Story in caption. Week 8 - Pink Oyster (#funguary week 4) This week, we delved into a very humid part of the hidden fungal valley. The scientists presented me another fungus, named ‘pink oyster’ mushroom. But I suppose the name ‘flamingo mushroom’ would be more opportune! Like many of its brethren, the fungus grows on wood, especially small shrubs and sticks. Its micells grow all over and into the wood, devouring it slowly. But once the food source begins to dwindle, this fungus not only develops the most charming pink fruit bodies, it also takes control of the surviving dead sticks. By contracting in an astonishingly coordinated way while using the wood as a skeleton, the fungus leaves its former home, stalking through the wood in search of new feeding grounds. To the uninformed observer, this intriguing fungal creature really appears like a small pink flamingo slowly stalking through the wood! Its slow and charmingly awkward movements ensure optimal disposal and spread of the spores. And when the fungus finally gets caught in an impenetrable shrub, unable to move further, the micell will start spreading again and explore this new feeding ground. Amazing! Yet, as much as I love this valley, it’s time to move on. I encountered a competing research team on our way back and received a most tempting invitation.

For more images and stories see @al-ma-48

Story in caption. Week 09 - Podoserpula Miranda (#funguary week 4)

That’s it - I am done with this valley! Yesterday, I fell victim to another malevolent awakened fungus and nearly died! It seemed so innocuous, yet it was deadly. I came upon the most gorgeous pink-colored mushrooms I have ever seen. Their lovely fruit bodies towered in tiers up to 30 feet, forming a dense pink wonderland in this part of the valley. I instantly fell in love with them. Entranced, I kept wandering among these delightful towering fungi. After some time, I noticed strangely fascinating anorexic female figures dancing on the tiers of the pink pagodas. I just could not stop watching this enthralling spectacle! Only when a group of angry blue milk fairies started pulling my hair and poking me, I came to my senses. Corpses and skeletons covered the ground around my feet - all of them held by the psychic powers of these deadly myconids and thus turned into fertilizer. I definitely long for a place with significantly less vegetation - and I think I just know the right place, just a week’s travel away from this cursed valley.

For more images and stories see @al-ma-48​