I do wonder how many times in a week people pass by this stuff and think to themselves, "Ugh! That's disgusting!" Yeah, well, I agree. On the other hand, I'm also reminded of this little piece of wisdom found in my National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mushrooms:
"Mushrooms [or more broadly, fungi] also play a vital role in the world's ecosystem. Many land plants could not thrive in their absence, since some establish a symbiotic relationship with fungi, exchanging essential nutrients. And were it not for mushrooms, which hasten decomposition, many dead plants and fallen trees would take far longer to decay."
