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Funky fungi walk
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| The Scarlet Flycap, Amanita muscaria |
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| Sulphur tuft, Hypholoma fasciculare |
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Orange Pore fungus, Favalaschia calocera,
widespread exotic species |
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| Brown-blood helmet, Mycena mariae |
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Giant Puffball fungi, Calvatia gigantean,
found at Ti Toki Reserve |
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Xylaria hypoxylon
(Photo courtesy of Petra White) |
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Guide yourself around the tracks.
Funky fungi can be found on many tracks and walkways on Waiheke Island, particularly
during warm, wet weather. May and June is usually the best time to spot fabulous
fungi!
The best place is in open farmland or developed forests where the ground stays
damp. Whakanewha Regional Park, (ie Nikau and Tarata Tracks) and Onetangi Forest
and Bird Reserve are recommended. A great short walk for kids is at Ti Toki Reserve
on Wilma Road.
Do you have your magnifying glass? There is a magical micro-world waiting for
you if you're willing to get down on your hands and knees and have a closer look
at the forest floor. This factsheet provides some basic information to get you started,
and check out your local library or google search on the web for further information
about New Zealand fungi. Have fun!
What to bring:
- gumboots and warm clothing
- magnifying glass
- camera to collect photos of fungi
- fungi identification book
Common fungi you may see:
- Orange pore fungus
- Scarlet flycap
- Basket fungus
- Giant puffball fungi
Look but don't touch!
Finding fungi can be a fun winter activity.
The Scarlet Flycap, Amanita muscaria is often found under pine trees.
Like many mushrooms, it is toxic. Some varieties of fungi can make you very sick
and some can be fatal. It is very difficult to know which ones are safe and which
are not.
Why not make fungi finding fun with kids by collecting photos instead and explain
to them why they can't be touched.
A micro-world awaits you . . .
Find an interesting patch of forest floor. Close your eyes and stoop down closer
to the ground. Listen to the sounds around you; what does the forest smell like?
Slowly open your eyes and look around the forest floor. Behold a miniature forest
before your eyes. Many fascinating things can be seen when you take the time to
stop, look and listen.
Not just mushrooms!
The fascinating world of fungi doesn't just include mushrooms; there are around
21,000 species of fungi in New Zealand, with only 8000 described. Fungi enthusiasts go on explorations called
"forays" to take photos and discover fungi that they have never seen before. Waiheke
Island is a popular place for fungal forays!
There are all sorts of fungal fascinations: fungi with gills, warts and pores;
fungi that look like coral, baskets, birdnests and jelly; also puffballs and stinkhorns...the
shapes and sizes are endless. And that's not even mentioning the world of slime
moulds and waterborne fungi and spots on leaves!
Good fungi/Bad fungi
Fungi are everywhere. Some benefit the eco-system by decomposing wood and leaf
litter and providing food for insects. Some fungi can be used to control or destroy.
For example, the mist flower fungus from Mexico was introduced on Waiheke Island
to control the mist flower weed.
Early Waiheke and fungi
In the 1870s, early Waiheke pioneers would try to use what they had on the land
to make money. They dug up Kauri Gum, chopped Ti-Trees for firewood, and collected
Wood Ear, Auricularia polytricha, (edible fungi) off rotting wood, sending
it to Auckland for export to China.
Fungi and the eco-system
Native Pohutukawa and Rata have hundreds of fungi growing through their leaf
litter; a magnifying glass will reveal some of these. Although their significance
to these trees and their eco-system is unknown, Project Crimson is suggesting that
replanting strategies should also include re-introducing the fungi.
For more information about fungi and places to explore you can
visit the NZFUNGI
(and Bacteria) website and for books,
visit the Auckland City libraries
website.
We recommend A photographic guide to mushrooms and other fungi of New Zealand
by Geoff Ridley.
Published June 2009
