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Fungi Photos Group D
Clavulina cristata to Coprinus comatus
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Clavulina cristata is a mycorrhizal coral fungus occurs world-wide in various forest environments. Fruit bodies up to 80 mm high, branching tips frilled to variously toothed, shining white, discolouring yellowish with age. The extent of branching is very variable, and there are other complications in the identification of this species. It is subject to attack by a pyrenomycete (a microfungus), Helminthosphaeria clavariarum, which causes disolouration from the base upwards into shades of grey to black. This causes confusion with two other fungi, namely Clavulina rugosa and Clavulina cinerea, both of which can be greyish and sometimes develop toothed (cristate) points. There may well be a complex of species of similar appearance. It may be simplest to just name white, pointy corals as the Clavulina cristata group. Mushroom Expert ref MykoWeb ref Jenni Horsnell image Eco Tourism track, Sanatorium Picnic Ground, Mt Macedon, 2010.
Clitocybe clitocyboides is common in moist to wet forest, probably native to Australia and NZ. Has caps up to 70 mm, deeply funnel-shaped with a very smooth cap surface, and pale cream to brownish cream or pinkish cream in colour, margins striate. The gills are deeply decurrent, and the spore print is white. Ned's Gully, Cathedral Range, 2006. 57 kB
Clitocybe phyllophila. Introduced species associated with introduced Northern Hemisphere trees, with which is it mycorrhizal. Cap to 50 mm, convex, central depression, margin inrolled when young. Gills deep cream when mature. Spore print pale orange, which is unusual for Clitocybe. There are some other similar-looking Clitocybe-like species in Australia from my observations. Wikimedia Commons ref Many other Northern Hemisphere Clitocybe species look very similar as seen in this link. Eco Tourism track, Sanatorium Picnic Ground, Mt Macedon, 2010.
Clitopilus hobsonii a rare fungus growing on rotting wood, not unique to Australia. Cap small (to 12 mm?), white, slightly furry, incurved at edge; stem almost non-existence, on side of cap. Gills white to off-white, waxy, not close; spore print pinkish. Only seen on the same dead stump in two successive sightings. MycoKey ref Bioimages ref Bioimages ref Ned's Gully, Cathedral Range, 2007. 31 kB
Collybia eucalyptorum, a native Australian wood-rotting fungus found on dead wood or bark, in groups or clumps. Cap approx 38 mm, broadly convex, often upturned margin, dry, buff-cinnamon centre, pale toward margin. Gills crowded, cream, adnexed, spore print white. Stem central, slender (approx 60x5 mm), smooth, pale brown to reddish brown, cartilaginous. Morwell NP ref Ned's Gully, Cathedral Range, 2007.
Coltricia cinnamomea a cosmopolitan small polypore, cap to 50 mm, on the ground, usually on buried wood. Cap lightly funnel-shaped, cinnamon to brownish with marked radial zones, with a very fibrous, silky to hairy appearance, rather thin and leathery. Adjacent caps sometimes fuse together. Pores small, brownish shades, stem central, brown. Spore print yellow-brown. Mushroom Expert ref MykoWeb ref. Jumping Creek Nature Trail, Warrandyte, 2007. 76 kB
Comatricha nigra, an uncommon but cosmopolitan slime mold (Myxomycete) growing on moist dead wood, fruit bodies to 9 mm high. A fine, hair-like black stalk rises into a blob of white to brownish gelatinous spore-bearing material, spherical to oblong in shape. There is a hidden fibrous network inside the blobs. Discover Life ref Sanamyan ref. Jack Cann Reserve, Blackwood, 2008. 34 kB
Conocybe filaris, a widespread, cosmopolitan fungus associated with rotting vegetable matter. Cap tawny brownish, widely conical to flat, striate, granulose at apex, to 15 mm across. Gills similar colour to cap. Stem slender, yellow-brown, with a pronounced wide, pale brown, membraneous ring. Spore print yellow brown. Highly poisonous! Easily confused with hallucinogenic mushrooms. Wikipedia ref Mykoweb ref Mortimer Picnic Ground, Bunyip State Forest, 2009. 35 kB
Coprinellus disseminatus, common, widespread, cosmopolitan. In large numbers over soils associated with buried wood, often appearing suddenly. Caps to 12 mm, starting creamy yellow, compressed at first but expanding to pale grey, with striations, darkening at edges, but not deliquescing (auto-digesting) but shrivelling with age. Gills whitish to fawn-grey, spore-print black. Stems delicate, fawn-grey, no ring. ANBG image Mushroom Expert ref Jack Cann Reserve, Blackwood, 2008. 88 kB
Coprinellus truncorum, is common, widespread and consmopolitan. Often in dense colonies, occurring on buried wood, around and on stumps, etc. Brown caps to 35 mm, parabolic at first, covered initially with fine, glistening mica-like whitish granules; flesh thin. Gills white then brownish finally black, autodigesting; spore print black. Stem white, smooth. Similar to Coprinellus micaceus (Northern hemisphere), separated only by microscopic aspects, and C. micaceus has powdery stem, C. truncorum stem smooth. Mushroom Expert: C. micaceus Wikipedia ref. Domestic lawn, Merimbula, 2008. 46 kB
Coprinus comatus, "Lawyer's Wig", or "Shaggy Ink Cap", common, widespread, cosmopolitan. Probably introduced here. Found along road edges, disturbed ground, associated with decaying vegetable matter. Cap to 70 mm, ovoid at first, then opening out to a bell shape; light grey, covered with large white brown-tipped scales; yellow-brown zone (an umbo) at top. Gills white to pink, then black; spore print black. Gills deliquesce to black at maturity. Stem white with ring which might be movable. The cap often decays, leaving only the stem. Edible when young, but toxic in association with alcohol. Wikipedia ref Jack Cann Reserve, Blackwood, 2008. 40 kB