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Most people consider mushrooms to be the small, ugly cousins of the plant kingdom, but theirs is a surprisingly beautiful and wonderful world waiting to be explored. These beautiful mushrooms, captured by enthusiastic nature photographers, are a far cry from the ones you find in the woods or your local grocery store.
Most mushrooms, as we know them, are actually just the reproductive structure of the fungus they belong to – their fungal networks expand far further underground, and some fungi don't even sprout the sort of mushrooms that we're used to seeing. In fact, depending on your definition of “organism,” the largest living organism in the world is a fungus – there's a honey mushroom colony in Oregon that occupies about 2,000 acres of land!
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#1
Puffballs
HollyMason 10 years ago
I stepped on one last week in sandals! The cold yellow powder spraying on my foot definitely made me a little more cautious walking around!
RELATED:
#2
Mycena Chlorophos
#3
Marasmius Haematocephalus
#4
Rhodotus Palmatus
#5
Phallus Indusiatus
#6
Schizophyllum Commune
#7
Amethyst Deceiver
#8
Panus Fasciatus
#9
Clathrus Ruber
#10
Porcelain Fungus
#11
Cup Fungus
#13
Leratiomyces
#14
Hydnellum Peckii
#16
Cyathus Striatus
#17
Coprinus Comatus
#18
Mushrooms With A Snail
#19
Geastrum Minimum
#20
Aseroe Rubra
#22
Puffball Mushroom
VesselinaMartinova 10 years ago
Very handy mushroom. If you pit it on a bleeding wound it stops the bleeding with an antiseptic effect.
#23
Crepidotus
#24
Tiny Golden Mushrooms
#25
Chorioactis
#26
Hairy Mycena
#27
Amanita Muscaria
Anejo Conejo 10 years ago
They believe that people ate magic mushrooms and thought these were what is now 'Santa Claus' and that reindeer could fly.
#28
Cup Fungi
#30
Illuminated Mushroom
#31
Tiny Orange Mushrooms
Final score:
37points
#32
Entoloma Hochstetteri
#34
Mycena Viscidocruenta
#35
Cyptotrama Aspratum
#36
Black Fungus
#37
Panaleous Sphinctrinus
Final score:
33points
Kyle Eaton 10 years ago
Such simple mushrooms, but its the background that really catches the eye.
#39
Clavaria Zollingeri
#41
Oudemansiella Mucida
#44
Entoloma Hochstetteri
#45
Clathrus Archeri
#47
Stemonitis Axifera
#48
Xylaria Hypoxylon
Final score:
26points
Annie Doneva 10 years ago
That's a damn great shot !!!! About the mushroom - no words needed....
#50
Clavaria Zollingeri
Final score:
25points
#51
Scutellinia Scutellata
#53
Bay Bolete
Final score:
22points
AnnieDoneva 10 years ago
Stoenescu, all your photographs are so beautiful. And every time I see one I can tell that it's yours, without seeing your name under it.
#54
Helvella Lacunosa
#55
Wonderland Mushroom
Final score:
21points
#56
Marasmius Rotula
#59
Purple Mushrooms In The Woods
Final score:
19points
#60
Morchella
Final score:
18points
#61
Hexogonia Artemisia
Final score:
18points
#62
Entoloma Hochstetteri
#63
Helvella Leucomelaena
#70
Lycoperdon Perlatum
Final score:
15points
#71
Russian Muhomor
Final score:
15points
Annie Doneva 10 years ago
These (or similar) are what they draw and talk about in children's fairytale :)
#74
Boletus Edulis
Final score:
14points
#76
Purple Amanita
#80
Coral Mushroom (if I Am Not Mistaken)
Final score:
12points
#81
Sailing Mushroom
Final score:
12points
#82
Coprinus Comatus
Final score:
12points
Ocean Star 5 years ago
This looks more like Coprinopsis picacea. Commonly mistaken for Coprinus comatus.
#86
Lafe
Final score:
11points
#87
Mutinus Caninus
#90
Boletus Edulis
Final score:
10points
#92
Miniature Spa Stones
Final score:
10points
John Buryiak 7 years ago
They are commonly called "bird's nest mushrooms". See this Wikipedia page for info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidulariaceae
#98
Fly Agaric
Final score:
9points
#99
Up North Michigan
Final score:
9points
#100
White Translucent ( Wood Ear?)
Final score:
9points
#101
Shrroooommmeeeee
Final score:
8points
#102
Unexpected Life Inside A Dumpster
Final score:
8points
#105
Nature's Perfect Lines
Final score:
8points
#106
Amanita Phalloides
Final score:
8points
Marsha Browne 2 years ago
Hard to believe how dangerous this fungus is -- ingesting half of a cap is enough to kill an adult human being. But definitely beautiful.
#107
Morchella
Final score:
8points
Marie Lindell 10 years ago
Simlpy a very beautiful close up photo of that intricate mushroom :D I love it!
#108
Pink Oysters! (pleurotus Djamor)
Final score:
8points
#110
Clitopilus Prunulus
Final score:
7points
StefanVujcic 9 years ago
I'd say it's some Lactarius species, note white drops ooying from the gills....
#118
Shaggy Ink Cap
Final score:
6points
#121
Yellow Brain Fungi
Final score:
6points
#123
Fall Beauties
Final score:
6points
#125
Trees?
Final score:
5points
#130
Dead Man's Fingers!
Final score:
5points
#132
Flying Saucer In The Kimberley...
Final score:
5points
#135
Pezizaceae
Final score:
5points
#136
Omphalotus Olearius: Jack O' Lantern
Final score:
5points
#139
Puffball
Final score:
4points
Peggy Blank 4 years ago
Also found in Wisconsin. the farmers would hit the leg of a cow with it that had a bad cut or infection to help heal it.
#140
Blue !
Final score:
4points
#145
Light Catcher
Final score:
4points
#151
Fall Beauties
Final score:
4points
YvonneDavis 10 years ago
It would be nice if you post the areas you took the mushroom photo's in. Thank you.
#154
Don't Know Tunisia Sobhanallah
Final score:
4points
MarcFranch 10 years ago
Parasitic plant: Cytinus hypocistis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytinus_hypocistis
#155
Dark Blue
Final score:
4points
SandraCastillo 9 years ago
Simplemente hermosas fotos... y q increible es el mundo de los Homgos (y)
#159
Wondermushroom_0705
Final score:
3points
#161
Coprinus Micaceus
Final score:
3points
#180
Leopard-spotted Earthball
Final score:
3points
Ferdy Christant (Submission author) 10 years ago
Captured in the Netherlands, by Ferdy Christant. Original: http://www.jungledragon.com/image/13974/the_end_of_the_rainbow.html
#184
Bioluminescent Mushroom By Leif Illuvatar
Final score:
3points
#186
All Caps
Final score:
3points
#191
Mushrooms In My Yard In Trinidad
Final score:
2points
MartinaCarma 10 years ago
Love this mushrooms! They are delicious fried in flour, egg and breadcrumbs!
#194
Wood Ear, Auricularia Auricula-judae
Final score:
2points
#197
An Old Married Couple
Final score:
2points
#209
Oh Look At This Fella
Final score:
2points
#215
Cubensis
Final score:
2points
#224
Lepiota ?
Final score:
1point
StefanVujcic 9 years ago
Certainly not Lepiota species, may be some Lepista or Entoloma, but I cannot say from just one picture :)
#227
Duiveltjesberg
Final score:
1point
#230
Cuc Phuong Viet Nam.
Final score:
1point
#238
Inverted Chandelier?
Final score:
1point
#249
No Clue
Final score:
1point
StefanVujcic 9 years ago
Macrolepiota procera, commonly known as Parasol mushroom, edible, tasty :)
#251
Phallus Impudicus
Final score:
1point
#257
Amanita Muscaria
Final score:
1point
#259
Orange Fungus
Final score:
1point
#260
Change Of The Season
Final score:
1point
Catharina Geerts 1 year ago
The way that big tree has grown, it almost looks as if a giant dog is sitting next to these mushrooms :)
#262
A No Brainier
Final score:
1point
#264
Satsuma On A Stick (rhodotus Palmatus)
Final score:
1point
#265
Lepiota - Northern Spain
Final score:
1point
Isis Alvarez (Submission author) 10 years ago
Is actually a Macrolepiota also known as Parasol mushroom (bored panda doesnt allow me to edit!)
#266
Norway Mountain Mushroom - Latin Name Anyone?
Final score:
1point
StefanVujcic 9 years ago
Hardly from just one photo... Something from the order Polyporales, but I cannot be more specific, if I had to geuss I'd place my bet on genus Trametes. Hope this will help a bit :)
#269
Amanita Muscaria
Final score:
1point
Catharina Geerts 1 year ago (edited)
And they grow in a circle. In Dutch that's called a "Heksenkring", a witches' circle ;)
#288
Can You Identify This Species? -photo By Marcella Kyrein
Final score:
0points
Cristiana Simoes 10 years ago
where do you take it? when? what is the specie of the tree? thank you
#300
Edible Mushrooms (coorg)
Final score:
-2points
Add New Image
What do you think ?
ÖzgeBerrak 10 years ago
i think between all these mushrooms, we can find many things that useful for our helth, treatment for diseases, chemicals for using in labs.
YvonneDavidson 10 years ago
One of my favourite things, and what amazing photographs of incredible structures, colours and shapes...!
Lizzy Abbey (she/they) 2 years ago
buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut which one is the common edible mushroom
HeatherCrawford 10 years ago
have luved & been fascinated with fungi since i was a kid, nothing more beautiful.amazing organisms
Plant Wizard 10 months ago
Some really good photos. Do understand that a lot of these are really small. Need a macro lens and it makes photography harder and they are not easy to spot in the wild. Many I think were taken home and photographed to get the lighting right. Others are now possible due to good light levels in newer cameras. much harder when I started out and ASA was really low. Most fungi tend to grow in gloomy woodlands making photos tough to do. Also got to be happy lying on your stomach in forests to do a lot of this.
Aïsha' Smith 8 years ago
Wow beautiful pictures you have there! I made some pictures of mushrooms myself but there not even close to these ones :O -> http://alturl.com/swb4v Please let me know what you think about it :)
JaneSchachtele 9 years ago
I Love Mushrooms.On Pizza In Salads.And I Love Them Straight Out Of The Can.
DollyOsberg 10 years ago
This is one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen thank you for sharing
Susanna Vesna 10 years ago
Amazing post! SO much beauty! Now I want to know which ones of these are edible! :P
Kymbo Kimberley 10 years ago
This is one of the best and most interesting groups of pics that I have had the pleasure of seeing on here.. Just stunning!!
EmanuelStefan 10 years ago
Wondrefull! Interesting fact is that mushrooms are more closely related to humans and animals than to other plants . :D http://youtu.be/6Ni
ElizabethMaas 10 years ago
This is the most FANTASTIC set of photos I've ever seen on the internet....
gabriela almaraz 10 years ago
la naturaleza nos presenta lo fabulosa que es todas tienen su propio encanto y bueno el humano tiene un ojo tan especial para captar tanta b
ÖzgeBerrak 10 years ago
i think between all these mushrooms, we can find many things that useful for our helth, treatment for diseases, chemicals for using in labs.
YvonneDavidson 10 years ago
One of my favourite things, and what amazing photographs of incredible structures, colours and shapes...!
Lizzy Abbey (she/they) 2 years ago
buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut which one is the common edible mushroom
HeatherCrawford 10 years ago
have luved & been fascinated with fungi since i was a kid, nothing more beautiful.amazing organisms
Plant Wizard 10 months ago
Some really good photos. Do understand that a lot of these are really small. Need a macro lens and it makes photography harder and they are not easy to spot in the wild. Many I think were taken home and photographed to get the lighting right. Others are now possible due to good light levels in newer cameras. much harder when I started out and ASA was really low. Most fungi tend to grow in gloomy woodlands making photos tough to do. Also got to be happy lying on your stomach in forests to do a lot of this.
Aïsha' Smith 8 years ago
Wow beautiful pictures you have there! I made some pictures of mushrooms myself but there not even close to these ones :O -> http://alturl.com/swb4v Please let me know what you think about it :)
JaneSchachtele 9 years ago
I Love Mushrooms.On Pizza In Salads.And I Love Them Straight Out Of The Can.
DollyOsberg 10 years ago
This is one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen thank you for sharing
Susanna Vesna 10 years ago
Amazing post! SO much beauty! Now I want to know which ones of these are edible! :P
Kymbo Kimberley 10 years ago
This is one of the best and most interesting groups of pics that I have had the pleasure of seeing on here.. Just stunning!!
EmanuelStefan 10 years ago
Wondrefull! Interesting fact is that mushrooms are more closely related to humans and animals than to other plants . :D http://youtu.be/6Ni
ElizabethMaas 10 years ago
This is the most FANTASTIC set of photos I've ever seen on the internet....
gabriela almaraz 10 years ago
la naturaleza nos presenta lo fabulosa que es todas tienen su propio encanto y bueno el humano tiene un ojo tan especial para captar tanta b
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