New threatened waxcap records!

New threatened waxcap records!It's been a big couple of months in the field and we have some exciting findings to share. Thanks to your contributions, to date we have been able to visit:
- a total of eleven sites
- five of them new... 
AND we found threatened waxcap fungi species at FOUR new locations, expanding the known range for two species: Cuphophyllus austropratensis and Hygrocybe anomala var. anomala by more than 50 km!!
 
The beautiful Cuphophyllus austropratensis at our new site
 
You can possibly tell from the photo, but these fungi seem to love the dark! Head torches are a handy tool in the field.

Hygrocybe anomala var. anomala is a striking species with lilac cap and gills and a vibrant red-orange stipe (stem)
 
We have about one month left of the fruiting season and lots more places to look. Thanks again for your support and we will keep you posted with more pictures and results!

‘Waxcap’ fungi of the tribe Hygrocybeae are a good indicator of environmental health due to their specific habitat requirements. In the Sydney Basin, nine species in the tribe Hygrocybeae have been listed as endangered due to habitat loss and a lack of knowledge about their ecology. This project aims to build a better picture of the specific habitat requirements of threatened waxcaps and create a database of DNA sequences that will be used to conserve the species.

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Gary Easton Backer

Thanks for the update and the photos. Are you keeping dried specimens for DNA analysis? You might enjoy this BMS talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qw6sVt-vmo&list=PLryjBXhn7wUZR7-fnf3T7IKva_wCFI4HQ Are you putting any photos on social media? as I'd like to tweet them.

Jul 02, 20230

Isobel ColsonResearcher

Hi Gary! Yes we collect specimens for DNA analysis from all the new locations. Please feel free to share the photos or the post :)

AnnieBacker

That’s a great update, thanks for sharing what you’re finding. Very exciting that their range has been extended! Love the beautiful fungi photos ❤️

New threatened waxcap records!

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