The “Forest Floor” Collection
Oh how I love the richly diverse boreal forests of Alaska. I find it’s so easy to get lost in the grandness of them, but my favorite parts are the tiny details. When you allow yourself to turn your eyes to the floor of the forest, you find the minuscule worlds the keep the forest alive. In this series I’ve aimed to draw attention to these little ecosystems. As you peruse this collection I hope you enjoy the rich textures and three-dimensional details that were so joyous to create.
A Ride in Santa’s Sleigh
Amanita muscaria (Fly agaric) is perhaps one of the most iconic little mushrooms in history. It shows up in pop culture from video games (hello Mario!) and tv shows (did anyone else watch the Smurfs?), to renaissance masterpieces.
In researching for this post, I fell into a bit of a dive on this fascinating little life form. I couldn’t summarize all the cool stuff here but I’ll leave a few of my favorite takeaways:
Although technically classified as poisonous, it has resulted in extremely few human deaths. It can be eaten when prepared properly (but listen. Don’t do this. There are perfectly safe and yummy mushrooms out there)
It has hallucinogenic properties and has been used as an intoxicant in some cultures where it is found naturally. Consequently it has found its way into some religious ceremonies as well.
Collection of fly agaric by shamans in pre-Christian winter solstice rituals has been linked to folk tales of Santa Clause - specifically the wearing of red fur trimmed clothing, riding a sleigh, and entering homes through the chimney! (see https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/flyagaric.shtml for more)
It has a symbiotic association with various species of trees, and has even developed more with trees where it is introduced (to the detriment of indigenous species).
Finally, my favorite weird note: a Dead Sea Scrolls scholar by the name of John Marco Allegro postulated that early Christian theology was derived from a fertility cult around the consumption of Amanita muscaria (in use for its hallucinogenic properties in this case). Obviously this is a deeply criticized and not widely accepted hypothesis.
Anyway, a fascinating little dude and I really enjoyed working on it!
Second Breakfast
Russula emetica, or “the Sickener” (which is a really great WWE name in my expert 90’s child opinion) is so named for its effects on the gastrointestinal system upon raw consumption by humans. You will vomit. Undergo “emesis” - hence the name. You can eat it cooked and many do, but maybe just don’t.
They’re common mycorrhizal associates with members of the oak and pine family - they associate with the roots of the tree delivering water and minerals to the tree and are in turn rewarded with sugars from photosynthesis!
R. emetica is a super tasty treat for slugs! As long as it’s damp enough in the surrounding environment, you’ll often see them out and about snacking on these lovely nutrient towers.
The Pacific banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) is one of the largest slug species growing to lengths of 25+ centimeters! They are extremely valuable members of the forest ecosystem acting not only as decomposers, but also distributors of spores and seeds.
Like many slugs and snails, they are hermaphroditic (having both male and female reproductive organs) and while they are capable of self-fertilization, they will most commonly seek out a mate for reproduction. This species is perhaps most famous for its habit of chewing off the penis post copulation.
Armored Friends
Armadillidium vulgare (Aka: roly poly, pill bug, wood louse, butchy boys, slaters, sow bugs... did I miss any?) are actually crustaceans rather than insects so they’re more closely related to crabs than beetles! There are actually many different species (at least 12 in the US alone!) but this is the most common in many places.
They play an important ecological role as decomposers feeding on primarily dead and decaying plant matter. They’re also able to remove toxic heavy metals from the soil (though it will be returned to the soil when they die)
I absolutely love these little terrestrial isopods, however their marine counterparts are disconcerting to say the least...
A Tasty Tuffet
Boletus edulis also known as the penny bun or porcini mushroom. It’s one of the most highly prized edible wild mushrooms. Unfortunately for us it is highly resistant to cultivation. They, like many other mushrooms, are mycorrhizal - they form a mutualistic relationship with the roots of trees. If you’re in search of these tasty treats, they tend to be more prominent in very wet years and like to pop up after a good rain!
The wood frog (Rana sylvatica) is a massively widespread species ranging from the boreal forests of North America all the way down to North Carolina.
It has a particularly impressive ability to tolerate freezing which makes it perfectly adapted to live here in Alaska! As freezing temperatures approach, it hides in the leaf litter and enters a state of dormancy and will freeze solid for the duration of winter. While it feels like this is how I spend my winters, I’m not nearly as impressive as these little frogs.
