Remember that carton of yoghurt you put in the fridge a few
weeks ago? Take a look at it now and there's a good chance you'll
find a colourful colony or two of mould. And when did you last
look at that damp wall in the basement? Sooner or later it's
bound to sprout an impressive crop of fungi.
Most of the fungi you find inside the house you'll also find
outdoors. The backyard is a great place to start hunting—lawn,
flower beds, and trees all offer homes to different species
of these earthly eruptions.
You'll find many of these backyard species anywhere the ground
has been disturbed, especially along roadsides. Park the car
(which may have a few choice fungi lurking under the floor mat),
take a hike into meadow or forest, and you're in fungus heaven.
You'll find fungi on the ground, on tree trunks, and on dead
and decaying/rotting wood. Damp places are the best. Ravines,
fields, and meadows are all excellent hunting grounds.
It's a good idea to do a little homework before you set out.
Check out the sections on this website called Fungal
Habitats and Meet
the Fungi, and study your field guide to find out about
favourite fungus haunts. If you're looking for particular species,
a little knowledge of where they grow (on sandy soil, say, or
on the bark of a dying birch) will help your search. Learn how
to identify a few tree species-some types of fungus are usually
found with one type of tree, such as oak or pine. |
