September 2009 Fungi

This orchid foray caper paid off today! I found a few, but the thrill of the chase was finding my first Morel!

With reasonable moisture over winter and now into Spring, fungi hunting is still in full swing.

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No. 1. Morchella elata - Black Morel. I came across this fungus in an open area as I was heading back to my vehicle. I did a little dance - I have been looking for these for 2 years!

I reckon half the reason they are scarce on the ground is because macropods might be dining on them! I regularly find eaten fungi and what remains of the stalk renders them unidentifiable.


No. 2 (underside) is Panus fasciatus which was growing on a thick stick.
Decurrent gills and inrolled margin.

Top view. Note the stiff hairs. This one was about 4cm in width.


No. 3 is Coltricia cinnamomea. This photo shows pore surface.

This fungus is known for its satin sheen.

Here's another example of Coltricia cinnamomea. Approximately 2.5cm diameter.

This shot shows the trunk-like structure of the root. It grows on sub-surface wood and tree roots.

No. 4. is an unidentified slime mould. I don't believe it's Fuligo septica. Any help would be gratefully received! :-)

No. 5 might be Psilocybe species. Spore print was dark chocolate.

No. 6 - Aleurina ferruginea. Tiny ones!

No. 7 is Peziza austrogeaster. This one looks as though it's been dusted with icing sugar! This fungus looks like an Earthstar without the puffball. This one would have been about 1.5 to 2cm diameter.

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.