Fungi are amazing organisms, they do not belong to either plants or animals but belong to a third group. They play a very important role in nature, they are primarily responsible for the decomposition of organic matter. Fungal hyphae weave through organic materials, they release enzymes that break down complex organic molecules (such as cellulose). What we see most often from the fungus is its fruiting body, which is extremely diverse in colors and shape. It can grow large in as little as a few hours, but can be liquefied or dried just as quickly.
I don’t know what species these fungi belong to, but even if some were edible, it’s not advisable to collect them in inhabited areas. Why? Because fungi easily absorb and incorporate very toxic metals, such as lead, mercury or cadmium.
Based on a new discovery, some fungal species are cleaning soils contaminated with heavy metals with high efficiency. Then the metal enriched in the fruiting body of the mushroom can be extracted from it.
I took the following photos all in cities, like Székesfehérvár or Budapest. They are beautiful and bizarre!
