KWINANA/ROCKINGHAM/MANDURAH BRANCH

At the August General Meeting, Daniel Heald delivered a presentation titled 30 more Fungi (a follow-up to a presentation from two years ago).

Daniel’s presentation highlighted the fungus family’s great diversity and how 30 different types of fungus fit into the ecosystems where they are found. The species discussed ranged from common fungi we might find in our local bush to others that occur in places where one would not expect a fungus. Examples of the latter type included the Desert Shaggy Mane, Podaxis pistillaris, with the presentation showing a typical mushroom fruiting body emerging from otherwise barren, dry sandy desert soil. Another slide showed a small pixie-cap-type fruiting body of Aquatic Gilled Mushroom, Sathyrella aquatica, on the bed of a flowing river.

Daniel also discussed fungi with other properties, such as colour variations (e.g., Cortinarius sp. and Boletes); bioluminescence – e.g., Ghost Fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis) and Mycena chlorophos); and other fungi with shape variations, such as the Pagoda Fungi (Podoserpula sp.).

The presentation also discussed Cordyceps sp., fungi that infested living organisms such as wasps, katydids, and even a frog. The symbiotic relationship between fungi and Lichens was also covered in the presentation, with many examples provided. The audience thanked Daniel for the very interesting presentation.

Colin Prickett