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Monday, January 28, 2013

Strange Fungi in Mwadui

As I go to pottery classes in the Client's camp, I walk the short distance from home, enter their security gate and eventually arrive at the studio.

Last week, as I waited for the electric gate to open, I looked down and saw a clump of strange plants next to the road. When I returned from pottery two hours later, I stopped and photographed the phenomena. It looked like mushrooms but the plants were hard (wooden) to the touch. These plants (or growths) have emerged from the roots of a tree that was felled here a few weeks ago. 

 I've not found anyone who can shed any light on this, but of course, felt it's worthy of a post on my blog!

Strange wood-like growths around the roots of a recently felled tree

Although at first glance, these looked like giant mushrooms, they are actually hard to the touch and resemble a shiny, many-toned wood!

I hope you're all looking forward to a wonderful week.

7 comments:

  1. Very cool fungi. Here we call those hard kinds "conks". Some people draw on the under light side.

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  2. Very intriguing indeed ! Looks actually not bad at all, better then some "Modern Art" ! Did you break one off and polish it at home ? would make a nice plate.

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  3. You comment on Gaelyn's blog has me feeling very guilty. (and I wonder why people don't comment on my blog). I seem to have developed some sort of adult ADD cause I just never get around to commenting on a lot of blog other than the regulars (and I will make you a regular) and I'm even worse at replying to emails at home.

    This is a bracket fungus. They normally grow on decaying hard woods and I often see them in the Tsitsikamma.

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  4. Hi Jo, I don't know the scientific name for these but they look very similar to some we have growing where I am from. Historically my people made "medicine" from them.

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  5. They are weird growths. Interesting and pretty patterns but a hard texture. I had them growing on a tree root in my garden. I don't know what they are called.

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  6. Wow! Have not seen anything like it!
    hughugs

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  7. Hi Jo.
    These fungi looks interesting. They indeed look like mushrooms. We have this kind also back home in the Philippines.

    By the way, I miss visiting your blog. It has been a couple of months ago since my last visit. I hope that you're doing good and loving the way of life there in Tanzania. Regards to your hubby.

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo