Previous fungus of the month information sheets have recently been updated, including some name changes and new information, and are now fungus fact sheets.
Anthracobia muelleri 374.61 KB Anthracobia muelleri is a tiny disc-shaped fungus that fruits prolifically on burnt soil in the autumn following a summer bushfire.
Armillaria luteobubalina 291.01 KB Armillaria luteobubalina, the Australian honey fungus, is an endemic parasitic fungus that can infect the roots of most shrub and tree species, eventually killing them.
Banksiamyces species is a small stalked disc-shaped fungus that grows specifically on Banksia cones.
Beauveria bassiana570.24 KB A number of fungi attack and live parasitically on various insects and their larvae.
Boletellus ananiceps337.77 KB Boletellus ananiceps, the shaggy-capped bolete, has a large robust mushroom-like fruit body up to 15 cm diameter.
Boletus sp.—Blue stainer295.9 KB Bolete is the common name for those mushroom-like fungi that have a layer of sponge-like pores on the underside of the cap instead of gills.
Calostoma fuscum441.63 KB Calostoma fuscum belongs to a group of ornamented, stalked puffball fungi commonly referred to as ‘pretty mouths’.
Campanella gregaria386.93 KB Campanella gregaria is an intriguing small shell-like fungus that fruits on the dead wood of banksias, sheoaks and jarrah in late autumn and early winter in the south west of Western Australia.
Cantharellus concinnus 283.72 KB Cantharellus concinnus, or pink chantarelle, is an attractive but uncommon fungus that grows amongst litter in the wetter areas of eucalypt forests and woodlands and coastal heath in southern Australia.
Clavaria miniata377.23 KB The flame fungus, Clavaria miniata, belongs to a group of fungi commonly referred to as coral fungi.
Coltriciella dependens328.62 KB Coltriciella dependens can be found throughout the jarrah forest and south-west woodlands, fruiting on the underside of burnt wood that is laying flat on the ground.
Cortinarius fibrillosus344.75 KB Cortinarus fibrillosus is found throughout southern and eastern Australia. In south-western Australia it can be found in jarrah forest in autumn and early winter.
Cortinarius sp.405.83 KB Despite being distinctive and common in jarrah forest, this species appears to be undescribed.
Cotylidia undulata327.05 KB Cotylidia undulata is a small but distinctive fungus. In south-western Australia it can be found in most eucalypt forests in autumn and early winter, on recently burnt sites..
Fistulina spiculifera452.36 KB Fistulina spiculifera, the beefsteak fungus, is a common fungus that fruits on living or dead jarrah trees.
Gymnopilus alantopus380.69 KB Gymnopilus alantopus is a very common species in jarrah forest; fruiting on logs and small diameter woody debris in the late autumn.
Gymnopilus junonius416.98 KB Gymnopilus junonius forms large spectacular clusters of golden-brown to orange-brown mushrooms on stumps and buried wood or at the base of living trees.
Hebeloma aminophilum 427.06 KB The Ghoul fungus, Hebeloma aminophilum, is aptly named because it grows beside or near the remains of decaying animal carcases.
Heterotextus peziziformis407.95 KB Heterotextus peziziformis, commonly referred to as jelly bells, is common throughout southern and eastern Australia.
Hydnoplicata convoluta307.37 KB Hydnoplicata convoluta is a common fungus found throughout eucalypt forests in southern Australia including Western Australia and Tasmania.
Hydnum repandum272.72 KB Hydnum repandum is a mushroom with spines on the underside of the cap rather than gills.
Hygrocybe polychroma314.52 KB Hygrocybe polychroma is widespread throughout the wetter areas of the jarrah forest and woodlands, and coastal heath regions of the south-west.
Hypholoma australe301.8 KB Hypholoma australe is a common fungus found throughout eucalypt forests in Western Australia and Tasmania.
Hypoxylon subrutilum385.77 KB Hypoxylon subrutilans forms flat purplish-red sheets called stroma on the bark of dead stems and twigs of understorey shrubs and small trees.
Ileodictyon gracile476.18 KB Ileodicyton gracile, or the basket fungus, is common in both forest and urban areas in the southwest.
Laccocephalum mylittae489.22 KB Aboriginal people from different tribes once referred to Laccocephalum mylittae, or native bread, with their own unique names, but unfortunately no Nyungar name was recorded.
Lactarius eucalypti312.64 KB Lactarius eucalypti is found in most forests and woodlands throughout southern Australia.
Marasmius crinisequi, or the horse hair fungus, is very common in jarrah forest during the wetter winter months.
Marasmius elegans330.48 KB Marasmius elegans is a striking fungus found in mid-autumn in eucalypt forests throughout southern Australia.
Melanotus hepatochrous383.49 KB Melanotus hepatochrous is a small hoof-shaped fungus that fruits on the bark of dead wood in late autumn and early winter in eucalypt forests in southern Australia.
Mesophellia trabalis613.68 KB Truffle-like hypogeous fungi such as Mesophellia trabalis fruit below the ground or under decomposing litter.
Morchella elata385.64 KB Species of Morchella, or morels, are distinctive fungi that fruit in the spring.
Mucronella pendula214.65 KB Mucronella pendula, or icicle fungus, is found across the wetter forested regions of southern Australia, but is not common.
Mycena yuulongicola335.13 KB Mycena yuulongicola is a common fungus throughout eucalypt forests in southern Australia.
Mycena sp. ‘rosy pink mycena’ 311.22 KB This small unnamed rosy pink Mycena is found in the southern regions of the jarrah forest in late autumn to early winter.
Nidula emodensis247.81 KB Nidula emodensis belongs to a group of fungi commonly called birds nest fungi.
Nothojafnea cryptotricha347.67 KB Nothojafnea cryptotricha is found in wetter regions of eucalypt forests in both the south east and south west of Australia.
Omphalotus nidiformis335.9 KB The ghost fungus, Omphalotus nidiformis, is common throughout southern and subtropical eastern Australia.
Panus fasciatus298.19 KB The densely hairy cap and chestnut bristles on the stem make the hairy panus (Panus fasciatus) easy to identify.
Peziza tenacella420.02 KB Peziza tenacella is a reasonably common cup fungus found in the autumn following summer bushfires in karri and jarrah forest as well as other recently burnt woodlands and coastal habitats.
Phelledon niger323.3 KB Phelloden niger is a tough leathery fungus that belongs to a group of fungi that have spines forming the spore bearing layer on the underside of the cap.
Piptoporus australiensis396 KB The curry punk fungus, Piptoporus australiensis, is common on karri trees and logs in late summer.
Pisolithus albus341.33 KB Pisolithus albus, or white dye-ball fungus, belongs to a group of fungi commonly referred to as Earth balls.
Ramaria ochraceosalmonicolor262.13 KB Ramaria ochraceosalmonicolor does not have a common name, but could be referred to as the salmon coral fungus.
Resupinatus cinerascens376.42 KB Resupinatus cinerascens is a common fungus in jarrah forest and woodlands in mid- to late-autumn.
Russula adusta312.53 KB Russula adusta is common in all wetter eucalypt forests and woodlands of the south west in early- to mid-autumn.
Russula clelandii291.13 KB Russula clelandii is a very common species in jarrah forest; fruiting on the ground amongst leaf litter in early autumn.
Russula flocktoniae414.65 KB Russula flocktoniae is a common species in jarrah forest and is found in most eucalypt forests and woodlands in southern Australia in early autumn to early winter.
Russula neerimea298.61 KB Russula neerimea is found in most eucalypt and other forests and woodlands in southern Australia.
Russula persanguinea294.73 KB Russula persanguinea is an uncommon species found in the wetter areas of eucalypt forests in the south west, including karri, jarrah and tingle forest.
Scutellinia scutellata287.62 KB Scutellinia scutellata, the eyelash cup fungus is readily recognised by the pale to bright orange cups decorated with stiff eyelash-like hairs around the rim.
Trametes versicolor391.92 KB Trametes versicolor, or the rainbow fungus, is a common bracket or fan-shaped fungus that fruits on either dead wood on live trees or logs and dead branches on the ground.
Trichoglossum hirsutum393.22 KB Black earth tongues, species of Trichoglossum and Geoglossum, are usually found fruiting in moss beds in the bush or sometimes on lawns.
Laetiporus portentosus466.97 KB. Photo © Richard Robinson/ Parks and Wildlife