Sign of a hidden world

This elegant little fungus fruiting body is a reminder that every log, dead branch and even twig will be home to a number of species of macro and microfungi. Their microscopic hyphae will run right through the interior of any dead and rotting (and much live) wood and any other organic material. Unless we are research mycologists, it is only when the fruiting body - toadstool, club, cup, disc or bracket - suddenly sprouts to form and distribute spores that we become aware of them.

It is now becoming clear that the fungal inhabitants of dead and live plants have an absolutely crucial role to play in the biodiversity of any habitat - and woodland in particular. Recent work in rainforests in Belize has shown that, as well as the key role they play in the process of decay and recycling of nutrients, they also preserve diversity by differentially attacking plants that threaten to dominate the environment. I'm sure we will find that they will also do this in our local UK woods as long as we don't tidy everything up, shower the surroundings with agricultural chemicals and continue to pllute the air and water courses.

Thanks little fungus for reminding me!