Denizens of the Duff

A rare bright morning in fall on the Pacific coast finds a Douglas squirrel scavenging for sustenance among the twisted boughs of windswept pines. The thick layer of pine duff holds many tasty treasures, but a strange and unfamiliar mushroom has caught his eye. Moving closer, he examines the peculiar white fungus covered in drops of ruby red liquid, like fresh blood sparkling in the morning sun. He hesitates- perhaps it would be better to leave this particular mushroom alone.

Hydnellum peckii is a peculiar fungus, also called bleeding tooth or Devil’s tooth for its unsettling habit of weeping blood-red liquid (this is called guttation). Is is strongly bitter and inedible to humans, but it can be used to produce a magnificent blue dye on wool and silk.

Ink & watercolor in a custom built solid maple wood frame.
14×15.5″ unframed (17.5×19″ total dimensions)

$700 $700