25 May 2010

what's a swallet?

What is a swallet indeed? Quite a question to ponder as you wander through a late autumn day in the forests of Tasmania. The giants above? Nope - those are the 500 year old Eucalypts - the worlds biggest flowering plants. The deep dark green around us? Nah - that's the ancient rain forest whose roots stretch back to Gondwanaland - remnants of an ecosystem more than 30 million years old. How 'bout the delicate silence of decomposition?...its not that either. But on a wet wet day like this one the fungi flare elegant and bright like soft corals in a tropical sea. So what is a swallet anyway?












here it is...
the "growling swallet" - its a cave that swallows a river of course





**photos taken with Pentax K10

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your photos are amazing! I am fond of fungi too and am always on the lookout for new and interesting ones whenever I hike. Thank you for the info on a "swallet" - I would not have guessed that. I was thinking more along the lines of a bird. Hope to see your folks this weekend at the beach - glad your mom is doing so well! Keep up your good work - Mary

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing Clay! fungi are often overlooked but they really are intriguing. Amazing pics.....Tasmania is definitely on the "list", might have to come knock on your door one of these days.....hugs to you and Talia, e

David Tng said...

Awesome pics clay. Ahh I miss the growling swallet. It's just such a magnificent place. A bryophyte haven!