The Hawaiian fungus Agaricus rotalis, in Australia

2007·0.75 MB·English

by  Neale L Bougher

THE HAWAIIAN FUNGUS AQARICUS ROTALIS
IN AUSTRALIA
By NEALE L. BOUGHER
Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104,
Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983
Agaricus rotalis K.R. Peterson, collections occurred in widely
Desjardin, &. Hemmes is a very varied habitats and locations
distinctive mushroom fungus within the greater Perth region,
characterised by black including the Swan Coastal Plain
marshmallow-shaped buttons, and Darling Scarp: (1) Edith
and black and white radial Cowan University Campus,
pattern on mature caps (see Pearson Street, Churchlands,
Figure 1). The fungus was among uncut grass under an old
documented in 2000 as a new exotic Eucalyptus grandis tree,
species to Science from the with some trees from pre¬
Hawaiian Islands, where it occurs existing bushland nearby - Marri
in woodchips and also in litter (Corymbia calophylla) and Jarrah
under Casuarina equisetifolia (Eucalyptus marginata), collected
(Petersen et al. 2000, Hemmes and by Neale Bougher 5 April 2005.
Desjardin 2002). Until recently A. (2) FI ora land Nursery, Great
rotalis had been unknown Eastern Highway, Mahogany
outside the tropical Hawaiian Creek, collected by Kevn
Islands. The species recently was Griffiths 5 April 2005. Growing
reported from Estonia in cool- indoors in humid fernery shade
temperate northern Europe (see house along floor line with wood
photo by Klas Jaederfeldt at borders. (3) Kings Park, off Kings
http:/ / nrm.museum/ kbo/ krypt/ Park Road, West Perth, in several
svampplats/ svampplats3.html.se). massive clusters of up to 100
Agaricus rotalis also now has been fruit bodies amongst the leaf
identified for the first time in litter under an exotic hardwood
Australia, in the Mediterranean tree with an old Pinus tree also
climatic region of Perth in nearby, collected by Neale
Western Australia. Bougher 14 April 2005. (4) Cliff
During 2005, the second year of Sadlier Reserve, Cunningham
the Perth Urban Bushland Fungi Terrace, Daglish, in leaf litter and
Project, several collections of woodchips in area of Eucalyptus
a large Agaricus were identified marginata, Agonis flexuosa
as A. rotalis (see woodland, collected by Neale
www.fungiperth.org.au). These Bougher 26 May 2005.
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2
4
5

Figure 1. Agaricus rotalis from Churchlands, Perth, Western Australia. Photo by Neale L. Bougher.
Descriptive notes on Agaricus Flesh: white and up to 5mm
rotalis from Western Australia: thick in pileus, unchanging
except rapidly becoming bright
Cap: up to 70mm diameter;
convex, finally flat. Margin yellow when cut at and near the
base. Yellow stain fades after
incurved and fused to a thick
veil in the button, later with a several minutes.
membranous white flap, and With photographs and
finally deeply split radially. descriptions of Agaricus rotalis
Surface dry, very dark grey to now widely available, further
almost back in young buttons, records of this distinctive fungus
then paler and covered with are likely to be confirmed in
minute appressed dark scales. other parts of Australia and the
Remaining black and contiguous world, including tropical and
at the cap centre. Then the temperate regions.
surface splits radially from near
centre to the margin with
striking alternative radial strips ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
of blackish-grey with minute
This work was undertaken
scales, and white where the
during the Perth Urban
underlying white context is
Bushland project supported by
exposed. Veil: white,
Lotterywest - a collaborative
membranous, thick, forming a
project with the Urban Bushland
superior, pendulous but
Council, Department of
collapsing ring that becomes
Environment and Conservation's
ragged and torn with age and
WA Herbarium and the WA
may disappear entirely in some
Naturalists’ Club Inc.
specimens. Gills: free, to 7mm
deep, cream in button, then pale
pink, dull pink, finally REFERENCES
chocolate, crowded; edge smooth
HEMMES, D.E. and DESJARDIN,
entire and concolorous;
D.E. 2002. Mushrooms of Haivai’i.
lamellules abundant. Stem: up to
Ten Speed Press, Berkeley/
80 x 8mm, cylindrical or slightly
Toronto.
broadening towards base; with an
abruptly swollen base to 15mm PETERSEN, K.R., DESJARDIN, D.E.
broad; solid then developing a and HEMMES, D.E. 2000.
narrow hollow in part. Surface Agaricales of the Hawaiian Islands.
dry, smooth, shiny white below 6. Agaricaceae 1. Agariceae: Agaricus
the annulus dulling especially and Melanophyllum. Sydowia 52:
near the apex with age; pinkish 204-257.
when young above annulus.
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