The monks retreat has ended however there is still time and space for contemplation. With this in mind I’m returning to very dear Zen Master Ryokan’s poem’s which I hope you will enjoy as much as I do. The photographs accompanying the text will be of fungi. This is for no other reason than I rarely get a chance, or reason, to publish them! The type of fungi I have grow on trees.
About Fungus in Wikipedia.
…the fungi are now considered a separate kingdom, distinct from both plants and animals, from which they appear to have diverged approximately one billion years ago. Many studies have identified several distinct morphological, biochemical, and genetic features in the Fungi, clearly delineating this group from the other kingdoms. For these reasons, the fungi are placed in their own kingdom.
This is Lichen, see comment for it’s place in the fungus kingdom. (edited on 19th December, 2008.)
Lichens are symbiotic partnerships of a fungus and algae (or cyanobacteria), the latter harnessing sunlight to provide energy and food for the lichen to grow. Their presence is taken to be a sign of clean air. There is a British Lichen Society that has some excellent pictures on its website.
In gassho
W.
Isn’t that just an extraordinary bit of serendipity? Over Christmas I was in touch with an old friend from my school days that I haven’t seen for thirty years and we are considering meeting up in the summer.
He is currently President of the British Lichen Society.
Yes Iain that is serendipity at it’s most amazing. Ask your friend why it is that there are only three experts in the field of fungus still alive and functioning. Nothing to do with the speciality I presume, just not many people want to be rubbing noses with fungus…