Having a fun time with Fungi

Spiky fungi discovered

If you’ve been out in the woods today you’re in for a big surprise. It seems the moisture and temperature have produced the right combination for many fungi to fruit and so become visible. On one day of landcaring purple and slimy ones, orange, yellow, brown and big–white and spikey fungi were all found.

Identifying fungi has become a little easier with ‘A guide to common fungi of the Hunter-Central River Region’ being released and available online.

The guide provides some interesting insights into fungi.

They are the second most diverse group of organisms in the world, after the arthropods. Despite their abundance there is little known about them, probably because you can’t see them most of the time. It’s estimated there are 36,000 different species of fungi in NSW- 30,000 can’t be seen with the naked eye and of the rest only about 3000 have been formally identified and named.

So what’s all the fuss about fungi? Firstly they are the main decomposers and recyclers in forest ecosystems being one of the few organisms that can break down the tough bits in wood (lignin). Also whilst they’re recycling the wood they make mineral and nutrients, especially carbon available for other plants, they also secrete a kind of glue which creates structure in the soil. Finally, in about 80-90% of land plant species there is a special relationship with the underground fungal filaments (mycorrhiza) that enables plants to access phosphorus, an element not readily available for plant uptake in Australian soils.

The amazing thing is that the plants can have more than one fungal partner and the fungi can have multiple plant partners creating a very complex and interwoven web that makes understanding how forests work rather tricky.

Spiky Fungi 1 week later