Podoserpula pusio (Berk.) D.A.Reid

Common name: Sometimes called Pagoda Fungus from the fancied resemblance to a Chinese pagoda.

Description: This very unusual fungus produces flat or slightly funnel-shaped caps in tiers (up to five caps is frequent) that are laterally attached to a common stem, although the lateral attachment may sometimes be difficult to see. The lowest cap is usually 12 cm in diameter but the caps become progressively smaller in diameter towards the apex of the stem. The cap surface is dry, smooth or a little powdery and is generally whitish to pinkish brown. The cap undersurface is smooth or folded or with raised ridges but does not produce gills. The undersurface is coloured similarly to the cap surface or it has a more pinkish tint. The stem (beneath the lowest cap) is 12 cm long and 13 mm thick; it is smooth, dry, cylindrical and pinkish brown. The entire fungus may be 56 cm tall.

The spores measure 3.54.5 µm in diameter and are subglobose to globose, smooth and colourless.

Substratum: Podoserpula pusio is always found on humus and often near fallen logs. It may occur singly, in twos or threes and occasionally in small groups.

Distribution: Known from New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It also occurs in Western Australia.

Notes: This species has been given a variety of names: Craterellus multiplex, Cantharellus multiplex and Cantharellus pusio. The original material was described from Tasmania and it can still be found in Nothofagus (beech) forests in that State. A very beautiful and accurate black and white sketch of this remarkable fungus was produced by J.H.Willis for the Victorian Naturalist in February, 1954 (Volume 70, p. 181).