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Notes on three sympatric saprophytic fungi growing on a dead Pittosporum
undulatum (Pittosporaceae) tree at Lane Cove North, Sydney, New South Wales,
Australia
by Trevor J. Hawkeswood*
*PO Box 842, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia (email: drtjhawkeswood@gmail.com)
Hawkeswood, T.J. (2019). Notes on three sympatric saprophytic fungi growing on a dead Pittosporum undulatum
(Pittosporaceae) tree at Lane Cove North, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Calodema, 717: 1-4.
Abstract: Numerous fungal fruiting bodies (basidiocarps) of Auricularia cornea Ehrenberg, 1820 (Auriculariaceae),
and Schizophyllum commune Fries, 1815 (Schizophyllaceae) as well as one basidiocarp of Ganoderma applanatum
(Pers.) Pat., 1889 (Ganodermataceae) were observed growing on a dead tree about 12 metres tall at Helen Street, Lane
Cove North, Sydney, New South Wales during 26 June 2019. These appear to be new records of this tree host for all
three fungal species as well as first record of niche partitioning for these fungi.
Key words: Auricularia cornea, Auriculariaceae, Schizophyllum commune, Schizophyllaceae, Ganoderma applanatum,
Ganodermataceae, saprophytes, Pittosporum undulatum host tree, Lane Cove North, Sydney, Australia.
Introduction
The Basidiomycetes are a huge group of fungi and in Australia virtually nothing is known about
their relationships with dead timber. During an arborist report recently in he Lane Cove area (Helen
St) I noticed a dead tree of Pittosporum undulatum Vent. (Pittosporaceae) with three sympatric
fungal species (all Basidiomycota) growing on different areas of the tree. Since virtually nothing is
known about fungal hosts of this tree species I decided to note my observations for posterity as
there may not be another incidence of these three species together on any dead trees for some time.
My findings are discussed herein as well as brief summaries of the morphology and hosts (if
known) of the three fungal species: Auricularia cornea Ehrenberg, 1820 (Auriculariaceae),
Schizophyllum commune Fries, 1815 (Schizophyllaceae) and Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.,
1889 (Ganodermataceae). Pittosporum undulatum is a common and widespread species in eastern
Australia which is spread by birds which consume and pass the seeds (e.g. Wikipedia, 2019).
Observations
The dead Sweet Pittosporum tree, Pittosporum undulatum Vent. (Pittosporaceae) tree was still standing (although most
smaller branches had already broken off) and possessed a number of mostly larger dead branches; the tree measured 12
m tall and had been dead for at least a year. The bark was still intact but starting to fall away. The tree was situated near
77 Helen Street, Lane Cove North, Sydney, New South Wales [33.8097925°S,151.1724065°E]. The Auricularia cornea
Ehrenberg, 1820 (Auriculariaceae) fungus was mainly located growing on the southern side of the tree about 1 m above
ground level and occupying about 30 cm of tree space along the main trunk and also attached to the base of forking
branches (Fig. 2); there were at least 50 fruiting bodies, ranging from small, 15-25 mm in diameter to larger 10-15 cm
in diameter (Fig. 1). The fruiting bodies were coloured brown to brownish-purple (Figs. 1, 2). The basidiocarps of
Schizophyllum commune Fries, 1815 (Schizophyllaceae) were scattered over an area of about 80 cm of tree trunk and
lower branches at the other side of the dead tree; the number of fruiting bodies of the fungus was estimate to be over 60
(Fig. 2). There was single Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat., 1889 (Ganodermataceae) at the base of the tree on the
same side as the Schizophyllum fruiting bodies (Fig. 4). No other fungi species were noticed on the tree and there were
no free fungal basidiocarps in the soil around the base of the tree. The bark was wet as Sydney had experienced heavy
rains over the previous two days. The dead tree was heavily shaded by other trees nearby.
Discussion
Hood (2003: 72- Fig. 18) provided a summary of the biology and morphology of A. cornea
Ehrenberg, 1820 [listed as A. polytricha (Montague) Saccardo]. Auricularia cornea is recognized
Calodema, 717: 1-4 (2019) Hawkeswood - three sympatric saprophytic fungi on dead Pittosporum undulatum
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by its flabby, ear like fruiting bodies which are suspended by a narrow attachment; they often occur
in large groups. Hood (2003) also noted that the basidiocarps occur on snags, wood debris and
sometimes on dead branches on living trees, often in clusters; Hood (2003) unfortunately did not
list any specific tree hosts of the fungus. Wong & Wells (1987) state that A. polytricha was a
synonym of A. cornea. Young (2017: 64-65) noted that A. cornea grows directly on wood in
eucalyptus woodland and was common in rainforests where it forms large colonies on fallen logs.
Figs. 1, 2. 1. (left). View of the largest cluster mass of Auricularia cornea Ehrenberg, 1820 (Auriculariaceae) towards
the base of the dead Pittosporum undulatum Vent. tree at Lane Cove, Sydney, New South Wales on 26 June 2019.
(Photograph: T.J. Hawkeswood). 2. (right). Smaller fruiting bodies of A. cornea growing on the base of two forking
branches just above the main cluster of the fungus shown in Fig. 1. Note the wetness of the bark. (Photograph: T.J.
Hawkeswood).
Fuhrer (2009: 290) illustrated this species, but merely stating the fungus was found on dead wood in
tropical to subtropical forest. This is the first recorded instance of the fungus saprophytic on the
dead wood of P. undulatum as far as I am aware. This is the first time I have observed this fungus in
the Sydney Bioregion.
Hood (2003: 278) also provided a short summary of the almost cosmopolitan fungus Schizophyllum
commune Fries, 1815 (Schizophyllaceae), noting that the basidiocarps are lobed and fanlike, hairy
to leathery on the tops; he noted that it is one of the first fungi to fruit on fallen or burnt trees (N.B.
the Pittosporum tree at Lane Cove had not been burnt; it had apparently been killed by termites and
cerambycid beetle borers). In Queensland, the fungus has been observed within a number of
habitats, including dead wood in rainforests, and on exotic Pinus elliottii (Pinaceae) which were
killed by fire (viz. Hood, 2003; Hood & Ramsden, 1997). This is the first recorded instance of the
fungus rotting dead wood of P. undulatum as far as I am aware. I have observed S. commune
growing on dead logs of Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) and Acacia sp. (Fabaceae) and other trees in
the Blue Mountains of NSW over 40 years of field work. In Australia, the species appears mainly to
attack hardwoods, although the record of Pinus elliottii by Hood (2003) concerns a coniferous
softwood. Fuhrer (2009: 173) illustrated the species merely stating the fungus colonises many types
of dead wood. Young (2017: 179) noted that in Australia, S. commune is very common in forests
and woodlands, where it appears on stumps, fallen logs and fallen branches, often in small colonies.
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Figs. 3, 4. 3. (left). View of a cluster of Schizophyllum commune Fries, 1815 (Schizophyllaceae) on the other side of the
P. undulatum tree about the same height as A. cornea. Note the wetness of the bark. (Photograph: T.J. Hawkeswood). 4.
(right). Single basidiocarp of Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat., 1889 (Ganodermataceae) growing at the base of the
tree - dead leaves show the approximate ground level. Note the wetness of the bark. (Photograph: T.J. Hawkeswood).
Fig. 5. Pittosporum undulatum Vent. (Pittosporaceae). Leaves and flowers in life. (from Wikipedia, 2019; flowers by:
By By Ixitixel - eigene Arbeit, selbst fotografiert, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?
curid=3816549).
Hood (2003: 320) believed that Ganoderma applanatum in Australia is actually G. australe (Fries)
Patouillard but provides a vague analysis, noting that the differences may not warrant separate
species; however, G. australe appears not to have a white margin in the analysis by Hood (2003:
320), which I believe is a diagnostic field character. I am therefore treating G. applanatum as a
separate taxon from G. australe. Fuhrer (2009: 253) listed his illustration under both species,
indicating doubt and confusion. Fuhrer (2009) noted that the species occurs on living or dead trees
in rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest. Young’s (2017: 73) account is also somewhat confused and
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he combined both species in his discussion, noting that both species are “dangerous” parasites of
trees, especially in rainforest areas. None of these three authors listed any tree hosts for the fungus.
I have observed this fungus on dead and dying Angophora and Eucalyptus species in various places
in wet sclerophyll forest in the Sydney Bioregion over the past 40 years. This is the first recorded
instance of the fungus rotting dead wood of P. undulatum as far as I am aware.
It is also interesting to note the different niches occupied by the three fungi, as though they were
sharing the tree “without treading on the other’s toes” (viz. niche partitioning). Two species of fungi
were growing on one side (northern facing- Ganoderma and Schizophyllum) while the other fungus,
Auricularia cornea, was solely growing on the other side (southern facing). Collectively, the three
fungi inhabited the tree from ground level to about 1.0 metre above ground level and it was
surprising that there were no other fungi growing higher up the tree. I am not aware of other records
of these three fungi in combination recorded from any other tree species.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank an anonymous referee who expertly reviewed the paper before publication. Mr Angus Bevan,
Arcadia, Sydney, assisted me in the field.
References
Fuhrer, B. (2009). A Field Guide to Australian Fungi. Revised Edition. Bloomings Books, Melbourne: vi + 360 pp.
Hood, I.A. (2003). An Introduction to Fungi on Wood in Queensland. University of New England Printery, Armidale:
388 pp.
Hood, I.A. & Ramsden, M. (1997). Sapstain and decay following fire in stands of Pinus elliotii var. elliottii near
Beerburrum, south-east Queensland. Australian Forestry, 60: 7-15.
Wikipedia (2019). Pittosporum undulatum. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittosporum_undulatum (Accessed: 26 June
2019).
Wong, G.J. & Wells, K. (1987). Comparative morphology, compatibility, and interfertility of Auricularia corenea, A.
polytricha, and A. tenuis. Mycologia, 79: 847-856. [Not seen, cited from Hood, 2003].
Young, A.M. (2017). A Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney: xiv + 240
pp.
Date of publication: 28 June 2019
Copyright: T.J. Hawkeswood
Editor: Dr T.J. Hawkeswood (drtjhawkeswood@gmail.com)
PO Box 842, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia, 2753
(Published as hard paper copy edition as well as electronic pdf)
Calodema, 717: 1-4 (2019) Hawkeswood - three sympatric saprophytic fungi on dead Pittosporum undulatum
(Calodema - an International Journal of Biology and Other Sciences) Page 4
