Stunning photos reveal the intricate beauty of fungi

The otherworldly weirdness and beauty of fungi and slime moulds are captured in these photographs, taken by Jay Lichter for his new book The Secret Life of Fungi, a guide to the “micro marvels” of New Zealand.

The ruby bonnet fungus (Cruentomycena viscidocruenta), pictured above, gets its scientific name from the Latin words for “bloody” and “slimy” because of the sticky substance coating its stalk, which can form large droplets. “The reflections you get in these globules from a diffused flash make for an awesome shot every time, so I never get sick of shooting them,” writes Lichter.

Below is the Cribraria slime mould, which is a protist, like certain algae and amoebas.

Below is the carnival candy slime mould (Arcyria denudata), named for the pink tufts it forms during its fruiting phase. It is only 4 to 6 millimetres tall.

Lichter discovered the relatively uncommon fungus Mycena lividorubra (below) under a log in New Zealand’s Waitākere Ranges.

And finally, below is another Mycena mushroom – though this one has been targeted by mould, “almost like a bridal veil”, Lichter writes. “But that’s not all! The mould in this photo is producing droplets of guttation (excess moisture) along its threads, making for an absolutely wild shot,” he adds.

Lichter hopes to inspire readers to discover the secret life of fungi themselves. Moss and rotten wood in the forest are your best bet, but Lichter has also found stunning specimens in car parks and vacant lots. “Even the most unassuming locations are exploding with fungal life,” he writes.

Jay Lichter
Allen & Unwin Aotearoa NZ