Figure 3.17. Tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). Photograph by Nathaniel T. Wheelwright.lack them in the canopy. An amazing world of highly
specialized relationships between parasitic fungi
(Trichomycetes) and insects unfamiliar even to most
biologists was studied in Monteverde (see Lichtwardt,
"Gut Fungi," pp. 83).
Although there is no mushroom-hunting tradition
in Costa Rica, several edible species grow at Monte-
verde, including the Indigo Milky (Lactarius indigo),
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), honey
mushrooms (Armillariella), meadow mushrooms
(Agaricus), morels (Morchella), and oyster mushrooms
(Pleurotus) (W. Zuchowski, pers. comm.). The Magic
Mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis), a toxic hallucino-
genic species occasionally eaten for its psychoactive
effects, commonly grows in horse dung along with
species of Panaeolus. Some of the other common
macrofungi include species ofAuricularia, Geastrum,
Hygrocybe, Marasmius, Mycena, and Russula. Several
species of stinkhorns (Aseroe, Clathrus, and Mutinus)
occur in the Monteverde community and lower cloud
forest. The orange Slimy-Stalked Puffball (Calostoma
cinnabrina) and tiny, scarlet waxy caps (Hygrocybe
spp.) are often seen in the cloud forest.
The general impression among mushroom aficio-
nados is that terrestrial Basidiomycetes are diverse in
Monteverde but inconspicuous because they are tem-
porally sporadic, tiny (e.g., Marasmius and Mycena),
or occur as scattered, solitary individuals compared
with the large aggregations in temperate forests of
certain genera (e.g., Boletus, Suillus, and Tricholoma)
that have mycorrhizal associations with abundant
tree species. However, mushrooms that grow on dead
wood are sometimes found in large groups in the
cloud forest (Fig. 3.18).3.1.8. Naturalized and
Escaped Species
The pastures and roadsides around Monteverde are
filled with weedy species of grasses (Poaceae), com-
posites (Asteraceae), mints (Lamiaceae), chickweeds
(Caryophyllaceae), and legumes (Fabaceae). Most of
these plants do not grow naturally in undisturbed
primary forest in the area, although a shade-tolerant
subset may invade large tree falls, landslides, roads,
and wide trails in the forest. Many of these nonnative
species have infiltrated from drier habitats through-
out Central America and elsewhere. Most of the
grasses either have been introduced from Africa for
pasture use or are pantropical weeds. Only half the
grasses found countrywide are native species (Pohl
1980, R. Pohl, pers. comm.). With the exception of the
bamboo species and some species of Lasiacis, no
forest grasses occur at Monteverde above 1200 m. A
few native species of grasses can be seen along trails
in Pacific slope forest (e.g., Ichnanthus spp., Leersia
ligularis, Oplismenus burmannii). Undisturbed stream
margins in the Cordillara de Tilaran are generally too61 Plants and Vegetation