Davidf,

I too have an interest in fungi but from an environmental perspective. I would like to offer a cautionary note for the uninitiated.
A few years a go a woman from Capalaba (just out of Brisbane) who had been collecting and eating field mushies for years went to her favourite spot and collected then cooked her findings. She went in to shock and died within 8 hrs. Her hubby went critical... coma and also nearly died.

The chief fungi expert from the CSIRO herborium tested them and found while looking like the field mushies they were in fact deadly and as then an unknown species.

I happen to have a lengthy conversation with him in which I offer to collect samples from my riparian bush care site.
He told me that less than 20% of fungi in Australia has been described (identified) in science.
As a matter of interest on showing him some snaps he told me that at least 3 of the ten shown were probably unknown to science! If I were to provide him with samples and if they were unnamed He would be prepared to name one after me....I'm not sure if that was a backhanded complement. Sadly I never got the opportunity to sample collect for him.

In SA just Sth of Adelaide there grows a magic(psychedelic)mushie wild. Yahooooooo. However, there are more similar looking poisonous ones.
The chief Scientist at the Coroners office in Adelaide (at the time) told a group I was in that if we are going to eat/smoke etc fungi from the bush ( unless an expert) leave a sample for the coroner so can sure of the cause of death. The local Brisbane expert was of the same mind.

PS One Adelaide hospital at one stage was having at least one mushie victim every month 60%(either died or suffered lasting negative consequences.)

Notwithstanding put me down for a copy of both books

I just love mushrooms, but some of them are very deadly indeed. There is a saying if the top is slimy, dont eat them. We had lots of different types grew in FNQ and it was always a delight to go riding through the bush after the first rain,and find the. They grew on a wide variety of soil types, and grew differently in many places often in huge quantities. All proper mushrooms are a delicacy.

There was a book published listing all the edible Australian mushrooms,but they are just part of the Fungi family. A fungus caused the great Irish Famine,and to grow potatoes in FNQ a fungus control regime is mandatory. Likewise carrots suffer a fungus called alternaria dauci, with which I did battle for many years.

Fish get fungus in fresh water and they have to be given some salt in the water to cure it. I am looking for a fungus to get rid of the smartusses who populate the benches of the Courts of Australia. Maybe we can call it Ruddicus Mclellandionia. It would grow on their salaries, and destroy their superannuation.

More casualties were caused Australian troops in New Guinea from fungus infections, than Japanese bullets. Thrush is a fungus, that girls could get from drinking too much Coopers Ale. Tinea is also a fungus, and copper is one way of controlling it. So if your feet are smelly, you may need a fungicide.

The stories just keep coming.

Ludwig ROFL

When I was at secondary school I was absolutely fascinated by fungi. One of my best science projects in year 8 was all about the life cycle of fungi - yes, I was the class nerd.

Then I discovered a lot more about them in my late teens and was no longer regarded as a nerd.

These days I enjoy spying them out in my garden or on bushwalks. Much safer and wiser.

Ludwig,
What is a simple way to tell the difference between a flutter-bys and moths? I would relish a book that doesn't assume in depth pre-knowledge.

"Butter Flies" of Aus (Braby) is in group level (nymphs etc). poo!
Ant blue life cycle is fascinating (eg vulnerable Illege's ant blue)

I was involved in the re-population of sword grass browns back into a spot near Brisbane. There is still large patches of hygrophelia (gotta love my spellink) their favourite fruit, well plant the colony was surviving at last check towards the end of the drought. The local Butterfly group have some useful booklets.

I dabble in all things nature ecology, i.e. I have a rescued nest of native sting less bees Trigona carbonaria (sgeti bees!) hours of entertainment. "Australian Stingless bees"(John Klump)is simple and extremely informative.

Did I mention spiders/mossies and plants, Symbiotic ground orchids, birds, home brewing and love micro bats and carnivorous plants...Do you know where I can get a triffids? ha hah hah ha (evil laugh, cue Bach's fugue in 'd' minor )I have a little list ;-)
'eAnt wont eat the mushies'(distant evil laugh)

David, as I have mentioned, I have a swamilling business. We have lots of timber of different species, from eucalypts to exotics in various states of decrepitude that is covered in lots of different fungi, none of which I know anything at all about.

I'd be delighted for you and whoever else from the Mycological Society who may be interested to come and observe, sample, study, whatever they wish. My only condition is that I get to learn a little myself.

Graham has my details and you're more than welcome to get them from him to drop me a line.

One thing that is evident in this string is that people who may be at odds in other ways can find common ground in a shared love of nature.

Houllebecq,

Palsied mushrooms?

Good for you, CJ. The ultimate in recycling.

Ludwig:

Have you heard 'Fungal's Cave' by the naturalist composer, Gregor Mendelsohn?

One fungus we found on a foray (great alliterative first line for a song) we were warned not to bring close to our nose as the spores can grow in our lungs and cause great problems.

rstuart:

Most people work for scratch.

PTB:

A fungus did cause the great Irish famine.

No fungus for Feargus
A famine humungous

Thanks for your offer, Antiseptic, I'll be in touch w Graham and see what can be done on Thursday as I will be off until then.