History of the study of Fungi at Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia

2010·11 MB·English

by  Neale L Bougher

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
NATURALIST
Vol. 27 30th April 2010 No. 2
HISTORY OF THE STUDY OF FUNGI AT KINGS PARK,
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
By NEALE L. BOUGHER
Department of Environment and Conservation,
Western Australian Herbarium, Locked Bag 104,
Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia
ABSTRACT
The history of fungi knowledge at Kings Park and Botanic
Garden, near central Perth in Western Australia began
with the Nyoongar people who inhabited the area for
many centuries prior to European settlement there in
1829. Today, the protection and understanding of
bushland fungi along with the flora and fauna is an
integral part of the management of Kings Park. This
historical account provides a basis upon which to build an
improved knowledge base about the fungi at Kings Park
by outlining the records/recorders and collections/
collectors of fungi (mainly macrofungi) from Kings Park
to date. Major human-induced changes in the vegetation
particularly since European settlement are likely to have
caused changes in the fungus communities at Kings Park.
The nature of these changes for fungi is not known
because there have been only sporadic, uncoordinated
records of fungi and their ecology at the park. The
scientific study of fungi from Kings Park was instigated in
the 1830’s by pioneer botanical collectors who sent their
specimens to mycologists overseas. Only three fungi from
Kings Park were collected and lodged at the Western
Australian (WA) Herbarium before the 1960’s. The number
of fungi lodged increased in the 1960’s and 1970’s, peaked in
the 1980’s, but tapered off again after that time. Currently,
61
a total of 183 collections of fungi from Kings Park made
by 77 people are held at the WA Herbarium, with 140
fungi names assigned among them including 80 identified
to species level. Many more fungi than those lodged at the
WA Herbarium or other herbaria have been observed,
recorded and possibly collected at Kings Park but were not
preserved. To date a total of 285 scientific names of fungi
have been recorded from Kings Park, with 122 of the names
designated to species level. However, it is uncertain how
many species of fungi accurately have been recorded to
date at Kings Park because 145 of the 285 names are not
based on specimens retained at a herbarium and therefore
cannot be verified. Recently the Botanic Gardens and
Parks Authority has contracted the first of intended
annual surveys of fungi to develop a better assessment of
fungal biodiversity at Kings Park.
INTRODUCTION become dominated by smaller
trees and shrubs. Today the three
Kings Park and Botanic Garden is
major plant communities at
located only 1.5 km from the
Kings Park are banksia woodland,
central business district of Perth,
limestone heathland, and low
Western Australia. It includes
moist areas with Banksia ilicifolia
areas of landscaped parkland, the
(Barrett and Tay 2005).
Western Australian Botanic
Garden, and a regionally signifi¬ Kings Park and Botanic Garden
cant bushland covering about has a rich representation of
267 ha of the 400.6 ha Park. native flora, fauna and fungi.
Woodlands with tall trees such as Fungi and their linkages with
Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala), flora and fauna undoubtedly
Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), and have central roles in maintaining
Marri (Corymbia calophylla) once the health and biodiversity of
covered much of the bushland. the bushland at Kings Park.
However the structure and Fungi are also present in the
composition of Kings Park’s landscaped parkland and botanic
vegetation has changed since garden areas of the park. As is the
European colonisation of the case in similar areas elsewhere,
Swan River area in 1829 due to Kings Park has many beneficial
major disturbances such as symbiotic fungi, decomposer
logging, altered fire regimes, weed fungi, and some troublesome
invasion, and urban encroach¬ pathogenic fungi. Many
ment (Main and Serventy 1957). hundreds of species of macro¬
Most of the large Jarrah trees in fungi (fungi with easily visible
the park were removed for timber fruit bodies) may occur at Kings
before the area was gazetted as a Park together with greater
public park in 1872 (Bennett numbers of microfungi (fungi
1988). Tall tree woodlands have that do not produce large fruit
62
bodies). However little has been Gardens and Parks Authority and
known about the identity or their collaborators on microfungi
ecology of Kings Park’s fungi. associated with native plants such
Major human-induced changes as orchids, sedges, grasses and
in the vegetation particularly others at Kings Park are not
since European settlement would included.
have caused changes in the
fungus communities at Kings
ABORIGINAL KNOWLEDGE
Park. The nature of these changes
for fungi is not known because Aboriginal people in many
there have been only sporadic, regions of Australia, including in
uncoordinated records of fungi the Perth region have local
and their ecology at the park. language or dialect names for
many types of fungi, and
Ongoing protection and
traditionally they used the fungi
improvement of knowledge of
for many purposes such as food,
bushland fungi along with the
medicine, and cosmetics. Further¬
flora and fauna is an integral part
more fungi have a deeper
of the future management of
significance for at least some
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, as
Aboriginal people, with some
acknowledged in the park’s
records indicating that fungi are
management plan for 2009-2014
involved with religious beliefs
(Botanic Gardens and Parks
associated with the Dreamtime
Authority 2009). Recently the
(Kalotas 1996). Against that
Botanic Gardens and Parks
background are records indicat¬
Authority (BGPA) took a sig¬
ing that some Aboriginal people
nificant step to address the poor
in the Perth region and elsewhere
knowledge base about Kings
may have avoided or perhaps
Park’s fungi by contracting the
feared some fungi. For example,
first of annual surveys of fungi
some Aboriginal people near
which will document the fungi
Perth in the Toodyay district
of Kings Park and Botanic Garden.
around 1840 were believed to be
This historical account provides a
fearful of the luminescent Ghost
basis upon which to build an
improved knowledge base about Fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis),
and when shown it called out
the fungi at Kings Park by
“Chinga” - a local word for spirit
outlining the records/recorders
(Kalotas 1996).
and collections/ collectors of fungi
from Kings Park to date (prior to The extent of Aboriginal
the first survey contracted by knowledge and use of fungi in
BGPA). This account primarily the vicinity of Kings Park is
refers to the macrofungi, but also unknown as there are no records
includes records of slime moulds in existence specifically for Kings
and some significant pathogenic Park. However the Whadjug tribe
microfungi. The mainly recent of the Nyoongar peoples, the
scientific studies by the Botanic original inhabitants (Erickson
63
2009) of Mooro Katta (Mount during the nineteenth century
Eliza) and surrounds, are likely to were mainly sent to European
have used local fungi. This is mycologists for examination. The
indicated by some ethno- fungi, including those from
mycological records from the colonial Western Australia, were
broader Swan River and Perth not seen in fresh condition by
area, such as from Balbuk, the last the overseas mycologists who
Perth native of Woorurdup who named and published them. The
gave the name “Yellar” for specimens often reached Europe
“mushroom” (Bates, undated). A in poorly preserved condition
more specific fungal record is after many months or years, e.g.
“Numar”, the Nyoongar name for some specimens from the Swan
the edible Beefsteak Fungus River were described by Berkeley
(Fistulina hepatica) (Kalotas 1996). (1845) as “much corroded by
Other examples include a fungus insects”. Critical descriptive
recorded as the “Gnucho” of the details about the fungi, their
local (Swan River) Aborigines location and their habitats were
(Hilton 1988). This fungus was often not recorded or lost. Kings
collected from “on sandy soil by Park with its prominent and
the Swan River” in 1841 by central position in the Swan
Ludwig Preiss and labelled as River Colony would have been
Boletus arenarius. Similarly, Preiss’ frequented by some local pioneer
Polyporus (Apus) eucalyptorum which observers and collectors of fungi.
he found on eucalypt trunks at There were several main known
around the same time and place, resident or visiting collectors of
was attributed as “the “Medop of fungi in the area during the
New Holland Aborigines” (Hilton nineteenth century.
1988). Aboriginal people used this Johann August Ludwig Preiss
fungus as tinder. The pioneer
collected 52 fungi and lichens in
explorer George Grey recorded in
WA during 1839-1841, and sent
1841 that dried pieces of most them to Elias Fries in Europe who
likely “Medop” were contained in
named the fungi in J.G.C.
bags belonging to Aboriginal
Lehmann’s 1846 publication
women in the south west of
“Plantae Priessianae” (Hilton 1988).
Australia (as cited in Kalotus
Almost all the collections of
1996). “Medop” is a large bracket
fungi from WA made by Preiss
fungus presently referred to as were lodged in Berlin and were
White Punk (Laetiporus portentosus) destroyed during WWII. In June
and is often seen on large trees at
1839 Preiss collected the first
Kings Park and elsewhere scientifically recorded and named
(Bougher 2009a).
collection of a fungus from Kings
Park “in sandy places of the
woods on Mt Eliza”. This
NINETEENTH CENTURY
specimen was examined and
Fungi collected in Australia named by Fries as Agaricus
64
(Lepiota) australius (= Lepiota stream and the Toodyay district,
australiana in Hilton 1982). The e.g. A garicus campestris var. maximus
identity of this fungus may be quoted by Berkeley (1845), states
Lepiota konradii but this remains that it is to be found in poor clay
uncertain due to conflicting land in the white gum (Eucalyptus
descriptive features recorded by wandoo) forests. Drummond’s
Fries (Hilton 1988). No other of specimens of fungi were sent to
Preiss’ collections can be the British botanist William
specifically attributed to Kings Hooker at Kew, and examined by
Park because the locations of the British mycologist Miles
most of his collections were not Berkeley who published many of
specified. However, it is probable them (Berkeley 1845). The Drum¬
that he collected many of his mond collection of WA fungi is
fungi from Kings Park or nearby. now held at Kew (see Hilton
Many of the species he collected 1983).
are now known to occur in Kings During his visit to Western
Park, e.g. his Agaricus (Amanita) Australia in 1877, Ferdinand von
preissii from “in shady places of Mueller encouraged local Perth
the woods”, and Colus (as “Coleus”) ladies, particularly Lady Margaret
hirudinosus from “in clearings Forrest, to collect and paint water¬
around the small town of Perth”.
colours of fungi as well as
wildflowers “about the
James Drummond was another
pioneer European collector of neighbourhood of Swan River”.
botanical and fungal specimens These fungi and watercolours
were sent to the Austrian-
in the Perth region. He collected
about 200 fungi in WA between Hungarian mycologist Karoly
about 1843-1846 (Hilton 1983). It Kalchbrenner who published 12
of them including 5 new species
is possible that at least some of
Drummond’s fungi collections (Kalchbrenner 1883). The col¬
were from Kings Park. Drum¬ lection location for these was not
specified other than “Swan River”
mond was among the first settlers
but it is highly probable that at
of the Swan River Colony in 1829
least some of the collections were
and he owned land under Mount
from Kings Park. Lady Forrest,
Eliza for many decades from
1831(Erickson 2009). He some¬ wife of Sir John Forrest who is
times collected with Preiss, and credited with the formal creation
of the park, lived close to the park
not surprisingly collected some
of the same species as him and frequently painted and rode
(Bennett 1992; May and Pascoe there (Erickson 2009).
1996). However, no Drummond
collections from Kings Park are
1900 -1950
evident in Hilton’s 1982 census of
Western Australian fungi. His During this period, Western
collections from “the Swan River” Australia’s botanical scientific
were mainly from further up¬ and teaching communities were
65
primarily influenced by the that Quambalaria coyrecup may
State’s burgeoning agriculture represent this same fungus (see
and forestry industries and Paap et al. 2008).
increasing attention to its Teaching of plant pathology at
unique and diverse native plants the University of Western
(Grieve 1975). Most mycological Australia was established in 1923
studies in this period concerned (Fish 1970), but mycology was not
microfungi, and many fungal to be taught there as a discipline
plant pathogens were recognized in its own right until at least the
and studied (Shivas 1989). For 1950’s. In 1929 several small
example, a particularly trouble¬ herbaria in Western Australia
some stem canker disease was were amalgamated to form the
extensively studied as it had State Herbarium (George 2009),
been devastating ornamental red- but at that time it did not
flowering gums (Corymbia include a dedicated mycological
ficifolia) at Kings Park and around herbarium akin to that which
Perth since at least the 1920’s. The had been established about two
causal fungus was isolated from decades earlier in Victoria (May
diseased gums by H.A.J. Pittman and Pascoe 1996). Few macrofungi
in 1935. Pittman’s successor in were collected and studied in
1938 as Government Plant Western Australia from about
Pathologist - W. P. Cass Smith - 1900 to 1950, and is not sur¬
found that this disease spread prising that there are few known
from largely unaffected Marri records of macrofungi from Kings
(Corymbia calophylla) trees to Park during this period. The only
planted red flowering gums (Cass collection from the park recorded
Smith 1970). Red flowering gums from the period and with speci¬
planted in 1898 stretching along mens lodged at the WA
Fraser Avenue, then more Herbarium is a Pisolithus sp.
planted in 1929 to commemorate collected by Joseph Gentilli in
the State Centenary (Bennett November 1940.
1988), had to be replaced by
lemon-scented gums (Corymbia
1950’S - 1960’S
citridora) (Main and Serventy
1957). Cultures of the fungus that In this period many macrofungi
Pittman had originally sent to were observed and recorded at
Kew were given the name of a Kings Park by some dedicated
new species - Sporotrichum local residents and increasing
destructor (Cass Smith 1970). numbers of students. Mycology
However, this name was never begun to be taught for the first
validly published as it lacked a time at the Botany Department,
Latin diagnosis. Later investi¬ University of Western Australia
gators have not been able to (UWA) under the direction of
examine any cultures of Pitt¬ Brian Grieve within several years
man’s fungus but it is thought of his appointment as de-
66
partmental head in 1947 (George Amanita) which are very common
2009). From the 1950’s to 1987 in King’s Park”. In 1953 Gentilli
undergraduate students study¬ published a study on five species
ing under E.R.L. “Ruth” Johnson (one new) and two newly
and then Roger N. Hilton (who proposed forms of Amanita at
started at UWA on 1st January Kings Park. (1) A. preissii Fr., (2) A.
1965) undertook studies on preissii forma levis (possibly = A.
fungi, often in the nearby Kings preissii), (3) A. preissii forma
Park. The specimens were used a ochroterrea (current name = A.
source for undergraduate ochroterrea), (4) A. conicobulbosa
laboratory classes at UWA. Any Clel., (5) Amanita loricata sp. nov.
specimens vouchered during (6) A. umbrinella Gilbert Clel., (7)
these studies were lodged at the A. pulchella Cooke & Massee
UWA mycological herbarium (current name = A. xanthocephala).
which was founded by Mrs There is no indication in
Johnson in 1964 (Grieve 1975). Gentilli’s paper as to where his
After the retirement of Roger N. specimens were lodged. However
Hilton at the end of 1987, the Gentilli sent many of his Amanita
specimens were transferred to the collections to Cornelius Bas in
WA Herbarium at Kensington Leiden. The type specimens of
when the UWA mycological Amanita loricata and collections of
herbarium was moved to there in Amanita preissii forma levis
February 1988. (probably = A. preissii) cannot be
Joseph Gentilli, a renowned long¬ found and probably do not exist
term member of the Department (Bas 1969). Strangely, his Pisolithus
of Geography at UWA, was sp. from 1940 is his only
already observing and collecting collection from Kings Park lodged
some fungi at Kings Park before at the WA Herbarium. Many of
1950. This is indicated by his Gentilli’s fungus collections are
above-mentioned collection in simply labeled location “not
1940 of a Pisolithus (one year after recorded” and some have the
his immigration from Italy). His collection number designated as
pre-1950 interests in local fungi “Stewart”. Amanita loricata and the
are also revealed by his article other new names proposed by
entitled “The Mushroom Season” Gentilli (1953) - A. preissii forma
in the Western Mail dated 6th May levis and A. preissii forma
1948 in which he made a request ochroterrea - were invalidly
for the public to send him published as he did not provide a
Amanita specimens, and by a Latin diagnosis or description for
journal article he published in them (Bas 1969). The identity of
1951 about Western Australian Gentilli’s Amanita conicobulbosa is
fungi (Gentilli 1951). In that also doubtful because Bas
article he comments on: “two determined that his specimen
members of the most deadly belongs to another species (Bas
group (fungi of the genus 1969).
67
In 1957 an appraisal of the natural the diversity and significance of
history of Kings Park was fungi at Kings Park and made a
published by the Western request for some assistance in
Australian Naturalists’ Club order to further his work. The
(Main and Serventy 1957). One studies on fungi by Ross took the
microfungus - Sporotrichum form of a loose compilation,
destructor (current name may be punched holed and strung
Quambalaria coyrecup, see above), together into an unpublished
and six species of macrofungi are volume entitled Mycology Notes
mentioned: Amanita preissii, 1966 - 1970 - 1973 (Ross undated).
This volume contains brief and
Amanita loricata, Schizophyllum
hand written notes of incon¬
commune, Psalliota campestris
(current name = A garicus sistent detail about each of the
included 180 records. Spore
campestris), Trametes cinnabarina (=
prints, and a few photographs
Pycnoporus coccineus), Polyporus
accompany some of the notes. 61
eucalyptorum (= Laetiporus
records included in the volume
portentosus). Mention is also made
are from Kings Park, representing
by Main and Serventy (1957) of
an estimated maximum of 44
the five species of Amanita
species of fungi (note dis¬
described by Gentilli (1953).
crepancy in number to above).
Finally they also provide a
The remainder of the records are
comment that “on wattles
from various other locations in
particularly where the wood is
Western Australia such as
damp are several species of
Nedlands, Churchmans Brook,
Mycena” at Kings Park.
Kelmscott in the Perth region,
During the period 1964 to June and Albany on the south coast.
1965, Peter H. Ross recorded 116 The Kings Park records are anno¬
species in Kings Park according tated with a grid map reference
to a letter he sent in 1965 to John relating the above mentioned
S. Beard (see more details below). grid. Strangely the dates indi¬
He recorded at least a further 16 cated on records in this volume
at the park after that time. Mr are broader than the volume’s
Ross gained permission to collect title suggests. The first entry (no.
fungi at Kings Park in July 1963 01) is labeled “found during
from Beard, who was the Director June-August 1963. This entry
Kings Park at the time. In order to consists of an unidentified
pinpoint locations of fungi, Ross, brown spore print from “Kings
who was a qualified surveyor, Park southside”. The last entry in
laid down a grid of lines across a the Ross volume (no. 180) is dated
200 feet to the inch map of Kings 4 September 1973, and consists of
Park to establish grids of 200 feet a black spore print and a colour
east to west and 100 feet north to photograph annotated “at
south. Two years later he sent a Mitchells property 5 miles north
typed letter dated 28 June 1965 to of Albany, Panaeolus or Coprinus”
J.S. Beard in which he pointed out (it appears to be a Panaeolus). Many
68
of the fungi recorded by Peter second volume by Peter Ross may
Ross were not identified or have existed, but such a volume
verified, although some tentative has not been located. The Ross
identifications were provided by volume (Ross undated) is
Roger N. Hilton then a lecturer at currently held at the WA
the Botany Department UWA, Herbarium, together with two
and Kevn Griffiths then a school Kodak boxes of colour slide
teacher living at Parkerville. A images of fruit bodies.
batch of the Ross slides ranging
in date from 6 August 1963
(corresponds with collection no. 1970’S - 1980’S
01 in his compiled volume) to 24
During this period, fungi
June 1970 (corresponds with
attracted the attention of the
record no. 175 in the volume)
managers of Kings Park due to
were viewed by R. N. Hilton who
devastating outbreaks of a root
produced an undated, hand
rot disease. Also a number of
written 3 page listing of Ross’
mycological experts and en¬
notes and tentative names of the
thusiasts from overseas collected
fungi. It appears that no voucher
larger fungi at Kings Park, and at
specimens were retained by Peter
the close of this period an
Ross. There is only one indirect
exhibition of fungi was held at
record in the databases at the WA
Kings Park to encourage com¬
Herbarium pointing to him as a
munity attention to fungi.
collector of fungi. It is among the
In the 1970’s an attractive golden-
notes accompanying a voucher
coloured root rot fungus gained
collection (PERTH 755613) labeled
attention as it was destroying
Clitocybe sp., dated July 1970. The
tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala)
notes read that it was collected
trees and other woody plants near
from under Casuarina by “Peron
the pioneer women’s memorial
Ross, son of Mr. P.H. Ross who
fountain. An article in The West
had specialized on fungi in Kings
Australian dated 5th August 1974
Park”.
claimed that this fungus had
Evidently the compiled volume killed nearly 2000 trees and
entitled Mycology Notes 1966 -1970 - shrubs at Kings Park since 1968.
1973 did not include all of Peter By about 1970, this fungus had
Ross’ records and collections. For also already begun to spread in
example, although Ross himself developing western suburbs of
stated to J.S. Beard that he had Perth such as City Beach and
recorded 116 species in Kings Park Wembley Downs. An article in
during the period 1964 to June The West Australian dated 1st
1965, the volume includes only September 1971 shows workmen
48 records up to June 1965 digging a 4 feet deep ditch in
representing about 35 species. Kings Park before laying plastic
Kevn Griffiths (personal com¬ sheeting to prevent the spread of
munication, 2009) believes that a honey fungus in cultivated
69
garden areas from several areas in by R.N. Hilton who at the time
the park. Many specimens of the considered it to be Phylloporus
fungus were collected from Kings hyperion (Hilton personal com¬
Park in 1974 including by UWA munication, 2010). This collec¬
mycologist Roger N. Hilton (14 tion was later designated as
June 1974) and the then Director holotype of the new species
of Kings Park Paul R. Wycherley Phylloporus clelandii in a journal
(19 June 1974). At the time this paper by Watling and Gregory
fungus was thought to be (1991). In this case, only part of
Armillaria mellea, but collections of the collection was lodged in
it from Kings Park and elsewhere Edinburgh (Wat. 10257), and
in Western Australia were later another part has been retained at
confirmed as A rmillaria the WA Herbarium (PERTH
luteobubalina Watling &. Kile (Kile 770973, formerly UWA 1930). The
etal 1983). location and habitat of this
Just prior to one of the major collection within Kings Park is
unclear because the notes with
outbreaks of A rmillaria at Kings
the original voucher specimens
Park in 1974, Roy Watling from
the Royal Botanic Garden, do not concur with the
published details. The original
Edinburgh had visited Western
notes hand-written by R. N.
Australia. He recorded some
Hilton on the herbarium packet
collections of fungi from Kings
Park during that visit (Watling label are: “Loc. Kings Park near Main
1976), but he collected no fungi Car Park, Perth, WA; Hab. Amongst
from there during his second exotic species of plant”, whereas
Watling and Gregory (1991) state
visit to WA in April 1982
(Watling 1982). In 1974 he stayed it as from “under Eucalyptus
in Western Australia May 11th to camaldudensis (should read
24th after a tour throughout camaldulensis) Dehnh., in avenue”.
eastern Australia. He took back to in 1975, some students from
Edinburgh from Australia over Western Australia’s new
800 specimens, reduced by an Murdoch University in its inaug¬
unrecorded amount due to an ural year came across the giant¬
unspecified accident in Canberra sized Phylloporus in Kings Park.
(Watling 1976). His itinerary They had noted that this fungus
indicates that he collected in showed some bluing reaction
Kings Park on May 23 in 1974. when bruised, and ate some of
Eleven collections from Kings the supposed “Blue Meanies”.
Park were vouchered and taken However the students reported
back to Edinburgh. Some were that they did not experience a
included in later taxonomic “hallucinogenic trip”, and for¬
publications. For example, a tunately they did not suffer any
giant-sized Phylloporus collected at poisoning (R. N. Hilton, personal
Kings Park on 22nd May 1974 by T. communication 2010).
Barley was shown to Roy Watling
70