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Month: January 2017

Jelly Fungus (Exidia glandulosa?)

Jelly Fungus (Exidia glandulosa?)

Jelly fungi belong to several orders within the subphylum Agaricomycotina, and are identifiable by the jelly-like consistency of their fruiting bodies, although they range widely in color and shape.   This particular specimen found at a conservation area in Mashpee was rubbery and gelatinous (Think: the consistency of a gummy bear). Although many jelly fungi will shrivel and dry up if there is an extended period with no rain, when exposed to water they will return to their original form;…

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Faraway Places: Trees at Barataria Preserve, LA

Faraway Places: Trees at Barataria Preserve, LA

A few days ago I posted about the reptiles and amphibians I saw while at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. This post will focus on some of the dominant tree species. The three most notable trees were bald cypress, dwarf palmettos and live oaks. Bald cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) are one of only a handful of deciduous conifer trees (other North American examples include the Dawn Redwood and various species of Larch).  Like other conifers, they have needle-like…

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Faraway Places: Herpetofauna at Barataria Preserve, LA

Faraway Places: Herpetofauna at Barataria Preserve, LA

Barataria Preserve south of New Orleans, part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, is one of the park’s 6 locations and contains more than 23,000 acres of swamp, marsh and waterways. I had expected to see a myriad of birds while there, but the true diversity in my wildlife sightings turned out to be in the herpetofauna. A few days prior to my visit, Louisiana had experienced unseasonably cold weather with temperatures in the 30s.  The bright…

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Animal Tracks in Winter

Animal Tracks in Winter

Winter provides unique opportunities for gaining insight about the animals that live around us. With the exception of charismatic gray squirrels, most mammals are relatively elusive. Our headlights might reveal a glimpse of a fox darting across the street, or we may see a skunk or a raccoon in our backyard when we flick on an outside light at night.  But to most, the comings and goings of the mammals in our neighborhoods are a mystery. Between Friday and Saturday…

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Winterberry and other winter berries

Winterberry and other winter berries

Although most people are probably more familiar with berries that ripen in mid-summer, such as blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, many plants not only produce berries in the late fall, but they persist through winter.  Like the high bush cranberries described in a recent post, these winter berry-producing plants provide a welcome splash of color to the landscape. Common Winterberry One of these, aptly named common winterberry (Ilex verticillata) produces round red berries about a quarter inch in diameter, each with a…

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