Geastrum triplex david catcheside large
Geastrum triplex david catcheside large

5 fungi you’ll find in the Adelaide Hills

24 Apr. 2023 4 min read

Next time you’re out walking, take a look and see if you can spot these intricate – and often smelly – fungi.

The world of fungi is weird and wonderful, with strange names that sound like they belong in fiction, and structures that appear for just a matter of days before shrivelling up and disappearing.

Some look like cauliflower, coral or even teeth. And some are highly poisonous, so don’t eat them unless you are accompanied by an expert – even if it looks edible or is named after something delicious.

We often wander past these fantastic fungi without even noticing, but they’re definitely worth a closer look.

Before we show you which fungi to look out for, let’s take a closer look at what fungi actually are and how dangerous they can be.

What’s all the fuss about fungi?

Fungi are important in all ecosystems, from your backyard to the local park.

Many species of fungi return vital nutrients to the soil by breaking down organic matter, which in some cases is dead animals. A fancy name for this ability is ‘saprotrophic’.

Others help plants grow by supplying them with essential nutrients that they have drawn out of the soil – something they are particularly good at.

Of course, some of them are eaten by animals too.

Don’t make a fatal mistake

Just because they might look interesting, it doesn’t mean fungi are safe to touch or eat.

In fact, it’s largely unknown which native fungi are edible and which are poisonous, so don’t eat any you come across and wash your hands if you accidentally touch one.

While we’re at it, don’t assume you know what a regular edible mushroom looks like either. You’d need an expert to help you tell the difference between the poisonous yellow stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) and the mushrooms you buy from the supermarket. And some fungi, such as the death cap fungi (Amanita phalloides) can kill you if eaten, so it’s best not to take the risk.

5 fungi you’ll find in the Adelaide Hills
Yellow stainers – an introduced fungus in the Adelaide Hills (image courtesy of David Catcheside)

But don’t let this discourage you from looking at and photographing these fascinating organisms.

Here are five that you can find in and around the Adelaide Hills at this time of year:

1. Collared earth star (Geastrum triplex)

This fungus sounds more like it should be a ship in Star Wars than a plant. It starts as an onion shape before the outer layer peels away to resemble a star. Spores puff out through a hole in the centre if it’s touched.

5 fungi you’ll find in the Adelaide Hills
(Image courtesy of David Catcheside)

2. Coral fungus (Ramaria australiana)

A coral or cauliflower look-alike – whichever way you’d like to see it. This ‘fun guy’ is part of the family that produces its spores on club-shaped structures called basidia.

5 fungi you’ll find in the Adelaide Hills
(Image courtesy of David Catcheside)

3. Jelly baby (Leotia lubrica)

This one sounds tasty, but don’t be fooled into eating it as it’s inedible. It’s a yellow to green colour and has a rounded cap sitting on top of its stem.

5 fungi you’ll find in the Adelaide Hills
(Image courtesy of Anthony Robinson)

4. Smooth cage (Ileodictyon gracile)

This is a creepy looking fungus that grows in the shape of a cage and can separate from its base and roll along the ground. Smooth cage is one of the ‘stinkhorns’, which as the name suggests, often smells quite unpleasant.

5 fungi you’ll find in the Adelaide Hills
(Image courtesy of Phil Bridle)

5. Lawyer’s wig (Coprinus comatus)

This fungus pops out of the ground as a white, scaly cylinder but its gills eventually turn into black liquid. Once upon a time, this liquid was used as writing ink – in George Washington’s day apparently.

5 fungi you’ll find in the Adelaide Hills
(Image courtesy of Anthony Robinson)

Note: It is prohibited to take fungi (including mushrooms) from national parks and gardens for the health and safety of the public.

Like what you just read? Here’smore fantastic fungi to look out for in the Adelaide Hills. If you’re intrigued by the idea of fungi that bleed red liquid when they have a broken stem, button-like fungi that grow out of marsupial dung, or fungi that change colour when scratched, check out theFungi ID chart.

This story was originally posted in August 2016.

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