I had visited the Lane Cove Valley not long before looking for fungi. On that occasion I had found some interesting species and want to make another visit to see how they had changed with time.
In particular, I had observed a species of Helvella. It was then small and quite hairy. What would it look like now? This trip, I entered the valley from Cheltenham – walking down Devlins Creek. The Helvella was just a short way upstream of the junction with the Lane Cove River (and on the Great North Walk track). I soon found the fungi, and could see they had grown, and now looked more familiar. They were Helvella aff. macropus. I had seen this species at Ferndale Park a few years before.
Nearby were some more interesting fungi. I have no idea what the small white fungi are that were growing in soil and on rocks nearby. They are quite tiny, maximum size about 10 mm across, have an asymmetric stipe, wide gills and they appear a little furry when small. The closest in appearance I can find is Marasmiellus, but those seem to grow on wood.
I then continued downstream. Here is some of the fungi I photographed –
I was also interesting in examining another fungus that I had seen on my prior trip – a blue coloured spine fungus. I found it again and took some more photos –
This is likely to be Hydnellum fraudulentum.
I continued downstream all the way to the Lane Cove National Park visitor centre. Here is some fungi I found along the way –
I then walked to Chatswood Station via Swaines Creek and Ferndale Park. It was not that late, but after 4 pm and it was gloomy in the forest – too dark to spot a lot of fungi. Here are a few –
More photos with identifcations are online here on my website.