looduskalender.ee

 

Once very long ago, when I had just got a reflex camera but still was rather dim about nature things I saw witches cauldrons in Taevaskoja. As said, at that time I was somewhat dumb about nature and never thought of photographing those very unique-looking things that are not only some of the most odd-looking fungi but also only to be found in 17 habitats in Estonia. 

 

I decided to look for the things once more and to capture them properly in a photo this time. 

 

Sarcosoma globosum is a saprophyte, meaning that it feeds on dead organisms. It belongs to the sac fungi or Ascomyceta. 

 

The witches cauldron is in the Estonian Red Book as well as being a Category 1 protected species. Thanks heaven it is not edible, otherwise localities would be substantially fewer, if any at all.