Aug. 27, 2009 - The Puffball
We had a cool and unusual find yesterday....
(the pics were taken with my phone - not my first choice - but as for now it is my only choice - better than nothing, right?)
It is a mushroom! I couldn't believe my eyes. This is the grandest mushroom I've ever seen. My husband went out to start up the grill before dinner and as he opened up the grill lid - lo and behold - there were two of these babies in there. Apparently, the kids who found and picked them thought that that was the best place to store them.
Perfect opportunity for a little 'shroom learning. In the Handbook of Nature Study we learned that these type of fungi are called Puffballs due to the 'puff of smoke' that you see when you press a part of this mushroom between your fingers. I think that was the favorite discovery by my children! This cloud contained the spores.
Mushrooms lack chlorophyl and are, therefore, unable to make their own food. Mushrooms that feed on living cells from living plants are parasites. Saprophytes are mushrooms that get their food from dead plants. Our puffball is a saprophyte.
The most interesting fact, to me, was that the pioneers use to use the 'smoke' from puffballs to stop bleeding - especially nose bleeds.
Comments
Aug. 28, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Joycemarie
Very interesting! That thing was huge! First week of school always feels like that to me too. Settling everyone in and starting...actually to be honest I am always so tired after school during the first week.
I have made some progress for my school year. Brittany and I talked about it the other day...I let her have her choice for literature and she chose the entire book collection of Jane Austin. I think she'll have a lot of fun with that.
If you want to know more about the Kindle...go to Amazon and choose the Kindle store...tons of info on there and you can also search all the book lists they have available...my favs currently are all of the classics that I am finding for free. My thriftiness coming out of me, I guess.
Have a wonderful Friday!
Sep. 1, 2009 - Wow, what a mushroom!
Posted by 4in4years
How very cool. I enjoyed catching up on your blog, and wanting to thank you for reminding me to get out the nature handbook for the mushrooms I found in our yard---about 1/8 of the size ;-)
Sep. 8, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Theresa
Wow. Just wow!! Those things are huge.
Theresa
www.seekingtheoldpaths.typepad.com
Sep. 24, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by kimalita
That IS a huge mushroom! WOW! How cool. Isn't it so much fun when you learn naturally?! We found a few in our yard, but nothing like that.
