12 
THE LARGER FUNGI 
WHY STUDY THE HIGHER FUNGI? 
A question that one must, be prepared to answer is, what is the use of the 
study of these higher fungi? One may make the stereotyped reply that a full 
consideration of the life history and t’he appearance and behaviour of any living 
being is in itself well worth while, as helping us to know ourselves more fully, 
and to appreciate our surroundings more clearly, as well as constituting a part 
of the pursuit of knowledge, which in itself is deemed n sufficient justification. 
Further, we may say that this is a harmless and engrossing holibv, fully capable of 
keeping idle hands from mischief, and if you feel inclined that way, we are 
here to guide you so that you may rapidly pass through the prentice stage, in 
which discouragement mav arise. Apart, however, from the intrinsic interest 
presented by these organisms, there are not a few aspects of practical 
importance connected with them; the pursuit of specimens is a healthy exercise, 
and many species are objects of high artistic, value both as regards form and 
colour. Under the headings that follow, it will lie seen that such a study can 
be made to serve a number of useful purposes. 
THE USES OF THE HIGHER FUNGI. 
The eating of the Common Mushroom (j PsalHota com pestris) is the only 
general way in which in Australia any member of the higher fungi is put to 
practical use. There are a number of other known edible species in Australia, 
but those have been sampled only by the initiated or by immigrants from 
Continental Europe, who recognised, or thought they recognised, species eaten 
in the home land. The edible fungi will be dealt, with under a separate 
heading. 
In other parts of the world, and even in Australia, several species have been 
found of service to man. Thus rotten wood, permeated by the mycelium of a 
fungus, has been used for polishing the line parts of the highest grade of 
f-hviss and French watches, though this has now been largely supplanted by 
other methods. At one time "the best quality, which is soft and spongy and 
vellowish-white in colour, cost a dollar a pound, and four thousand dollar’s 
worth was used annually in Switzerland.’’ 
The ripe spores and short capillitium threads of the Giant Puffball ( Culvatkc 
pi pant ru ) , a species that has been recorded for Australia, have been used as a 
haemostatic for stopping the flow of blood from wounds. The statement has 
been made that even spurting arteries may have the issuing blood rapidly 
clotted by the application of this soft powder. Recently, in Adelaide, the 
similar structures of Calvatkt Candida found growing at Kinehiua, near Murray 
Bridge, were employed to try to stop the persistent oozing of blood from the 
nose, all other methods of control being found of little value. No definite 
success could, however, be attributed to this procedure. 
For mounting such delicate insects as flies and mosquitoes for entomological 
collections, pith is often employed, into which the delicate silver entomological 
pin impaling the insect is inserted. The substance of a large thick milk-white 
bracket fungus (Tra, metes lactinea ), common in New South Wales on dead trees, 
has been found to be an excellent substitute. This material is pure white, soft, 
but of close texture, and can be readily cut. to suitable sizes by means of a 
razor. 
Amadou, which seems to have been Fomes fomentarins and probably other 
species, was in years gone by in common use as tinder. Dry specimens of some 
of our bracket fungi, such as Polyporm eucalyptorum , will readily eatcli fire 
from a small spark and smoulder away slowly. Razor strops have also been 
made by cutting certain dried polypores into thin strips, fastening them to a 
piece of wood and dusting the spore-bearing surface with siliceous earth. Quite 
recently the Forestry Department in Queensland sent me some specimens of 
bracket fungi, which proved to belong to two different species, (laiwdlcnnn 
npplanatktm and Femes luvniU plmis, which were being used for making razor 
strops. 
Polyporm awtralicntfi, which has been found growing in New South Wales, 
Flinders Island in Bass Straits, and South Australia, is when fresh rather 
juicy, the juice being of a rich saffron-yellow eoloui and staining the fingers 
and any other objects with which it comes in contact. On Flinders Island some 
years ago use was made of this property for staining raffia fibre, with great 
success. 
