This week in the woods, we’re sharing images that we took November 15, 2022, of a parasitic drumstick truffleclub fungus growing out of its host, a truffle (also often called a false truffle, to distinguish it from the species you might find on the menu of a fancy restaurant.)
The photo on the left shows where we found these fungi: in one of several recently excavated holes, surrounded by deer hoof prints. The yellow stem and spore-bearing brown cap of the drumstick truffleclub are visible, sticking out from the side of the hole. The photo on the right shows what the deer were digging for: the black circular form at the base of the truffleclub’s yellow stem.
Truffles are the underground fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal fungi. Although they’re little seen, in a healthy forest, truffles are very common and a popular food for a variety of wildlife. Deer sniff them out and dig them up with their hooves, and chipmunks will stockpile them in their winter larders. For a deeper dive into this topic – and a look at a fun photo of a squirrel’s truffle stash in an old robin’s nest – check out this great article by John Litvaitis, from the Autumn 2018 issue of Northern Woodlands magazine.
What have you noticed in the woods this week? Submit a recent photo for possible inclusion in our monthly online Reader Photo Gallery.