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The Clematis Spring 2012 Issue No 93
Quarterly Newsletter of theBairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club Inc A0006074C
2
BAIRNSDALE & DIST FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC. A0006074C
List of Office Bearers for 2012
President: Pat McPherson ph. (03) 5152 2614
Vice President: Andrew Bould ph. (03 51566494
Secretary: Fran Bright ph. (03) 5152 2008
Treasurer: Margaret Regan ph. (03) 5156 2541
Correspondence to: The Secretary,
P.O. Box 563,
BAIRNSDALE 3875
Web Site: www.bairnsdalefieldnaturalists.com.au General meetings take place at: Noweyung Centre, 84 Goold Street Bairnsdale
General meetings take place: as per program at 7.30pm sharp
Committee meetings take place: at members homes, at 4.00pm
(see program)
Group Co-ordinators: Botanic Group: James Turner Ph. (03) 5155 1258
Fauna Survey Group: Jenny Edwards Ph. (03) 5157 5556
Bushwalking Group: Noel Williamson Ph. (03) 5152 1737
Newsletter Editor: Pauline Stewart Ph. (03) 5152 1606
80 Bengworden Rd. Bairnsdale. 3875
email: [email protected]
All articles for SummerClematis must be in by September 1st
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 1. To further the study of natural history in all its branches, promoted by
periodical meetings, field excursions and other activities.
2. To observe and strengthen the laws for the preservation & protection of
indigenous flora and fauna and habitat and important geological features.
3. To promote the formation and preservation of National and State Parks
and Reserves.
3
RULES TO OBSERVE ON FIELD TRIPS: 1. Excursions are cancelled on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN.
2. Participants to keep a visual on the car in front and behind.
3. When making a turn, give signal, and stay at intersection until
following car has also turned.
4. If separated from other cars, stop, and stay with your car.
Other members will return to find you.
5. The Car Pooling Cost Calculator is used to assist drivers and car pool
passengers to share fuel costs.
Responsibility for the accuracy of information and opinions expressed in this
newsletter rests with the author of the article.
SUBSCRIPTION FEES
Single membership $30
Family membership $45
Mid-year fee (new members only) $15
LIBRARY INFORMATION - Librarian - Dot Prout Phone: 5153 1303
• Books are generally borrowed for one month - however you can write on
the sign-out sheet if you wish to have it longer.
• Should any library materials need maintenance, please make me aware of
same.
• If you wish to recommend a book, this can be done by writing a short
recommendation for the Clematis. This information could be from our li-
brary books or from other books that you believe our library could look at
purchasing.
CONTENTS:
PROGAM - September to December 2012 5-6
Thank You - from Fran Bright 6
Fungi Excursions 7-13
Landcare Photo Competition 14-15
Fairy Dell Bushwalk 16
Sarsfield—Wiseleigh 17
Dead Horse Creek 21-23
4
CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS and email address’s for meetings and field trips.
Andrew Bould 51 566494 [email protected]
Fran Bright 5152 2008 [email protected]
Pat McPherson 5152 2614 [email protected]
Margaret Regan 5156 2541
Pauline Stewart 5152 1606 [email protected]
James Turner 5155 1258 m.0427 290838 [email protected]
Jen Wilkinson 51401258 [email protected]
Noel Williamson 5152 1737 [email protected]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY FOR BUSH WALKS
Easy Flat, good firm track.
Moderately easy Mostly flat, track in good to fair condition
Moderate May be undulating, track in good to fair condition
Mod. difficult May be some steep sections, track may be rough in
places
Difficult May have long steep sections, track may be non
existent at times
Walks vary in distance from 6 to 14 km.
Contact the leader of the walk for a rating if it’s not included in the program.
Please take note of safety procedures in your Bairnsdale & District Field
Naturalists Club Inc. ‘RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY’ booklet.
The Clematis is printed and supported by
Dept. of Sustainability and Environment,
Bairnsdale.
Front Cover:
Fairy Dell near Bruthen
Photo by Andrew Bould
5
PROGRAM - SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2012
It is your responsibility to contact the co-ordinator of each field trip to
notify them of your intention to participate.
The co-ordinator can then notify you if the trip has to be cancelled due to
adverse weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.
Committee meetings and general meetings will now resume after the winter
break
SEPTEMBER
Frid 21st General meeting, 7.30pm at the Noweyung Centre.
Speaker: Lucas Bluff (DSE Bairnsdale) - PhD project on
‘New Caledonian Crows’.
Sun 23rd Monthly excursion, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for a
trip to the Freestone Creek area.
Contact: James Turner
Sat 29th Annual Metallic Sun Orchid count at Blond Bay.
Contact: James Turner
Sun 30th. Bushwalk, meet at the Bridge Club at 9.00am for a trip to
Lanky Tom Creek area off Engineers Rd.
Contact: Noel Williamson
OCTOBER
Thurs 11th Committee meeting, 4.00pm at Pauline Stewart’s home.
Frid 19th. General meeting, 7.30pm at the Noweyung Centre.
Speakers: David Wakefield (Strath Creek) & Ron Litjens
(Flowerdale) - ‘Focus on Fauna’ -post fire surveys after the
2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Ron has a particular focus on
Powerful Owls.
21,22,23rd Camp-out, meet at 9.00am on the 21st at the Bridge Club for a trip
to the Crooked River area. This excursion will involve new
country and will not be surveyed.
Contact: James Turner for excursion and accommodation
details
Sun 28th Bushwalk, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for a trip to
German Gully off the Deptford Rd.
Contact: Noel Williamson
NOVEMBER
Thurs 8th Planning meeting followed by a committee meeting at 4.00pm at Margaret Regan’s home.
Frid 16th General meeting, 7.30pm at the Noweyung Centre.
Speaker: Faye Bedford (DSE Bairnsdale) - Current work on
‘Sea Eagles in the local area’. →
6
Sun 18th. Monthly excursion, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club or
9.45am at the Red Knob at the Buchan turn-off for a trip
along the Tulloch Ard Road.
Contact: James Turner
23,24,25,26th Camp-out, meet at 9.00am on the 23rd at Bruthen for
the Omeo Camp Park. Included will be day trips to
Cobungra, The Knocker and Buenba Creek. Will involve
some moderate walking.
Not to be missed. People will need to book their own
accommodation.
Contact: James Turner
No scheduled bushwalk.
DECEMBER
No scheduled committee meeting.
Frid 14th Annual General Meeting followed by the Christmas break-up,
at 7.30pm at the Noweyung Centre. Please bring a plate.
THANK YOU
I’d like to thank everyone in the club for all the support & encouragement re-
ceived over the past 3 months since I suffered a bad fall in June. The result was
severe damage to my right hand which required surgery. I could not drive or
look after my husband. John was placed in care which was a most emotional
decision to have to make.
Without the encouragement & help of you all, I could not have managed this
traumatic episode in my life.
The assistance received has been amazing. I’ve been ferried to appointments,
driven to Eastwood Aged Care, taken shopping, had gardening help, buttons
sewn on, & cheer-up phone calls. I’ve been taken out socially for lunches, din-
ner, & one breakfast with Nepalese coffee! Wonderful stuff! I’ve also had help
buying my new camera & lenses at Hooper’s in Lakes. So I have no excuse now
for not continuing with my photography!
My hand has nearly healed – another 3 weeks they say. Can hardly wait to be
back in action!
Through this experience I learnt two important lessons –
1. I don’t bounce when hitting bitumen
2. Field Nats people are really special
Thanks everyone.
7
FUNGI EXCURSIONS - 19 & 20 May 2012 by Margaret Regan
We were fortunate to have Geoff Lay come to our May meeting to talk to
us about fungi. Geoff is a volunteer working at the Herbarium at the Mel-
bourne Royal Botanic Gardens on the Fungimap project. Fungimap is a
mapping scheme for a set of 100 target species of Australian macrofungi.
The target species cover many different groups of macrofungi, including
gilled fungi, pored fungi, earthstars, jellies, corals, stalked puffballs and
stinkhorns. They include fungi from many environments in Australia
from the arid to rainforests. Most of the species are common, but some
are rare.
As of 2005, more than 20,000 records had been received. The most com-
monly recorded species is Rooting Shank (Oudemansiella radicata). We
saw this species on both days of excursions. The distribution patterns
shown up by this mapping are very important in informing our knowledge
and decision-making in conservation. The data establishes a baseline for
distribution against which to detect future changes due to climate change,
pollution, habitat destruction or other threats to species.
You can become involved in Fungimap by contacting:
The Fungimap Coordinator
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Private Bag 2000
South Yarra Vic 3141
e-mail: [email protected]
website: http://fungimap.rbg.vic.gov.au
# Species included in Fungimap
Saturday 19 May
The first excursion was to Fairy Dell, out from Wiseleigh on the Bairns-
dale – Bruthen Road. Our first search was around the picnic area, then
later we took the walking track up to the rainforest area. This rainforest is
8
classified as East Gippsland Foothills Warm Temperate Rainforest by Bill
Peel. The forest overstorey included Mountain Grey Gum (Eucalyptus
cypellocarpa), Red Box (E. polyanthemos), Gippsland Peppermint (E.
croajingolensis) and White Stringybark (E. globoidea). Later in the rain-
forest we were beneath Lillypilly (Syzygium smithii). An unusual plant in
the drier forest was Prickly Parrot-pea (Dillwynia juniperina) in bud.
With many eyes searching, fungi were quickly discovered. Of course the
structures we were searching for are only the fruiting bodies of the fungi.
The fruiting bodies produce millions of spores by which the fungi dissem-
inate themselves. Below the ground or in the wood being digested is a
network of fine white threads called the mycelium.
The first noted was the beautiful # Rooting Shank (Oudesmansiella radi-
cata). This tall (to 200mm) gilled fungus has a smooth brown slimy cap,
pure white gills and a stem which grades from grey-brown to white at the
top with no ring. Below ground the stem widens into a false root, hence
the name.
Other Gilled Fungi were:
an Agaricus sp. with a fawn cap, brown gills and a ring on the stem (the
edible mushroom is in this genus);
an Amanita sp. with a grey cap, white gills and a ring on the stem;
a Clitocybe sp. had a fawn dimpled cap with white gills that adhere down
the stem (decurrent);
a Coprinus sp. with a cap to 3cm with black spores;
# Little Ping-pong Bat (Dictyopanus pusillus) has tiny cream caps with
large pores beneath which are attached to the wood they are digesting by a
lateral stem. They were found in the rainforest;
a Laccaria sp. with pink gills;
Lactarius eucalypti with a brown velvet cap and stalk, and pale gills
which exude a white liquid when damaged. ‘Lact’ is Latin for ‘milk’;
a Lepiota which had its brown spores showing on the ring around the
stalk;
# Velvet Parachute (Marasmius elegans) has an orange to red-brown vel-
vet cap, pale gills and a distinctive two-toned (white to red-brown) tough
polished stem;
Melanophyllum haematospermum has a tiny fawn conical cap (to 20mm)
with the veil remains hanging from the margin. The gills are scarlet when
9
young and then turn brown, while the spores change from dark green to
brown;
Mycena clarkeana, a gorgeous fungus with mauve conical translucent stri-
ate caps to 40mm with a crinkled margin and like most of the Mycenas,
growing in a cluster and with white spores;
the delicate Mycena cystidiosa, probably the tallest Mycena, has a brown
slender stem up to 200mm and a striated conical fawn cap. We saw the
abundant threads of white hyphae forming the mycelium around the bases
of the fruiting bodies;
# Ruby Bonnet (Mycena viscidocruenta) is a tiny species with a slimy
blood-red translucent-striate cap, paler gills and a slimy blood-red stem.
‘Viscid’ in English means ‘sticky’ and ‘cruent’ is Latin for ‘blood’;
a tiny black Mycena sp. where as in all Mycena spp. the gills are free from
the stem;
# Yellow Navel or Yellow Belly Button (Omphalina chromacea) is a
small yellow species with a dimple or navel in the cap which has a wavy
margin. The yellow gills run partly down the yellow stem. It grows in
association with a green alga. Lichens are also a relationship between a
fungus and an alga;
a Panellus sp. with creamy-white gills and white spores;
Orange Mosscap (Rickenella fibula) which has a tiny orange cap (to
10mm) and grows amongst moss;
Russula clelandii – Russula spp. have chunky-looking fruiting bodies with
colourful caps, white gills and white stems which break like chalk.
Coral Fungi:
Clavaria sp. which had orange single clubs. All Clavaria spp. have white
spores.
Earth Stars:
The fruiting bodies of these fungi have a double layer of tissue. The thick
outer layer splits to reveal the thin-walled sac containing the spores which
escape through a pore at the top.
We saw Saucered Earth Star (Geastrum triplex) whose outer layer is
spread star-like around the inner spore sac.
Spine or Tooth Fungi:
# Golden Splash Tooth (Mycoacia subceracea) – this tooth fungus looks
like a splash of gold paint on the lower surface of fallen bits of wood.
10
With a hand lens, tiny teeth bearing spores can be seen. It has white
spores.
Woody Pore-fungi & Bracket-fungi:
Coltricia cinnamomea has brown caps to 30mm with a satiny sheen
caused by shining radial surface hairs;
# Beefsteak (English name) or Oxtongue (French name) Fungus (Fistulina
hepatica) is a bracket that looks like a tongue or piece of raw liver. The
cap is up to 25cm, pink to brown and slimy, with bright pink pores below.
It apparently tastes like shoe leather!
Postia sp. was so closely adhered that it looked like white paint on a stick
– the spores are produced in pores rather than on the surface of gills;
another Postia sp. had a chocolate brown top with a fawn margin and jag-
ged pores in the white undersurface;
Dog’s Vomit (Ryvardenia cretacea) is a thick creamy-brown bracket to
200x120mm which can be found on living and dead trees in wet forest.
Leathery Shelf-fungi:
Rosette Fungus (Podoscypha petalodes) grows on buried wood, and the
brown leathery structures look like pencil shavings;
on a log was Stereum illudens, a bracket whose hairy upper surface has
brown concentric zones and the lower fertile surface is a smooth purple-
brown with a pale margin;
on the same log was Rainbow Fungus (Trametes versicolor) whose upper
surface is smooth, but also has concentric rings of various browns and the
lower surface is cream with tiny pores.
Jelly Fungi:
The fruiting bodies of this group are gelatinous. They are usually found
on wood and fertile tissue covers most of the surface. Calocera species
are small, fingerlike, and simple or just branched, and we saw one light
yellow and another cream in colour;
# White Brain (Tremella fusiformis) forms translucent convoluted masses
on fallen timber up to 160mm long.
Vegetable Caterpillars:
These are highly specialized fungi that parasitise, usually insect larvae.
We found # Dark Caterpillar Cordyceps (Cordyceps gunnii). It parasitizes
moth larvae which live on the roots of Acacia species; in our area usually
11
Black Wattle (A. mearnsii). The unfortunate larva ingests a spore of the
fungus, which then spreads its mycelium throughout the body of the larva
digesting as it grows. When ready a fruiting body emerges from just be-
hind the head of the now dead caterpillar (only the external skeleton is
left), and pushes up to the surface of the soil. In the Dark Caterpillar
Cordyceps these are a dark olive-green fertile club on a yellow stem.
Cup Fungi & their relatives:
Yellow Lemon Cups (Bisporella citrina) are discs to 3mm forming colo-
nies on dead wood, and dead cones of banksias and pines. It is a world-
wide species;
Cramp Ball or King Alfred’s Cakes (Daldinia concentrica) were in the
rainforest area. The fruiting structures are semispherical, brownish-
purple, dotted with tiny holes, and when cut have concentric growth rings;
Yellow Earth Buttons (Discinella terrestris) are discs to 10mm across, and
are found on the ground, often amongst moss;
Paecilomyces tenuipes
has a bright white
branched fruit body to
50mm covered with
powdery spores. This
uncommon fungus para-
sitizes beetle larvae.
Paecilomyces tenuipes
Photo by Andrew Bould
→
12
Sunday 29 May
From Log Crossing in the Colquhuon Forest we walked a short way along
the old tramway. We were hoping to see some new fungi, so only the new
species seen are added to this account. We, of course, saw many speci-
mens we had seen the day before.
Gilled Fungi:
a Clitocybe sp. being digested by another white fungus;
Collybia eucalyptorum has cream-fawn broadly convex dry caps to 25mm
with cream gills and brown stems;
an Entoloma sp. with a black cap;
an Inocybe sp., all of which have hairy caps with a pimple, and this spe-
cies had brown spores;
a Macrolepiota sp. – these are large (caps to 200mm), tall (to 200mm) ele-
gant pale fruiting bodies with brown scales and a central dark pimple on
the caps, and a ring near the top of the stalk;
# Nargan’s Bonnet (Mycena nargan) which has a dark cap with tiny white
scales on the cap and stem. This fungus features on the cover of Bruce
Fuhrer’s book (see references). It was named by Tom May and Bruce
Fuhrer because in the gloom the scales glisten like the eyes of the Nargan
(an Aboriginal cave-dwelling spirit). Hence, no doubt, the naming of the
cave “the Den of Nargan” near the Mitchell River;
a small Pholiota sp. with brown caps and spores and brown scaly stems.
There were many of these specimens massed along a log;
Pluteus lutescens, a fragile species with a buff flat cap, and pale buff gills
which become pink with the mature pink spores;
a Psilocybe sp. where the young cap rims are connected to the stem by a
cobweb like veil. These are “magic mushrooms”!!
a Russula sp. which had a creamy lemon cap, white gills and no ring on
the stem.
Puffballs:
a Scleroderma sp. which is round and the skin splits and peels back to re-
lease the spores.
Woody Pore-fungi & Bracket-fungi:
a Fomes sp. – this genus has large fruit bodies forming brackets on living
or dead trees causing heart-rot in the living trees.
13
Cup Fungi & their relatives:
Cheilymenia coprophilia has tiny discs with fine whiskers around the mar-
gin which grow on dung.
We moved on to Lake Tyers to the Cherry Tree Rainforest walk. This is
an East Gippsland Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest which grows on
exposed limestone.
Gilled Fungi:
a Hebeloma sp. with a creamy–brown cap, pink gills free from the stem
which has no ring;
a Hygrocybe sp. with a 2cm orange cap and looked as if it were carved
from wax. There are many species of this genus in many different col-
ours. The spore prints are always white.
Woody Pore-fungi & Bracket-fungi:
Fomitopsis lilacinogilva has brackets to 160 x 80mm with upper surface in
shades of brown with a rounded pink margin and the lower pore surface
lilac. This species is found on many species of dead wood including struc-
tural timbers and causes a brown cubical rot;
a Hexagonia sp. which is a bracket attached laterally and the lower surface
has hexagonal pores containing the spores;
Rigidoporus laetus is a thick bracket to 100 x 70mm with concentric
brown velvety rings above and pores below.
Cup Fungi & their relatives:
Lachnum virgineum has tiny (2mm) white goblet-shaped discs covered
with short white hairs. They grow on the stems of dead treefern fronds.
References:
Fuhrer, Bruce (2005): A Field Guide to Australian Fungi. Bloomings
Books, Melbourne.
Grey, Pat & Grey, Ed (2009): Fungi Down Under: the Fungimap Guide to
Australian Fungi. Royal Botanic Gardens & Field Naturalists’ Club of
Victoria. ☺
14
EAST GIPPSLAND LANDCARE NETWORK AMATEUR
PHOTO COMPETITION
Topic – “Native Flora Within The East Gippsland Region”
by Fran Bright
This competition attracted over 200 entries. All the images were
displayed at “The Stables” in Service Street, Bairnsdale from 4th –
10th June, 2012.
Prize winners were announced at the official opening on Friday,
8th June 2012. The images were quite impressive, the only disap-
pointment being that no Secondary School entries were received.
Congratulations to John Drinkwater, our B&DFN member, who
was awarded First Prize in the Open Section (over 18 years), for
his imaginative image of a “Flying Duck Orchid” – Caleana major
& also to member Fran Bright, who won Third Prize in Open Sec-
tion with the lily “Milkmaids” – Burchardia umbellata. Well done!
The Primary school entries were really outstanding with unusual
camera angles & creative use of subjects. It is a pleasure to see our
youngsters appreciating nature’s treasures . The little girl who
won First Prize was thrilled with her award – a camera.
East Gippsland Landcare Network are to be congratulated for this
very successful competition & exhibition.
Photographs next page:
Top: John Drinkwater’s ‘Flying Duck Orchid’
Below: Fran Bright’s ‘ Milkmaids’
☺
15
16
FAIRY DELL - JUNE BUSHWALK by Pauline Stewart
The Bushwalking group headed off to the Fairy Dell area near Bruthen for their
June walk. The calm sometimes sunny winter weather was perfect for the 10 km
steeply undulating bush roads. At one vantage point a good view looking south
towards the lakes was admired. The walk was originally planned as 6 km but we
covered distance quickly and decided on the Fairy Dell Jeep Track which
snaked steeply uphill beside the Fairy Dell reserve to add a few more kilometers
to the days tally. It was good to see small creeks with water flowing and bab-
bling as there have been so many years of drought it has been a long time since
this has been seen and heard. On reaching the summit above the reserve a brand
new road sign showed us the way back downhill to the reserve along a different
track although our leader signaled an even longer detour (he was outvoted).
We stopped and found a log to rest on to have our well earned lunch on the way
back down.
The Fairy Dell itself when we eventually walking into it was in a sad state with
obvious storm damage which had brought down large trees and opened up exten-
sive areas in the Lillipilli and fern rainforest. On the uphill climb back along
Deep Creek Road we were entranced by the songs and mimicry of many Lyre-
birds. As we left the territory of one songster we went straight into another then
another all the way along. We arrived back at the cars mid afternoon and thanked
Noel for leading us on such a lovely day out in the bush. ☺
This way? No! that way. Photo by Pauline Stewart
17
SARSFIELD – WISELEIGH - 17 June 2012 by Margaret Regan
# Fungimap species
Our first sojourn was at the corner of Eleven Mile Road and Fiddlers
Boundary Track. Today was a day for orchids and fungi, as very few oth-
er plants were flowering. Orchids here were Nodding Greenhood
(Pterostylis nutans), Trim Greenhood (P. concinna), the very attractive
Cobra Greenhood (P. grandiflora), the very difficult-to-see Fringed Hel-
met-orchid (Corybas fimbriatus), Autumn Wasp-orchid (Chiloglottis re-
flexa) which was just finished and Large Mosquito-orchid (Acianthus ex-
sertus). The burgundy Fringed Helmet-orchid flower sits on a very short
stalk on a single heart-shaped ground-hugging green leaf. The dorsal se-
pal hoods over the almost circular labellum which has deeply fringed mar-
gins.
Fungi were more prevalent with the gilled fungi:
Russula lenkunya with a mauve-red cap (to 100mm) with white gills and
stalk; a bright white Amanita sp.; # Spectacular Rustgill (Gymnopilus
junonius), a large fungus with gold caps (to 150mm), gold stems with a
high ring, yellow to brown gills and rusty-brown spores; a tiny brown
Bonnet (Mycena sp.) with pale gills, a cap with a crinkled edge and a pale
stalk; a minute dark brown Mycena look-a-like with a very hairy cap and
stalk, and paler sparse gills; a chestnut brown Marasmius sp.; one with a
dark brown hairy cap about 2cm, dark brown stalk and fawn gills; # Root-
ing Shank (Oudemansiella radicata), a tall species with a brown cap and
white gills; a red-brown Dermocybe; and possibly Green Skinhead
(Dermocybe austroveneta) with an olive green cap and fawn gills with
part of the veil still on the stem;
A fleshy-pore fungus was a very finished Pine Cone Bolete (maybe Stro-
bilomyces sp.) whose cap was covered with dense dark scales, with pale
pores beneath instead of gills.
Woody pore-fungi included Coltricia cinnamomea. Its round cinnamon-
coloured cap is flat and covered with radial hairs giving it a shiny appear-
ance. The pore surface below is rusty-brown.
A cream coral fungus looking like a cauliflower with blunt tips was prob-
ably a Ramaria, and there was another fawn one with thick clubs with
burnt finger tips.
One of the common overhead trees was White Stringybark (Eucalyptus
globoidea). We saw both the rarer Bushy Hedgehog-grass (Echinopogon
18
caespitosa) which has the spikelets spread out in the inflorescence, and the
more common Forest Hedgehog-grass (E. ovatus) with a dense inflo-
rescence. Another grass was Long-leaf Wallaby-grass (Notodanthonia
longifolia). Plants flowering were Juniper Wattle (Acacia ulicifolia) with
phyllodes (leaf stalks) reduced to needles, and flowers in balls on long
stalks borne singly; Grey Guinea-flower (Hibbertia obtusifolia); Common
Apple-berry (Billardiera scandens), a twining shrub with bell-shaped lem-
on flowers; Hairy Pink-bells (Tetratheca pilosa) with hairless long flower
stalks; a Bluebell (Wahlenbergia sp.); and Blue Bottle-daisy
(Lagenophora stipitata) which has tiny single flowers.
About 3km along Eleven Mile Road was a mid-pink Common Heath
(Epacris impressa) so-named for the four indentations (impressions) at the
base of each tubular flower. Hop Goodenia (Goodenia ovata) was the on-
ly other flowering plant, apart from orchids, that we saw in bloom at this
site. The orchids were this time the Spurred Helmet-orchid (Corybas aco-
nitiflorus) which has two tiny white ‘spurs’ at the base of the flower; and
both the mosquito-orchids found in Gippsland, Large Mosquito-orchid
(Acianthus exsertus) and Small Mosquito-orchid (A. pusillus). The two
mosquito-orchids are similar, but the Small Mosquito-orchid has smaller,
paler and more crowded flowers.
There were again many fungi. The gilled fungi were the very beautiful
Emporer Cortinar (Cortinarius archeri) with bright purple caps to 100mm,
purple stems with a ragged ring, often coated with the rust-brown spores; a
Macrolepiota sp. with a fungus gnat; and a Russula with a fawn cap with
brown flakes. Ringed around a living White Stringybark, on the ground
and presumably growing from roots below, were clumps of fungi with
brown caps with darker pointed pimples, free chestnut gills, and pale
stalks with no ring, but just the remnants of the veil. An unrecognizable
gilled fruiting body was being digested by another fungus, a mould, possi-
bly a Rhizopus sp. similar to a bread mould, which was mostly white my-
celium, but arising from this were white stalks with black round sacs of
spores at the top.
There was a tiny white hairy slime mould. The vegetative body of most
slime moulds moves very slowly on damp decaying wood, soil, leaves or
dung. As it moves it ingests bacteria, mould spores and other small parti-
cles. When the time is right the body of the slime mould changes and spo-
rangium producing spores is formed.
19
We also found the very pretty brown Rosette Fungus (Podoscypha pet-
alodes), one of the leathery shelf-fungi. This has multiple funnel-shaped
fluted fruiting bodies.
The ants’ nests around had been protected with very high granular sides –
was this something to do with excess rain???
A further 300m along the road purple Hairy Fan-flower (Scaevola ra-
mosissima) which has long hairy leaves; and mauve and white Ivy-leaved
Violet (Viola hederacea) were in flower.
The fungi noted were all gilled. We saw what we call Pizza Caps or #
Vermilion Grisette (Amanita xanthocephala) which has an orange cap (to
50mm) with patches of white veil remnants, a pale stem, with no ring and
a yellow or orange rim at the top of the volva (bulge at the base of the
stem); a pale orange Russula sp. which may have been R. flocktoniae; and
maybe Amanita grisella with a grey-brown cap and white gills, stalk and
ring.
On Old Man Hill Road were the two greenhoods, Cobra Greenhood and
Granite Greenhood (Pterostylis tunstallii) which has up to 8 flowers, each
with an ovate brown labellum with a central darker stripe. Other plants
were Prickly Broom-heath (Monotoca scoparia) which had bright green
spiky leaves and white tubular flowers; and the yellow and brown-
flowered pea Spiny Bossiaea (Bossiaea obcordata) whose smaller branch-
es terminate in spines.
Further down Old Man Hill Road were again Fringed Helmet-orchid,
Nodding and Cobra Greenhoods, finished Coastal Greenhood (P. alveata)
and Striated Greenhood (P. striata). Striated Greenhood usually has a sin-
gle dark green and white striped flower with brown tonings with the lateral
sepals fused at the base and held erect with long slender points. Near the
corner of Harvey’s Track Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis) was in
flower. Sunshine Wattle has bipinnate feathery foliage and globular flow-
er-heads in racemes. We found the very common and attractive Scarlet
Bracket fungus (Pycnoporus coccineus). These bright brackets are found
on decaying dead logs and branches.
Our last stop was just inside the forest before coming back onto farmland.
Here we noted only fungi. There was a gilled fungus with a slimy cream
cap where tiny flies were caught in the slime, free gills and a turned-down
20
margin; pinhead-size white gilled fungi with decurrent gills; a Macrolepi-
ota sp. with a large pale cap with a dark central apex and dark flakes,
mushroom-coloured gills and a pale stalk; and an orange jelly fungus.
A very short excursion distance-wise, but many treasures discovered –
thank you James! ☺
Cobra Greenhood photo by John Saxton
21
DEAD HORSE CREEK AREA - 22 July 2012
The trip started along Reformatory Road in the Colquhuon State Forest
north of the Bruthen – Nowa Nowa Road under sunny skies. We stopped
about 1km along beneath White Stringybark (Eucalyptus globoidea).
Wattles were starting to flower, and three shrubs here were Myrtle Wattle
(Acacia myrtifolia) which has thick phyllodes with prominent midribs and
marginal veins, and globular flower heads with a few large flowers; Sweet
Wattle (A. suaveolens) with narrow upright phyllodes with a prominent
midvein and creamy-yellow flower heads enclosed when young by large
scaly bracts; and Sallow Wattle (A. longifolia) whose phyllodes have sev-
eral main veins and the flower heads are in spikes. An orchid was the
ubiquitous Nodding Greenhood (Pterostylis nutans). Two heaths were a
red Common Heath (Epacris impressa) and Prickly or Long-flower Beard
-heath (Leucopogon juniperinus) with spiky yellow-green foliage and tub-
ular white flowers. A prostrate red pea was Running Postman (Kennedia
prostrata). Tall Sundew (Drosera peltata subsp. auriculata) had tall
stems with hemispherical leaves along the stem, and along the margins of
the leaves were the lethal sticky glandular hairs. The liquid exudate on the
hairs glistens in the sunlight like drops of dew, hence the common name.
This liquid attracts and traps and digests invertebrates to give the plant the
extra nitrogen it needs. Many stems were topped by delicate pink flowers.
Two other small plants in flower were White Marianth (Rhytidosporum
procumbens) with white starry flowers; and Shrubby Platysace (Platysace
lanceolata) with white flowers in an umbel, as in other members of the
family Apiaceae like carrot and parsley. There were chocolate brown
gilled fungi with caps to 5cm and free gills. The lovely striped brown
feathers of a demised possible Quail were found.
Only about 500m further along were more greenhoods. This time they
were Cobra Greenhood (Pterostylis grandiflora) with its lovely large
flowers with reddish brown tonings at the edge of the hood; Tall Green-
hood (P. melagramma) which grows to 80cm with up to 20 small flowers
each with an obvious brownish labellum with a central stripe; and a rare
greenhood where the tips of the flower parts are reddish, which is still to
be identified by the experts at the Herbarium. It is similar to both Green-
striped Greenhood (Pterostylis chlorogramma) and Emerald-lip Green-
hood (P. smaragdyna). The wattle this time was Spreading Wattle
(Acacia genistifolia) with sharp-pointed phyllodes and bright yellow balls.
22
Another shrub was Privet Pomaderris (Pomaderris ligustrina) with velvety
brown hairs covering the leaves and stems. Two smaller shrubs were
Hairy Pink-bells (Tetratheca pilosa); and yellow Hoary Guinea-flower
(Hibbertia crinita). The grey-green leaves of Hoary Guinea-flower have
silky hairs on their upper and lower surfaces, and the midvein of each leaf
extends to the tip. A daisy was Brachyscome spathulata with a tall single
blue flower head and a rosette of basal toothed leaves. A climber was
Common Apple-berry (Billardiera scandens) with hanging tubular creamy
flowers. A little farther on were Myrtle Wattle, Bushy Needlewood
(Hakea decurrens), a large shrub with pointed leaves and scented white
flowers; and the Flat-pea (Platylobium montanum subsp. prostratum), a
smaller shrub with usually opposite ovate pointed leaves and yellow flow-
ers.
We stopped at an experimental pine plantation in the hope that there might
still be some interesting fungi. There were some bright yellow single cor-
al fungi which may have been Yellow Tongue Coral (Clavaria flava), and
red single coral fungi which may have been Flame Fungus (C. miniata).
The ground layer was mostly the spongy bright green bipinnate fronds of
the moss Thuidiopsis interspersed with the leaves of the Ivy-leaved Violet
(Viola hederacea). There was a dead eucalypt, presumably with hollows,
as the tree was circled with scat, maybe from possum or glider. The Com-
mon Heath here had white flowers. There was a different species of sun-
dew with the glandular leaves forming a rosette on the ground. In one ar-
ea, in the open on the side of the road, was a swathe of beautiful white
lichen (it looked like snow). The much branching lichen body was porous.
Growing behind the lichen were plants of Bushy clubmoss (Lycopodium
deuterodensum) which look like tiny light green trees. Their aerial
branches are covered with tiny leaves and spores are borne in cones.
Near the corner of Reformatory Road and Aquarius Lane we again saw
Green-striped Greenhood. An attractive fungus was Coltricia cin-
namomea, one of the woody pore-fungi. Its circular caps have concentric
rings of browns and have a lustre caused by the shining radial surface
hairs. Near the corner of Reformatory and Watershed Roads the Common
Heath was again red, and we saw the rare and pretty Nowa Nowa Grevil-
lea (Grevillea celata). The specific name derives from the Latin ‘celat’
which means concealed. This species was described by the horticulturalist
Bill Molyneux (Austraflora). It was originally hidden within the species
23
G. alpina (Cat’s Claws) or G. chrysophaea (Golden Grevillea). The flow-
ers here had their lower two thirds red and the upper third yellow with a
yellow pollen presenter. They may be red and white, pink and white or
apricot and white. The Nowa Nowa Grevillea can reproduce by root suck-
ering, particularly after fire. It is mainly seen in the Colquhuon Forest and
is believed to have a total range of about 100km. On a dead branch was
the leathery bracket Stereum illudens with the upper hairy surface with
concentric brown rings and the lower fertile surface mushroom pink with a
white margin. Birds heard here were White-throated Treecreeper, King
Parrot and Eastern Yellow Robin.
Along Watershed Road where the track had been slashed on one side was
Hoary Guinea-flower, the lily white Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellata)
and more Nowa Nowa Grevillea. There were more plants of Green-
striped Greenhood, and the leaves and buds of Brown-beaks (Lyperanthus
suaveolens) were found. A lucky someone saw a Spotted Quail-thrush.
Along Dead Horse Creek Road the lovely purple Hairy Fan-flower
(Scaevola ramosissima) was blooming.
Thank you James. ☺
Poss. Yellow Tongue Coral fungi (Clavaria flava) photo by John Saxton
24
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