Fungi of the Wombat Forest and Macedon Ranges Agarics Agarics Agarics Agarics

The Fungi Kingdom comprises some of the most extraordinary and important organisms on earth. With their bizarre morphologies, complex life histories and ephemeral fruit-bodies, fungi have intrigued people across the planet and throughout history. The Wombat Forest and Macedon Ranges provide a diversity of habitats for fungal foraying including riparian forest, wet forest, damp forest, grassy woodland, montane grassy woodland, shrubby foothill forest, heathy dry forest, herb-rich foothill forest, valley grassy forest, sedgy riparian woodland as well as Fungi stands of various exotic tree . Fungi The fungi illustrated in this guide were surveyed over the last decade and represent of the Wombat Forest just a selection of the species you may encounter. Hundreds, possibly thousands more fungal species are likely to occur in the region. and Macedon Ranges

Identifying Fungi Be aware that it is not usually possible to accurately identify fungi from images alone Agaricus xanthodermus punctata Clitocybe clitocyboides Coprinus comatus austrovenetus Cruentomycena visicidocruenta Hebeloma victoriense Hypholoma australe Lepista nuda albidofusca Mycena interrupta Wood Blewitt * of the Wombat Forest and Macedon Ranges Yellow Stainer * GILL M Funnel Cap Lawyer’s Wig * Green Skinhead * Ruby Mycena * GILL M GILL S Little Stinker White-Crowned Mycena Pixie’s Parasol * GILL S GILL S GILL S GILL M GILL S GILL S GILL S GILL S GILL S species require microscopic examination of structures or DNA sequencing for accurate The most accurate way to identify fungi to species level is with taxonomic keys, which

Fruit-body Forms The most familiar fungal fruit-bodies are likely to be the ‘Agarics’ - those fungi that typically have an umbrella-like form and gills beneath the cap, commonly referred to as . However, fungi appear in a great variety of other fruit-body forms such as puffballs, clubs, discs, polypores and coral fungi. The species in this guide are arranged alphabetically within such generic groups.

Edible & Poisonous Fungi Amanita ananiceps group Amanita xanthocephala Coprinellus disseminatus Cortinarius archeri Cortinarius kula Entoloma moongum Hohenbuehelia sp. Hypholoma fasciculare Leucoagaricus ooliekirrus Marasmius alveolaris Mycena clarkeana Mycena nargan Foraging for edible fungi has become a popular pastime, but be aware that knowledge GILL M Vermilion Grisette * Fairy Bonnets Emperor Cortinar * GILL M Dark Pinkgill GILL S Sulphur Tuft GILL S GILL S Tufted Mycena Nargan’s Bonnet * about edibility of Australian fungi is scant and deadly poisonous species exist in GILL M GILL S GILL M GILL S GILL S GILL S GILL S . Many cases of poisonings, including fatalities, are reported each year. In the event of a poisoning or suspected poisoning contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Contacts Wombat Forestcare www.wombatforestcare.org.au Fungimap 9252 5374 www.fungimap.org.au Field Naturalists Club of 9877 9860 www.fncv.org.au Victorian Poisons Info Centre 13 11 26 www.austin.org.au/poisons Macedon Ranges Shire Council 5422 0333 www.mrsc.vic.gov.au Hepburn Shire Council 5348 2306 www.hepburn.vic.gov.au

Websites of Interest Australian National Botanic Gardens www.anbg.gov.au/fungi Atlas of Living Australia www.ala.org.au Amanita muscaria Coprinopsis atramentaria Cortinarius austroalbidus Cortinarius rotundisporus hypnorum group astatogala Lactarius eucalypti Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus Marasmius elegans Mycena cystidiosa Mycena subgalericulata group Interactive Catalogue of Aust. Fungi www.rbg.vic.gov.au/dbpages/cat/index.php/fungicatalogue Fly Agaric * Australian Honey * Inky Cap Australian White Webcap * Elegant Blue Webcap * Moss Galerina Waxgill Eucalypt Milk Cap GILL S Velvet Parachute * Tall Mycena GILL S The Australasian Mycological Society www.australasianmycology.com GILL M GILL P, S GILL S GILL M GILL M GILL S GILL S GILL M GILL S GILL S

Selected Field Guides that include Victorian Fungi (Available from Fungimap) Grey, P. & Grey, E. (2005). Fungi Down Under. Fungimap, Melbourne. McCann, I.R. (2003). Australian fungi illustrated. Macdown Productions, Vermont. Fuhrer, B. A. (2005). A Field Guide to Australian Fungi. Bloomings Books, Melbourne. Young A. M. (2005). A Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia. University Press, Sydney.

Acknowledgements Research, photography, text & illustration: Alison Pouliot. Special thanks to the in species selection: Pat & Ed Grey, Tom May, Paul George, Virgil & Jurrie Hubregtse, Katie Syme, John Walter, Sapphire McMullan-Fisher & Genevieve Gates. Photographic Thanks to the Leigh Catchment Group for the use of their brochure template. Wombat Forestcare Cover image: The Mycena contains some of the tiniest and most delicate fungi. Community caring for Nature Amanita ochrophylla Austropaxillus infundibuliformis Coprinopsis nivea Cortinarius austrocinnabarinus junonius Hygrocybe miniata group Lentinellus tasmanicus Macrolepiota clelandii Mycena albidocapillaris group Mycena epipterygia group Omphalotus nidiformis They are characterised by white spores and often have a translucent, striate cap. GILL M Funnel Pax Snowy Ink Cap GILL M Slimy Yellow Cortinar * Spectacular Rustgill * Waxgill GILL S Parasol GILL S Yellow-Stemmed Mycena Ghost Fungus * GILL S, M GILL S GILL M GILL S GILL S GILL S GILL S GILL S, P © Wombat Forestcare Inc. Agarics Boletes/Leathers/Jellies Corals/Polypores/Tooth Fungi Puffballs/Earthstars/Clubs/Pins/Chantarelles

Fungal Trophic Modes Fungi can be divided into three groups based on how they obtain their nutrition:

1. Most fungi are saprotrophic (saprobic) and decompose dead organic matter. They can break down lignin, cellulose and chitin and grow on rotting logs, leaf litter and other organic material.

2. Some fungi are parasitic and obtain nutrition from a living host organism, while some specialised groups parasitise invertebrates and other animals.

3. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with living organisms Pholiota sp. Rhodocollybia butyracea Russula persanguinea Austroboletus lacunosus Podoscypha petalodes Tremella frondosa Artomyces austropiperatus Fistulina hepatica Trametes versicolor Scleroderma sp. Geastrum triplex Leotia lubrica Aleuria aurantia Bisporella citrina Lichenomphalia chromacea GILL S Buttery Collybia GILL M PORE M Rosette Fungus Witch’s Butter Peppery Coral Fungus Beefsteak Fungus * Rainbow Fungus Earthball Collared Earthstar Jelly Baby * Orange Peel Fungus DISC S Yellow Navel * relationships with the rootlets of plants. GILL S LEATHER S JELLY S CORAL S PORE S, P BRACKET S PUFFBALL M EARTHSTAR S PIN S CUP S LICHEN Y Another symbiosis is that of lichens which is a relationship between a mycobiont (fungus) and a photobiont (an alga or cyanobacterium).

associated with certain habitats or plant species. Nutrition modes are indicated by the following symbols: M (mycorrhizal), S (saprotrophic), P (parasitic) or Y (symbiotic).

Slime Moulds Slime moulds (Myxomycota) are not fungi but occupy the Kingdom Protista. Slime moulds are included in this guide as historically they have been adopted by mycologists. With their bright colours and bizarre forms they are frequently sighted in the Wombat Forest and Macedon Ranges. cervinus Tricholoma aff. terreum Boletellus obscurecoccineus Stereum hirsutum group Tremella mesenterica group Clavaria amoena Grifola colensoi Hydnum repandum Lycoperdon perlatum Cordyceps gunnii hypoxylon Ascocoryne sarcoides Chlorociboria aeruginascens group Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa Deer Mushroom Little Pin GILL M Rhubarb Bolete * Hairy Curtain Crust * Yellow Brain * Yellow Club Coral Fungus PORE S Hedgehog Fungus Puffball Dark Vegetable Caterpillar * Candle Snuff Fungus Purple Jelly Disc * Blue Green Stain Fungus Icicle Fairy Fans * Fungal Substrates GILL S GILL S PORE M LEATHER S JELLY S CORAL S TOOTH M PUFFBALL S CLUB P CLUB S DISC S DISC S MYXO S Fungi grow on a huge diversity of substrates including various types of soil, living or dead wood, leaf litter, native animal scats, moss beds, invertebrates as well as other fungi. The of substrate where each species is usually found is indicated with a colour code: soil moss dung wood/litter invertebrate

Fungimap Target Species Fungimap serves as a hub of information and interaction among fungal experts and enthusiasts. This includes the mapping of over 100 easily recognisable target species. The images in this guide that are target species are indicated by an asterisk (*). You may like to contribute your records of target species to the Fungimap project. Further information and record sheets are available on the Fungimap website.

Psathyrella aff. pennata Russula clelandii group Volvopluteus gloiocephalus Boletellus emodensis Pseudohydnum gelatinosum Heterotextus peziziformis Clavaria miniata Panellus pusillus Phellodon niger Morganella sp. Cordyceps menesteridis Craterellus cornucopioides Scutellinia scutellata Discinella terrestris Fuligo septica GILL S GILL M Common Rosegill * Shaggy Cap Toothed Jelly * Golden Jelly Bells Flame Fungus Little Ping-Pong Bat * TOOTH M Puffball Red Headed Cordyceps Horn of Plenty * Eyelash Pixie Cup Yellow Earth Buttons Dog Vomit Slime Mould * cap (pileus) GILL S PORE S JELLY S JELLY S CORAL S PORE S PUFFBALL S CLUB P CHANTARELLE M DISC S DISC S MYXO S

veil fragments gills (lamellae) ring (annulus)

stem ()

cup (volva) subaeruginosa Russula neerimea Xerula australis group Fistulinella mollis Tremella fuciformis Calocera sinensis group Ramaria ochraceosalmonicolor Pycnoporus coccineus Sarcodon sp. Calostoma fuscum Podoserpula pusio Banksiamyces toomansis Zelleromyces sp. Trichia sp. Blue-Staining Psilocybe GILL M Rooting Shank * Marshmallow Bolete White Brain * Pretty Horn CORAL M Scarlet Bracket Fungus Sarcodon Common Prettymouth Dead Man’s Fingers Pagoda Fungus * DISC S M MYXO S GILL S GILL S PORE S JELLY S JELLY S BRACKET S TOOTH M PUFFBALL M CLUB S CHANTARELLE S mycelial threads (hyphae)