The amazing world of fungi – in pictures
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The amazing world of fungi – in pictures
Dr Tom May, a mycologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens has collaborated with renowned fungi photographer Stephen Axford for Planet Fungi, a new book from CSIRO Publishing full of incredible macro-photography.
Photography: Stephen Axford
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The amazing world of fungi – in pictures
Dr Tom May, a mycologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens has collaborated with renowned fungi photographer Stephen Axford for Planet Fungi, a new book from CSIRO Publishing full of incredible macro-photography.
Photography: Stephen Axford
Ophiocordyceps formicarum
Thailand -
F myrmepropagandist shared this topic
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Ophiocordyceps formicarum
Thailand -
Ophiocordyceps formicarum
ThailandThat's Polyrhachis! Poor girl! Cut down in her prime by the predatory fungi. What an nightmare.
(great photo, if very sad.)
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Ophiocordyceps formicarum
Thailand@appassionato Definitely one of the creepier types of fungus out there.
I only know of one thing that has done "fungus infects humans and changes their brains" thing. It's kind of surprising it isn't more of a thing in movies and such. I always felt like cordyceps was at the top of the list of things that should terrify people, lol.
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The amazing world of fungi – in pictures
Dr Tom May, a mycologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens has collaborated with renowned fungi photographer Stephen Axford for Planet Fungi, a new book from CSIRO Publishing full of incredible macro-photography.
Photography: Stephen Axford
... link to the book?
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Physcia jackii and Teloschistes sieberianus
Australia -
Physcia jackii and Teloschistes sieberianus
Australia -
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@appassionato Definitely one of the creepier types of fungus out there.
I only know of one thing that has done "fungus infects humans and changes their brains" thing. It's kind of surprising it isn't more of a thing in movies and such. I always felt like cordyceps was at the top of the list of things that should terrify people, lol.
@nazokiyoubinbou @appassionato
Vertebrate biology isn't really conducive to that kind of fungal infection. Our closed circulatory system makes it hard for a fungi to impact all of the system of the body in that way (muscles, nerves, digestion etc.)
Also, our ability to regulate our body temperature is protective against fungal infections. That's why they mostly just go for the toes.
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Cortinarius magellanicoalbus
Chile -
@nazokiyoubinbou @appassionato
Vertebrate biology isn't really conducive to that kind of fungal infection. Our closed circulatory system makes it hard for a fungi to impact all of the system of the body in that way (muscles, nerves, digestion etc.)
Also, our ability to regulate our body temperature is protective against fungal infections. That's why they mostly just go for the toes.
@futurebird @appassionato Of course, this is way below anything that could get us. I'm just surprised stories don't run with the idea more. It has a certain sort of creep factor.
Really I think more could be done with whole fungal takeover things more in general story-wise. The Expanse did a good job with the sort of thing I'm talking about.
Like doesn't it trigger a certain something in anyone else? (Though for me the result is closer to fascination than fear, lol.)
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Cortinarius magellanicoalbus
Chile -
Nidula niveotomentosa
New Zealand -
@futurebird @appassionato Of course, this is way below anything that could get us. I'm just surprised stories don't run with the idea more. It has a certain sort of creep factor.
Really I think more could be done with whole fungal takeover things more in general story-wise. The Expanse did a good job with the sort of thing I'm talking about.
Like doesn't it trigger a certain something in anyone else? (Though for me the result is closer to fascination than fear, lol.)
@nazokiyoubinbou @appassionato
Not like parasitoid wasps do. They take advantage of similar aspects of the insect body plan and it's somehow worse than the fungi.
It might be nice to sprout something memorable and ominous after I die. A big lovely toadstool with unusual colors and magnificent shapes.
But do keep your distance.
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Nidula niveotomentosa
New Zealand -
Pseudocolus fusiformis
Australia -
Pseudocolus fusiformis
AustraliaClavogaster virescens
New Zealand -
Clavogaster virescens
New ZealandCyttaria septentrionalis
Australia
