Hello there. I recently posted up a photograph of a fungus to my blog: http://www.tetherdcow.com/?p=7613 ... and it was quickly identified by one of my readers as Hydnellum peckii. I could find out lots about it by searching the web, but nowhere could I find what the red fluid that oozes from it is, or what purpose it serves. Can anyone here throw more light on it? Thanks in advance.
Beautiful photos! Huge fruiting! And excellent question! So far I've just run into speculation, nothing more solid: Perhaps to attract insects as a vector or discourage predating insects, re: the texture and/or taste and/or colour? I'd also like to know what triggers this, does the fluid come at maturity or is there another condition at work. Love to know more! frog
I haven't heard anything about it either. The next time i find one (August!) i'll see what the liquid tastes like. I wonder if it is sour or bitter. I'll also take the pH of it, and see if that turns up anything.
I've been observing it over the last week or so and the fluid doesn't seem to be attractive to insects. It seems to be water soluble as it washes off in the rain. I believe that the fluid starts when the fungus body is still young (from what I've read elsewhere) and this is in accord with the one we have - it was hacked back before Autumn and has resprouted with some wet weather a few weeks ago.
