wdvanhem's Favorites

Can't find a common name for this fella so I'm christening it the Cinnamon Stick fungus because it's tightly inrolled nature resembles a cinnamon stick stuck into the ground. After picking it unfurled slowly over time to almost flat in shape

Growing on the ground under Picea, Larix, Acer. About 2-inches in height.
Asci operculate, 8-spored, IKI-, croziers(+).
Ascospores ellipsoid with one large guttule and many small, measured
(19.9) 20.5 - 23 (26.2) × (11.7) 12.2 - 13.9 (14.5) µm
Q = (1.5) 1.6 - 1.7 (1.9) ; N = 19
Me = 21.5 × 13 µm ; Qe = 1.7
Paraphyses cylindrical with brown VBs.

on opening, on muddy sandy soil.

perithecia scattered, vivid orange, up to about 1cm. margin darker, composed of very small hairs (photo 9). Paraphyses clavate and filled with orange granules. Spores, covered with a very conspicuous and mostly complete net, do not appear warty. spores (in asci, and without ornamentation) measured 13-16 x 6-9 µm

all microphotograph stained with Cotton Blue

This terrestrial orchid was first seen growing in the pot pictured. This species was a "weed" in an orchid I purchased from a company based in FL with their headquarters in South America. It began as a single individual and now has multiplied into six individuals. Also, two small plants were seen outside of the greenhouse but not currently in flower. I will be interested to see if it overwinters and persists another year. I'm not certain if they were outside the greenhouse in previous years. This observation could be considered a waif.

2023 winter update: After multiple frosts and freezes all leaves are dead. I'll be watching this spring and summer to see if any plants resprout from roots.

Growing under pine (obviously) and larch. Odor and taste much milder (not sour) than typical suillus. Not 100% on the ID of course but both the bolete filter and mushroom expert pointed me to this species. Cool find!

Nearby confiers were pine and larch. Odor and taste much milder (not sour) than typical suillus. Not 100% on the ID of course but both the bolete filter and mushroom expert pointed me to this species. Cool find!

Spodoptera dolichos (Dolichos Armyworm Moth). Photographed at Hastings Drive, Norfolk County, Ontario on 26 October 2023. Having heard that Eric Giles had photographed one the previous evening at this site we decided to try our luck - with absolutely no guarantee of success. Amazingly two individuals were recorded - a very nice result! We thank Eric for letting us know about his record. Also known as Sweet Potato Armyworm Moth.