Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Gliophorus
Species: G. pallidus
G. pallidus can sometimes be a difficult species to name to the extent that an Australian mycologist has combined this with the green wax gillGliophorus graminicolor. I personal don't agree with this as I have never seen a pale G. graminicolor or a G. pallidus with any green colouring. When young G. pallidus has an orange tint and as it matures this fades to cream or an off white some times with pink tinges as in the photo above. With a depressed centre to the cap and decurrent gills its not to difficult to name once you are comfortable with the colour range. Unfortunately there are a couple of similar undescribed species that turn up from time to time that can cause confusion.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Gliophorus
Species: G. graminicolor
Of the two described species of green Gliophorus this one is usually the lest common in the Auckland region that was till last year when nearly all the green ones that turned up were this species. The nice reticulated texture to the cap is the result of environmental effects. Typical of the Gliophorus species these have a glutinous cap and stalk and in dry weather the glutinous material dries out. I this case the material has formed a lovely reticulated pattern. This species also does not seem to hold its colour well and can be often be seen to have faded around the edges of the cap.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Ascomycota
Class: Ascomycetes
Order: Helotiales
Family: Helotiaceae
Genus: Ascocoryne
Species: A. sarcoides
This cup fungus is a little odd in having two different forms. When sexual reproduction occurs it forms a cup like structure or as in the case above a stalked structure. When asexual reproduction occurs (which is effectively a clone of its self) then it forms a stalked structure. In all forms it is still deep purple in colour the cups are up to 15 mm in diameter while the stalked structure are 10 mm high.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Polyporales
Family: Steccherinaceae
Genus: Antrodiella
Species: A. Junghuhnia
This wood decay bracket fungus which is common on large logs is recognised by its short blunt spines. Fruiting body's can also form rosettes 60 mm in diameter or lay flat on the surface much depending on what part of the log they grow on.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Marasmiaceae
Genus: Favolaschia
Species: F. calocera
Of the four species of Favolaschia found in New Zealand all are saprophytic that is grow on dead plant material. Are brightly coloured or white with the lower surface being honeycomb with deep cavities and having white spores. F. calocera is an introduced tropical species believed from Madagascar has now spread throughout the North Island and much of the South Island. In resent time this species has now found its way to Australia believed on rotten wooden pellets.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Gliophorus
Species: G. lilacinoides
Taken in the Kauri forest up the road from workman track on our last club foray to this location, been a typical waxgill with its small size and bright colours. The members of the Gliophorus genus are recognised but a glutinous cap and stipe and in some species a glutinous edge on the gills.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Ascomycota
Class: Ascomycetes
Order: Pezizales
Family: Sarcosomataceae
Genus: Plectania
Species: Not named
This cup fungus is one of several black cup fungi that have never been named this one in particular is very common. Found almost exclusively on tea tree often when still standing or held off the ground by other forest derby. When found on top of wood these have a very short stalk but when growing from the side it can have a stalk up to 40 mm long.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Mycena
Species: M. mariae
This wonderful mycena is one of a few red mycena that bleeds a red sap when the stipe is broken and squished. Although not as bright as M. ura it makes up for this by its larger size. Found in leaf litter it has light brown hairs at the base of the stipe.
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Cortinariaceae
Genus: Cortinarius
Species: C. rotundisporus
Cortinarius rotundisporus is another of our common mycorrhizal fungi found in both Leptospermum and Nothofagus Forests. It can be very variable in colour in wet conditions it much like the above picture with a glutinous cap, dark brown in the centre and blue/gray towards the edge and a blue/gray stalk. Immature ones being dark green with a blue/greasy stalk. In dry conditions the cap is dry brown, blue/greasy or blue/green. Size can very from 40 mm to 60 mm in diameter and 60 to 100 mm high.
These are some times mistaken for magic mushrooms and eaten by mistake this is not recommended!! Although not known to be poisons there is a belief that all cortinarius contain small amounts of orellanus which over time and repeated eating of this group of fungi can cause kidneys to fail.
Yellow Cantharellus
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Cantharellales :>
Family: Cantharellaceae
Genus: Cantharellus
Species: C. wellingtonensis
With the 2008 season about to start I thought I would show you one of the more common fungi found at the start of the season. C. wellingtonensis is easily recognised by its bright yellow fruiting bodies which fade with age and white decurrent gills. Found under ti tree this species looks very similar to many of the waxgills and at one time was thought to be one.
Forest Lights
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Hygrocybe
Species: H. firma
This was taken at our resent foray to Murphy's Bush and is a common fungi found in this reserve. This species starts life being bright orange as it grows it turns yellow with age, with only the gills holding any of the orange colour.
Nortey Cortinies
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Cortinariaceae
Genus: Cortinarius
Species: Cortinarius lubricanescens and Cortinarius species
Cortinarius are a large genus of Mycorrhizal fungi found in association with Nothofagus and/or Leptospermum forest (beech, tea tree). Due to the large number involved it hard to identify them. This group is typically recognised by the presence of a cortina. The cortina is a veil, with silky or cobwebby fibres which protects the gills of a young fungus. That then collapses as the cap opens in most cases, often leaving hairs on the stem which are then stain brown from their spores.
