#parasitic mushroom

[fungusqueen]

Honey mushrooms (Armillaria mellea) growing on a tree

[koiinoborii]

A parasitic mushroom that runs a lucrative potion business !!

[retrogamingblog2]

[one-in-boots]

Me and the bad bitch I pulled by failing to properly defend myself against parasitic organisms.

[lindagoesmushrooming]

Spinellus fusiger growing on mycena mushrooms.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

THIS IS SO COOL! So animals can get fungal infections, as can plants and even other fungi. We've seen fungi like Cordyceps produce fruiting bodies on insect hosts postmortem. But this is the first known observation of a fruiting body on a live host! And the frog apparently seemed to be in good health otherwise.

It's likely a situation with an opportunistic spore of Mycena landing in a wound or other small vulnerability on the frog's skin, and since amphibians have to stay wet, the fungus had plenty of water. I'm not sure what it's been consuming since Mycena normally is a decomposer of dead plant tissue; maybe dead skin cells and bacteria?

Before people start leaping to conclusions, this is NOT the start of some sort of zombie apocalypse. Mycena and Cordyceps engage with their hosts in very different ways, and neither are anywhere near related to any fungi that parasitize human hosts and which do not cause any sort of altered mental state of that sort. I find it kind of sad when people have to sci-fi a new scientific discovery in order to find it interesting enough to think about, instead of just appreciating how awesome, weird, and scary nature is all on its own.

Regardless, this is a really spectacular find, and we'll see if any other crop up or whether this was one of those once-in-a-lifetime discoveries.

[razpberrypie]

[cordyceps-fungus]

the fungus? the fungus

[nullphysics]

[lycomorpha]

Here's a test-sheet vs final that you may not have seen, and one of the initial sketchbook pages that goes with. This was my fav commission of last year

Test sheets always feel a bit like the portrait of Dorian Gray... They contain all the mistakes, angst, cussing, internal screaming, etc. But they also store all the learning. I return to them many times to remember how I did things.

Test sheets are also the part of a commission that I get to keep. Sometimes I put them on my wall next to a print of the finished work. They remind me that even drawings that start out looking like they were made by a hangry toddler on a rollercoaster... Usually turn out good at the end 😂

[ratcandy]

(spoilers for the new update btw; this is tagged as spoilers too but just to be safe) By the way, headcanon-wise, I don't think the parasite is out of Sozo's system that easily.

like. I understand to some extent imprisoning him is forcefully sobering him up by denying him further intoxication, which would be one thing, but this is not Just Drugs . this is Drug Parasite. That is a thang inside him that is alive

At least this is assuming that he is indeed based off of an ant with cordyceps. Which I figure is most likely But even if OTHERWISE, I emphasize:

we revived him. by planting the mushroom

Mans was resurrected . Not through our usual means. But through the mushroom. There is no way, if it is the literal Thing that brings him back to life, that he is separated from the parasite by just popping off the outward manifestation of it on his head .

Surely planting the parasite would only bring IT back. But it brings him with it when it is revived, because not only is he its host, he's the best damn host its had. Considering just how he goes to fucking town on those mushrooms (or the mushroomos)

I mean we could argue that re-education while in prison is a literal cleansing process somehow, but For Me. Personally. As someone who feeds too much on angst. I keep imagining a scene wherein Dr. Sozonius is just sprouting a new mushroom again (if not various across his exoskeleton) and just .freaking out. Because while he doesn't remember any of what he was like or what he did during that time, he knows that it fucked him UP because why WOULD IT NOT fuck him up .

he lost his family. his home. he has no idea where he is. he woke up in some strange place feeling like he was gonna vomit. because he was so full of mushrooms why wouldn't he.

but there's something still there. there's something depending on him to the point that HE depends on IT

and just gradually... as the mushroom(s) sprouts again... he starts slipping into his old mannerisms......... he starts craving..... and he knows he Should Not. he knows he's so old now it would just kill him (not knowing it already killed him once). surely he wouldn't handle it again.

but it's so . tempting. the mushrooms. he needs them. he can hear it. them. whispering. to him.

something internally. pulling

towards

the

[fungusqueen]

Honey mushrooms (Armillaria sp.) growing out of the roots of a dead, fallen tree

[evolutionsvoid]

I broached the subject before on the unflattering things associated with dragons. Mainly because they are often buried underneath horror stories and grand legends that make people forget they are living beings like us. Don't be mistaken in thinking this is me trying to cast shade on these representations, that I want to "knock them down a peg" as humans may say. No, what I aim to do here is just remind folk that dragons are mortal (until you get into the crazy magic stuff that isn't my specialty) and help crack away at the notion that they are some godly alien beasts that we can never relate to. Because they do have the same wants and needs as us, and they suffer like we do too. The Dragon Leech was an example of a parasite that feeds exclusively on them, showing that they too befall icky things. So here we are with another example, but this time it is internal!

The subject of this entry is the Dragonspawn Fungus, a fungi I am sure not a lot of folk have ever witnessed. I don't blame them, because the place they are found isn't typically visited by humans or dryads. Where they grow isn't any specific ecosystem, like a forest or jungle. Instead, Dragonspawn Fungus emerges where dragon flame has scorched the earth. From the ashen remains of a dragon's breath weapon, a pale pod will eventually rise. Its body will swell and bulge until it rips open into a cluster of crimson stalks. Their strange cap shape with its split head gives the impression of a reptilian maw, creating a sort of "hydra" look. On top of that, the burst pod sort of looks like "wings," thus people creating the name "Dragonspawn" for this fungus.

Now, supposedly, legends claim that people originally believed that these strange growths were indeed the young of dragons, who are birthed from the earth their parents destroyed. From devastation and flame, the dragons are born! However, I think these tales were more for folklore and imaginative stories, and not so much that people believed this was entirely true as how dragons are born. I feel those cultures way back when weaved these legends more so in wonder and flights of fancy, rather than not knowing how dragons actually reproduce. I mean, folks knew about dragon eggs! But of course, I already can hear others say "people back then didn't know what we know now! So thus they had to craft stories to explain things they couldn't understand!" Which, yes, that does happen and can be found in any culture in the world. But at the same time, there is a fine line between what these ancient folk believed in their folklore was actually true and what was more story telling and their own imagination. There are some cases where that argument works, and other cases where saying that is you essentially calling these ancient people idiots.

But back to the actual fungus! Now you will see that they grow where the earth has been scorched, rising from the ashes. A pretty good place, since all your competition has been reduced to dust! But how do they do it? Originally, it was believed that Dragonspawn Fungus lay dormant in the soil, waiting for intense heat to "awaken" them. The theory was that they were designed to grow from forest fires, but dragons wound up being coincidental catalysts. However, this fungus has been found in places where fires don't normally occur. Plus, banking your entire future on the hope that a random fire will burn your patch of earth seems a bit odd. It was until further research and communication with the dragons themselves that we learned the incredible truth! Dragonspawn Fungus isn't waiting for dragon fire, it is the dragon fire!

This species isn't a random pyrophyte fungus that just happens to thrive from the presence of dragons, it is actually a parasite! It actually infects the dragons themselves! Their spores are inhaled and will develop inside the reptilian host, but they are looking for a specific spot! They will travel through the airways until they reach the organ that produces the fire breath of certain dragons. There they will grow into a different type of fruiting body, one to develop another set of spores. While the original spores were meant to be airborne, floating upon the wind til finding a host, these ones are meant for intense heat and one fiery journey! They can survive dragon flame, and are shaped in a way that they cut through the air like arrows. This is because they are meant to ride the dragon's breath and plant themselves the same time the flames are cleansing the earth for them! Incredible!

So inside the flame sac is where the spores are developed, and once they are ready, they need flame! Now you figure they would just wait fro the dragon to use its flame breath, but why leave it up to chance? Instead, this version of the fungus will grow to infest the flame sac and cause irritation. Veins of fungus induce swelling and pressure, digging in so the organ becomes uncomfortable. When this happens, the dragon themself will be quite irate, not enjoying this annoying feeling. The one way to relieve themselves of this irritation is to spew fire and empty their flame sac, which will eject large portions of the responsible fungus. And so the released spores will ride the fire and embed themselves into the burning soil, where they will grow into the recognizable form of Dragonspawn. With the land now cleansed, they can grow will little issue, feeding on the ash. And when they do, their hydra-like stalks will spew the airborne spores that will go on to infest more dragons. As for the individual host, the remaining tendrils of fungus in their organ will slowly begin to regrow, building up to start the process over again.

While this species is indeed parasitic, it is by no means dangerous to a dragon's health. It certainly doesn't want to kill its host, as it needs them to spread. Instead, it acts more like an irritating infection. Dragonkind certainly doesn't like the feeling of their flame sac swelling and itching! It typically drives their host to burn things to soothe this ache, which some believe it may be the reason why some dragons go on "rampages." The irritation and discomfort makes them angry, and if something else triggers their aggression, they may find it the perfect target for their pain relieving fire purge. Thankfully, dragonkind is aware of this infection and the culprit for their pain. They have found certain plants can be ingested to kill the fungus within, though it takes weeks of frequent consumption to fully eradicate it. If the availability of these plants is low, then the regional dragons may be far more irritable than usual. Thus, some dryad settlements near heavy dragon routes and territories will grow gardens of these plants to provide as medicine. On one hand, it is a sign of kindness and giving, while also serving as an incentive for dragons to not burn down their village.

One final note I want to throw in is that some folk get the strange idea that this fungus can parasitize other beings. Humans mainly have made this thought, seeing the infectious nature and the arrow shape of the fire spore. If it can infest one animal, surely it can infect all? Well no. Parasites and diseases are not always capable of hopping between different species, especially ones so finely tuned to a specific biology. A human huffing those airborne spores would not be in danger, as their body temperature and general makeup would not allow it to grow. But then they point to the fire spores, and how they are like tiny arrows that embed and feed on their surroundings. Surely they could pierce flesh and find the nutritious meat to be a good growing medium? I mean, maybe? But here is the thing: how does the fire spore spread again? Now stick your meaty body in the middle of that "dispersal method," and then tell me what is left to infect. Remember, the spores are not the part you have to worry about!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

[ptr-sqloint]

[skelleste]

I was like 'Teehee what if a doll got old and musty and one of them zombie funguses moved in' and so I drew a doll that got old and musty and one of them zombie funguses moved in.

[grimscrossing]

Candida's dense forest