More Mushrooms Sunday Flower Walk

Well, this is certainly the time to forage for mushrooms! Pippa's course with Gary Goldman was perhaps a few weeks too early!

But first, our query from last week, the crudely broken-off plant growing between two Brunias; Jenny Simpson came to the rescue with Agathosma, probably A. crenulata, one of the two main Buchus used for medicinal and flavouring purposes:

Agathosma spp

The young flowers are mauve and they become paler as they develop. Rick says they're very difficult to propagate, so we were particularly pleased to find several plants growing up around it!

Agathosma seedling

The leaves give off an unforgettable smell if rubbed between the fingers. The oil glands can be seen on the underside of the leaves. Here is a picture from the web:

Agathosma crenulata

Growing in the hard gravel of a farm road, this Earth Ball seems to be thriving!

Fungi - Earth Ball

We decided to have our forest mushroom hunt at the beginning of our walk and we weren't disappointed! Almost every step of the way was something interesting. If one of us said, 'not much around here,' we'd come across a whole lot more a few paces away!

Russula sardonia

Purple Russula sardonia

Bolete spp

We think these above are Peppery Bolete or Granular Stalk Bolete. Both are edible.

Slippery Jack (left) and Peppery Bolete(right)

Compare the difference between the Slippery Jack Bolete on the left and the lighter Peppery or Granular Bolete in Pippa's hand.

Tropical Cinnabar Bracket

Growing on the fallen pine, what could be a Tropical Cinnabar Bracket Pycnoporus sanguineus.

Fungi spp

We are still trying to work out what these are!

We seem to be between seasons now, the bulk of the pink and mauve Ericas which have been colouring the veld since Christmas are over, but they're still impressive in their rust colours:

Erica spp

.... and the yellow Daisies are only just starting, we think this is a Euryops:

Here is another yellow Daisy type, with just three petals:

We found this impressive Ficinia on the side of the road, not sure which of them, it looks too tall for the F. radiata or Stergras which we found in the forest a few weks ago.

Ficinia radiata

The Ericas are far from over, though. This little sprig was growing out from under another plant:

Erica spp

And the whitish green one we have been watching for weeks now is coming into full flower:

Erica spp

 

The pictures from Fernkloof on the web for the white Erica coccinea seem to correspond with these, the flower as well as the leaves which grow in tufts.

Erica coccinea

This Protea cynaroides is the only one on this plant open yet, so we'll be treated to a fine display for many weeks to come!

Protea cynaroides

Felling and extraction is almost complete on the top of 'our' hill and we're hoping that the Leucadendron here and a Mimetes cucullatus higher up on the right will not be damaged.

Leucodendron

What we thought was a pink Helichrysum, but which is in fact a Phaenocoma prolifera or Cape Straw Flower, has only one flower left which is remotely pink:

Phaenocoma prolifera

The spent flowers form an interesting-looking seed pod:

Phaenocoma prolifera spent flower

Growing right in the middle of the road is this plant which we don't recognise, any ideas?

As usual, there was lots more!

:-) A