蓮猫 Lotuscat
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lotuscat.bsky.social
蓮猫 Lotuscat
@lotuscat.bsky.social
3.4K followers 710 following 6.2K posts
A naturalist and lichen lover living in Nagano, Japan. I post in Japanese in the morning, and in English in the afternoon & evening.
信州の地衣類と虫の人。午前は日本語、午後は英語で投稿。
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lotuscat.bsky.social
The apothecia of Parmetroma clavuriferum. Apothecia for this lichen are supposed to be rare but I see them quite often, and I think it’s just a matter of whether there’s someone to observe. Mt Kokuzo, Saku, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
マツゲゴケの子器。珍しいと言われているが結構遭遇する。長野県佐久市虚空蔵山 #地衣類
Close-up of the apothecia and lobes of Parmetroma lichen. The edge of lobe and the rim of apothecia have round soralia or powder balls. The apothecia interior is dark brown with some tinge of green. Colony of Parmetroma lichen on stone. Characterized by round powderball on the edge of the lobes. Cluster of apothecia can be seen on the lower part.
November 29, 2025 at 9:36 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
25年11月29年(土)、-1.5℃。空気がかりっとしている。
Morning scenery. Dark blue sky gradating to orange toward horizon. Cloud over the horizon. Landscape in silhouette.
November 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Lichen world. Mt Kokuzo, Saku, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
地衣類の世界。長野県佐久市虚空蔵山 #地衣類
Patches of crustose lichen on tree bark. Patch on top has brown apothecia with round white rims, and white-grey thallus. Patch on bottom have orange dome-shaped apothecia against green thallus. The two patches are separated by thick black line.
November 28, 2025 at 9:43 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
25年11月28日(金)、4.8℃。夜のうちに雨が降って空気がしっとりしている。
Morning scenery. Blue sky with clouds. Orange along the horizon. Landscape in silhouette.
November 27, 2025 at 9:18 PM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Some kind of Physcia sp., possibly Physcia orientalis. Mt Kokuzo, Saku, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
シロムカデゴケかな〜。長野県佐久市虚空蔵山 #地衣類
Close-up of the lobes of Physcia lichen. The part shown in the photo is in the center part where the lobes are somewhat tubular with white balls of soralia scattered throughout. Colony of Physcia lichen on stone. The edge of the colony have wide lobes while the lobes curl up to form tubes toward the center. There are white powdery lobes scattered throughout.
November 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
A patch of Parmetroma clavuriferum. I think there are some Punctelia ruderata mixed in. Mt Kokuzo, Saku, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
マツゲゴケと少しトゲハクテンゴケ。長野県佐久市虚空蔵山 #地衣類
Clump of crustose lichen on tree back that has fallen off. A hand holding it. Parmetroma lichen characterized by round balls along the edge of lobe, while Punctelia lichen has white dots and wrinkled appearance.
November 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
A trail through the woods at Mt Kokuzo. This is a less traveled route. Quiet, peaceful, and absolutely delightful. Yet I suddenly got worried about bears, since this is bear region unlike Tokikubo and Mimakihara where there are no bears.
静かな山道。虚空蔵山にて。
A path through a forest. The foliage is yellow and the ground is covered with light brown leaf. The sunlight and tree shadows form tiger strip along the trail.
November 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
25年11月27日(木)、0.7℃。氷点下ではないけど写真を撮りに出たら「寒いっ！」と感じた。
Morning scenery. Dark blue sky gradating to orange toward the horizon. Landscape in silhouette.
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Update on Wildcat Mimaki. Still wild; learning how to run the house. This cat eats like a hog. My previous tiny cat had one small can per day, but this one eats two standard cans plus a cup of kibbles. I can give him good ear rub with my bare hands but risks claws if he changes his mind.
まったり、みまき
Cat, chilling under the bed. Front legs folded in. Piercing eyes. Mackerel-striped mask with black spots on both sides of nose. Neck and chest are white. Back is also mackerel-striped.
November 26, 2025 at 10:33 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
The isidia of Punctelia ruderata on the knee of the sculpture of Kobo Daishi. Mt Kokuzo, Saku, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
弘法大師石像の膝のところにトゲハクテンゴケ。長野県佐久市虚空蔵山 #地衣類
Close-up of the isidia of Punctelia lichen. The protrusions are branched and have black round tips. Stone sculpture of Kobo Daishi. The balk monk is in sitting position with right hand holding the vajra sword and left hand holding rosary. The sculpture is covered with lichens. There is a round colony of Punctelia lichen on right knee.
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
View of Mt Asama from Mt Kokuzo. Mt Asama has different face from different spot. Since I was used to seeing it from Karuizawa, I always set that view as default. I think the view from the Sakudaira plane is the most awe inspiring.
虚空蔵山より臨む浅間山。
View of Mt Asama mountain range. Hazy. The brown fields can be seen in the foreground and the city spreading at the foot of the mountain. Deep blue sky. Whispy cloud.
November 26, 2025 at 9:37 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
25年11月26日(水)、4.7℃。深い霧。生暖かい朝。
Morning scenery. Thick mist and milky scene. Utility pole, electricity lines, and streetlight.
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Punctelia borreri. One of the colonies that I always check when I visit this place. Looking dark this time of year. Tokikubo, Komoro, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
ハクテンゴケ。長野県小諸市鴇久保 #地衣類
Close-up of the lobe of Punctelia lichen. The lobe is round with thin brown edge. There are white raised dots, and tiny grains of white dust all over the lobe. Colony of Punctelia lichen on tree. There is a rift in the middle of the colony and therefore the colony is split into two parts. Lobes are beaten up and tattered. There are white raised dots all over the lobes.
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
The path. Very welcoming. Tokikubo.
道。鴇久保にて。
Well-trodden path through shrubbery. Ground is covered with brown and yellow fallen leaves.
November 25, 2025 at 9:41 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
2025年11月25日(火)、2.8℃。今日も初冬の日。
Morning scenery. Dark blue sky gradating to orange toward the horizon. Clouds run diagonal and parallel to the horizon. Landscape in silhouette.
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Graphis lichen hanging on to the walnut tree. The lirellae apothecia are nice and fat. Tokikubo, Komoro, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
モジゴケの仲間。長野県小諸市鴇久保 #地衣類
Close-up of the squiggly apothecia of Graphis lichen. The squiggle is line with no branching. The interior is balck with slight raised rim. Thallus is green-grey. Colony of Graphis lichen on tree. There are short black squiggles against white, textured thallus.
November 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Shriveled up fruit of matatabi (Actinidia polygama) still on the vine. I didn’t see too many fruits despite the abundance of flowers, but the fruits were just hiding behind the leaves. I tasted the fruit, and it was sweet & tart. Tokikubo, Komoro, Nagano #Plants #Botany
萎びたマタタビの実。長野県小諸市鴇久保 #植物
A shriveled matatabi fruit hanging from vine. It is oval shaped with brown calyx on top side and tails on the pointy bottom. It is orange and wrinkled all over. The bottom is still yellow-green. Two, orange matatabi fruit on vine. The leaves have fallen off. The fruits are oval shape with large calyx on the top and point at the tail.
November 24, 2025 at 9:39 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Forest floor. Tokikubo.
林床。鴇久保にて。
Colorful leaves on the ground. Some are yellow, dark red, and brown, with brown spots. There are also short needle of larch trees.
November 24, 2025 at 9:37 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
25年11月24日(月)、-1.4℃。突然霧が出てくる変な天気。
Morning scenery. Indigo sky gradating to orange toward the horizon. Clumps of translucent clouds in the sky. Also mist coming in. Landscape in silhouette.
November 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Good ole Phaeophyscia hirtuosa on walnut tree. I think these guys are stable and here to stay. Tokikubo, Komoro, Nagano #Lichen #FungiFriends
シラゲムカデゴケ。長野県小諸市鴇久保 #地衣類
Close-up of the apothecia cup of the Phaeophyscia lichen. The cup has purple-brown interior with green-grey rims with translucent white hairs. Colony of Phaeophyscia lichen on tree. There are hairs at the edge of the lobes. Some apothecia are visible.
November 23, 2025 at 9:41 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Wilted leaf of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). Frost has settled in. Tokikubo, Komoro, Nagano #Plants #Botany
枯れたハスの葉に霜がおりた。長野県小諸市鴇久保 #植物
Frost along the veins of lotus leaf. The leaf is wilted and brown. The frost is cylindrical and growing straight from the leaf surface. Crumpled, wilted lotus leaf on ground. The leaf and the plants on the ground are covered in frost.
November 23, 2025 at 9:39 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Mt Asama from Tokikubo. Colors of late autumn.
晩秋の浅間山。鴇久保より。
View of Mt Asama mountain range. The mountain range is brown in color. The city of Komoro is sprawling at its feet. Hill and forest in foreground are red. Blue sky with whispy clouds.
November 23, 2025 at 9:37 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
25年11月23日(日)、0.2℃。なんとなく休日。
Morning scenery. Indigo sky gradating to orange toward horizon. No cloud at all. Landscape in silhouette.
November 22, 2025 at 9:13 PM
lotuscat.bsky.social
Spots. Lake Matsubara.
ぶつぶつ。松原湖にて。
Small green leaf with small white dots. The edge of the leaf is dark red.
November 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
lotuscat.bsky.social
おはようございます。
25年11月22日(土)、0.9℃。ちょっと寝坊した。
Morning scenery. Indigo sky gradating to light orange toward the right side. Distant mountains adorned by clouds at the foot. Landscape in silhouette.
November 21, 2025 at 9:24 PM