I actually made a post about this discoloration that appears on most of the trees in the place I really love to visit every single month. No matter whether it’s winter or summer. Each time this place is special, but at the same time it’s sad. I’m really concerned about the trees and it’s happening all over. I would say this organism appears on 80% of trees at some point. It’s actually called lichen. They say it’s harmless to tree itself. However, where lichen is found on tree, it means this particular tree is sick mainly from its roots. Few months ago I made a throughout search to find out a bit more about it and all I know is that lichens growing on trees are actualy a relationship between two organisms: fungus and algae. This fungus grows on the tree and can collect moisture, which the algae needs. The algae in return can create food from the energy of the sun, which feeds the fungus. The reason why it appears on the tree is because the tree itself doesn’t grow anymore. Have you ever noticed lichens growing on the rocks? That’s because rocks don’t grow, it’s perfect place for lichen to grow. Exactly the same comes to trees, they are slowly dying 😔.
Great article @donkeypong! However, since I’ve immigrated to US, I haven’t picked any wild mushrooms from the forest. Not even if it looked ok. I’m not sure why, but something has changed in my mind. While living in my country in Europe where I was born, we were picking up all kind of mushrooms every single year. We were not worried at all about getting poisoned. As I mentioned, in US it’s not something I would do. Instead, I just simply buy it from the store.