Camarophyllopsis kearneyi (an agaric fungus) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list Camarophyllopsis kearneyi A. M. Young, an agaric fungus, as an ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. The listing of endangered species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Camarophyllopsis kearneyi A. M. Young (Fungi, Basidiomycota, Agaricales, Hygrophoraceae) is a small, pale, gilled fungus. It is described by Young (1999): Pileus 5-11mm, at first often nearly spheroid then becoming hemispherical or deeply convex; smooth but finely micaceous under a x8 lens; dry; pallid brown (5C2) with darker centre; margins crenulate and paler to near white. Flesh very thin and concolorous with pileus surface. Lamellae adnate or with decurrent tooth or arcuate; distant; white to greyish white; margins concolorous and even. Stipe 15-27 x 1.5-2.5mm; pale brown (5C2); dry; surface finely fibrillose with brownish, scattered fibrils, cylindrical, solid. Spores (4.0-) 4.3-5.7x4.0-5.3(-5.7)m m, mean 4.9x4.6m m:Q:1.0-1.2(-1.3); mean Q:1.1; subspherical to spherical; hyaline, smooth. Basidia 44-62x5.6-8.9m m; Q:6.2-8.6, mean Q:7.4; 4-spored occasionally 2-spored; without clamps. Cheilocystidia 18-44x3-7m m, hyaline, often sinuous, clavate or usually more or less cylindrical and capitate with a pyriform to subglobose apex; septate at the base; clamps absent. Hymenophoral trama regular composed of hyaline, tubular, septate elements 28-56(-90)x2-8m m, clamps absent; lactifers not found. Pileipellis an epithelium composed of a layer of globose to pyriform cells 13-23m m diameter, clamps absent. Stipitipellis a cutis of hyaline, thin walled septate, tubular elements 4-8m m diameter, clamps absent. Caulocystidia scattered or gregarious, similar to the cheilocystidia but usually more contorted 33-67x2-8m m.

2. Camarophyllopsis kearneyi A. M. Young is known only from its type locality in Lane Cove Bushland Park in the Lane Cove Local Government Area in Sydney.

3. Surveys in potentially suitable habitats elsewhere in the Sydney Basin Bioregion have failed to find Camarophyllopsis kearneyi A. M. Young. The occurrence of this species in the Lane Cove Bushland Park appears to be very limited. The species does not produce basidiomes (above-ground fruiting structures) all year, but non-reproductive hyphal structures occur below ground.

4. Camarophyllopsis kearneyi A. M. Young is likely to be threatened by water-borne pollutants. Industrial pollutants occur particularly in the upper reaches of Gore Creek in Lane Cove Bushland Park, and domestic contaminants arise from residential properties on the perimeter of the Park. The species is also likely to be at risk from encroachment by exotic weeds, dumping of rubbish and garden refuse, excess pedestrian traffic in areas where hyphae or basidiomes occur, and inappropriate bush regeneration measures that disturb the forest canopy and native understorey plant.

5. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Camarophyllopsis kearneyi A. M. Young is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Proposed Gazettal date: 06/09/02
Exhibition period: 06/09/02 - 11/10/02

Reference

Young, A.M. (1999). The Hygrocybeae (fungi, Basidiomycota, Agaricales, Hygrophoraceae) of the Lane Cove Bushland Park, New South Wales. Austrobaileya 5(3) 535-564