New Zealand Fungi and Lichens

DSC_2099 Purple potato fungus (Gallacea scleroderma) half buried in the ground in beech litter. Easily recognised by its purple colouring and wrinkled texture, although the Royal pouch fungus (Cortinarius porphyroideus) is also a common purple fungus in beech forest (differing in having a stalk). April to June. The Purple potato fungus has its closest relatives amongst the stinkhorns. O'Malleys Track, Waimakariri River *

DSC2099Purplepotato fungusGallaceasclerodermaHysterangiumsclerodermumamongst litterhalf buriedgroundbeech foreststinkhornWaimakariri River