Key points
- There are a quarter of a million -species of fungi in Australia.
- Identifying edible fungal species in Australia requires caution and experience.
- The fatal fungi of the death cover are extremely difficult to distinguish from other wild fungi and may resemble edible species.
Kristy Barbara, from Sydney, remembers that he looks for fungi with his grandmother as a child.
“I remember that when I was little, my grandmother used to take me and my sisters in fungi. I used to take us to a place in Altona, in Victoria,” says Barbara.
“My grandmother emigrated to Australia in Malta in the late 1940s, and fungi were one of the happy things he discovered in those first years in Australia,” he adds.
The search for fungi can have deep emotional or cultural connections for some migrants, such as a social activity with family and friends, or to find food.
Diego Bonetto is a food instructor registered with Forestry New Wales (Forestry Corporation of NSW).
He says in NSW that he is allowed to harvest fungi in state forests.
A mycologist examines Laccaria’s fungi in a cold temperate tropical jungle. Credit: Jason Edwards/Getty Images
“Edible fungi extend throughout Australia and there are a series of species that are highly appreciated by specific cultural pockets, such as pine fungi by the Polish, Russians and Italians, for example, and field fungi for farmers,” explains Bonetto.
Professor Brett Summerell is the chief scientist and director of Science, Education and Conservation at the Australian Institute of Botanical Sciences, in the
He says that identifying edible species of fungi in Australia requires caution and experience.
“The risk is that some of the fungi in Australia would be quite different from those that can be seen in other parts of the world. Therefore, some are toxic, some have unpleasant effects … and in some cases they could poison it quite severely,” explains Professor Summerell.
He adds that if he is not sure of the type of fungus that is feeding, it is better to avoid it.
Death cover fungus
Professor Summerell is also a pathologist of plants and fungal experts and has helped to describe more than 120 new species of fungi and published more than 150 magazine and book articles.
He says that some people have tragically died in Australia in recent years due to consuming the incorrect types of fungi.
“If someone eats a fungus of the death lid, there is the potential to die when eating that fungus … but can vary from the need for liver transplants [to other severe health complications]”, Warns.
Fountain: RF moment / Simon McGill/Getty Images
There are a quarter of a million -species of fungi in Australia.
Professor Summerell says that this makes the identification of poisonous species a matter of highly specialized knowledge.
‘Difficult to identify’
Identifying the fatal fungi of the death of death can be extremely challenging, since they are very similar to edible species of wild fungi.
The fungus of the death cover is found in Tasmania, Victoria, Australia del Sur and the territory of the capital of Australia.
“There are also some native species that look like a fungus of oysters, particularly the ghost fungus, and can be quite unpleasant and if they eat them, it can have an unpleasant episode of nausea, diarrhea, stomach complaints that could end up sending it to the hospital,” explains Professor Summerel.
In Tasmania, it is known that Cortinarius Eartxicus causes kidney failure, which requires dialysis.
There may also be similar varieties in Victoria, although they have not yet been formally identified.
Therefore, there is nothing in particular that can see in a fungus that will tell you that this is clearly sure to eat.
Mr. Summerell also advises against the collection of fungi that are decomposing.
“The fungus quality can be important. If you have begun to break down and decline, you can sometimes obtain bacterial infections in the stomach, which can cause a gastrointestinal problem.”
Therefore, it is important to go to the forest with an expert.
Fungus – Pixabay Fountain: Pixabay
Fungal season
The coldest and most humid climate is perfect for fungi to grow in nature.
“The fungal season begins in mid -March and is in mid -June, depending on the conditions, depending on the places,” Bonetto explained.
In Victoria, it starts a little earlier, in Nueva Wales del Sur [and South Australia] A little later, ”he says.
Different rules and regulations in each state and territory
Each state and territory in Australia has different regulations regarding the search for fungi, and it is important to be aware of these before venturing in the forest, Bonetto suggests.
“In We are allowed to harvest pine fungi in state forests, but that is not the case in other states.
In Western Australia, it is not allowed to harvest fungi, whether native or exotic. In You are not allowed; in It is frowned upon. “
Aza fungi, Amanita Ochrophylla, on the forest floor. Credit: Jason Edwards/Getty Images
In People need a permit to collect fungi from Queensland’s national parks, state forests and other reserves. These permits have strict conditions, including the notification of the local ranger of their scheduled visit.
“If you have a private property or if you have friends with the property, you can harvest fungi, without any regulation being applied,” explains Mr. Bonetto.
If this podcast poses health concerns for you or for someone who knows about the consumption of fungi, call from anywhere in Australia in 131 126.
For symptoms that threaten life, call 000.
