Dermocybe austroveneta - at last!

I've been on the lookout for this fungus for 2 months!

Gaye has a good article on her Fungi blog regarding the Green Skinhead and Denis also located one, here.

I found this one in the same vicinity where I found Nidula emodensis, but unfortunately, I missed it in its prime by a few days. However, I now know where it lives! :-)

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The reddening of the stalk may be indicitative of an alkaline environment.

July Fungi 2

I can't explain the excitement experienced when I stumble across a new species during my fungi hunts! Today was no exception when I came across a new Bird's Nest fungus. The stunning orange inner of the fruiting body is one thing; the fuzzy exterior is another!

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No. 1 Nidula emodensis showing peridioles immersed in water. As we know, Bird's Nest fungi rely on rain for spore dispersal. (A fortunate encounter today, I suspect!)

No. 2 Omphalotus nidiformis or Ghost fungus. Although obviously past its prime, this solitary example measured 24cm diameter.

No. 3. The beautiful, pristine white gills of this fungus was stunning. About 3cm in diameter. It might be Limacella pitereka.

No.4. Not 100% sure, but this may possibly be Marasmius elegans.

Cap width was around 3cm.

Corrections welcome, as per the norm!

July Fungi 1

I've been a bit busy in the garden to do much fungi photography. After 40mm of rain over the past weekend, certain chores had to be undertaken before weeds and lawns became totally out of control! Today, I had a chance to take a short wander into fungi country.

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No. 1 Schizophyllum commune or Splitgill



No. 2 This is probably Hexagonia vesparia, a hoof-shaped polypore.

No. 3 An interesting jelly that I think is possibly Dacryopinax spathularia. It seems to differ from Calocera species because of the tongue-like shape of the branches. Dacryopinax spathularia is a delicacy in China, apparently.

No. 4 This is Tremella mesenterica again but this one was quite large, about 5.5cm wide.

No. 5 Omphalina umbellifera

No. 6 Ompahlina chromacea

No. 7 A nice little display of the Bird's Nest fungus, Crucibulem laeve, showing various stages of development.

No. 8 a puffball, Lycoperdon species.

Last Of The June 2009 Fungi

The end of the financial year and the end of my June fungi sightings. I started this post yesterday but a violent thunderstorm around 1pm meant the mission had to be aborted!

We are in for some wild weather for several days so further fungi exploration will be on hold. I'm not keen on crawling round eucalypts when there's anything more than a breeze because of their propensity to drop large parts of themselves! :-)

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No.1. This appears to be another example of No. 1 from my previous entry. The cap width was 1cm and stalk about 2cm. It is a pretty little fungus.

No. 2 is Marasmius crinisequi or the Horsehair fungus.

No. 3. I don't know what this one is, but Denis' little mates are having a field day!! It's growing in recycled paper pet litter round my tank. I'm glad I experimented with this litter because fungi seem to love it!

No. 4 might be Lepiota or Macrolepiota species which is well past its 'use by'! It was growing in open woodland with a few others.

The Unidentified

No. 5 was growing in the same location as No. 4

No. 6 was growing on a log in a deep erosion in the same location as 4 and 5.

No. 7. I haven't had an opportunity to check this one yet.

No. 9. Cap about 1cm diameter and growing under Acacia melanoxylon

No. 10. I'm not sure about this one. It might be something that has split but I thought it interesting enough for a photograph.

No. 11. This is an interesting gilled fungus growing in my woodpile. Not sure what the timber is that it's on. The gills are white. I might try for a spore print of this one at another time.

No. 12. Again, I haven't had an opportunity to check this. It will be a reasonably common one, I suspect.

No. 13. A robust fungus. The cap was around 2.5 - 3cm wide.

June Fungi - 6

Fungi hunting is great fun, don't get me wrong but there is a really frustrating aspect. It drives me mad when I cannot even have a remote stab at an identification! There are several 'head-bangers' in this group, so if anyone out there can help, please do.

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No. 1.......... Hmmm, a lovely little fungus with veil remnant hanging from the cap rim. This fungus matches none I could find in Fuhrer.

No. 2 Coprinellus species, probably Coprinellus micaceus. This specimen had an abundance of flecking. I found another specimen nearby which was almost identical. My other Coprinellus micaceus were not as textured nor as honey-coloured as this was but they were from a different location and substrate.

No. 3. This one was very frustrating! At first, I thought it was some sort of Cup Fungus. It's obviously stalked, but it might also be a Bird's Nest fungus. I will try to find this one again when I'm out and about next.


No.4. What an interesting little slime mould this is? I'm assuming it's a slime mould; brilliant red colour and looks like a heap of little sausages. This was an afternoon shot and I may have caught it on the change.

UPDATE: Thanks to Denis, I now have a probable identification for this slime mould. Hemitrichia serpula. This one has been recently added to Fungimap's Target Species list, so I will submit my record.

2nd UPDATE: Dr. May does not think this specimen is Hemitrichia serpula! So - it remains unidentified!

No. 5. Chuck a coin up into the air, Cortinarius; Dermocybe - or something entirely different! There was a small colony of these growing in deep, damp litter in a shallow channel. Cap width around 4 to 5cm.

No. 6. May be Dermocybe species. It's obviously got evidence of a veil

No. 7. Again, no idea!! Growing in litter and cap around 4cm diameter.

No. 8. A "Bird's Nest" - Crucibulum laeve

No. 9. A Puffball - Vascellum pratense, I suspect.