DSC_2962 Purple potato fungus (Gallacea scleroderma) amongst litter, half buried in the ground in beech forest. 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. Mavora Lakes *
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 *
DSC_2427 Fischer's egg (Claustula fischeri) an extremely rare fungus with a strange, disjunct distribution. It has only been recorded from the Nelson Region in the north west of the South Island, and Otago in the south east. It is the sole New Zealand survivor of an ancient Gondwanan lineage, restricted to Australasia and South America. Fischer's egg produces spores within the conspicuous white egg-shaped receptacle that emerges from a brown, gelatinous protective cover. Although it is a 'stinkhorn', it appears to be odourless. Its distinctive appearance, (the white receptacle is the size of a hen's egg), may encourage animals and birds to eat it, thereby dispersing the spores - certainly some eggs appear partially eaten - however the dispersal mechanism is still unknown. Eastern Otago *
