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Preserving fungal fruit bodies

Fungal surveys can generate large amounts of data. Much of the data often refers to fungi recorded as present in a particular area but not identified or given informal names. Such data is not very useful for future studies if it cannot be verified. The value of records about fungi is greatly increased if samples of the fungi are kept for verification. 

Air drying is the best method of preserving fungi. Air drying can best be achieved with commercially available electrical units designed for drying fruit or herbs (as shown). These have a heating element and blow warm air through a series of wire or plastic grid trays. Heating overnight at 45–50°C is sufficient for drying most fungi. It is important not to cook specimens by overheating them as this may destroy structures needed later for identification. 

If a drier is not available it may be possible to air-dry small to medium sized fungi by:

• placing specimens on a wire mesh over an electric, gas or oil lamp
• placing specimens on a wire mesh over a radiator or a fan heater
• using silica desiccating gel
• exposure to the sun (only in warm, low humidity weather).

Making a local Herbarium

Locally collected and dried samples of fungi can be sent to a registered herbarium such as the State Herbarium, but unfortunately there are few or no fungal scientists (mycologists) or herbaria actively working on native fungi of the Australian wheatbelt region to send the specimens to. It makes better sense to retain fungi locally so that they may be used to help local surveys and to build up a record about the local fungi. Local or regional herbaria can be linked to other herbaria by electronic databases (a Western Australian Regional Herbarium Network exists).

Photographs of an established herbarium with Australian fungi.

The main aims of any herbarium include:

• Safe maintenance of specimens into the future.
• To have good descriptive and illustrative data associated with the specimens.
• Easily accessible specimens and database for fast and flexible retrieval.

A herbarium with fungi requires similar conditions to a herbarium with plants:

• Dry
• Insect-free 
• Clean

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