Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Hydnellum caeruleum

This was such an exciting find three days ago, when a small group of us were fortunate enough to have the chance to explore a new area of forest and grassland. Thanks to the Metz family, we saw a few things on their land that we don't usually see. Taken NW of Calgary, not too far from Water Valley, on 29 July 2013. This is one of the very few fungi that I know the name for (if I AM correct, lol!) - Hydnellum caeruleum. A few of its common names include Blue-green hydnellum, Blue corky spine fungus, Blue spine and Blue tooth. I was just looking at the link below (such an excellent website, that I have visited for the last few years) and one of the photos on the page shows this species oozing pigment droplets. I'm beginning to think I am right when I was wondering if a previous photo I posted was connected in any way to the Hydnellum caeruleum fungi seen in my photo today. They were growing on opposite sides of the trail. We thought the one I posted yesterday was perhaps a Slime Mold, but now I'm thinking that it was some stage of the Hydnellum caeruleum fungus. Wish I knew far, far more about fungi than I do! For the most part, I just take the pretty pictures : ) botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/aug2003.html

I'm not sure, but I think this could be a Hydnellum species. Found at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park, on September 11th. Macro shot - maybe an inch across the top. Always nice to come across a fungus with teeth, not gills. Possibly Hydnellum caeruleum, which was what I thought it might be - many thanks, Doug (dougwaylett)! Hydnellum caeruleum - ID confirmation, thanks to Ron (Ron Wolf)!

I was lucky enough to be invited to go with three friends to the mountains in Kananaskis for the whole day today. The University of Calgary had a Biogeoscience Open House at their Field Station near Barrier Lake today. The weather was absolutely perfect, until we drove home and the sky blackened quickly. Had some hail in my area this evening. We viewed the various exhibits at the centre and thoroughly enjoyed (was it really THREE times?) the fresh fruit salad, pastries and coffee. Afterwards, we went for a botany walk in the area, including through the woods that edge Barrier Lake and the various plants were recorded. This BLUE fungus was discovered there - we've never seen anything like it before! I used flash for this photo, which has emphasized a little too much the "fringing" around the edges. These fungi looked rather like small blue stones. We'd love it if someone is able to suggest an ID! Later: thanks so much for the ID, Doug! If you are correct (and to my untrained eye, it looks like Hydnellum caeruleum could be an accurate ID), then the following information will apply: "Hydnellum is a very interesting genus with very unusual fruiting bodies. At least you might consider them unusual if you're used to only looking at mushroom-like fruiting bodies. Hydnellum fruiting bodies are distinguished by their indeterminate growth habit (they can engulf twigs and leaves) and, to bear their basidiospores, they have teeth on the underside instead of gills or pores." From botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/aug2003.html . I remember it had grown around two blades of grass.