The study of Australian fungi has mushroomed thanks to amateur mycologists since the mid-nineteenth century says Teresa Van Der Heul.
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Ms Van Der Heul was talking to a group of 15 future mycologists at in the Box Cutting Rainforest, Kianga Creek Road on Tuesday, April 10.
“If our planet is to be saved, we have to conserve fungi,” Ms Van Der Heul said.
She said the highlight of the group’s day was coming across some pixie eyelashes,
“Tiny, yet you can see the eyelashes rimming the cup,” Ms Van Der Heul said.
However, there was a cautionary tale to be told after Ms Van Der Heul took samples of a large mushroom, some 90 centimetres across.
“I don’t know what it was – it looked like chicken of the woods,” she said.
“All I did was handle this fungi, but the contaminant on my hands was transferred to my lunch and made me sick for a couple of days.”
“Never eat wild mushrooms.”
Ms Van Der Heul said best estimates suggest there are 1.5 million species of fungi, with only five per cent named.
“Mycologists carry a heavy burden, as even the majority of scientists deny the true importance of fungi and their essential role in the conservation, recycling and protection of biomes.
“A hard mission for the amateur mycologists, is to get the attention of decision makers and it is even more difficult as national legislation is strongly focused on protecting of plants and animal and ignoring fungi.”