Noticed a few fungi in the parks and gardens lately? Fungi tend to wait for the dry and heat of summer to be over before they spread their spores for reproduction (fungi do not have seeds like plants). Autumn and early winter rain is usually the signal for the fungi to produce their fruiting bodies containing the spore.
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| Armillaria sp - Uralla Trafalgar |
The array of size, shape and colours of fungi never ceases to amaze. It is almost certain that in any patch of bushland the number of species of fungi is far greater than the number of plant species. It’s worth remembering too that probably 90% of plants rely on fungi for their survival.
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| Clavaria sp - Rokeby |
Because fungi do not use photosynthesis for making nutrients, they don’t rely on sunshine for their growth. As a result, fungi are often found growing in dark places such as under shrubs and logs.
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| Tremella sp - Nangara Jindivick |
In our district, we have some great nearby locations for seeing these remarkable organisms – Thornell’s Reserve Longwarry Nth, Labertouche Bushland Reserve, Nangara Reserve Jindivick, Rokeby-Crossover Rail Trail, Mount Worth State Park, etc. Some interesting fungi can often be found just on roadsides. Horse-dung Fungi, Pisolithus arhizus, is often found in the middle of walking tracks and bush roads.
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| Pisolithus sp - Labertouche |
Fungi are essential for a healthy environment. We should appreciate and conserve the presence of fungi in the environment just as we do the plants and animals.
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