Pic Today 3/23/11

FOREST'S FIRST FUNGUS

An early spring hike through the woods

reveals winter's toll on its trees and forest floor,

with little green and no leaves

to hide bare branch or bark.

Many shapes and forms of tree fungi

climb live trees and dead stumps,

and put on a show this time of year.

Winter's freeze and spring's warming thaw create cracks

which are open invitations for parasitic fungus

to grow in brackets, resembling oysters and sea sponges

which can become quite large,

some soft, some hard as wood.

Unlike their edible mushroom cousins,

these tree fungi are usually toxic

and not for the soup pot.