Picture-perfect western panther mushroom rising from the oak woodland floor. The genus Amanita comprises roughly 600 described species, ranging from some of the most poisonous mushrooms known worldwide to a few highly prized edible ones. Notably, Amanita species account for an estimated 95% of deaths caused by mushroom poisoning.
Cuscuta—commonly called dodder or amarbel—is a genus of more than 200 species of parasitic plants, typically yellow, orange, or red (and only rarely green). It occurs across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. The plant grows as long, thin, twining stems that coil around host plants, drawing nutrients by inserting tiny, straw-like structures into the host’s phloem. Dodder is able to locate suitable hosts by sensing airborne volatile organic compounds, which may explain why we saw it growing mostly on black sage during today’s hike.
Its many folk names include strangle tare, strangleweed, scaldweed, beggarweed, lady’s laces, fireweed, wizard’s net, devil’s guts, devil’s hair, devil’s ringlet, goldthread, hailweed, hairweed, hellbine, love vine, pull-down, angel hair, and witch’s hair—curiously linking it to angels and devils, ladies and beggars, fire and hail, love and hell.
I joined a slow read of this tome on Substack, one chapter a day for the entire year (chapters are only 3 or 4 pages each.) Four down, 357 to go.
One of the things I really miss about our old place is having a view of the sunrise and sunset. Here, we are tucked down in a hollow surrounded by big trees. But a few evenings ago I stood in the middle of the road and caught a narrow view of the sunlit clouds at dusk, with the moon peeking out behind.
There was a lot to notice on today’s muddy hike—fungi, spikemosses, roaring creeks, first flowers, gorgeous views. Lots to wonder about too, including why the pollen on the bee’s legs was a darker shade of yellow than the pollen it was collecting.
The hawk dropped down to the ground and poked a bit, then jumped back up on the fence, and then down on the other side of it. Eat a gopher, please!
This peony is endemic to southwestern California (USA) and northernmost Baja California (Mexico). It grows on dry hillsides in the coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities of the coastal mountains.
The plant dies back in the summer, and tolerates little or no water while dormant. It puts forth its compound leaves after a good winter rain, which this year happened in mid-November. So we’re seeing the flowers already, before the end of the year. Nice!
I made vegetarian moussaka (‘moose kaka’, IYKYK), roasted veggies, salad, roasted-garlic bread rolls. Laura brought linzer torte for dessert. The amount of food was just about right for the seven of us; a bit leftover but not too much. The afternoon and evening were pleasant and gentle—a great way to finish up the holiday season.
hashiworks 