Fungimap is excited to announce the publication of ground-breaking research in Fungal Systematics and Evolution that rewrites the story of one of the world’s most exquisite fungal families.
The study, led by Dr Frances Guard (University of Southern Queensland), has confirmed that what we have been calling Marasmius haematocephalus – tiny parasol red caps nicknamed the “purple pinwheel” – are in fact absent from Australia. Instead, our tropical and subtropical forests are home to seven previously undescribed native species of Marasmius.
“We can now send the name “haematocephalus” home to South America and start
using Australian names for our species,” said lead author Dr Fran Guard. “It’s a
wonderful moment to finally give these fungi their own identities.”
The team combined DNA sequencing and detailed morphological studies of more than 60 collections from Queensland and northern New South Wales. Their research
revealed that Australian look-alikes, long mistaken for the South American species, are genetically distinct.
The seven newly described species are:
Marasmius campaniformis – A species wearing three different colour “outfits,” it
thrives on leaf litter in regenerating subtropical rainforest in SE Queensland.
Marasmius pervagatus – Found from Queensland gardens to tropical forests
worldwide, often appearing en masse after summer rain.
Marasmius porphyrocephalus – The most common and widespread of the new
species, carpeting mulch and rainforest litter from Cape York to northern NSW.
Marasmius purpureospadiceus – Rare and eye-catching, found in both roadside
habitats and pristine old-growth rainforest in SE Queensland and northern NSW
Marasmius vinaceus – A delicate parasol with wine-tinged hues, best identified under
the microscope. Collected in SE Queensland and FN Queensland
Marasmius wianwian – An Australian endemic with a tiny known range, making it one of the most locally precious finds. It has been collected in three locations: two remnants of the ‘Big Scrub’ in northern New South Wales and one National Park in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Queensland.
Marasmius wunga – A long-stemmed red beauty restricted to southeast Queensland
and northern NSW forests.
These species inhabit leaf litter in rainforests, road verges, and even garden mulch, displaying a stunning palette of red, purple, and pink parasols.
The research also maps their distributions using herbarium records, iNaturalist, and the Atlas of Living Australia, providing the first identification key for these fungi in Australia.
This discovery is also a powerful reminder of how little we know about Australia’s fungal biodiversity. Despite fungi underpinning ecosystem health, most Australian species remain unnamed or poorly understood. Without greater investment in fungal taxonomy, countless species will remain undocumented, their ecological roles unknown, and their potential benefits to science, medicine, and conservation overlooked.
The work has global implications for fungal taxonomy, helping scientists more
accurately understand biodiversity and biogeographic relationships in this group across Australasia, Africa, and the Americas.
This research forms part of Fran’s doctoral studies of the genus Marasmius, at the
University of Southern Queensland under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr John
Dearnaley and co-supervisor, Dr Teresa Lebel, from the State Herbarium of South
Australia, Adelaide. John and Teresa were an integral part of the field and lab work and in writing the paper. Fran was assisted with a Hansjorg Eichler Grant from the Australian Systematic Botany Society for fieldwork in New South Wales in 2022.
For journalists and media outlets:
Review the paper: Open access, “Purple Pinwheel and more: The Marasmius
haematocephalus complex (Marasmiaceae) in Australia”, is open access and can be
downloaded here: doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.16.16
Interview the researchers: Dr Fran Guard and co-authors are available for interviews
and expert commentary
Feature this discovery: We welcome coverage in news stories, science features, radio
segments and podcasts.
Showcase these exquisite fungi: https://bit.ly/MarasmiusImages
For Media Enquiries, contact Catherine Marciniak – +61 419445731
Fungimap Inc. Committee
https://fungimap.org.au/
Image credit: Stephen Axford