found on the midrib of the ventral vein and in Russo are described as green when young. This one is neither. However, there are several other observations of this gall in iNat:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/95827454
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60111839

Had a brilliant day for humpback activity, lots of breaching, chin slaps, and a lunge or two. Sadly I had my ISO mistakenly dialed way up all day so I didn't get much to show for it in the way of pictures, but 'twas grand all the same.

This one was a juvenile who liked breaching, apparently dubbed "Fluke Skywalker" by the whale watching folks.