Field Nats News No. 212

Newsletter of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc. Editors: Joan Broadberry 9846 1218 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn Vic 3130 Dr Noel Schleiger 9435 8408 Telephone/Fax 9877 9860 Understanding Our Natural World www.fncv.org.au Patron: Governor of Victoria Est. 1880 Reg. No. A0033611X email: [email protected]

Office Hours: Monday and Tuesday 9 am-4 pm. September 2011

Can I thank the seven members that From the President turned up to help clear out the hall of all the chairs, tables, equipment and a Due date for the October Welcome to the September edition of the vast number of boxes in late July. I newsletter Monday 5th Sep- Field Nats News. With Spring on the must say that I was a little disap- tember. FNN will go to print doorstep, anyone would think that we had pointed at the number of members on the 13th September with had a sample earlier in August with some who did turn up, given that many, collation on Tuesday 20th very mild days and record-breaking warm many people were emailed regarding starting at 10.30 am. nights. Many SIG’s will be starting to get this. I was even more embarrassed See you there! back into the swing of field trips and the that the number of “ring-ins” almost like after the winter break. That is, all bar outdid the members. A huge thank the Fungi Group outings which have now you to Hali and Rob, along with their gone into recess until next year. children Matt, Mel and friend Jeremy. The capture and handling of all Without them much would have been Firstly, can I say a big THANK YOU to left undone. While thanking people, I on FNCV field trips is done the FNN editors for ably filling in my also need to acknowledge and thank strictly in accordance with the report in the August FNN. I was away on Gary Leete, FNCV member, of Frame club’s research permits. a business trip to WA, and then on a Co in Nunawading for allowing us to follow-up driving “holiday” to Brisbane take over part of his factory to store to move my daughter up to University. the items until they can be moved back. (See also p12.) Index Page Hall Update From the President 1, 12 The inside of the building is looking fan- WE ARE NOT FINISHED YET! tastic. The office, conference room, li- Calendar of Events 2 brary and hall have had been painted and Please note that we will need as the floors re-sanded and polished. (see many hands on deck as we can on rd Members’ news, photos & 3, 4 photo below). This means that the Sep- Saturday 3 September at 1 pm to observations. Notices tember SIG meetings should be back in help move all the above mentioned our own premises. stuff back into the Hall. No matter Geology Group News: The 5 how small you may think your con- Geological Basis of tribution could be, it means a little Melbourne’s History. less for someone else to do. It is our Day Group News club after all, not some else’s. Coates Wildlife Tours— 6 advertisement SEANA Spring Camp-out 29th Oct – 1St Nov - HELP URGENTLY Fauna Survey Group News: 7 NEEDED. Rushworth Forest Camp. We are about to begin putting to- Australian Platypus gether the program for the SEANA Conservancy camp at Phillip Island. Fungi Group News: Forays 8—10 to—Warrandyte State Park; We have already asked for volunteers Greens Bush (3); Bunyip to join the organising sub-committee, State Park but have had little response. PLEASE consider helping—our club has a Marine Research Group 11 responsibility to field naturalists News: Field Trip to Clifton around the State and, at present, Springs, Members’ Night we just don’t have enough hands to do the work. Please contact Hali for Clearing the Hall—thanks 12 (Continued on page 12) Page 2 Field Nats News No. 212 CALENDAR OF EVENTS All meetings are held at FNCV Hall, 1 Gardenia St. Blackburn at 8 pm., unless otherwise indicated. On days of extreme weather conditions excursions may be cancelled. Please check with leader.

September 2011

At the moment it looks reasonably certain that all September meetings can be held in the Gardenia St Hall. However, as always, keep an eye on the website etc just in case there are unforseen delays.

Monday 5th – Fungi Group. Meeting - Tropical fungi - Speaker: Bruce Fuhrer. Contact: Virgil Hubregtse 9560 7775. This is the last meeting for the year Contact: Virgil Hubregtse 9560 7775

Tuesday 6th – Fauna Survey Group. Meeting -'The Ecology of the Grampians Macropod Community.’ Speaker: Sarah Garnick. Contact: Sally Bewsher 9752 1418

Wednesday 7th – Bat Group. Grey-headed flying-fox count. Meet at Yarra Bend Golf Course carpark Mel 2D G7 at 5.45 pm. As a courtesy please email or phone Megan Davidson. 9380 5062: [email protected]

Monday 12th – Marine Research Group. Meeting—Identifying Victorian intertidal chitons: presented by Leon Al- toff. Contact: Leon Altoff 9530 4180 AH: 0428 669 773

Thursday 15th – Botany Group. Meeting - Australian plants and fire: a complex relationship in a changing environment. Speaker: Tom Duff. Contact Sue Bendel 0427 055 071

Saturday 17th – Juniors’ Group. Excursion - Baluk Willam, Andrew Dilley 2.00 pm Meet at the carpark adjoining Courtneys and Orchid Rd. Contact: Claire Ferguson 8060 2474: [email protected]

Tuesday 20th — Collate FNN 213. All welcome. Collation is now being scheduled in the morning beginning at 10.30 am. Morning tea served. Contact Hali 9877 9860 or email [email protected]

Wednesday 21st – Terrestrial Invertebrates Group. Meeting – The Eltham Copper Butterfly. Speaker: Andrea Canzano. There will be a night excursion to count Eltham Copper Butterfly larvae in Eltham in October, (date to be confirmed). Contact: Alan Yen 0409 194 788

Friday 23rd – Juniors’ Group. Meeting - Aboriginal Farming. Speaker: Gary Presland. Contact: Claire Ferguson 8060 2474; [email protected]

Saturday 25th – Sunday 2nd October - Fauna Survey Group. Field trip – Mallee Camp. Details and location to be confirmed. Contact: John Harris 0409 090 955. Prior registration essential.

Monday 26th FNCV Council Meeting. 7.30 sharp. Agenda items and apologies to Hali, 9877 9860 or [email protected]

Tuesday 27th – Day Group. Meeting – The Yangtze and other rivers. Speaker: Sheila Houghton. Contact: Gary Presland 9890 9288. Meet at 10.30 am for coffee and a chat. Program starts at 11 am.

Wednesday 28th - Geology Group. Meeting - What’s up SAM! Speaker: Dr. Frank Drost, Post-doctoral Research Fellow – Climate Change, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne. Contact: Kaye Oddie 9329 0635

The policy of the FNCV is that non-members families pay $5 per excursion and $2 per meeting, to cover insurance costs. Junior non-member families, $2 per excursion only.

Field Nats News 212 Page 3

We are reserving a page in future issues of FNN for natural history observations, member news and photos. It is just so easy these days to let us know what you have noted in your life, your travels or perhaps your garden. So how about it? Email: [email protected] by Monday 5th September

Warmest greetings to these new members who were welcomed into our club at the July Council meeting:

Ms Alison Rayner, Janifer Dobbs, Mr Michael O’Sullivan, Mrs Kristie O’Sullivan.

Extracts from SIG group reports, FNCV Council meeting - 25th July 2011

Botany Group Neil Armstrong, renowned photographer of aquatic plants and fish, spoke at the last Botany meeting. Neil gave us a slide show of native aquatic plants, including bog plants, those that always have their roots submerged, and their foliage above the water, and true aquatic plants. He showed us about 25 plants, several with the usual fish found with them. Wolffia is the smallest flowering plant in the world, and is smaller than a match head. There were plants from the very cold waters of Woods Point, Victoria, to plants found in water at 38C in the Kimberleys.

Some plants grow from corms or bulbs, some seed easily and others are propagated by cuttings. Many of the plants have one side of the leaves a blood red colour as well as the usual green. a number of the tropical plants are difficult to grow as they re- quire extra carbon dioxide to grow. However this acidifies the water so a buffer solution is needed. Plants brought from inter- state, especially Northern Territory, require treatment for Caddis Fly, before being brought into Victoria. Plants imported from overseas require complex treatment for quarantine and do not always survive. This was an interesting and well attended talk.

Fauna Survey Group As well as the scheduled meeting 5-7-2011, (report p7) we had two meetings to work on a revised Standard Operating Procedures well in advance of the renewal of the trapping permit.

Fungi Group The FungiMap conference held at Denmark WA, 14-19 July 2011 was very informative and successful. It was attended by 108 people including 10 from Victoria (all FNCV members) and 4 from USA. Activities included talks, forays and workshops. FNCV Fungi Group convenor, Paul George, gave a talk about the FNCV’s forays and also ran a photography workshop.

Geology Group The last meeting was addressed by Dr Tim Holland, from Museum Victoria. He spoke about the evidence for the evolution of early Tetrapods in Australia.

Terrestrial Invertebrate Group The TIG had a very interesting meeting with 15 attendees. The guest speaker, Max Campbell, who gave a captivating talk on the decline of invertebrates in inner urban Melbourne. He outlined reasons, ranging from habitat loss through to exotic pests such as European wasps. The ability of many invertebrates to survive long term in ever decreasing remnant bush in urban Melbourne is possibly low.

Juniors’ Group The June meeting was held at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary with a medium attendance. Ian Moodie from the Whitehorse Council spoke on photography generally, including photography flora and fauna.

A new family brought along some tadpoles they had caught from a local swampy area. It was their first meeting and their four year old wanted to show them to everyone and handed around a photo book of their family excursion to collect them. We didn’t have the heart to tell them it was illegal now to collect frogs or tadpoles. Ian Moodie mentioned this later in a friendly email.

The July outing was to the St Kilda research team to see how they keep track of the penguins in that area. This was a very popular excursion! Page 4 Field Nats News No. 212

weather or pirates. And Catesby ap- Letter to the Editors: parently worked at the Hoxton nurs- RINGWOOD FIELD The Curious Mister Catesby ery before and after Fairchild’s death. NATURALISTS CLUB INC

I’m sorry that I missed seeing The Curi- In The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild Leap- ous Mr Catesby DVD that Gary man devotes several pages to Presland organised in May, but glad Catesby’s plants before their transfer that I could read Joan Broadberry’s to the extensive park-like estates of engaging report in Field Nats News. I English gentlemen. had only just heard of Mark Catesby. He appears in two books that I read in I’m glad I spent another $10 on one of May – The Brother Gardeners: Botany, several copies of The Ingenious Mr. 50 YEARS OLD Empire and the Birth of an Obsession Fairchild in Carlton Secondhand 1961 – 2011 (2008) by Andrea Wulf and The Ingen- Books, and recommend both books to

ious Mr. Fairchild: The forgotten father anyone interested in the context and You are invited to celebrate the Club’s of the flower garden (2000) by Michael consequences of the curious Mr 50th birthday on Sunday 25th Septem- Leapman. Catesby’s activities. ber 2011 at an anniversary luncheon.

The keynote speaker is Prof. Robert I’m glad that the title, The Brother Gar- Linden Gillbank King speaking on ‘Wither or whither deners: Botany, Empire and the Birth of School of Historical & natural history; an optimists view’ an Obsession, so intrigued me that I Philosophical Studies, spent a whole $10 on a copy at one of The University of Melbourne. The Book Grocer shops. Wulf cleverly KARRALYKA CENTRE knits together various strands of eight- Mines Rd., Ringwood East eenth century botany and horticulture to show the huge importance of plants Whitehorse Spring Festival Arrive between 11.30 am and noon from the ‘New World’. North American Volunteers needed for 12.30 pm lunch plants added colour and diversity to English gardens and new names to COST: $35.00 per person plants before and after Linnaeus’ new This event will be held locally on rd th binomial system required two plant Sunday 23 October. It is great RSVP: by 9 September 2011 names, and species. As English opportunity to publicise the club. Enquiries: Peter or Alison Rogers botanists, sometimes slowly, accepted We will again be seeking helpers to Ph: 03 9801 6946 Linnaeus’ 1735 sexual system of classi- staff our information stall for 1-2 fication and 1753 binomial system, hours on the day. English gardens were being trans- More details in the next newslet- The FNCV Biodiversity formed from replicates of European, ter. Please contact the office to volun- symposium will be now be especially French, gardens to the teer. ‘English Garden’ greatly desired by Victoria Aitken held 19th & 20th wealthy aristocrats on both sides of the November English Channel. Second-hand book sale and FNCV pre-loved treasures 2011 is the International Year of For- Thanks to Catesby and subsequent plant ests and ‘forests’ will be this year’s collectors in North America, English Saturday 8th October biodiversity symposium theme. gardens and nurseries provided ‘new’ plants to enrich botany and horticulture. The club is again planning to fund Speakers are being organised for the And Catesby’s accurate illustrations raise through a second-hand book Saturday. Sunday will be a day tour, could be sent back across the Atlantic to sale, and will use the opportunity to possibly of the forests around Toolangi, help collectors identify the American dispose of some of the items un- or the threatened species breeding area plants so desired by English nursery- earthed when the hall was cleared out at Healesville Sanctuary. men and garden-owners. for painting and repairs.

An Englishman who was very pleased Second-hand books can be left in the to receive seeds and plants from hall from the first week in September. Thanks to the editorial and Catesby was a nurseryman who had Volunteer helpers would be very wel- layout team who put dared to cross-pollinate two species and come. together FNN 212

thereby produce the first (European- known) plant clearly not God-given. Contact the office or Gary Presland 9890 9288. Joan Broadberry His shocking man-made hybrid was Noel Schleiger known as Fairchild’s mule. In his Hox- Platon Vafiadis ton nursery, Thomas Fairchild germi- This newsletter is printed on Hali Ferguson nated and propagated Catesby plants recycled paper. that had not been lost to Atlantic Field Nats News 212 Page 5

banks, takes into account the possibility Geology Group of floods.

little water holding capacity, thus fa- Early expansion of Melbourne was to the The Geological vouring grassy woodlands of drought east which was better drained and had a Basis of Melbourne's tolerant species. On poorly drained greater rainfall than to the west, and this flat areas, wetlands such as at the was further enhanced by construction of History once very extensive Carrum Swamp, railways in the 1880s which naturally Talk by Gary Presland, supported a rich variety of plant and followed the flat gradients along the east- archaeologist & FNCV member life. ern stream valleys, which being subject to Wednesday, 22 June 2011 flooding , also had not been as densely The topography of much of the north- developed. In the age of the motor car, Gary's talk was based on his recent ern, and nearly all of the western side transport corridors have continued to be book 'The Place for a Village – how of Melbourne consists of basalt plains developed along stream valleys. nature has shaped the city of Mel- formed comparatively recently – from Noxious industries such as fellmongering bourne'. This book, in turn, evolved about 4.5 million years ago to 820 and tanning, which needed a copious sup- from a PhD thesis submitted at The thousand years ago. This lava, which ply of water, access to shipping and University of Melbourne in 2005. flowed down existing valleys, from somewhere to dispose of their waste, de- To understand why Melbourne has de- many eruption points at various times veloped along both the Maribyrnong and veloped where it has, and the pattern of during this period, is at least 60m Yarra Rivers. this development, it is necessary to un- thick in places. The surface today is derstand the natural history of the Port flat to gently undulating, or undulat- Gary's well illustrated talk was appreci- Phillip region. The environment gener- ing and hummocky. The soils that ated and further detail is covered in his ally, and the geology in particular, is have developed are shallow, dark book, which has reproductions of very important in the history of any place. grey, and heavy textured that shrink informative historic paintings and photo- The geology/topography, hydrology, and crack in summer when they dry graphs illustrating the natural features climate, flora and fauna have all played out. The western plains receive less that determined Melbourne's development their part. rain than the ranges further east and and were either used or overcome. also have a high evaporation rate. The oldest rocks in the Melbourne re- They were therefore covered by vast David Gibson gion are Silurian sediments laid down grasslands, but with woodlands along in a north-south trending trough about the major watercourses. 400 million years ago, and subsequently Day Group much distorted by folding and faulting. The site of Melbourne was deter- After millions of years of erosion, what mined by the availability of fresh wa- Gary Presland spoke at the June day is known as the Nillumbik terrain de- ter. The lowest point on the Yarra group meeting about a tour he and his veloped to the east of Melbourne. It with an adequate and reliable supply wife recently undertook to some of the was covered with shallow soils of of fresh water was upstream of a rock national parks in the south-west of the clayey silt underlain by clay. These bar across the river where Queens USA. Gary stated their inspiration was soils, and the relatively high rainfall, bridge crosses it today. Below that the excellent Ken Burns television series supported woodlands at lower eleva- point the river was tidal and brackish. entitled, “America’s best idea” tions and forest higher up. Docks were constructed downstream of the bar, overlooked by the substan- Their trip commenced and finished in Los A period of volcanic activity about 40 tial customs house built in 1856. Angeles. Some of the parks visited were: million years ago (Older Volcanics) is Grand Canyon, Zion & Bryce Canyons, now evident in only a few places from Though the Yarra River provided a Death Valley, Monument Valley and Yo- Tullamarine through Essendon, Mel- water supply, it had major disadvan- semite bourne and terminating in South Mel- tages; it was prone to frequent flood- bourne, and also in the Bundoora- ing, and its course downstream to the A few highlights were: a balloon flight Greensborough-Kangaroo Ground area. Bay was narrow and choked with de- over the Sonoran Desert, rafting the Colo- The associated topography is broad bris. The naturally winding river was rado River below the Hoover Dam, see- crested hills with gentle slopes with in therefore straightened out through ing the Grand Canyon from the air, and situ weathered deep red or dark grey Richmond, and diverted and dredged sighting the rare Californian Condor. coloured heavy clays. downstream of the rock bar that lim- Gary and Helen also enjoyed the Getty At about the same time as the Older ited navigation upstream. A wetland Museum in Los Angeles, and the wildlife Volcanics were deposited (Tertiary), to the west of the town, adjacent to and scenery along the Californian coast. three phases of marine deposition of the Spencer Street railyards, known as sandy sediments occurred. These sands 'The Swamp', was seen as a perfect Space does not permit a more detailed are now the dominant surface on the site for a dock, which was constructed report, but this was a first rate talk, full of east side of the bay south of the Yarra, as part of the river straightening interesting observations and asides eg. and also occur as smaller caps on the works. Though the Yarra floods less (Alcatraz is Spanish for ‘pelican’), and Silurian sediments further north. These than in the past, nevertheless the de- great photography. Our thanks, once sandstones give rise to sandy soils with sign of some buildings along its again, to Gary. Discover the natural history of Australia and beyond with Coates Wildlife Tours Specialists in Nature Tours since 1986 Experience the Coates difference with our knowledgeable naturalist leaders, small groups and spectacular destinations.

PHOTO: KEVIN COATE

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always been fluctuations. The num- Studying and surveying Platypus can be Two years ago nest-boxes with small en- bers of animals in nest boxes for this difficult. To study movements and biol- trances were erected with the hope of survey and some previous years are ogy the APC use modified fyke nets, a attracting Feathertail Gliders which the shown in the accompanying table. technique that requires a high labour in- FSG had found by spotlighting some put as the nets have to be continually years back. None have been found, and Raymond Gibson some of these boxes have Sugar Gliders monitored. Results have shown that present after they have Platypus can move up to 50 km to find a chewed open the entrance. territory. Home range for the Platypus is typically 1-7 km of river with densities of On this trip the number of 3 – 4 animals per kilometer. Male capture Sugar Gliders and Brush- rates peak in August, the start of the tailed Phascogales had in- breeding season, and females were most creased. A total of 134 often caught in January, the peak of the boxes were checked and 40 lactating season. were occupied, with a total of 6 Brush-tailed Phasco- The APC has also initiated ‘Platypus gales and 111 Sugar Glid- Count’ using visual survey results sub- ers. The presence of BTP mitted by volunteers. Platypuses are rela- can also be tracked by their tively easy to see and are mostly recorded characteristic nests and in the early morning or at dusk. Although they are predominantly nocturnal, they can be active at anytime. It is also neces- sary to distinguish between the Platypus with its dark paddle-shaped tail and the Above: Brushtailed Phascogale in Australian Water Rat Hydromys chry- nestbox. Left: Sugar Gilders in sogaster, with its long white tipped tail. nestbox. Photos: R. Gibson There are a number of conservation pres- sures on the platypus other than poor Speaker: river conditions. Predation from foxes is the worst but birds also prey on them. Geoff Williams, Fishing nets, including illegal nets, the Australian Platypus 'opera house' style yabby traps in which platypuses and water rats can drown, Conservancy (APC) hooks and entanglement in rubbish are all th 5 July 2011 dangerous to platypuses. Year Phascogale Sugar Glider Boxes Geoff outlined the taxonomic Raymond Gibson 2006 1 65 118 history and some basic features 2007 7 112 112 of Platypus biology. Early cura- Contact. Australian Platypus Conser- tors had dissected specimens vancy, PO Box 22, Wiseleigh Vic. 3885 2008 0 24 111 expecting to find a hoax. It had Tel. (03) 5157 5568 2009 1 48 117 the name Platypus anatinus and then Ornithorynchus paradoxus E-mail: [email protected] 2010 2 34 121 before Ornithoryncus anatinus www.platypus.asn.au 2011 6 111 134 was settled. Page 8 Field Nats News No. 212

all looked similar - smooth, with spatu- late heads. These were Geoglossum sp. Fungi Group because there were no bristles on the stem like those that occur in Tricoglos- looked like the very spiky terminals sum spp. Jurrie Hubregtse’s microscopi- FUNGI GROUP FORAY of Clavulina cristata. cal study on one group determined that 26 June 2011 they were G. glutinosum, which had In this productive area Paul George black heads on a brown stem with a Warrandyte State Forest, thought that the red/yellow/orange distinct join between head and stalk. Jumping Creek Hygrocybe was H. saltorivula, the However, we did see a group that ap- colours and gill form fit the descrip- peared slightly different. They were It was a beautiful sunny day, tion, plus it is ‘known only from the completely black and not glutinous, and cool and bright. In the moss under the type locality (Warrandyte State Park) the head merged seamlessly into the Kunzea there was a feast of corals – in southern Vic; gregarious in deep stalk, perhaps G. nigritum, although yellow, orange, red and white of moss in Kunzea ericoides thickets in external appearances are very similar Clavaria, Ramaria, and Ramariopsis sclerophyll woodland’ (Young AM and the species can only be determined species. Yellow Tongues Clavaria 2005, Fungi of Australia, Hygro- microscopically. (cf B&S p 98) amoena varied in shades of deep yellow phoraceae, p 65) to orange with growth forms ranging The mossy kunzea and eucalypt areas from single stems to caespitose. Some Also in these damp mossy areas was a were the most productive for fungi; ‘Tongues’ were wider and a paler yel- large ring of the Hedgehog Fungus other areas did not produce much at all. low, others were bright orange. Red Hydnum repandum, the apricot caps On wood we found brackets - some Flames Clavaria miniata had weathered contrasting with the green moss. At young fruit-bodies of Fomitopsis li- and the pale tops looked somewhat the top of the hill several fruit-bodies lacinogilva with a pale top, pinkish similar to a margin and white pores fresh C. coralli- that marked red on bruis- norosacea but ing and Punctularia closer inspec- strigosozonatum. Apart tion showed from Entoloma spp there that there was were very few gilled no visible col- fungi – a couple of or- our change to ange-capped Lactarius deep red on the clarkeae distinguished lower stalk. from the similar-looking Small clumps of Russula flocktoniae by pink-brown the extrusion of latex; a Clavulina vina- group of Collybia euca- ceocervina had lyptorum was growing in the typically the decayed wood of a dark tips. Near fallen eucalypt; in moss the start of the Galerina hypnorum group track were yel- and one or two Little Pins low clumps, Rickenella fibula. The almost in a cir- other striking orange spe- cle, of Ramaria cies was Orange-peel lorithamnus. Fungus Aleuria aurantia This is a paler, which was formed as thin more watery Hygrocybe saltorrivula Photo: Ed Grey flat convoluted cups. yellow than R. flaccida (not seen) which is a dense mustard yellow, and As the ranger said, we the structure is not so fine as had orange to brown caps and stem should probably have been here several Ramariopsis crocea which is a dense and adnate pale fawn teeth. We found weeks ago. Despite that fact we found golden yellow. Scattered around were an Entoloma moongum group with quite a lot of fungi, many of them very groups of Ramaria gracilis, almost in- dark blue/black cap, deep blue stipe interesting. determinate in colour but shades of and pale gills, a group of huge Lepista Pat Grey dirty-white, and clay colour. Also we nuda where only the stem retained a saw one group of very weathered mauve colour; on the cap this striking Ramaria versatilis with grey-brown colour had changed to brown and the The views and opinions expressed stems and pale pointed ends. Although mauve gills had gone pale pink. in this publication are those of the a small patch, the very white coral had authors and do not necessarily weathered a lot, some of the tips still We also discovered groups of earth reflect those of the FNCV. tongues in different mossy areas and Field Nats News 212 Page 9 FUNGI GROUP FORAY finely bristly texture. Geoglossum sions of the spore), sized 64 - 74 x 4.5 - to GREENS BUSH (3) species have no setae in the fertile 5.5 microns, and the club-shaped para- head and the texture varies from physes (lines of material that are used 3 July 2011 smooth to viscid or only slightly vel- as ‘fill’), sometimes with a 'pimple' on Baldry Crossing, Greens Bush, vety. The fruit-body is club-shaped to top that were longer than the asci. At Mornington Peninsula spatulate with a fertile, flattened head, Greens Bush the earthtongue worked National Park often twisted and grooved, that can be out to be Trichoglossum hirsutum. This distinct from the stalk or merge into it was approximately 100mm tall with a The rain soon eased off when we started without a sharp differentiation. We distinct large flat, spade-like grooved the foray. Again there was not a lot to saw only black/brown Geoglossum head that was distinct from the stalk. It see. For all the forays this year, Greens and Trichoglossum. Jurrie Hubregtse was dry and, under a hand lens, showed Bush has not provided masses of fungi microscopically examined a species that the setae formed a finely bristly like it often has. However, one of the found at Warrandyte and one found texture. This could most clearly be seen loveliest finds was the Mauve-splitting here. The one at Warrandyte was on the rough stalk. Microscopic images Waxcap Hygrocybe lewellinae, down in Geoglossum glutinosum. It had a showed the long spores (80-195 x 5-7 the dell. A fresh large specimen was a smooth black rounded lance-shaped microns) which had 15 septa. Also the deep mauve and the margin had only head and a brown glutinous smooth long pointed threads of the setae just started to split radially. A couple of stalk, distinct from the head. This is (bristles) which were scattered among other specimens were much smaller but one of the three glutinous species and the asci and other material.

all had the strong mauve coloured fruit- although the weather had been dry two stalks were still stuck together Cortinarius species were now fruiting bodies. Other Hygrocybe and were some of the most frequently were the yellow H. seen fungi. But they were brown Corti- chromolimonea, the narius sp. for the most part. We recog- Fungimap Target sp H. nised the C. sp. “mexican hat” from graminicolor whose cap earlier forays, but were not able to iden- had turned fawn but the tify many of the others except C fibril- green stem remained, and losus. a red orange species, that was too orange to be H. Jellybabies Leotia lubrica were wide- miniata which is all red. spread on the ground, some were old and deteriorating but one cluster in par- In this area we found ticular showed all the features of this several groups of black fungus – yellow-green, knobbly head to Earth Tongues. It must 20mm diameter and yellowish stem to be the time of Earth 50mm long (see Fungi Down Under, Tongues. Last week at page 117). Warrandyte SP we found several groups growing While we had found the red-brown in moss. Earthtongues hemispherical cushions of Hypoxylon “Glossums” – tongues - howeianum (the teleomorph or sexual have been divided into stage) on previous forays, it was inter- three main genera: Mi- esting to see the spiky anamorph (the croglossum (small asexual stage) widespread on dead tongue), Geoglossum wood and in conjunction with the red- (earthtongue) and brown cushions. The anamorphs had Trichoglossum (hairy pale brown filaments to 1-2mm high tongue). Microglossum growing as several clumps on the sub- are more coloured than strate. Extensive sheets of the resupi- Geoglossum and nate Hyphodontia australis were found Trichoglossum which on fallen eucalypt bark. This tan, soft have black/dark brown fungus has short, blunt teeth/spines fruit-bodies. They are all (odontoid) and colourless, smooth, el- recognised by their club- lipsoid to cylindric spores 6.5 x 3.5 – like shape, but it is not 5.0 microns. When treated with KOH possible to accurately Leota lubrica (Jellybaby) Photo: Ed Grey the surface turns a violet colour. determine their species in with thick gluten. Jurrie illustrated the the field, microscopic study is needed. After lunch, the group drove to Sue and In the field Trichoglossum can be dis- microscopics with excellent images that clearly showed the distinctive Ken McLean’s property to see speci- tinguished from Geoglossum by the mens of Lepista luscina growing in a minute spines (setae, brown lance- characteristics of the species. He pointed out the very large asci within large group in grass. This was followed shaped cells) that protruded from the by a welcome cup of coffee in front of a surface of the fruit-body giving it a which were extremely long spores with 3-7 septa (lines indicating divi- warming fire. Ed and Pat Grey Page 10 Field Nats News No. 212

ing to find that the substrate – thick After lunch, by which time rain was The Fungi group held a large number bark at the base of a living eucalypt – falling in earnest, we went for a short of excursions in Autumn, so much so matched the description in Grgurinovic walk along the road north of the car that through lack of space, FNN has not (1997). A not so welcome 'first' for this park. Beside the road were examples yet been able to publish all the reports. location was Favolaschia calocera, of a stalked toothed fungus that was We will continue to include these re- found by new member Richard Hart- thought to be Hydellum auritale. ports as we have room. Eds. land. This recently introduced fungus is However, tests showed this to be a considered to be a pest species. The Phellodon, which has white spore small, bright orange, kidney-shaped print, as opposed to brown, and all FUNGI GROUP FORAY, brackets have pores on the underside, other characters (colour, spore size, and often form large colonies on dead appearance of teeth) matched Phello- Bunyip State Park, wood. don niger. Mortimer Nature Trail, 8 May 2011 Another brightly coloured fungus grow- Other fungi near the road included ing on dead wood was a lone specimen Cortinarius rotundisporus, three

of Cyptotrama aspratum, with its dis- young specimens of the intensely pur- Bunyip State Forest, Mortimer Picnic tinctively tufted orange cap and pure ple Cortinarius archeri, a large group Ground and Nature Trail white gills. Not far from this were a of Laccaria sp., bright orange

huge number of very small, brown Clavaria sp., and the little brown Ino- At this foray a group of twelve mem- gilled brackets on the bark of an old cybe australiensis. bers and nine visitors were fortunate to log. The largest specimens were only 10 be joined by the FNCV Juniors, whose mm across. Subsequent examination More than seventy species were re- keen observational powers and sharp showed that the fruit-bodies produced a corded, including nine FungiMap eyesight were a great help in finding brown spore print, and the spores were 'targets' – not a bad total considering plenty of fungi. Two of the girls even globose and spiny. These characteris- that we explored only a small section thought of nicknames for some species: tics suggest that this fungus is a species of the nature trail. Many thanks to Pat 'Spotty toad' seemed appropriate for the of Crepidotus. Grey for taking the field notes and plentiful Descolea recedens with its preparing the species list. yellow-flecked brown caps! Three colourful species of Russula were

recorded: R. persanguinea, with a Virgil Hubregtse, Ed & Pat Grey In his search for Lachnum pteridiphyl- bright red cap and white gills and stem; lum (a minute disc fungus that is R. purpureoflava, with a purplish cap, Reference: smooth and yellow on the inside and yellowish gills and a pink stem; and R. Grgurinovic, CA (2007) Larger fungi whitish and densely hairy on the out- iterika, which has a green cap, pale of . (Botanic Gardens side) on dead tree-fern fronds, Scott cream gills and a white stem. R. iterika of Adelaide and State Herbarium and Ferguson found an extremely small but can be distinguished from other green- The Flora and Fauna of South Austra- very beautiful Mycena species (which capped Russula species because its gills lia Handbooks Committee: Adelaide) we call Mycena 'tiny blue lights') grow- fork near the stem. ing in colonies on the rachises of fallen

dead tree fern fronds. The caps were whitish and the stems blue. Scot also A rainy lunch at Bunyip Photo: P. Grey found L. lachnoderma which was flourishing on eucalypt bark nearby, as well as L. virgineum, which is white rather than yellow. Carol Page followed that up with finding Lachnum pterido- phyllum, thus completing the three types usually found on our forays.

Small lemon-coloured discs on a dead tree fern frond were not the hoped for Bisporella sulfurina but small B. ci- trina. This was confirmed later by the larger spore size. We shall still keep looking. It is necessary to use a hand lens to see these species properly.

A small group of pinkish brown fungi growing at the base of a Manna Gum proved to Marasmius cinnamoneus. This was the first time this species has been recorded here, and it was satisfy-

Field Nats News 212 Page 11

Marine Research Group News Report on the MRG field trip From Goat Island, Mallacoota: the bubble From Clifton Springs, Port Phillip Bay: to Clifton Springs, Port Phillip snails Cylichnatys campanula, Tornatina Bulla quoyii, Haminoea maugeansis, apicina, Limulatys reliquus, the ‘sea Liloa brevis, Ethminolia vitiliginea and Bay, Victoria, Saturday 23 hares’ Aplysia juliana, Aplysia sydneyen- Guraleus cuspis. April, 2011 sis and the snail Batillaria australis. Records included the bubble shells Also presented was a collection of im- Bulla quoyii, Liloa brevis and Hami- From Bastion Point, Mallacoota: the mol- pressive polychaete images (inclusive of noea maugeansis. The turrid snails Gu- luscs Hydatina physis, Bullina lineata, field trips from previous seasons) show- raleus cuspis and Guraleus pictus, as Philippia lutea, Epitonium jukesianum, ing the families Nereididae (also referred well as the trochid Ethminolia vitiligi- and the very large Charonia lampas rubi- to as Nereidae in early literature) and nea were also present. cunda; the swimming anemone Eunicidae. Phlyctenactis tuberculosa, and caprellid The latter is especially interesting in crustaceans. The Nereididae are a diverse family that it has an explosive escape response, amongst which are the sandworms. Ne- being able to vigorously wriggle its foot From Pickering Point, Warrnambool area: reidids are often predatory with a set of back and forth to generate a strong (but The sea star Parvulastra exigua, various retractable jaws and the head bears four short-lived) swimming action. anemones, the holothurians Trachythyone pairs of tentacular cirri, a pair of palps candida, and the opisthobranchs Placida and a pair of antennae. This completes the field trip reporting dendritica, Placida sp. 2, Polycera jan- for the 2010-2011 season. jukia, Polybranchia pallens and Flabellina The Eunicidae are a diverse family of poenicea. elongate worms with complex jaws, the Report on the MRG members chemistry of which makes them condu- night, Monday 9 May, 2011 From Rogers Rocks, Warrnambool region: cive to fossilisation, a feature not shared Barbara Hall presented crustacean the holothuroids Neocnus bimarsupiis and by other polychaete families. There are images focussing on caprellids and am- Trochodota epiphyka. up to five antennae and the animals often phipods with microscopic detail of bear an iridescent sheen and a distinct small parts. Sisters Point, Warrnambool region: the transverse band at the anterior end. The heterobranchs Odostomia victoriae and genera Marphysa and Eunice were John Eichler presented images from Turbonilla beddomei; and the opistho- shown. Also shown was an acorn worm the Mallacoota region including jewel branchs Philine sp. 2, Polycera janjukia, (Phylum Hemichordata). anemones, the molluscs Hydatina phy- Phyllodesmium serratum, and Madrella sis, Phasianotrochus eximius, Nodilit- sanguinea. Thanks go to all presenters and also to all torina pyramidalis; from Stony point present in a very good ‘wrap-up’ of the the sea stars Tosia magnifica, Pentago- From Stony Point, Western Port Bay: the field work activity for the summer / au- naster dubeni and the hermit crab sea urchins Heliocidaris erythrogramma, tumn of 2010-2011. Paguristes frontalis. Goniocidaris tubaria and impressa, vari- ous ascidians and sponges, the sea stars Reference and further reading: Leon Altoff presented images covering Tosia magnifica, Uniophora granifera, and Edgar GJ (2008). Australian marine life. the summer’s suite of field trips. Pentagonaster dubeni, the crabs Naxia sp. The plants and animals of temperate and Paguristes frontalis, and the impres- waters. Second edition. New Holland From Gabo Island, Mallacoota: the blu- sive molluscs Maoricrypta immersa and Publishers, Sydney. ish barnacles Austrobalanus imperator, Cystiscus minutissimus contrasted with Tetraclitella purpuras- P. Vafiadis cens; and a tonnoidean veliger.

Many thanks to those who helped collate and label FNN 211

Andrew Brentnall, Margo Bundy, Joan Broadberry, Margaret Corrick, Peter Dempsey, Bill Fenner, Keith Marshall, Roger Needham, Gary Presland, Bob Rowlands, Ray Power, Noel Schleiger, Graeme Thomson

Our thanks to our friends at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary for the loan of their very comfortable premises. Special thanks to Andrew Brentnall and Peter Dempsey for setting up the room, and Hali for packing up the boxes with all the items needed.

Collation was again held in the morning, and seemed to be a success. Therefore, we will continue to start collation at 10.30am in the future. Page 12 Field Nats News No. 212

CLEARING OUT THE HALL FOR (Continued from page 1) details of the next sub-committee PAINTING & REPAIRS– THANKS meeting.

A huge “thank you” to those who helped move the Twitcher’s If you have suggestions for activi- contents of the hall on Sunday 24th July. In par- ties or guest speakers or are yet to ticular we would like to thank Gary Leete of Fra- register, (due date was July 29th) meCo for the loan of floor space in his premises. Cottage please email

Members: Gary Leete Non-members: [email protected] or contact Field Nats members Merrin and David Gibson Hali Ferguson Hali in the office to be put on the John Harris Rob Ferguson Paul will welcome you for tran- list for further information as it Kathy Himbeck Matt Ferguson quil and guilt free relaxation less arises. Joan Broadberry Melanie Ferguson than two hours from the bustle of Barbara Burns Jeremy Pukey Melbourne. Set in a native garden First Aid Course Gary Presland Pete McCall—trailer with spectacular views and near We are still seeking to have mem- Mount Worth State Park bers register their interest in attend- ing the proposed first aid courses. To paint and repair the hall after the fire, it needed Twitcher’s Cottage puts you to be completely cleared of furniture and contents. Hali is currently trying to source back in touch with nature for a funding to cover the cost so that With a few FNCV members, the entire Ferguson relaxing short or long break. clan, and their friend Jeremy, gave up their Sun- members may not be too much out day afternoon to lug chairs, tables, cabinets and the of pocket. whole catastrophe to a corner of Gary Leete’s fac- Twitcher’s can now also ensure tory in Blackburn. Gary, who has recently joined that your holiday is carbon neu- What’s in a Name? the FNCV, who generously offered the club tem- tral, with solar photovoltaic pan- While touring NSW and Qld, I had porary storage facilities. A convoy of three trail- els, our own carbon sink re- many an opportunity to see some of ers, van, 4WD and assorted cars and station wag- vegetation and the use of our own the wildlife that these states have to ons completed the job in roughly four hours. plantation firewood. No tricky offer. One such species was Black Wallaby, Wallabia bicolor, a spe- offset calculations, everything is We have our irreplaceable administrative assistant cies that I have always referred to managed on site! as Swamp Wallaby but obviously Hali, to thank for the idea, and for organising and carrying it through, saving the Club quite a bit of that is a misnomer these days. I saw At $110 per night for up to four money. It is only small part of the enormous it in many places considerable dis- workload Hali people (self-catering) it is afford- tances from the nearest swamp such has capably and able and comfortable for couples as in the middle of dry paddocks, willingly under- families or small groups. roadsides and in cotton growing taken since the areas and the like. It also made me fire. Check availability and book at: think about other animals, for ex- *Incidentally, www.twitchers-cottage.com.au ample the Western Grey Kangaroo, we unearthed Macropus fuliginosus, we see in the Phone: 03 5634 4256 eastern states. many strange Mob: 04 0305 1853 and wonderful John Harris, objects in the President clean out.

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