Splitgill mushrooms are a fungi that can be found in Mount Royal. According to a paper in the scientific journal Mycosphere, this type of mushroom is high in antioxidants. Similarly to many mushrooms, splitgill mushrooms can be beneficial for food or in pharmaceuticals.
The fungi I chose to research was the Candelaria concolor, whose common name is the Candleflame lichen. The candleflame lichen is usually found growing on the bark of deciduous trees in open areas however it can grow on many different materials including rocks. They grow well on trees because the tree sheds rain water down its bark and in these streams is usually where the lichen grows. This lichen can live all year round going from pale and brittle during dry seasons to brightly coloured and soft when there is more moisture. it has been discovered that the growth of this lichen is negatively affected by air pollution and therefore the presence of the candle flame lichen can be used as a bioindicator of air pollution.
Bracket fungi, sometimes called shelf fungi, can be very large. Bracket fungus can measure more than 40 centimetres in diameter. This type of fungus is often discovered growing on wood such as trees, branches or logs and in damp conditions. However, when this fungus grows on cut wood, it can be very destructive and harmful.
