G5B9. ZZZ05 the fungiffe Newsletter of the Triangle Area Mushroom Club P.O. 17061. Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 7 Number 1 January/February 1968 President: Jacques Poirier: 210 W. Lavender Ave., Durham, NC 27704 477-5837 Secretary /Treasurer: Owen and Pat McConnell: 2808 Butner St., Durham, NC 27704. . .477-5178 Editor: Ad Hoc Committee \ Owen McConnell, Jacques Poirier, Marsha Poirier Foray Chairs: Roy Borchardt and Eve Taylor: 116 Parthenia Dr., Durham, NC 27705. .. 363-3364 Program Coordinator: Position is unfilled TABLE OF CONTENTS PLEA Meetings 1933 Forays New Members PLEA p. 1 p. 1 P- 2 P. 2 New Editor Needed Giant Puff balls in NC Christmas Potluck 2 inner A Moment of Silence P- 3 PP 3-- P- * P- 5 Jacques Poirier TAMC is loaded with talent. Some of you must step forward tp apply that talent in order for TAMC to continue. Our next meeting (see below) is the annual business meeting at which officers are elected. So far, we have no candidates for president nor newsletter editor. You will have already noticed the decline in quality of this issue of The Fung if ile from the previous masterly work of Sill 3urk. Stop the erosion. Voluntee: by telephoning one of the club officers, or volunteer from the audience at the business meeting. Meetings February 3. Annual business meeting, Coker Room, 215 Coker Hall, UNC Chapel Hill, 7O0 PK. See map at end of this newsletter. March. Date, place, and topic will be announced (hopefully) at the February meeting, thence to be dispersed by telephone. Sorry about the cliff-hanger Page 2 MARK YOUR CALENDAR 1938 Forays Feb. 21 to March 3: A mushroom tour of Argentina led by Andrew Weil, Emanuel Salzman and Gary Lincof f (Rolf Singer will join the group) . . For informa- tion write Fungophile, P..0. 3ox 5503, Denver,. Go 80217-5503 or call 303 296-9359.. August 4 to ?i The Northeast Mushroom Foray will be held at the University of Rhode Island.. Dr. Roy Watling of the Royal 3otanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland will participate.. An old-fashioned New England clam-bale with entertainment is planned.. Contact R..H. Peabody, Chairman, NSi-i Foray, R.D. No 1, 3ox 250, Milf ord , N. . J. 08848. August 18-21 i NAMA foray in the northeastern section on Minnesota, tion later. More informa- N E MEMBERS So far 11 new members have joined TAMO in 1983.. They arei Mr. and Mrs. Graham Boyd, Jr. Pat 3olinger James Goldsmith John and Karen Filley Jonathan Parkinson Thomas Squier Al and Susan Thompson Bruce Wilks The Filleys write that they are retired and are wending their way around the the country in a travel trailer. They plan to spend several months in the spring and fall living on their land on the Haw River in Chatham County, and hope to participate in TAMC activities then. Thomas Squier attended the Telluride, Colorado, «ild Mushroom Conference which was very interesting and educational.. He lives in Aberdeen and is willing to present a program at one of our meetings. TAKC is pleased to welcome all our new members and look forward to getting better acquainted with them. A number of old members have not yet renewed their numbers hips . . Pleased do not delay. . This is the last issue of "The Fungifile" which will be sent without payment of 1988 dues (only $8 for individual, $7 for corresponding, and $2 for each additional family member).. NEW EDITOR NEEDED Bill Burk, co-founder of TAKC with Joan Zeller and editor of "The Fungi- file" during 1937,. has resigned as editor in order to have time to prepare the manuscript for his second volume on Gasteromycetes . 3ill deserves and has the gratitude and appreciation of TAMC members for the outstanding issues of "The Fungifile" he produced and for the many ways he has helped to build and nurture the clubt for example, helping with program planning and arrangements, inducing David Arora to lead a foray and making accommodations for him while he was here, etc In spite of his busy schedule 3ill has already offered to be half- time program planner for 1988. GIANT P U F? BALLS IN N . . C. by Cwen M-Connell In The Gasteromycetes of the Eastern United States amd Canada by C. Goker and J. N. Couch, the authors write about Calvatia maxima ( ■ gigantea) as follows i "It is surprising that we have not found this huge puff- ball in Chapel Hill, nor has Beardslee found it at Asheville." Most TAMC members are familiar with Calvatia C'yathif ormis , a fairly large . puff ball which is common in the Research Triangle area from July to late autumn (I have found it once in May) in open places such as lawns pastures, and fields. It is pear-shaped and tan, reminding me of a fres baked loaf of bread. The white gleba turns yellow, then purple-brown in age. Calvatia cyathlf ormis is usually about the size of a grapefruit but I fouli one that was 7 inches broad and 4 inches high in Durham (most field guides state that 6 or 7 inches is the maximum dimension). Some members may also have discovered Calvatia cranif ormis , another species of approximately the same size as cvathif ormis . in the triangle area C. cranif ormis inhabits wooded places rather than open areas, is less abundant, has a convoluted, brain-like exterior appearance, and has a yellow-green rather than purple spore mass at maturity Two C crani- formis were found in a foray at Boone, N.C., on Sept. 19, 1987. Although sometimes called "gi.ant puffballs", C. cyathlf ormis and cranif ormis are a "far cry" smaller in size than Calvatia giagantea . a true giant. In American Naturalist (l3i 530, 1384y~Prof essor C. 2. Bessey records a specimen of giant puff ball found by Professor A. 2. Coll in Herkimer County, N. Y. , in 1377 that was 5 ft. U in. in its greatest diameter, ^ ft. 6 in. in its least, and 9f in. high. This specimen was approxi- mately 15y feet in circumference. The usual size of Calvatia gigantea . however, is about 8 to 20 inches broad. Page k On Sept. 19 t 1937 at Boone, N. G. I attended a foray led by Dr. Orson N. Miller, Jr. and organized by the newly formed Mountain Mushroom Club of Boone. Three C. gjgantea were collected from a pine woods near Jonas Ridge, ITT C. by a foray participant and displayed with other species of fungi. My measurements indicated that one was about 12 inches and the other two were 8 inches in diameter. They were al- most round, firm, and pure white. Dr. Miller cut through one of the smaller ones which appeared in perfect condition for eating. He said that this species is fairly common around the Fairystone Lake area in Virginia. Furthermore, he described how to preserve a growing one for prolonged feasting. Instead of harvesting the whole puff ball, which would cause rapid deterioration of the flesh, merely cut a slice from it. It will continue to stay fresh until you are ready to cut another slice for the next meal. Shortly after the 3oone foray I was helping Ed Jones of Durham identify some bolete species and happened to mention the giant puff balls to him. He related that he had found about a dozen of the giant puff balls (we clarified that these were C. gjgantea and not cyathif ormis) on a levee of the Roanoke River near Tillery, N.G. (l6 miles southeast of Roanoke Rapids). They were growing near Ailanthus trees, 200 yds. from the river, near a creek. Although in the northern portion of ICC., this location is surprisingly far east. But the Roanoke River originates in the mountains of Virginia (could spores be carried along its course eastward?) The distribution of Gal vat la gjgantea in N.G. needs to be established; if someone finds, one of these puff balls in the state, he/she should report it to TAMC. December 1^. 1937 Potluck Dinner by Owen M^Connell TAMC ' s annual Christmas meeting and covered-dish dinner was a wonderful social and culinary success. Jacques and Karsha Poirier were host and hostess for the second straight year, and they were most generous in providing not only their comfortable home but also baked turkey, a variety of drinks, and wild mushrooms from their yard (Leccinun rugosiceps . Amanita rubescens, etc.). The gathering was well attended, and because everyone prepared a favorite recipe, the food was delicious as well as substantial. The welcoming and engaging personalities of the Poiriers set the mood for lively, enjoyable conversations among members; and their guests. The party was a very happy conclusion to the club's stimulating activities during 1987. This blank page is a dramatic illustration of how badly we need a newsletter editor. a /& c* far yjl CUptl A/7/ AC, Cehr Jjall) ejikraf arrow Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 17061 Durham, NC 27705 IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT? CSV 9. z^tjo^ the fungiffe Newsletter of theTriongle Area Mushroom Club P. 0. 17601, Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 7 Number 2 March/April 1988 President: Jack Billman: 3201 Stoneyford Ct . , Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419 Secretary/Treasurer: David Green: Unit 1-7 Colony Apts., Chapel Kill, PC 27514 929-9768 Editors: Billie Sessoms: 802 Duluth Street, Durham, NC 27705 383-5853 Dianne Berg: Rt 1, Box 133, Fittsboro, NC 27312 933-9628 Foray Chair: Lynda Karolak: 2718 Heather Glenn Rd . , Durham, NC 27712 383-4233 Program Coordinators: Bill Eurk: 1122 Sourv/ood Dr., Chanel Kill, NC 27514 942-6387 Other half-position unfilled •1ARK YOUR CALENDAR leet ings March 15: NOTE THE CHANGE OF MEETING KIGFT - The March meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 15 on Duke Campus at 103 Gross Chem Lab. Mike Levi, of the NC State Forestry Resources Extension Department has been working with the Mountain Horticulture Crops Research Center in Fletcher, NC on Shiitake cultivation. He will show us slides and discuss his information on growth techniques. We also plan to saute some Shiitake for tasting. Will any members willing to provide Shiitake for sampling please call Billie Sessoms (383-5853). March 19: For the fourth consecutive year Edward Badham from Greensboro will be demonstrating hov; to grow the edible Shiitake mushroom in your back yard. We will meet at North Carolina Botanical Gardens from 9am to 12:30pm. There will be a fee of 3.00 for each log and spawn. If you bring your own logs, the spawn will cost 1.50. More details in the article on growing mushrooms at home. Page 1 Meetings (continued) April 11: Jacques Poirier will present a program on the basics of mushrooming Bill Burke will show the slide show Willie Koch produced and first presented at the TAMC meeting on December 13, 1982. May 9: Fungi used in Brewing will be the subject. Meeting will be at Coker Hall. More details in the next newsletter. Forays April 16: Bill Burke will again lead us in search of MORELS. Meet at the Texaco Station at University Mall in Chapel Hill at the corner of Estes Dr and the 15-501 Bypass at 9 am. Note the earlier hour this year! Bring lunch and collecting gear. Rain or shine. Future Forays: From May through the summer there is a need for locations, guides and/or leaders. Please contact Lynda Karolak with information on any good spots or to volunteer to lead a foray. deCurrent Events July 6 - July 19 MUSHROOM STUDY TOUR OF THE HIGHLANDS OF MEXICO - led by Gary Lincoff, Andrew Weil, and Emanuel Salzman and Jim Jacobs, consultant ethno-mycolog ist and archeologist . This foray will be in the Highlands of Mexico called "the lands of eternal spring", the pine and oak forests of the Sierra Madres, richly productive of mushrooms collected by villagers for sale in the markets. There will be a visit to Jalapa and its annual University Mushroom Fair. October 3-20 MUSHROOM STODY TOUR OF SPAIN AND THE PYRENEES - led by Gary Lincoff, Andrew Weil, and Emanuel Salzman. Thkley will hunt in the beech and oak of the Pyrenees forests and the pine and fir of the Sierra de Guardarama range near Madrid. For more information about both these tours, contact Emanuel Salzman c/o Fungophile, PO Box 5503, Denver, Co 80217-5503 Phone 303-296-9359 FEBRUARY MEETING: Annual Business Meeting Bill Burke reported that the North Carolina Botanical Garden had accepted the books given to TAMC by Willie Koch for its library. The books will be available for use by club members at the NCBG. Each will have a plate showing it was a gift from the club. Club officers elected were Jack Billman, President and David Green Secretary- Treasurer. The club president made the following appointments: Editors of The Fungifile - Billie Sessoms and Dianne Berg Foray Chairman - Lynda Karolak Program Chairmen - Bill Burk and another member to be named Page 2 TREASURER'S REPORT for 2/1/1987 to 1/31/88 was submitted by Owen McConnell Deposits/Credits 341.00 membership dues 151.04 12 Petersen Field Guides 13.82 interest on club account 505.86 Total Deposits 151.22 12 Petersen Field Guides 142.11 newsletter copying 116.11 postage 43.55 David A rora's visit expenses 24.86 telephone calls 25.00 NAMA dues 502.85 Total Payments Payments/Debits Beginning Balance 2/1/87 Deposits 333.73 505.86 Payments 839.59 502.85 Ending Balance 336.74 Page 3 GROWING MUSHROOMS AT HOME The Saturday meeting in March will be our fourth annual meeting centered aroum the culture of Shiitake in your backyard. The meeting includes general information on the entire procedure from log inoculation to harvest. In the past, we have tried drilling holes in oak logs and inoculating with wood dowels hammered into the holes or plugs of loose culture inserted into the holes with a brass plunger. The culture inserted with the brass plunger produces earlier than that from the wood dowels. In March of 1987, two members, Billie Sessoms and Bill Burke tried the easy cultivation method described in the March/April, 1987 Fungifile reprint from Mushroom, the Journal, volume 4, issue 13 by Van Cotter, Tim Flynn and Don Coombs. For this method, the logs were freshly cut to one and one-hal: foot lengths, spawn was applied as a slice across the fresh cut, and covered with tinfoil held on with rubberbands. Bill Burk reported that he ha( Shiitake six months later in August, 1987. He did not soak his logs at all. He did sprinkle them every time he watered his plants. He had not removed the tinfoil. Billie Sessoms did not remove the tinfoil from her logs until February, 1988. Fruiting bodies are now present on one of the logs. Marge Richter innoculated four logs with wood dowel spawn at the March, 1986 club meeting. During the very dry summer of 1986 she soaked her logs for about two hours twice. In the spring of 1987 she had her first few Shiitake. During the summer of 1987, she soaked the logs about twice, again for two-hour intervals. She had a few Shiitake throughout the summer. During September, 1987, it rained. She harvested about two dozen very large Shiitake that month One of her logs now has about 10 mushrooms starting. ************************************************************ * WE NEED HELP! We want to have a good attendance at this annual meeting to * make it worth Edward's time to come from Greensboro. We also want to use * this meeting to publicise our club and recruit new members. Jacques Poirier * has designed a poster describing the meeting and enclosed. If you can put * one or two up where they will be seen, and go back to collect the names from * them, please do. Call Jacques (477-5837) or Billie (383-5853). We have * promised to give Edward an estimated head count by Monday, March 7th. * You can leave a message on Billie's answer phone if there is no answer. ****************************************************************************** WANTED: MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NEWSLETTER Cr Ra (? cc: Spi Well-researched articles are special treats we all welcome and enjoy. Interesting experiences - successful or not - gathering mushrooms are also sought. Anecdotal accounts of local outings and findings (both in the wild and in your cooking pot) on trips will be welcome. Contributions of favorite recipes used to prepare mushrooms you gather will be included in a new cooking section. A SPECIAL THANKS TO JACQUES POIRIER! Jacques steped down in January as president of TAMC. He did a good job as president, but is possibly working harder now! When we had questions about the newsletter, Jacques has answered them all or led us to the answer. He has worked hard on the Shiitake meeting, is providing the logs, and found a meeting location with 15 minutes notice. Thank you Jacques. Page 4 If you have not yet joined for 1988, this is your last chance! If we do NOT have your name on the current membership list, there is a RED check on your label. If you do not pay your dues for 1988 this is your final newsletter. If you know someone who might be interested in joining, please give then: this application form. TRIANGLE AREA MUSHROOM CLUB 1988 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Send form and dues to TAMC, Box 17061, Durham, NC 17705. Make check payable to TAMC. DUES: [ ] $8.00 Individual [ ] $7.00 Corresponding (receives newsletter) [ ] $2.0C (One Associate membership should be obtained for each additional participating family member.) ["'] $12.00 North American Mycological Association (individual or family) . Send SEPARATE check payable to MAMA. Name(s) Home Address , City State Zip Home phone .Day Phone Mailing address , (Please use campus address whenever possible so we can save on TAMC mailing costs. NANA publications will be sent to your home address unless you specify otherwise.) Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 17061 Durham, NC 17705 f\UcJL Cotter NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTIONS WILSON LIBRARY 024-A UNC-CH CAMPUS IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT? / / 7 A K F mtHKOOMS — - Ft* J tut h A* fki%* M£. BOTH WML CHAP BBUMJ \ <^v NT MARCH /<) ffieeiu qioottm- Ik oo Net* ZdtViPMBfrT AND tMSTRVeTteAt W£E h/ONWAL CHARGE ~f$.0o For, GAttf LOC- A/l/D 5PAVN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, COifTACT Triangle Area Mushroom Club will host this meeting at the North Carolina Botanical Gardens on Saturday, March 19 from 9am to 12 noon. To provide logs and spawn for all who are interested, we must know no later than Monday, March 7 if you will be attending. You do not need to be a member of TAMC to attend. For each log you innoculate and take home, there is a £3.00 charge. If you bring your own logs, spawn for each loo costs $1.50. I £ E F I I I I J F F g a S the fungifile Newsletter of theTriongle Area Mushroom Club P. 0. 17061, Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 7 Number 3 May/June 1988 President* _ Jack Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct., Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419 Secretary/Treasurer: «™ n-,*c> David Green Unit 1-7 Colony Apts., Chapel Hill, NC 27514 929-9768 Editors : Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth Street, Durham, NC 27705 383-5853 Dianne Berg Rt 1, Box 133, Pittsboro, NC 27312 933-9628 Foray Chair: Lynda Karolak 271'8 Heather Glenn Rd., Durham, NC 27712 383-4233 Program Coordinators: Bill Burk 1122 Sourwood Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27514 342-6337 Other half-position unfilled MARK YOUR CALENDAR Meetings May 9: 7:30pm at 215 Coker Hall. Subject: Fungi used in Home Brewing We anticipate sampling! June, July and August - No meetings; forays only until September. Forays Future Forays: From May through the summer there is a need for locations, guides and/or leaders. Please contact Lynda Karolak with information on any good spots or to volunteer to lead a foray. Saturday, May 21 - Foray to Battle Park in Chapel Hill. Leader needed. Saturday, June 18 - Dry Creek in Chatham County. Meet at 10:00am at Texaco Station beside University Mall in Chapel Hill or at 10:30 at Frosty's. Leader will be Dianne Berg. Page 1 General Information for all forays dec Take-off time from the meeting place is 10am unless otherwise specified. For trips in Orange and Chatham Counties, the meeting place is the parking lot at University Mall in Chapel Hill, by the Texaco Station on the 15-501 Bypass at Estes Drive. Meeting places for other forays will be as listed. Maps to locations will be put into the newsletter preceeding those forays. There is no requirement to sign up for forays. Just come to the meeting place. If you will not be able to meet the group at the announced time, call Linda in advance for detailed directions to the foray site if the map is not adequate. Wear rain gear if appropriate and sturdy, comfortable broken-in shoes. (We do have snakes around here.) Insect repellent and toilet paper are a good idea. Bring a bag or basket for collecting and wax paper or wax paper bags you can purchase at Brame Supply to use for wrapping specimens. Plastic bags or baggies are not satisfactory since they encourage sweating and early decay. Other useful items are a knife, field guide, whistle, hand lens and compass. Lunch is always a good idea, too. RAIN and DROUGHT Policy Forays are not cancelled for rain unless there is a deluge. If in doubt, call Linda for confirmation. In a prolonged drought, forays may be cancelled. Linda will notify the phone committee who will try to call you in this event. If you haven't heard and wonder, call Linda. FORAY ETIQUETTE Some etiquette is important in the field, to preserve the habitat, and to not interfere with the enjoyment of those who come after you. Be certain you have permission to pick. Since the main body of the fungus is the mycelium underground, picking the fruiting bodies does not destroy the mushroom. Try to leave some individuals to ensure spore dispersal. Disturb the environment as little as possible, replacing duff and leaves, and leaving discards and cuttings out of sight. The effects on the environment are magnified when groups are at large, so be extra conscious of leaving the area as natural as you found it. Another thing to think about when on a foray with a group is that others may wish to see the mushroom in place. When you come upon a particularly unusual or striking specimen, let the others know, so that they may appreciate it in its natural setting before you pick it. This is expecially important if there are photographers in the group. Sometimes over-anxious collectors have been known to pluck mushrooms right out of the viewfinder! WHISTLES can be used for quick and easy communication in the field. The Colorado Mycological Society uses a set of whistle codes we can easily use: one blast = Come to me! or Come see what I found! Two blasts = I am here! Three blasts = I am lost! IMPROMPTU FORAYS - If you find some special display of mushrooms the club members would enjoy, please contact Linda Karolak and/or a phone committee member. Give them a brief description of your find, its location and date and time for the foray. Chapel Hill: Dave Green 929-9768 Bill Burk 942-6387 Durham: Jacques Poirier 477-5837 Billie Sessoms 383-5853 Raleigh: Sarah Hill Moore 834-6122 Jack Billman 779-2419 Page 2 La! As! Fo; pes Ml( Thj foi r, Gar Anc Dai Bot Jot Lin Ema For Fun deCurrent Events Mushroom Weekend at Terra Alta, WV ' AUGUST 26 - 28 Oglebay Institute MUSHROOM WEEKEND at Terra Alta, WV [There will be field trips, a display of identified mushrooms, a mycophagy , session on preparation of edible fungi for table use, information on toxic !ou|and hallucinogenic mushrooms, observation of luminescent mushrooms, a slide Iprogram and information on the major roles played by mushrooms in the ecosystem. In the past, TAMC members have enjoyed attending this event. Lodging can be a reserved cot in a conference tent, a nearby motel or your ^ own tent or vehicle. Meals are served at the camp. Cost per person, including meals and tent or vehicle space is $60. Arrival is between 7pm and 10pm Friday. Departure is at 3pm Sunday. Advance registration is required. If you are interested in going, and would like to travel with other club members, leave a message on my answer phone (383-5853). Registration Form: MUSHROOM WEEKEND AT TERRA ALTA, WV AUGUST 26-28, 1988 Enclosed is $ for the weekend. Make check payable to Oglebay Institute and mail this form to the Nature Education Department, I Brooks Nature Center, Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV 26003. Name Phone ( ) Street City and State Zip Need tent space ; Have my own tent ; Camping Vehicle. Labor Day conference in Asheville I SEPTEMBER 2-4 The Fourth Annual Labor Day Weekend Foray sponsored by the Asheville Mushroom Club. Forays into the Smoky Mountains and Pisgah National I Forest, workshops and guest speakers will be featured. Cost is $15.00 per person. Pre-registration is necessary for limited space. Write to: Susan Mitchell 51 Kentwood Lane Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Phone 704-884-4749 AUGUST 25 - 28 TELLURIDE MUSHROOM CONFERENCE This conference will be held in Telluride, Colorado. There will be daily | forays. ! Dr. Alexander Shulgin will deliver an address titled Mushroom Tasting and the Law Gary Lincoff will conduct a course on Mushroom Identification Andrew Weil will lead course on Psychoactive Mushrooms and Mushroom Cookery David Aurora will lead course on Mushroom Identification Bob Harris of Mushroom People will lead the course on Mushroom Cultivation John Corbin will lead course on Growing Mushrooms on Straw Linnea Gillman will present Mushrooms of the Southern Rockies Emanuel Salzman will hold a session on Poisonous Mushrooms For more information contact Emanuel Salzman c/o Fungophile, PO Box 5503, Denver, Co 80217-5503 Phone 303-296-9359 Page 3 WILD MUSHROOMS ALASKA, AUGUST 13-28 A Low Budget High Adventure with David Arora, author of Mushrooms Demystified Alaska! So tame a name for so immense and elemental a land, but one that oozes with evocative images: wildness and whiteness, eskimos and igloos, gold rushes and glaciers, pristine peaks and permafrost, sublime nights under the northern lights, enormous bears lumbering through salmon-choked rivers and lush, hushed forests laden with mushrooms as boundless and bountiful as the imagination! This August 13-28, David Arora (author of the national field guide, Mushrooms Demystified) and David Grimes (Alaskan naturalist and fisherman, mountain climber, river guide, and storyteller extraordinaire) will lead an Alaskan mushroom pilgrimmage for the adventurous and unpretentious. In addition to mushroom hunts and identification workshops led by Arora, we'll watch for wildlife (including moose, caribou, bear, wolf, killer and humpback whales, porpoises, eagles, trumpeter swans, and the biggest cabbages m the world) under the sage guidance of Grimes, and go hiking, fishing, river rafting, clamdigging, glacier-gazing, ghost town exploring, and sauna-sitting. To the eternal consternation of Texans, Alaska is more than twice as large as the Lone Star state. It stretches across three time zones yet has only half a million human inhabitants and a road system that can be comfortably understood on the fingers of one hand. Our focus will be south-central Alaska, including Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula, Copper River Valley, and Prince William Sound. Traveling in vans (with an occasional foray by train, ferry, river raft, or fishing boat), we will explore birch forests in the interior, the alpine tundra of the Alaska Range, the taiga of stunted black spruce, and mossy coastal rainforests of Sitka spruce and hemlock. Although it's not entirely clear when to expect the best earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions and celestial displays, we've established an itinerary that is flexible enough to accommodate the most capricious wishes of the group and the wildest whims of the weather. Approximate cost for the entire adventure, including round trip air fare from San Francisco, is only $1300 per person - cheaper than cheap! By limiting the group size to 12, we've arranged to overnight in several unique private homes, including a log cabin and sauna with one of the world's most splendid views. We'll also have tents so we can enjoy camping out, sipping from mosquitoes and slapping bottles of Yukon Jack around a merry campfire to the accompaniment of live music, or haiku and hyperbole irreverent and irrelevant, or Latin monologues on mushrooms - whichever you prefer. There will be ample opportunity to shop and shower, but by limiting our motel/hotel visits, we can drastically reduce the cost of the trip while making friends with wise, hospitable and eccentric Alaskans - one of Alaska's most underappreciated resources, we think! We will prepare most meals ourselves, using the finest ingredients available in Alaskan grocery stores plus the fruits of our own foraging: meaty king boletes, black chanterelles, gargantuan agaricus, club corals, hedgehog mushrooms, berries galore, salad greens, and fresh fish. All in all, an experience to be savored in more ways than there are days! A $600 deposit is required by June 20 if you want to go. To register, or to obtain more information including a copy of the itinerary, call David Arora at (408) 425-0188 (early mornings and evenings best), or write to him at 708 Sumner St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Be one of the twelve to join us! Page 4 MARCH meeting Billie Sessoms Tuesday, March 15. Dr Mike Levi, head of the NC State Forestry Resources Extension Department presented a slide show and information on propagation of Shiitake in North Carolina. He pointed out that innoculation could take place in late fall as well as early spring since the important issue was to allow the spawn adequate time to spread throughout the log before hot weather and invasion by other mushrooms. He discussed bringing the logs to fruiting by soaking and then rapping the logs forcefully on the ground to physically shock them. This forces the carbon dioxide out. Hitting the logs with a hammer is not a satisfactory substitute. Once a log starts fruiting, it can be soaked again every two or three months for a new crop. Mike recommends during draught conditions that logs be sprayed for 24 hours every two weeks by commercial growers. This sounds like a good idea for backyard growers, also! On Saturday, March 19, club members met at the NC Botanical Gardens with Edmund Badham to innoculate logs. We used oak, maple, gum, ironwood and pear wood. Some members brought their own logs. Bruce Wilks, Billie Sessoms and Jacques Poirier brought extra logs for everyone. Edmund Badham furnished the spawn. After using most of two buckets of spawn, we decided to use the remainder to innoculate extra logs for sale next spring. Edmund contributed another full bucket of spawn so we called as many members as we could reach and had the third part ot the March meeting two weeks later on Saturday, April 2 in Billie Sessoms' backyard. We sawed up another oak tree and innoculated around 50 logs. Everyone who helped took home a log and we have about 35 more to sell next spring. April meeting Dave Green Monday, April 11 Jacques Poirier presented a program on the basics in mushrooming. Prior to the meeting members admired intact specimens of morels collected by Mary Beall and Bill Burk. Jacques started at the Beginning (which in mushrooms is the spore) and followed the life cycle through various stages up to and including the "cook and eat" stage which was one of the human-fungal interfaces considered. Along the way, Jacques covered the development of the fruiting body, and from this point on, a good deal of practical information was presented including identification (and misidentif ication) , collection, conducting of forays, description of specimens, taxonomy, selection and use of field guides, proven low-technology collecting equipment, and cooking and eating of specimens. Overall, a tremendous amount of information was touched on in a short time. Following the program, the morels were revisited. In the interim they had been sliced and sauteed in butter (along with some recently collected oyster mushrooms (. A preserved specimen of Linderia columnata recently collected in eastern North Carolina was displayed and admired. A planned slide show was postponed to a later date. APRIL FORAY for morels was very successful if you went with Dave Green's group out 15-501. They found over 200 specimens. The group that went with Bill Burk to a park in Chapel Hill found only a dozen or so. Jacques Poirier reports his were delicious. Page 5 THE MYCOPHAGIST'S KITCHEN le J? We will have a regular section of recipes for the mushrooms members are finding. Please submit any past favorites or new inventions to share with the club. This month, Dianne Berg is sharing one of her favorites. PUFFBALL FRITTER BATTER Gem -rt*14ercugh 27278 684-5845 942-0724 Howell, Alircrte 280 Duncan Springs Rd Athens, Ga 30606 Jbhansen, Jamas &-Gfh=>ller, Marcia 1112 Green St Durham 27701 682-4942 Jbrrscn, Clark Rt 11 Tinber Rock Farm Fingsport, Tn 37663 615-323-4027 Karolak, Edward & Linda 2718 Haather Glen Rd Durham 27712 XV\ A ft A A ft 684-2449 383-4233 Kaufman, V&llace & Sylvan Rt 5, Box 118 Pittsboro 27312 542-4072 Kinglsey, Eugene 1617 arrith level Rd Chapel Hill 27514 ftftft AftH ft 929-4210 Kraus, Jsarnie-iC Maritiire Museum 315 Frcrt St Beaufort 23516 723-7317 Hdy, Dcug 18 Dogwood Acres Dr Chapel Hill 27514 ft Aft J 1 942-3941 McGbmell, Owen & Pat 2808Butner St Durham 27704 477-5178 Moore, Sarah Rill T-l-B Cameron Court £pt Ralpjgh 27603 834-6122 Palner, Richard 126 Pinecrest Rd Durham 27705 684-2414 489^685 Rarkinson, Jcnathan 606 N Greenetoro St flB-5 Carrboro 27510 966-3580 968-0905 Poirier, «TarriPR 210 W. lavender Ave Durham 27704 684-3502 477-5837 P^re, Gaorge Jr 806 Vlckers Ave Durham 27701 688-7351 688-1662 Randall-9±adel, Betsy 4321-A Avert Ferry R3 Raleigh 27606 733-3930 859-2635 Rich, Carl & Joarre 314 Ediifcurgh Dr Gary 27511 467-7826 Rkhber, Marjorie 1202 Willow Dr Chapel Hill 27514 942-4323 Schnegg, Julius 380 Portaiath a Rirlmgtm 27215 228-0924 S=pwttf!, Rill ip 802 nulifrh St Durham 27705 598-5336 383-5853 Sirrcnsen, Bruce & Sandy Moy 1717 Snow HOI Rd Bahama 27503 471-7232 477-2579 Spencer, Sue Rt 2, Box 75 Morrisvilie 27560 733-6930 941-5768 Stanley, AHHn Rt 3, Bck 1 Statesville 28677 704-872-7972 Srjiipr, Thomas K Rt lBox 216 23315 396-2977 281-4732 Tezza, Joe 99 Creekwcod Dr Pitb+oro 27312 933-5532 Trcnpecn, Al PO Bck 1107 Warrentai 27589 257-2713 Von Behren, Lelarl 401 Niagara E. Altai, 11 62024 259-8517 Watkins, Nancy 1927 Oaklard Dr Winston Salem 27106 768-2310 768-0422 Vhrtcaibe, Jceme 5 Tilhiry Ct Chepel Hill 27514 493-6285 (Durham) Wilks, Rnrp Rt 3 Box 429 HillftTorough 27278 929-1747 967-2756 Wolffe, Linda & Brichetto, Larry 1311 Nottingham Rd Raleigh 27607 733-2799 787-4442 Zelinski, Frances 695 Alvahs Lane Cubchogue, Nf 11535 734-6853 Zeller, Joan 49 Edmnds St Rochester, Nf 14607 716-275-7801 716-442-7091 Page 7 Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 17061 Durham, NC 17705 NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTIONS WILSON LIBRARY 024 -A UNC-CH CAMPUS, , , ~nt O -i fi m •h cn -w to C - I 03 >. T3 CM q e i) o* rH +3 CD p c o TJ "J J) • •H(Dh h O 3 cum S3 >,H lH r-i — < rH O rH Ih (tf89. 22205* the fungifile Ntwjlefter of theTriongle Areo Mushroom Quo P. 0. 61061, Durham. North Carolina 27705 Volume 7 Number 6 November/December 1988 Pres iden t : Jack Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct . , Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419 Secretary/Treasurer : David Green Unit 1-7 Colony Apts . , Chapel Hill, NC 27514 929-9768 Ed i tors : Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth Street, Durham, NC 27705 383-5853 Dianne Berg Rt 1, Box 133, Pittsboro, NC 27312 933-9628 Foray Chair: Lynda Karolak 2718 Heather Glenn Rd . , Durham, NC 27712 383-4233 Program Coordinators: Bill Burk 1122 Sourwood Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27514 942-6387 Other half-position unfilled MARK YOUR CALENDAR Mee t ings November 14: 7:30pm at 215 Coker Hall. Bring your own slides to share along with your experiences. If you harvested and preserved any tasty morsels, bring them along to share also. There will be butter, crackers and skillets in the kitchenette off room 215 December 10: 6:30pm at 3201 Stoneyford Court, Raleigh at the Billman house. This will be the annual potluck dinner. Jack says come see what life is like living in a log cabin. He will be showing his slides. Forays There will be no forays during the winter. Look for the foray plans for 1989 in the January/February newsletter. Almonte Howell The club has received word that Almonte Howell, a long-time member of TAMC died on May 31, 1988. He was an enthusiastic mycologist who will be missed by all of us. Page 1 Potluck Dinner The annual December potluck dinner will be held at the\ Billman' s house in Raleigh. It will be held on Sat. Dec. 10th from 6:30"b^ ... This is your chance to see what life is like living in a log cabin ! ! Y'all come and sit a spell ! .6 X CM/* \0\0 Page 2 SPECIES - FORAY at Wally Kauffman's Home October 8, 1988 by Owen MeConnell 1 . Amanita muscaria 28 . Armi 1 lar ie 1 la tabescens 2 . Amanita fulva 29. Arm i 1 lar ie 1 1 a mellea 3 . Amanita pelioma 30 . Tricholoma resp lendens 4 . Amanita polypyramis 31 . Mycena pura 5. Amanita rubescens 32 . Laccaria ochropu rpurea 6 . Amanita daucipes 33. Cortinarius sem isangu ineus 7 . Amanita cokerii 34. Cortinarius albovio laceus 8. Amanita ravenilii 35. Cortinarius violaceus 9 . Amanita rhopalopus frhopalopus 36 . Agaricus placomyces 10. Amanita rubescens 37. Suillus hirtellus 11 . Hygrophorus chlorophanus 38. Pu lver obo le tus auriflammeus 12 . Hygrophorus puniCeus 39 . Pu lverobo le tus curtisii 13 . Hygrophorus miniatus 40. Leccinum chromapes 14 . Hygrophorus russula 41 . S t rob i lomyces floccupus 15 . Hygrophorus conicus 42 . S trob i lomyces confusus 16. Russula brevipes, var brevipes 43. Craterellus fallax 17. Russula albonigra 44 . C lavar iade lphus pistillaris 18. Russula crustosa 45. C lavu 1 inops is fusiformis 19. Russula virescens 46 . Clavria zollingeri 20. Russula compacta 47 . Dentinum repandum 21 . Russula flavida 48 . Hericium ramosum 22 . Lactarius indigo 49. Grifola frondosa 23. Lactarius chrysorbeus 50. Fistalena hepatica 24. Lactarius piperatus, var piperatus 51 . Lycoperdon pyriforme 25 . Lactarius volemus 52. Scheroderma polyrhizon 26. Lactarius arg i 1 lace if o 1 ius 53. Mutinus caninus 27 . Lactarius tomen toso-marginatus 54 . Tricholoma pardinum American Youth Hostels ATTENTION campers, lovers of rustic accommdations, proponents of saving a buck ! ! Thanks to Jacques Poirier, TAMC is now a member of the American Youth Hostels (AYH) . The AYH provides affordable, dormitory style accommodations for groups as large as 50. Don't worry, in spite of their name, they do not discriminate against us older folks !! Prices range from $4 to $10 per night per person and seperate sleeping and bathroom facilites are provided for male and female. Most have kitchen facilities. Group membership entitles us to use facilities located in the US and Canada. Currently there are 5 locations in North Carolina -four in the mountains and the fifth one is in south central NC. There are over 275 hostels in the US . If anyone is interested in taking advantage of this membership, we have a directory of hostels around the country and a membership card which was issued to the club and must be presented at the hostel. We also receive newsletters from AYH. Contact Jack Billman for additional info. Page 3 CLUB MAILING ADDRESS CHANGES The post office has informed the club that it is opening a new Durham station on Kangaroo Drive in December, 1988. As a consequence of this action the 1700G series of PO box numbers is being phased out. TAMC has box 17061. The number is being changed to 61061. October 10 Meeting - Mushrooming Around the World by Bill Burk Larry Stickney of the San Francisco Mycological Society described his wide ranging journeys in pursuit of fungi and presented selected slides taken on his trips to the High Sierras, Alaska and the high deserts of the American West, as well as France, Germany, India and New Zealand. The extent of his travels attest to his seriousness about mycology, but his seriousness about mychophagy and having a good time were also in evidence. As an aside to his description of truffiing and truffle marketing in the south of France, Larry sketched out an elaborate network of expeditors and trans-shippers that he uses to obtain small quantities of French truffles for gastronomic purposes in the U. S. While these are very expensive, a small mass goes a long way; he described how the vapors emanating from truffles in a closed jar can be used to flavor eggs for breakfast on the following day. Larry is a strong proponent of combining conventional tourism with mushroom hunting. Slides of well known mycologists in exotic places were included in the presentation along with shots of the Taj Mahal and lonely desert mushrooms. From the standpoint of practical information, he described an experiment that he conducted which led to the conclusion that the desireable flavor of morels (slides of which provided an inducement to move to Northern California) is concentrated in their spores. It follows that washing (and thus dislodging the spores) morels before cooking an eating them should be minimized or eliminated. Page 4 deCurrent Events AMAZON FORAY Travel, aboard the Luxurious rLverboat "MargarLba" exploring the upper Amazon Ln Peru with Gerry Miller and DAVID ARORA ujorl.d famous author of "MUSHROOMS DEMYSTIFIED". The trip begins February 25, 1989 wlch two weeks on the Amazon and many of Its tributaries. This will, be Gerry's ninth Amazon adventure exploring new territory and tributaries. Members of Gerry's groups have returned with many new species of mushrooms, olonts,and Insects. This trip will visit- the very lush wilderness of the Rio Samlra then to the higher jungle off the Rio Tlgre then on to remote areas of the Rio Chamblra ui'^th many of Its beautiful jungle streams and secluded villages of Urarlna Indians. Indian shamans along the way will teach the medicinal uses of many plants. For more Information call or write Gerry Miller at: Box 126, East Haddam, CT. 06423, USA (203) 873-8286. Wit? MUSHROOM BOX 126, EAST HADDAM. CT 06423, USA AMAZON FORAYT Page 5 MINICOURSE - DUKE CONTINUING EDUCATION "Mushrooming i " a course at Duke University's Continuing Education Program by Bill Burk On September 10, 1988, three TAMC members, Owen McConnell, Jacques Poirier, and Bill Burk, presented an all day course, "Mushrooming," at Duke University's Continuing Education building and Duke Forest. Highlights of the course included an audio-visual presentation, "Introductions to Uses of Fungi by People," a presentation on the practicalities of mushroom collecting, a question & answer session, and the pinnacle of the learning experience, a foray at Duke Forest. In less than kO minutes a wide variety of species were collected by the participants. Many of the edibles were cooked and enjoyed by everyone. The following list represents species found on the foray. "Species Collected on Foray in Duke Forest • 9-10-88" by Owen McConnell Amanita caesarea A. citrina A„ daucipes A. flavoconia A. fulva A. gemmata A. pantherina var. multisquamosa A. rubescens Auricularia auricula Boletellus betula B. russellii Boletus edulis B. griseus B. peckii B. rubroflammeus B. separans B. subvelutipes B. tricolor Calvatia cyathiformis Collybia dryophila Gyrodon merulioides Lactarlus chrysorheus L. paradoxus Leccinum scabrum L. subglabripes Lepiota rubrotincta Leptonia parva (or near kin) Lycoperdon perlatum Marasmius fulvoferrugineus Phylloporus rhodoxanthus Polyporus squamosus Pseudocolus fusiformis Pulveroboletus auriflammeus P. auriporus Schizophyllum commune Suillus brevipes var. aestival: S. hlrtellus Tylopllus felleus T. Indecisus T. plumbe o vi o 1 ac eu s Xerocomus illudens Page 6 THE MYCOPHAGIST ' S KITCHEN The following is an edited version of an article in the Sporadic News published by the Asheville Mushroom Club. The author is Allein Stanley. FALL AND WINTER FRUITINGS Any list of fall edibles should include puffballs. They are collected in this area into October. They are delicious baked with milk, eggs, cheese garlic, rather like a macaroni casserole. The oyster (Pleurotus spp . ) is almost seasonless if the rains are steady, so logs possible or of known reputation should be kept under regular surveillance. Those delicate whites will begin to darken with the colder weather but the color change certainly does not dilute the flavor. This is the season for the honey mushroom, ( Armi 1 lar ie 1 la mellea). It should come in by the bushel and no forester will regret our collecting since it has the capacity to invade living trees. Although I do not find it remarkable, it is worth an evening's supper now and then. Lucky is the hunter who stumbles upon Grifola frondusus at the base of an oak. Sometimes, it's a stumbling trek to get one home. For versatility and excellent, crispy texture, the Hen of the Woods has no rivals. It is easy enough to freeze and I have been known to throw it in the freezer as is, without blanching or cooking and hacking on it whenever I needed some in a pilaf or casserole. The drought has seemed to suppress its fruitings for the past two years. Hopefully, this fall it will bear forth. There may also be a collection of Laetiporus sulphureus, the sulphur shelf fruiting vividly. Blewits should march right along with the rains. I have come across them even into winter, with great surprise, in such unlikely settings as plowed f ie Ids . Lactarius deliciosus is, for me, a fall fruiter, along with L. paradoxus. These may or may not be to your liking but I would guess that any of the Coprinus species are indeed fair game for most of us. Hunt for some of the micaceus babies in the late evening. This genus sometimes tries to be nocturnal . Where hardwoods are old and scarred, Hericium erinaceus should be hanging down, begging to be collected. Let your eyes drift upward higher than usual as this one often frits above eye level. There is more than one meal in a fresh specimen. Fistulina hepatica may also be found in the same sort of woods. Page 7 While ignoring many of the late summer hangers-on and other really good fall species that just don't happen to come to mind, I must move on to my favorite late fall choice species. Tricholoma portentosum and T. flavovirens literally carpet the piney woods in late October and throughout November and often extend their fruitings into the holiday season. In fact, I always expect to serve them in any Thanksgiving or Christmas repast, done a la Czarnecki in a Creme Fraiche. If you haven't tried this, you just don't know how good good can be. While suitable for almost any standard treatment, another favorite with these is a soup of broth, a bit of onion, potatoes and soy; one of the perfect cold-day lunches. The small mushrooms now go into pickles, after I tasted some that Ursula Pohl shared with me. Almost any mushroom cookbook has a recipe for pickled mushrooms but I have used Esther Whited's from Kitchen Magic with Mushrooms, the old San Francisco book. Such pickles may be good in a martini but I have only served them straight' thus far. They are a guaranteed conversation piece when discovered on the dinner plate but it is their taste that impresses. The desirable way to preserve the Tricholomas is by brining. I have had some in brine for almost two years and they still taste good and retain most of their shape even now. I confess, I did not have a crock large enough when I decided to try this method, so a glass fish tank has served me well. At first I did have to skim occasionally but I have a nice crust of salt now. 1 do weight them just to make sure they 'stay down under'. The Tricholomas are a bit tricky to identify and I would caution any one not familiar with the genus to go slow, study them carefully, smell for the 'soapy' possibility and learn to recognize the ravages of frost (some of the mushrooms are still good). Once you have a good concept, you are off and running and extending the season far beyond those folks that live in less hospitable environs. To get over that dull season before the morels, think about Flammulina velutipes. Thanks to Allein Stanley for a list of good edibles to look for! Bight now in Durham, we seem to have bushels of Armi 1 lar ie 1 la tabescens. Jacques Poirier and Billie Sessoms harvested several grocery bags of them recently. This week, another crop was discovered in the mulch under pecan trees on Monmouth Avenue. Bill Burk reports that A. tabescens has a tinny taste. We did not find that to be the case. Sauteed in butter they have a robust flavor. THE BOOKSHELF Mushrooms of the Andirondacks Dr. Alan Bessette has authored a new field guide to the most common mushrooms found in the Andirondack mountain region of New York State. It has 141 color photos and descriptions covering over 400 species. There is information on collecting, identifying, making spore prints, preserving and preparing mushrooms. 12.95 with 2.00 postage and handling for one book, .50 for each additional. Order from North Country Books, Inc, 18 Irving Place, Utica, NY 13501. Page 8 ***************************** MEMBERSHIP DUES ******************************* Annual membership dues are due January 1. They are the same as last year. Individual memberships include a subscription to The Fungifile, and (for those over 18) full voting and office holding privileges. For additional participating household members, associate memberships are $2.00 each and include equal voting and office holding privileges. Since TAMC is assoc iat ia ted with the North American Mycological Association, our members get a discount if they wish to join NAMA. Dues for NAMA are $12.00 a year (individual or family), and include subscriptions to the bimonthly Mycophile and annual journal Mcllvanea, privilege of attending the annual national Foray, and numerous other educational services. To join, send a SEPARATE check payable to NAMA. TRIANGLE AREA MUSHROOM CLUB 1988 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Send form and dues to TAMC, Box 17061, Durham, NC 17705. Make check payable to TAMC. DUES: [ ] $8.00 Individual [ ] $7.00 Corresponding (receives newsletter only) [ ] $2.00 (One Associate membership should be obtained for each additional participating family member.) [ ] $12.00 North American Mycological Association (individual or family). Send SEPARATE check payable to NAMA. Name( s ) Home Address City State Zip Home phone Day Phone Mailing address (Please use campus address whenever possible so we can save on TAMC mailing costs. NAMA publications will be sent to your home address unless you specify otherwise.) Club committees on which you would be willing to serve during the year: Programs Forays Newsletter Newsletter mailing. Membership Telephone tree. Sketch mushrooms for club news letter Page 9 Triangle Area Mushroom Club box 61061 Durham, NC £7705 NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTIONS WILSON LIBRARY noA-ir UNC-CH CAMPUS IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT? DEADLINE for submissions to JANUARY/FEBRUARY news 1 etter : Thursday . December 15