Not Wasted.

Nature would always find a way to make life sprout out of dead woods.

Nature is beautiful

Shot for PhotoFeed Contest Macro Photography 174.

This tree, mango tree to be precise, was cut down a few months ago. I had enjoyed some fresh fruits from the mango because the land it was on was just a few blocks away from my house. Honestly, I felt sad the day I saw them cutting it.

Today, it has become a breeding ground for fungi. That's one thing with nature; it doesn't give room to waste. In fact, in nature, nothing is truly dead or a waste. When a tree falls and starts decaying, it becomes food and shelter for other life. Fungi, moss, insects, bacteria, birds, name it.

Every branch / part of the tree has fungi growing on it.

See how they grow in clusters. Looking so fresh and enticing. Unfortunately, they aren't edible. How I wish. 😂

A search showed the fungi to be the Split Gill Mushroom - Schizophyllum commune. The commune almost sound like community. In short, whoever gave it this name isn't wrong because that's quite a community of fungus growing on that log. Lols.

The fungi is known to grow on almost any dead or rotting wood - logs, branches, even wooden fences. In fact, it's said to be one of nature’s hardest recyclers. Those fan-shaped gills release spores that break down dead wood.

The gill edges usually split and curl up to protect the spores during dry weather. That's one of its unique features. Most mushrooms don’t do that. Call them tough survivors, you won't be wrong.

I spotted the fungi just around my neighborhood, on my way to Mass on Sunday. So, on my way back, I stopped by to take some photos.

A macro shot of a fungus. Isn't it beautiful? Looks like a flower.

And that's a wrap. Have you seen this type of fungi before?

Author's Photos