Shelf Fungi on Dead Tree
June 14, 2016
I found this remarkable tree in the middle of the forest in Germany's Bavarian Forest National Park. It's dead and desiccated where all the other trees around it are apparently healthy. However, there's indeed life in the central tree, but the living matter is attached to the bark of the dead specimen -- shelf fungi or bracket fungi. These common fungi will grow on both living and dead trees. The ones shown here may be classified as the genus Ganoderma, which on occasion are responsible for killing its host. Even after the host has died bracket fungi will thrive for years by living off the old wood. Close up of fungi on the bottom photo. Photos taken on May 7, 2016.
Photo Details: Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D X; Lens: EF17-40mm f/4L USM; Focal Length: 17.0mm; Aperture: ƒ/7.1; Exposure Time: 0.0008 s (1/1250); ISO equiv: 800; Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7 (Windows).