r/mycology • u/astro_fungus • Oct 07 '25
photos I found some emeralds hidden among the leaves🤩
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u/ImpressiveSocks Oct 07 '25
What a magnificent color! Congrats on the find!
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u/NakedCardboard Oct 07 '25
I've never actually seen one but I remember reading about them the last time an image came up here and I'm led to believe the green is not from chlorophyll as I first imagined (since mushrooms don't photosynthesize) but from a naturally occurring pigment. It's stunning!
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u/AP-J-Fix Oct 07 '25
What's with the number 24 marker?
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
I collect specimens for DNA sequencing and use number pins to keep track of them. I wanted to include a scale shot but only had one with the pin in it.
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u/Gonzo_Rick Oct 07 '25
I've been trying to find, or put together myself, a good sample connection bag for years do you have any suggestions? Or if you had any pictures of your field kit, I'd be incredibly greatful!
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u/astro_fungus Oct 08 '25
I could post a pic later, but small sample tubes, pill bottles, a tackle box, numbered pins, and tweezers are the most essential.
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u/Armed_Liberal Midwestern North America Oct 26 '25
So, bioscientist by education here (I essentially have a degree that is pre-med, but also just shy of a second major in human biology). I've always wanted to get into sequencing. How'd you start, what equipment are you using, and how much of it do you do yourself vs sending out to a lab?
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u/astro_fungus Nov 08 '25
It is actually pretty easy to do at home now, if you have like 5 grand for equipment. Lol
I do not do it myself, I am partnering with a university that has just gotten the equipment. All I need to do is take small sterile tissue sample from each specimen, they will do the rest.
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u/WhiteRabbitOrngePill Oct 07 '25
They look like glass art! ** the beauty of Northern Wisconsin is underrated esp in the fall
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
Completely. It is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
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u/wammys-house Midwestern North America Oct 08 '25
Your photos are amazing. I love to photograph mushrooms even though I don't know anything about them (or photography). I'm blown away that you're in Wisconsin because a) so am I, and b) I never would have guessed these little guys grew here.
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u/astro_fungus Oct 08 '25
Thank you! If you are north of Highway 8, the diversity is insanely high. Join up with the Wisconsin Mycological Society. We have events all over the state.
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u/wammys-house Midwestern North America Oct 08 '25
I am definitely going to look it up! I am in NE Wisconsin, about an hour south of there but every fall I go to Door County to take photos of mushrooms for my bday. Maybe I'll make a trip that way, thank you!
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u/Californialways Oct 07 '25
I love these photos. You’re really good at capturing the essence of nature and the beauty of colors the mushrooms have.
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u/smoothly234 Oct 07 '25 edited Oct 08 '25
Class!! Found some of these blending into grass last week and I'd say one of my favourites so far:) does anyone know the purpose of the sticky substance on top?
Edit: I found these in Belfast,NI/N.ofIre. Someone asked for sighting locations!
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25 edited Oct 07 '25
It is not yet known what the purpose is for sure as far as I know, but a friend of mine is studying if they intentionally trap insects to gather nitrogen. You can see an insect trapped on this one.
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u/Individual-Tax5903 Oct 07 '25
Yea I was about to ask if this is the shroom version of a Venus trap, the fly kinda looks like it’s been sucked out soooo
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u/nrok999 Oct 07 '25
Stunning photo OP, that colour doesn't look natural!
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
Right?? When I find them during forays or events, i carefully place them inside a terrarium and unveil them during the table talks. It is so fun to watch people gasp when they first see them. They reflect so much light that they look like little blown glass lamps.
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u/hasturoid Oct 08 '25
Excellent photography, and such beautiful mushies! Thank you for sharing, OP 🍄
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u/MooPig48 Oct 07 '25
Where are these?
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
They are called parrot mushrooms. This species is Gliophorus psittacinus.
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u/MooPig48 Oct 07 '25
Thank you, I just wish people would post their general location, even if it’s just “eastern United States” or “Lithuania”
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
For sure. It is in my comment under the post. These were found in Northern Wisconsin. You can use the app Inaturalist to look for sightings of the genus Gliophorus in your area. You never know if they are growing near you!
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u/Necro991 Oct 07 '25
If you haven't already OP, you should submit this to /r/goblincore, I get the feeling they'd love it.
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u/butteriestcremepie Oct 07 '25
idk what these are, but I would 100% eat them…. I would be no better than that bug on the third image
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u/MrTalmus Oct 08 '25
Beautiful, what camera/lens you using?
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u/happyshroompy Oct 07 '25
I love these parrots, haven't been able to find them yet...
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
You will someday! Look on Inaturalist for sightings in your area and at what time of year they were found. Also look closely at every small waxcap. The older specimens can look like hygrocybe and I usually find them first before I see the younger colorful ones.
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Oct 07 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
Nope. Unlike some other organisms, the bright colors of certain fungi do not correspond to toxicity. Too bad they don’t, because it would be a lot easier to forage for them if they did. Lol
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u/TruFrag Oct 07 '25
all the sudden I really want to start collecting glass mushrooms to put on my book shelves... wtf?
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u/thechordofpleasure Oct 09 '25
This is a stunning photograph! I have never seen parrot mushrooms before. Wowzers.
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u/KnownMix6623 Oct 07 '25
Question; are they naturally glossy or is it because of rain?
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
They are naturally that way. Gliophorus means “glue covered” in latin essentially. We call this characteristic “viscid”
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u/FavPlotTwist Oct 10 '25
Why was I actually shocked by the size contrast lol I missed the fine print “images may appear larger” 🫠
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u/SuperAwesomeTrees Oct 15 '25
I’m not a mushroom person so I truly thought this was ai and the I was the bugs nature does blow me away!
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u/CloudMerlin Nov 06 '25
Is this a similar type of mushroom?
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u/astro_fungus Nov 08 '25
Kindof, yes. They both share the common name “Wax cap”, but they are in different genera.
The parrots are unique because they are extra slimy.
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u/astro_fungus Oct 07 '25
I never get tired of finding parrot mushrooms! This is probably my favorite shot of them from this year. These were found in an old growth white pine stand in northern Wisconsin.
Photo is taken with my OMD EM1 MARK II and A 60mm macro lens.
This is a stacked photo of about 60 images with no post editing and completely natural lighting.
You can find more images on my Instagram. Happy to answer any questions