Overwhelmed

I am feeling a little overwhelmed identifying and recording all the different fungi on the property.  I have found over 20 different species already and we are only 2 weeks into winter.  Luckily, I have been able to find a number in a Department of Environment & Conservation book produced in 2003 that identifies Fungi of the Southwest Forests.  The guide was put together by Richard Robinson who works for Conservation and Land Management at the Manjimup Research Centre.  He also produces a fungus of the month image which has been helpful too.  The problems arise when the fungus is not in the little DEC guide, as there is not an easy way to look them up.  I have another Field Guide written by A M Young, but many of the fungi are only identified by drawings which makes it hard for amateurs like me.  There have been a few sites that have been really helpful, but you often need the latin name to start looking.  If I think I have the correct name, I search through Google images for similar looking species.  One blog has grouped some by colour which is great, but mainly by cap colour which can still makes it tricky.  Another site has got lots of thumbnails grouped alphabetically, which again is great if you know the latin name for the family and are narrowing down the species.

I have decided to make a spreadsheet that whittles down the choices by filtering by the obvious criteria. eg Gills or Pores, Cap Colour, Gill Colour, Ring Y/N.  As an amateur orchid spotter, I found the “grouped by colour method of Dr Eddy Wajon” a very easy way to start.

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/index.html

http://australianfungi.blogspot.com.au/

http://thebegavalley.org.au/21184.html

http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/our-environment/science-and-research/fungi-research/5338-previous-wa-fungus-of-the-month-a-to-z.html