<< Previous Next >>

'Baby Shoe' Bracket Fungus


'Baby Shoe' Bracket Fungus
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3296 W: 167 N: 9917] (32172)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-02-25
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): FUNGI, MUSHROOMS, LICHEN - WORLD WIDE [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-05-22 19:16
Viewed: 722
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this picture during my visit to my native place in the hills this February.
We have a 25 years old Poplar plantation at an altitude of nearly 8000 feet and I went there to have a look at those trees and see how they were doing. My father planted them way back in early eighties and it has grown into a little forest. While wandering around, I saw that quite a few of them had large sized Bracket fungi on their moss and lichen grown trunks. I took a few pictures and here is one of them. I have named it 'Baby Shoe' for obvious reasons and I do hope the comparison does not sound trite to you.

Bracket fungi, or shelf fungi, are fungi, in the phylum Basidiomycota. They produce shelf- or bracket-shaped fruiting bodies (conks) that lie in a close planar grouping of separate or interconnected horizontal rows. Brackets can range from only a single row of a few caps, to dozens of rows of caps that can weigh several hundred pounds. They are mainly found on trees, and resemble mushrooms. Some form annual fruiting bodies while others are perennial and grow larger year after year. Bracket fungi are typically tough and sturdy and produce their spores, called basidiospores, within the pores that typically make up the undersurface.
The term classically was reserved for polypores, however molecular studies have revealed some odd relationships. The beefsteak fungus, a well known bracket fungus, is actually a member of the agarics. Other examples of bracket fungi include the sulphur shelf, birch bracket, dryad's saddle, artist's conk, and turkey tail. Some species of bracket fungi are cultivated for human consumption or medicinal use. The name Polypores is often used for a group that includes many of the hard or leathery fungi, which often lack a stem, growing straight out of wood.
Their hardness means they are very resilient and can live for quite a long time, with many species even developing beautiful multi-coloured circles of colour that are actually annual growth rings.
The group includes many different shapes and forms that are common in the tropical forests, including the hard 'cup fungi' and the 'shell', 'plate' and 'bracket' fungus commonly found growing off logs and still standing dead trees.
These often grow in semi-circular shapes, looking like shelving growing out of trees or wood.
One of the more common ones, Ganoderma spp, can grow large thick shelves that may contribute to the death of the tree, and then feed off the wood for years after.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracket_fungus

Thanks for looking.
Adanac, Argus, briGG, matatur, Pearl, valy67, Noisette, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To briGG: Thanksramthakur 1 05-23 00:32
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2009-05-22 19:34]

Hello Ram,
Splendid image of this bracket fungi, the wide array of lichen also in the image is wonderful as well. I see you were back in your beloved mountains not long ago. This must recharge your spirit each time. Great job Ram, thank you.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3819 W: 190 N: 11368] (35041)
  • [2009-05-22 22:53]

This is an unusual subject for you Ram.
A fine image of a Bracket Fungus that reminds me of our species in shape and colours and I guess that this one might be small enough to remind one of a baby shoe. If it were large it could also resemble an elephants foot, but that is less poetic!
Nice colours, lighting and composition on the lichen-covered poplar bark.
Thanks and all the best,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • briGG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 171 W: 2 N: 272] (1383)
  • [2009-05-22 23:59]
  • [+]

Bonjour Ram,

Belle explication!

Tu te mets ŕ photographier les champignons?
Trčs belle couleurs et beau cadre avec les lichens en BG.

TFS

briGitte

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2392 W: 94 N: 5536] (17620)
  • [2009-05-23 1:02]

Hello Ram,
Unusual, but splendid photo of this Bracket Fungus. The light and colours are very special. Very beautiful. It looks like an elephants foot.
Regards,
Peter

Thanks for this highly detailed close up of a bracket fungus Ram, not one of your usual topics but still, finely depicted in sharp focus and correct exposure. The rich cover of lichens on the bark is equally interesting my friend, excellent job indeed!
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Pearl Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 85 W: 25 N: 45] (137)
  • [2009-05-23 4:23]

Hi Ram,

Lovely shot of this fungi. Good exposure and lovely notes. I like the presentation and POV a lot. Nice tones and lighting with interesting notes. TFS.

Pearl.

Hello Ram !
Must be great to own such a tree plantation, you are lucky, and I like this picture - one does not need to look for something very special, we can make beautiful photos with something very simple, like this fungus. I really like its shape, and you have presented it in a nice composition, with a funny title that made me smile. Very well done !
Valérie.

hello Ram
nice composition of this fungi
great sharpness and beautiful colours
greeting lou

Hello Ram
beautiful shot of an interesting fungi, i lke the shape od this Bracked Fungus
great compopsition, colors and sharpness
good note as always
Have a great sunday

I have a few fungal shots in my own collection of potential postings, Ram, and I typically hold off on posting them -- quite candidly because I don't know enough to classify or describe them knowledgeably. You obviously do :)
Good clarity here and good presentation of form. A solid macro with a helpful note.

Good work!
Jim

Hello Ram,
Its a little soft,but an interesting capture of this small Ganoderma.
It is not yet fully developed,but looks as though it could be Ganoderma applanatum.
Cheers & TFS
Steve

Hi Ram,

I don't know why I didn't comment this image 'til now, although I don't used to overlook a nice fungi shot. The specie reminds me to our (European) Fomes fomentarius and Fomitopsis pinicola, but there are differences, too. Technically a nice composition, maybe not as sharp as it could have been - but I know fungi aren't Your mainly photographed theme, or the shutter speed was long in the forest and You didn't use a tripod. I don't know. Otherwise a great shot.

Tfs, regards from Hungary, László

PS: it can't be Ganoderma aqpplanatum as Steve thought, that specie has white or at least whitish pores and Your specimen has reddish brown. Plus in most of the cases it isn't so thick.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF