The jungle of Costa Rica is fantastically rich with of all forms of life. Fungus plays a massive part in the health and proper function of this ecosystem, consuming dead wood and transforming it into the finest compost ready for more plants to grow and repeat the cycle. Fungi also makes important minerals obtainable to other plants that would not otherwise be available.
Many people wrongly think mushrooms are responsible for damaging trees but actually apart from the Armillaria, or Honey fungus, most mushrooms exclusively feed on only dead plant tissue so pose no direct hazard to plant life. Trees and mushroom are intricately bound together in their survival, as are we to them! We must endeavour to protect these riches and learn to live with them in much greater harmony.
The marvellous specimen below emerged in just a few hours and may be gone with the next heavy rain. Mushrooms are fast workers, in that time they will have converted much cellulose to rich earth and spawned many young mushrooms to continue their great work. The cycle of life continues apace in Costa Rica.