As Autumn leaves fall, and the cooler weather creeps up on us, many of you may be forgiven for thinking that the action-packed splurge of growth in the World around us is winding down, however, in some parts, things are just getting interesting.
Under our feet is a giant network of interconnected tiny threads, burrowed into, or wrapped around the roots of plants and trees, working together to share nutrients, water, carbon and nitrogen between plants across the planet. The Mycorrhizal network made up of the roots and the mycelium that connects them, thrive in the cooler, wetter conditions of late autumn, thru winter and into spring. The shorter days, cooler evenings and low soil temperature all combine to create ideal conditions for the fruit of the mycelium network to start popping up;
Mushrooms!
A stroll through your local park, or even an adventure to your nearest National Park, at this time of year can be a really thrilling experience, especially if you pay close attention to what’s right at your feet.
The most important thing to remember is to treat every mushroom you see, as though it is toxic. Of the hundreds of different species of mushrooms there are in the world, only a handful of mushrooms are non toxic, and of those, only a few are enjoyable to eat. Tread lightly, as the forest floors they enjoy, are often made of layers of decomposing leaf litter, and are easily disturbed. Stick to paths where possible, and avoid touching the mushrooms, despite how enticingly bright and colourful they seem.
During a recent trip to the Old Growth Forests of Warburton and surrounds, we were able to spot these spectacular species…
One of the more iconic species of Mushroom, this toadstool has been spotted everywhere from Disney Cartoons, to Super Mario games. Brightly coloured, usually red, sometimes orange, speckled with white spores, this Fungi is easy to spot. There are stories dating back over a thousand years of Viking reindeer herders of Scandinavia, drying them in Spruce trees – Picea abies, and feeding these mushrooms to their herds during the colder months. Which, in turn, have led some to believe these mushrooms originated some of the more famous Christmas traditions, such as tree decorating, and flying/dancing reindeer.
Quite common in Southern Australia, this coral-like fungus is found in the wetter regions of Eucalypt forests. Usually found in clusters, among the leaf litter, these smaller types of mushroom are often harder to spot. A distinguishing feature is a lingering peppery taste (which can be experienced if a small piece is crushed and placed on the tip of your tongue—however, eating it is not recommended).
Although this may look like the King Oyster Mushroom you enjoyed in your most recent Miso Soup, these forest grown Oysterlings are considered toxic. They are usually found on the Southern facing trunk of large trees, which could come in handy if you became disoriented in the forest canopy, or were travelling by night.
Brightly coloured, and spectacular to observe, these mushrooms are a rare occurrence. First described in 1987, in Australia, this specific genus is only found under the combined canopy of Jarrah, Eucalyptus marginata and Karri, Eucalyptus diversicolor. This Fungi comes from the larger Russula family, whose brightly coloured cousins number over 750 species.
Although this looks like the body and legs of a jellified spider, it’s actually a type of Calocera. The name of this fungi originates from the Greek kalós meaning ‘Beautiful’ and kéras meaning ‘Horn’.
A commonly found mushroom right across Australia, these are named for their frilly hoods and gills, which look similar to a Bonnet or dress. Usually found in clusters, as these mushrooms develop, their gills dissolve into a dark liquid, referred to as Ink. These are sometimes called Fairy Ink-caps.
