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The Corroboree

Marcel

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Posts posted by Marcel

  8. Posted

    Every year at about this time, as the days get shorter, the rains build up and the temperatures drop, I realise that I often take for granted that which I have all around me. Here in the pretty glitz of Sydney, I look around and see the same look of easy happiness in the eyes of all the lucky folk I pass on the street and in the parks. And it's not just Sydney, but in Melbourne and Adelaide and Hobart. We're a fortunate bunch and I think it's important that we remember that.

    And more importantly, I think it's important to remember those less fortunate...

    I see the familiar signs already: The forum gallery full of pictures of disgusting and mostly inactive orange fungi... The broken-hearted comments left in the threads on successful sub finds... The desperate and devil-may-care plans to do midnight runs to Balingup...

    So, ladies and gents, this month, when you haul in your gazillionth kilo of subs for the season, spare a thought for those poor motherfuckers in Western Australia. Our forgotten brothers and sisters who for some perverted quirk of nature, have fuck all in terms of interesting fungi.

    Be strong, dear neglected ones!

    • Like 9

  9. Posted

    A colleague advises me that " beedies " [ Indian cigarettes made from a rolled - up leaf and tied with cotton ] are made from datura . Personally , I am sceptical of this claim . Can anyone confirm ? Tom

     

    They're seldom made from Datura, but they often have Datura in them. So your friend is partly true.

    My folks used to buy East German datura cigarettes in Poland. They were commercially manufactured cigarettes used to treat asthma and other lung ailments. I remember Planthelper mentioned that kids would make a tea from the cigarettes and go to "different places" (my quotes).

    But yeah, wow. The internet's a-buzz with talk of Brugs and Datura as "new danger drugs" at the moment. What gives?

    • Like 2

  11. Posted

    Useless nothing! All fungi have a role in our ecosystems and this little Cortinarius sp. is no exception. Sure, you can't eat it and you won't trip off it, but you can appreciate the fact that it helps decompose vegetative matter and keep our soils vibrant and rich! They're also very beautiful mushrooms, and to look and admire and feel the beauty of the world is nothing to shrug one's shoulders about. Have a look at others of this genus here. Amazing!

    • Like 2

  16. Posted

    I'm Polish and during his presidency I was never a huge fan of Kwasniewski (but then, I've never been a huge fan of any politician, with the exception of that dreamboat Evo Morales :wub: ), but I must say that that is a nice bit of writing, not so much for it's call to end zero-tolerance policy, but for the fact that a politician is admitting to a mistake, and moving toward fixing that mistake.

    It's amazing how so many ex-politicians become likeable when they no longer have a party line to tow, or a fickle, media-drunk public to pander to. They often seem to start to think for themselves and have no fear of speaking out on an issue if they feel passionately about it. Here's another example of how representative, parliamentary politics - the sort that has taken over most of the world over the last 100 years - is a shitty system and will never do much more than put roses into the shit of human organisation.

    • Like 6

  17. Posted

    That is just the ultimate backyard garden.

     

    That compliment, coming from this man, is like Mother Teresa telling you that you're a generous person. Consider yourself blessed!

    • Like 3

  24. Posted

    Col: I know those fungi. See them in massive numbers in pine forests late in the season. Look at the last photo in this post. Look carefully at the "sub" in the middle of the handful. It's an imposter, and it's the one you've found. You can instantly tell by the stipe, which is less sinewy than a sub, and more crumbly and moist. It's also much brighter white and doesn't stain blue at all. I'm not sure what it is, but I think it's a Marasmius spp. or possibly (but not likely) Hebeloma crustuliniforme. Either way, you probably did the right thing feeding them to Senor Caapi.

  25. Posted

    Yep. Leratiomyces ceres/Stropharia aurantiaca for sure. They often grow along with subs and the fact that they weren't there last year, doesn't mean that they can't pop up this year.

    Man, I wish it'd rain a bit. So dry these last couple of weeks. The sub mycelium of NSW is crying out for moisture!

    • Like 1
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