amor fungi - fungi love

Here is an illustration I made with Faber-castell Polychromos coloured pencils of my perspective of some incredible living beings.

Fungi and lichens are truly remarkable. From their bright colours to their intricate shapes and textures, these organisms are beautiful. There is still so much to discover about them, they’re truly intriguing, but the more I study, the more I like them.

While they are not directly related, they share many similarities in terms of their colourful pigments and the functions they serve.

Fungi are a type of organism that belong to their own unique kingdom, while lichens are a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, typically an algae or cyanobacterium.

The colourful pigments found in fungi and lichens are often used for protection or attraction. Some fungi, for example, use bright colours to warn predators that they are toxic or unpalatable. Other fungi use colour to attract insects, which then help to spread their spores and disperse their offspring.

Lichens, on the other hand, use pigments to protect themselves from damage caused by exposure to sunlight. The photosynthetic partner within the lichen produces pigments that absorb harmful UV radiation and protect the fungus from damage. In some cases, lichens can even change colour based on the level of sunlight they receive, becoming more vibrant in bright sunlight and darker in shade.

Some of the most vibrant and colourful fungi and lichens are found in tropical rainforests, where the warm, humid conditions provide an ideal environment for their growth. But if you observe a bit around you, I’m sure you’ll find many of them in different colours and shapes. From bright oranges (like Fly agaric - Amanita muscaria) and yellows to deep blues (Blue chanterelle - Polyozellus multiplex) and purples.

In addition to their colourful appearance, fungi are known for their diverse shapes and textures. Some fungi form delicate, lace-like structures known as coral fungi, which can resemble underwater coral reefs. Others, like the puffball mushroom, have a round, balloon-like shape and release a cloud of spores when disturbed. Still others, like the stinkhorn mushroom, have a phallic shape and emit a foul odour to attract flies for pollination.

Another fascinating characteristic of fungi is their ability to form intricate networks of mycelium, which are thread-like structures that grow through soil, decaying matter, and other substrates. These mycelial networks can be enormous, with some covering hundreds or even thousands of acres of land. In some cases, these networks can even communicate with each other and exchange nutrients and other signals.