Fungi from under our pine trees

This afternoon I was walking around our few acres in casual observation mode with my dog Clayton. While walking under the pine trees that line our southern boundary I noticed a patch of red and white fungi that had popped up over night. Having never seen this particular fungi before I took a photo and kept on walking, hoping to identify them later. After showing Anji the fungi she took me to a garden bed near the house where she had noticed another burst of fungal activity coming from the wood chip mulch she had put down about a week ago. Again I took a photo.

I am very interested in fungi but have little to no identification skills. But this is going to change, After putting the photos of the computer and consulting ‘A Field Guide to Australian Fungi’ by Bruce Fuhrer I have identified one fungi variety but failed to identify the other. If anyone knows what the second one is I would be interested to know.

The first (pictured above) is called Fly Agaric or Aminata muscaria, which is a Basidiomycota strain of fungi. This is a very beautiful but poisonous fungi that originated in the northern hemisphere where is was associated with beeches, pines and birches. It has now naturalised and can be found in old growth rain forests in Australia.

Here is the second patch of fungi, do you know what it is?

As yet unidentified fungi

I am going to challenge myself to learn to identify more and more fungi over the next few years, mostly because I want to know which ones are safe to eat so I can forage for free food 

Fungi play a vital role in the decomposition of organic matter and are extremely beneficial to have in your land. Those who wish to learn more about just how amazing fungi are should watch Paul Stamets on this TED talk. You will never look at a mushroom the same again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY