OF SOI 'TH A I ’STRALI A . 
31 
THE COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF FUNGI FOR 
BOTANICAL PURPOSES. 
No trouble will be experienced in dealing with the many kinds of relatively dry 
corky and woody species. It is only necessary to leave them exposed, preferably 
in a current of air, in as dry an atmosphere as possible until the moisture they 
have imbibed has evaporated. In a dry climate such as ours, no difficulty will be 
met with, even in the lute autumn. 
With the fleshy kinds, such as the agarics, the matter is far otherwise. In the 
case of small and especially deliquescent species, such as some of our Coprini, the 
whole plant may alter profoundly in the course of an Hour or so, or even less, and 
become hopelessly unrecognisable. In the others, tile appearance of the dried 
specimen may be much changed, and the essential features of the growing plant 
be lost. It will thus be seen that it is often necessary not only to take special 
measures to dry the specimens, but before doing so to make such notes as are 
required. With very delicate kinds it may even be desirable to make these obser- 
vations in the field whilst the plants are still in situ. All this means labour, but 
it any one intends seriously to study mycology in the shape of the agarics, this 
extra trouble is necessary and will soon bring its own recompense. Let us take 
as an example of what to do, a fungus foray in autumn to our National Park or 
elsewhere in the Mount Lofty Ranges. The choice of a suitable day will enable 
a larger haul of species to bo obtained. We have collected as many as fifty or 
sixty species of Basidiomvcetes on such occasions. After a long dry summer, the 
iirst heavy rain will be followed three or four days later by the appearance of 
agarics. If this is followed a week or so later by more rain, and the interval lias 
been somewhat mild, the crop of agarics and polypores will be assured. After the 
ground lias been damped by the first, rain, there follows an incubation period, 
during which the mycelium in the soil or wood is reviving from its long rest, 
and is mobilising its food-stores for the production of the fruit bodies — the 
agarics, the polvpores, etc., themselves. This takes a little time, so that the number 
that appear after the first showers is greatly increased when those are followed 
up by later showers. Moreover, whilst several days must elapse before they come 
up after the first rain, many will be seen a day or so after the later falls. When 
once the season has thus opened, dry weather, especially with easterly or northerly 
winds, means few fungi; bright still dewy mornings, many kinds. A little rain on 
sandy soil will bear more fruit than on stiff ground. Fungi may be found under 
I alien logs and litter, or in dense undergrowth nearby sheltered creeks, when 
they have ceased to appear in drier places. Some species, and even genera such 
as Amanita , prefer early autumn; others, such as Cortinariw, early winter, and 
only a few kinds characterise the spring, though some species may be found almost, 
throughout the year if there lias been sufficient rain. The fungus season ends 
to a great extent as winter merges into spring. 
Having chosen our day, we set off, not minding a little rain. We are armed 
(vith plenty of boxes of various sizes, from matchboxes, or pillboxes, to tobacco 
tins, and on to boot boxes. We have also a few test-tubes and small wide-mouthed 
bottles. Small species that may soon shrivel up require to be placed at once in 
corked bottles or tins. A trench tool, or shenthkuife, or failing these, a trowel, 
will be found useful for digging up fungi rooting in the soil, or certain under- 
ground species such as Mesophellia, whose presence may lie suggested by animal 
scratehings. A tomahawk will also be of service for dislodging woody polvpores 
from the trunks of trees. A satchel will be found a very convenient means of 
carrying the boxes and tools. 
Having started collecting, my practice is to place the specimens in the boxes, 
'mall ones preferably apart in small boxes, with the gills usually uppermost, so 
that their spores will not fall on and contaminate those below. Any soil particles 
or sand falling on the gills can usually be readily shaken out later. Some 
recommend — and it is unquestionably better, though not essential — to wrap up 
together the members of each species in tissue paper or newspaper before placing 
them in the box. 
Having returned home with our boxes filled, the specimens are placed out on a 
large tray, or the upturned cover of a large cardboard box. All of one kind are 
grouped together, and then the necessary notes are made about those species 
that will alter in drying. These notes will supplement any memoranda made 
when collecting, indicating the habit, etc., of the species. The first ones 
described will be those, such as very delicate species, which will change soonest. 
Hueh a trayful of specimens from our hills is often a very striking and, to 
