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Blue fungus!

Blue fungus! by annkelliott.
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. 

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Red~Star  Pro User  says:

You go to the neatest places.....I am so envious. I have never seen fungi like this before. What an amazing shape and color. Your flash illuminated them perfectly.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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Janet 59 - Merry Christmas everybody!  Pro User  says:

That is a fascinating fungus!!! You do get to see the most amazing things!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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Doug Lloyd  Pro User  says:

What a beauty ya found here
D
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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nature55  Pro User  says:

Wow, that is so cool looking! Great shot!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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FancyLady  Pro User  says:

How interesting.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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dougwaylett  Pro User  says:

What a beautiful photo of this unusual fungus Anne. I will have to get my fungus books out. I am going to go out with Gus this afternoon as I won't be able to go on Thursday and there are a few plants there that I want to see..
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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dougwaylett  Pro User  says:

Hi Anne,
I think your fungus might be a young Hydnellum caeruleum.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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George (taking a break) says:

This is the most interesting fungi I have ever seen.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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Carla Finley  Pro User  says:

Wow, how interesting!!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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RoxandaBear  Pro User  says:

fascinating!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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christopher_p  Pro User  says:

Wow! This is great!

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Caught My Eye, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

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