Launch of 'A Field Guide to Tasmanian Fungi' by Genevieve Gates & David Ratkowsky 
F ullers Book shop was jam-packed at 5pm on 27 
February for the launch, by Professor Jim Reid, of 
Genevieve and David's book. After the speeches a 
large queue of purchasers formed waiting to get their 
copies signed by the authors. The book topped the non¬ 
fiction best-seller list soon after. 
A Field Guide to Tasmanian Fungi has descriptions of 600 
native and introduced species from all of Southern 
Australia, superbly illustrated in full colour with 
contributions from a number of nature photographers, 
many of whom are TFN members. 
If you haven't got your copy yet, you can buy it from 
Fullers Book Shop for $39.95, or from a Tas. Field Nats 
meeting for the member's price of $35. 
A Field Guide to 
Tasmanian Fungi 
Genevieve Gates & David Ratkowsky 
Photographs of Genevieve and David at the launch by Amanda 
Thompson 
Knocklofty Excursion, 9 March 2014 
Genevieve Gates 
e took the 'summit loop' at Knocklofty with no 
fixed purpose other than to 'naturalise' in a 
leisurely fashion (is there any other way?) 
through the Reserve to the accompaniment of various 
birdsongs. 
Field Nats walking through pulchella and obliqua forest. 
Photo: Amanda Thomson 
Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club 
It was rather a cool day to start with but the cloudy skies 
cleared and the air temperature leapt to the predicted 
high 20s. The sandstone outcrops at the beginning of the 
walk were reminiscent of the 'hanging gardens of 
Babylon', being festooned with various native plants 
typical of a dry woodland. As it is now autumn, not many 
plants were in flower although the dolly bush ( Cassinia 
aculeata) was still covered in prolific whitish blossom 
and the parrot food Goodenia ovata bore some ragged 
yellow flowers. The usually bright yellow scaly buttons 
(Leptorhynchos squamatus subsp. squamatus) of spring 
and summer were shriveled and browning off in the hot, 
dry conditions. We spent some time examining large 
holes of wolf spiders ( Lycosa tasmanica) and trapdoors 
(probably Migas nitens), the latter with the beautifully 
formed round lids beside the holes but no one was at 
home. Soon after, a cry of delight from Amanda brought 
us all running (well, maybe walking at an increased gait, 
after all it was hot!) to examine the dead jewel beetle 
(Castiarina aff. wilsoni) still beautifully iridescent and 
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BULLETIN 354 April 2014 
