Beauveria bassiana meets mūmū chafer

Found on the forest floor in the Kaimai Mamaku.

Root symbiosis is regulated through nutrient status of plants

Kareao / Ripogonum scandens / Supplejack, the delicous bush snack

Synonymous with NZ bush, this vine is the gift that keeps on giving (unless you're trying to get through a thick patch of its entanglement). The bright red berries are sure to catch your eyes if they're present in lower canopies and are entirely edible (excluding the hard spotted seed). In the wild the berry contains a large spotted seed and a thin layer of delicious flesh that tastes refreshingly like something between an apple and watermelon.

Rakiura National Park

It probably shouldn’t surprise me that the anchor island of our nation has solidified so many of the ephemeral thoughts and feelings I’ve been having recently.

The Hitchhiker’s guide to the soil

Grifola colensoi

Grifola is a genus of fungi in the family Meripilaceae, which includes some edible fungi such as Grifola frondosa, commonly known as hen-of-the-woods (or Maitake in Japan); not to be confused with Laetiporus sulphureus, known among English speakers as chicken of the woods. The genus was circumscribed by Samuel Frederick Gray in 1821.

Unknown species

Not 100% on this identification. This specimen was found on rotting log in the Mount Aspiring National Park.

Calyptella totara

These fungi grow on bark of trees or on the stems of herbaceous plants (generally when they are already dead). The fruiting bodies are shaped like bells which hang down from a point of attachment, sometimes with short stems. The smooth fertile surface is on the interior of the bell shape.

Bugs are evolving to eat plastic

Cruentomycena viscidocruenta (Ruby Bonnet)

Cruentomycena viscidocruenta, commonly known as the ruby bonnet, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Mycenaceae. It is found in moist forested areas of Australia and New Zealand, often in small groups on rotting wood.

Rossbeevera pachydermis (Potato fungus)

Chamonixia pachydermis, is a species of fungus in the family Boletaceae, found in New Zealand. Chamonixia pachydermis is common in areas of New Zealand beech forest and is often partially buried on the ground. It has a blue discoloration and is often found in Autumn.

Stewart Island tokoeka / Southern brown kiwi

Stewart Island tokoeka A. a. lawryi / Southern brown kiwi. Found close to mid day on Ulva Island, a short ferry ride from Golden Bay, Stewart Island.

Dendrobium cunninghamii (Winika)

Dendrobium cunninghamii, commonly known as winika, pekapeka, Christmas orchid, bamboo orchid or ladies slipper orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchids that is endemic to New Zealand. It is commonly found growing in rainforest in the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands and normally flowers in summer and early autumn.

Cyttaria gunnii (Beech orange)

Cyttaria gunnii, commonly known as the myrtle orange or beech orange, is an orange-white coloured and edible ascomycete fungus native to Australia and New Zealand. It is a specific parasite of silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii) trees here in New Zealand.

Lycoperdon perlatum (Common puffball)

Lycoperdon perlatum, popularly known as the common puffball, warted puffball, gem-studded puffball, wolf farts or the devil's snuff-box, is a species of puffball fungus in the family Agaricaceae.

Coprinopsis lagopus (Hare's Foot Inkcap)

Coprinopsis lagopus is a species of fungus in the family Psathyrellaceae. It is a delicate and short-lived fungus, the fruit bodies lasting only a few hours before dissolving into a black ink – a process called deliquescence or auto digestion.

Guyton's garden, Riverton

Today was one of those special days when you get to meet your heroes.

Robert and Robyn Guyton have been tending to this piece of land for almost 30 years in Riverton. It is brimming with all kinds of life and wonderful stories of how that life came to be.

Earthlore, insect conservation

On a typically moist December day in the Catlins (Owaka to be precise) I stopped by Earthlore, a wonderful little retreat dedicated to insect conservation with a well established permaculture based garden.