Fungi > Sparassidaceae & Polyporales
The Cauliflower Fungus (Sparassis crispa), known in culinary and foraging circles as the brain fungus or ruffled mushroom, is a bizarre, unmistakable basidiomycete macrofungus belonging to the family Sparassidaceae within the order Polyporales. Widely distributed...
Fungi > Grifolaceae & Polyporales
Maitake (Grifola frondosa), celebrated in Japanese as the ‘dancing mushroom’ (maitake) and universally known in Western foraging lore as the Hen of the Woods or sheep’s head, is an esteemed, multi-capped polypore macrofungus belonging to the family...
Plants > Euphorbiaceae & Malpighiales
The Candelabra Tree (Euphorbia ingens), known across southern Africa as the giant euphorbia, naboom, or common tree euphorbia, is a massive, arborescent succulent plant belonging to the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Indigenous to the dry savannas, rocky ridges, and...
Plants > Araucariaceae & Pinales
The Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii), known in Aboriginal languages as the Bunya-Bunya, is a colossal, ancient evergreen coniferous tree belonging to the archaic family Araucariaceae within the order Pinales. Endemic strictly to small, isolated montane rainforest...
Reptiles > Corytophanids & Squamata
The Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), internationally renowned across nature lore by the dramatic epithet ‘Jesus Christ lizard,’ is a vivid, emerald-green corytophanid lizard belonging to the family Corytophanidae within the order Squamata. Endemic...
