Fungi abound landscape
around Squirrel Cottage

From middle to late August through September the woods and fields of Highland Perthshire are full of different fungi. On walks from Squirrel Cottage you will see a whole host of different fungi, some of which you will see in the photographs in this section.

The Woodland Trust Magazine No 63 Autumn 2004 had an article titled 'Invisible Worlds' all about fungi. We have taken a few paragraphs from this article explaining exactly what Fungi are;

"Fungi are neither plant nor animal, though, if anything they bear a closer relation to the latter. Unlike plants, they have no stems, no roots and they lack the ability to make food from sunlight and simple nutrients (the process known as photosynthesis). Rather, thjey are composed of a mass of tiny filaments called hyphae which bunched togethr form mycelium.

The mycleium is usually hidden from view in rotting wood or in the soil, sometimes covering up to 15 hectares (37 acres). The fungi live undetected until they develop a fruiting body which can take amny different forms, from a cap, bracket or cup to a club, horn or gelatinous blob. Autumn is a good time to see them and woods, especially those iwth lots of old trees and fallen, decaying branches, are one of the best places to start.

As fungi are unable to make their own food, they absorb nutrients from the wood, leaves and other organic matter where they live. They are the orginal recyclers, the invisible powerhouse of the woodland system. By breaking down dead organic matter, fungi make it available to growing plants, thereby preventing its accumulation and adding to the overall health and efficiency of the woodland.

But there is more, because some 80% of trees, shrubs and wild flowers depend on fungi attaching to their roots. These mycorrrhizal fungi pass on essential minerals to the plants and in return extract sugars from the host. They can also act as a defence mechanism against other fungi trying to invade."

To learn a bit more about fungi go to http://www.aber.ac.uk/waxcap/

All the images on this page were taken here in the hills and glens around Killiecrankie

© Copyright 2004 Squirrel Cottage. All rights reserved.

Short Break Specials
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over the winter months, November
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• Views from the hills above Killiecrankie.
  Squirrel cottage is located in the pass
  below this hill top view.