#53 Microporus xanthopus

Microporus xanthopus is a tropical species, found on rotting wood and is common from the Australasian, Asian and African tropics, but is absent from the American tropics. 

Microporus xanthopus (pronunciation:  Micro-poor-uss zan-though-puss) has a common name of Yellow-footed Tinypore.

The initial stage of the fruiting body is simply a white fleck on the wood surface. This enlarges into a hemispherical cushion up to a millimeter wide, and elongates to develop the stem.   A wider basal disc, generally called a 'foot' develops, and is often a yellowish colour, hence the name. A funnel-shaped cap (or pileus) expands from the apex of the stem.

Funnel-shaped caps of mature fruiting bodies are thin (1mm to 3mm thickness) and are concentrically zoned in various shades of brown, usually with a pale margin which is sometimes wavy.  The cap can be up to 150mm wide. Caps can hold water.

The fertile under-surface of the cap is white to dull yellow, with  minute pores (8 to 10 per millimeter) and can extend down the stem (decurrent).

The central or off-centre stem can be up to 40mm long and 5mm wide, expanding at the top.

Shiny wet funnel-shaped Microporus xanthopus, concentric zones of shades of brown, with pale, wavy margin

Dry caps have lost their lustre

Not all fruiting bodies form a perfect goblet shape

White fertile lower surface has minute pores.  Notice how the stem widens at the top

Off-centre stems and misshapen caps

Attractive Yellow-footed Tinypore fruiting bodies on rotting wood on the floor of a tropical North Queensland rainforest

My sightings of Microporus xanthopus

[This will be updated with new sightings]

Far North Queensland - rainforest Sept 2009

Uses of Microporus xanthopus:

• dried and used as ornamentation
• (apparently) used in Malaysian native communities to prevent infants from breast-feeding.

#48 Trametes versicolor

Trametes versicolor is a bracket fungus found in a variety of habitats and substrates. Commonly called Rainbow Fungus, Rainbow Bracket, or Turkey Tails, it has previously been known as Coriolus versicolor.

This common wood-decaying fungus often forms extensive tiers on dead logs, branches and structural timber such as fence posts. It can also parasitise living trees. I've found it in damp forests in the Great Dividing Range in NSW and far north Queensland.

Beautiful fresh fruit bodies of Trametes versicolor
in rainforest of Barrington Tops National Park

Besides occurring in Australia, Trametes versicolor is one of the most common fungi in the northern forests of the world, in Europe to China and Japan, from Siberia to the US and Canada. "Trametes" means skinny, and "versicolor" means multi-coloured.

Brackets can be up to 70mm wide with a radius of 50mm, often larger and forming flexible shelves. Brackets are thin, leathery, relatively flat, but can be 'wavy'. Minute hairs give the upper surface a velvety appearance, with zones of grey, greenish, bluish, rusty-orange or brown, and often have a white margin.

The fertile undersurface is white when fresh, discolouring to cream and then brownish, with minute pores of 3 or more per millimeter. Spore print is white.

Note (centre top) the fruit body first appears
as a patch of white pored fertile surface.

Trametes versicolor in rainforest at Paluma, Qld

Colour of brackets is very variable

Fertile under-surface

A 'shelf' fruiting body about 150mm long

Note how the bracket is adhered to the substrate
by a narrow vertical extension

A mass of faded Trametes versicolor

My sightings of Trametes versicolor

[This will be updated with new sightings]

Barrington Tops National Park, NSW - on stumps and fallen timber in rainforest, Jun 08, Jul 10.

Paluma, North Qld - stumps in rainforest, Aug 08.

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Research and uses: Trametes versicolor is medically significant, most importantly it is known as being a natural source of the anti-cancer polysaccharide PSK. PSK (polysaccharide K) is a high molecular weight carbohydrate found in the fruitbodies and (in higher concentrations) in the mycelium.

Trametes versicolor cancer research

more info on cancer research with T. versicolor

Trametes versicolor can be used for dyeing wool, some fabrics, or paper and will yield a brown color with wool when ammonia is used as a mordant (colour fixer).

Some information on dyeing with fungi

This member of the polypore family has a long history of medicinal use in China and Japan, where it is known as Yun Zhi and Kawaratake, respectively.

#14 Omphalotus nidiformis

Omphalotus nidiformis, Ghost Fungus, belongs to the family Marasmiaceae. Pronunciation Omfa-lotus nidee-form-iss. This is Australia's most well-known luminous (glow-in-the-dark) fungus, but not only does it make a spectacle at night, it also makes a lovely show by day.

A newly emerged Omphalotus nidiformis fruiting body

Developing quickly to form a 'funnel' in the cap


Losing orange colouration in cap and gills as it matures

These funnel-shaped fungi flatten out with age and can reach a diameter of 200mm. They are found on living and dead wood, both native and exotic, and can often be found in gardens and parks. If sprouting from the ground, there will be wood below the ground surface. The colour of the cap can vary from white or cream with blue and black centre and yellow tinges, to tones of purple and pink.

Gills are deeply decurrent (extending down the stem), are cream to white, and various lengths. Spore print is white. The stem can be central, off-centre or even lateral (attached at side), dry and up to 80mm in height or very stout.

Ghost Fungi can grow singly or in extensive overlapping clusters. Luminescence is due to a chemical reaction between fungal enzymes and oxygen. The soft lime-green glow is an amazing sight in natural surroundings at night.

Distribution has been recorded as south-east Queensland, eastern NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, south-eastern SA, and south-western WA.

Omphalotus nidiformis (Ghost Fungus) is highly poisonous.

Illustrating the wide variation in colour of caps

My sightings of Omphalotus nidiformis

[This will be updated with more sightings]

Barrington Tops National Park, Hunter Valley, NSW - Rainforest: Feb, Apr.

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Heatherbrae, NSW - on dead timber and on lawn: Apr, May, jul.

Hanging Rock, NSW - on dead pine stumps: Mar, Apr, May.

Brunkerville, NSW - on dead stumps May 2011, Jun 2011

Omphalotus nidiformis on dead banksia