Playing with Toadstools

If the branch, off the Tree of Life, known as Fungi, had picked a mascot, definitely that mascot (for us Humans at least) would be Amanita Muscaria (aka Soma or Toadstools)

They grow prolifically around Vancouver, much of the west coast, and in parts of Europe, too. They completely delight people, and when first spotted, someone always exclaims that they didn't think they were real, because they look so, um, plastic. I've even seen this mushroom, growing on the side of a road, stop traffic. 

So, imagine how excited I got, once I heard, that if you pick them while in the pin head form, you can bring them home and watch them grow. Cool. And its true:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

What you see, is the mushroom sporulating, Day 1 and 2 it is unfurling it's cap, Day 3 it breaks it's veil, Day 4 and 5 it releases it's spores and in Day 6 you see it beginning to rot, the spores and it's purpose, gone.  

So does this mean that I will be able to grow Amanita Muscaria with the spores? Its a long shot. This mushroom is a Mycorrhizae, which means it is a type of mushroom that forms a relationship with trees. Even if I did spread the spores, or even better, the mycelium into the roots of some tree, it still might take 20 years before a mushroom blooms. I'm still going to try it, I just may never see the results.

Anyhow, this was a fun project.

As an aside, check out this amazing flush of Amanita's I found on Ontario St.  Vancouver, at the base of a mid age (10yrs?) Rhododendron bush of all things...