Last Saturday, I joined members of the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc for a walk along part of Wolli Creek to look for fungi. on the activity we were joined by members of Wolli Creek Preservation Society. We split into three groups and visited different parts of Wolli Creek and then met up at Girrahween Park to see what the others groups had found.
It was a very interesting day, even though not that much fungi was out. The week before had been quite dry.
The highlight was seeing some Hygrocybe austropratensis – a very rare and critically endangered species growing fairly close to Girrahween Park. They were growing in the same location that I had seen them growing last year – a good sign.
Hygrocybe austropratensis
Hygrocybe austropratensis
A finding of great concern however was seeing a fungi that exhibited rosecomb. Rosecomb is condition where a fungi has abnormal gills due to toxicity from hydrocarbons. See here for example. The fungi found along Wolli Creek with the abnormality was collected very close to the M5 Exhaust Stack. The fungi with this condition is an indicator that there is something seriously wrong with the environment which could affect humans.
Fungus with abnormal gills – they are growing on the top of the cap.
I have more photos taken on the day on my website here.
Slime Mould
I wonder how endangered H. austropratensis is, I found quite a few in Lane Cove NP last Sunday, including 5 in a group. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kjbeath/17479821750/in/dateposted-public/