the funoifilG
Newsletter of the Triangle Area Mushroom Club
P. O. 61061,
Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 12 Number 1 January /February, 1993
TAMCis NAMA affiliated
President:
Joanna Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct,
Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419
Secretary /Treasurer:
Bill Burk 1122 Sourwood Dr.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 942-6387
Fungifile Editors:
Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth St.
Durham, NC 27705 383-5853
Bill Burk 1122 Sourwood Dr.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 942-6387
Fungifile Mailing:
Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr. Cary.NC 27511 467-6642
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Foray Chairs:
Harriet Sato 1709 Sagamore Ct.
Raleigh, NC 27604 231-8421
Steve Preissler 416 Severin St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516 942-2577
Program Coordinators:
Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr.
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
Marge Richter 8601 Little Crk Frm Rd
Chapel Hill 27516 942-4328
BOTANY
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Jan A5
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MEETINGS
Monday, January 11: 7:30pm at Dreyfus Audi- torium in Research Triangle Park (see map). Jay Garner will present a program on trees, mycorr- hizie and pollution. Bring your mushroom "finds" for identification. (Be sure to get the in-ground portion!)
Sunday, February 14: 5 pm Annual potluck din- ner, annual business meeting and election of offi- cers. Bring your own small (no lawn chairs) fold- ing chair, if possible, a dish to share, and a bever- age, at Barbara Umbach's house, 1301 Black Mountain Rd, Chapel Hill. CS^^ ^ApJ)
FORAY SCHEDULE
No forays scheduled for the winter months. The Shiitake inoculation will take place in March. There will be a Morel hunt in April.
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FORAY REPORTS - Submitted by Harriet Sato
Kaufman property, Chatham County, September 19, 1992. No rain for two weeks left conditions dry and brown. Wallace Kaufman was out of the country but the house sitter, Agnes, graciously acted as the hostess. No one got lost. Everyone (well almost) tasted samples of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster) and Fistulina hepatica (beef- steak).
Gilled mushrooms: Amanita fulva, virosa Lactarius sp
Russula aeruginea, emetica, rosacea
Marasmius siccus Xerula furfuracea Schizophvllum commune Armillariella mellea, tabescens Agaricus sp. Cortinarius iodes, sp.
Boletaceae
Strobilomvces floccosus Boletus curtisii, subglabripes Suillus pectus
Clavariaceae (Coral fungi) Clavicorona pyxidata Clavulinopsis fusiformis Ramaria formosa
Polvporaceae
Fistulina hepatica Ganoderma lucidum Grifola frondosa Oxvporus populinus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus Trametes versicolor
Phallales (Stinkhoms) Mutinus elegans
Stereaceae (Parchment) Stereum ostrea
Lvcoperdales (Puffballs) Lycoperdon pyri forme
Falls Lake, Wake County, October 3, 1992. Four nights of temperatures in the 40's and lack of rain preceding the foray made us expect the worst but there were enough mushrooms to keep us reason- ably occupied.
Gilled mushrooms:
Amanita atkinsonia, citrina, daucipes, flavoco- nia, muscaria, rubescens, vaginata, virosa Lactarius chrysorheus, paradoxus, volemus Russula emetica, mariae, virescens. Lepiota procera Laccaria ochropurpurea Hygrophorus marginatus Agaricus placomyces(?)
Cortinarius alboviolaceus, squamulosus, viola- ceus, sp.
Chanterelles
Cantharellus cinnabarinus Craterellus fallax
Boletaceae
Strobilomvces confusus, floccopus Austroboletus betula Boletus auriporus Suillus hirtellus
Clavariaceae (Coral fungi) Clavicorona pyxidata Ramariopsis kunzei
Polvporaceae
Coltricia cinnamomea Oligoporus caesius
Lvcoperdales (Puffballs) Lycoperdon gemmatum, pyriforme
Duke Forest, Durham County, October 11, 1992. This was the foray which followed the presenta- tion on Truffles by Dr. Trappe of Oregon State University on the previous day. His expertise attracted a large group, some from as far away as New Jersey. Because of the greater number of people, more species were found and identified by Dr. Vilgalys although the mushrooms were few. Two species of false truffles were found. Unfortunately, it drizzled all morning but the foray ended with a warm cozy potluck at Marge Richter's house. Gilled mushrooms:
Amanita citrina, sp.
Hygrophorus nitidus, roseibrunneus
Lactarius chelidonius, chrysorheus, paradoxus, sp
Russula variata, sp
Panellus stipticus
Armillaria caligata
Collybia maculata
Mycena galericulata
Crinipellis zonata
Laccaria ochropurpurea
Tricholoma sp.
Clitopilus prunulus
Chroogomphus rutilus
Psathyrella sp.
Stropharia thrausta
Hebeloma sp.
Cortinarius iodes
Boletaceae Boletus sp Suillus salmonicolor
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Hvmenogastrales (False truffles) Rhizopogon vulgaris, sp.
Tremellales (Jelly) Auricularia auricula Dacrymyces palmatus Sebacina incrustans
Ascomycetes (Earth Tongue) sp. Myxomycotina (Slime molds) Lycogala epidendrum
Densons Creek Trail, Uwharrie National Forest, Montgomery County, October 24, 1992. Condi- tions were extremely dry as we walked along the 22 mile Densons Creek trail. The most plentiful mushrooms were Cortinarius iodes, Naematoloma fasciculare and Amanita citrina. At the ranger station next to the water pump we did find enough Suillus brevipes to cook and eat. Gilled mushrooms:
Amanita atkinsonia, bisporigera(?), citrina, co-
cokeri, gemmata, virosa
Russula emetica(?)
Tricholomopsis rutilans
Armillariella mellea
Pleurotus ostreatus
Mycena sp.
Clitocybe clavipes
Pluteus cervinus
Naematoloma fasciculare
Agaricus silvaticus
Cortinarius alboviolaceus, iodes
Cantharellaceae
Cantharellus cinnabarinus
Clavariaceae (Coral fungi) Clavariadelphus sp
Polvporaceae
Heterobasidion annosum Polyporus picipes Trametes versicolor Tyromvces sp.
Hydnaceae
Hericium ramosum
Lvcooerdales (Puffballs) Geastrum sp.
Lycoperdon perlatum, pyriforme
Boletaceae Suillus brevipes
Polvporaceae Ganoderma tsugae Heterobasidion annosum Trametes versicolor Tyromvces (Oligoporus) caesius
Lycoperdales (Puffballs) Calostoma lutescens Lycoperdon perlatum
Myxomycotina (Slime molds) Lycogala epidendrum
HELP is needed to get the oak logs cut and delivered to the Shiitake inoculation on March 27. Dennis Drehmel (467-6642) will need help with cutting and transporting logs to NCBG for the Shiitake inoculation meeting. If you and/or your truck will be available, please give him a call soon to work out details.
FUNGI DEGRADE PLASTIC
Researcher George Tsao of Purdue University recently announced a new fermentation process that utilizes fungi for making the chief ingredient in polylactic acid plastic, the only plastic that is completely biodegradable. . .
Poly lactic acid plastic is made by linking lactic acid molecules into chains or polymers. When polylactic acid plastic is mixed with water, the chains break up, and the plastic converts back to lactic acid, which is eaten by a variety of organ- isms.
Tsao's method of producing lactic acid resembles the bacterial fermentation used to make Oriental rice wine. A bad batch of rice wine "has a lot of lactic acid in it, "Tsao said. "In our lab we altered the conditions so that lactic acid is all that is pro- duced." The resulting acid costs ...considerably less than the present cost...
Use of fungi instead of bacteria lowers the cost further. "We don't need a sophisticated food... like we do for bacteria," Tsao said. "We can grow the fungus with urea, which is very cheap. " Use of fungi has another advantage. The fungal fermen- tation process produces a purer form of lactic acid and doesn't require special filtration, unlike the bacterial method.
The big advantage of Tsao's method is that corn and other crops can be used as raw materials instead of nonrenewable resources such as petro- leum and natural gas, which are now used to make plastics. Widespread use of polylactic acid plastic thus could provide new markets for U. S. agricultural products and reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil.
Non-biodegradable plastics occupy about one- third of the landfill space in this country.
From NATS CURRENT NEWS, Corvallis, OR, Aug-Sept, 92.
MYCOPHAGIST'S TABLE
RICE with MUSHROOMS
by Theresa Rey, printed in the Sporadic News of the Asheville Mushroom Club, October, 1992. This simple recipe is recommended for car or cooler camping, using any fresh fungi you find. It would be very good as part of a shared meal at the end of a foray, too.
Place in a ziplock bag: xh c butter
1 med chopped onion 1 c chopped celery
In a second ziplock bag put:
1 xh c cooked rice
In a small jar or container put:
!4 tsp garlic powder
1/3 c soy sauce
Heat skillet over coals. Place contents of the first bag in the skilled with 1 c fresh chopped mush- rooms. Saute until the mushrooms release their liquid. Add other ingredients. Move to the sid of the grill and simmer 5 minutes. Serve immediate-
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KNOW THESE BEFORE EATING WILD MUSHROOMS
In the last issue, I had an article for beginners describing the best and safest edible mushrooms to concentrate on. At that time Bob Burrell suggested I follow up with a list of dangerous, potentially lethal species that all members should learn to recognize. Don't begin picking mushrooms for the table until you can confidently identify these.
You need to study mushrooms for a couple of years at least before you are ready to pick wild mushrooms on your own. At least at random. You would be OK perhaps with a few distinctive species such as morels, goatsbeard, sulfur shelfs, and oysters which will keep you hunting and cooking with regularity in a good year, but beyond these easy-to-recognize species, things get complicated and require more attention to detail. The list of poisonous mushrooms below should be learned as thoroughly as the list of safe and sure edibles.
Amanita: This is the genus you should spend the better part of a year totally familiarizing yourself with. You need to read about it, study the individu- al species, go out into the field and look them over first hand. Be sure to see the species distinctive of throughout the growing season from early summer through late fall. You should be able to recognize any Amanita at a glance and understand it could be the mushroom that kills. If you can not recognize an Amanita by stature, you are not ready to eat wild, gilled mushrooms. Why spend so much time with this genus? It contains many species in our area; the specimens are large and stately which attracts your attention; when fruiting, you are likely to find several specimens of a given genus; it is the most common genus incriminated in serious cases of mushroom poisoning, and several species are LETHAL!
When you get a mushroom manual for the first time, turn to the Amanita section and forget your stomach and the rest of the mushrooms in the book until you know every Amanita species described there. Then forget that any are edible. In truth some are and for many, we do not have any in- formation, but there is more chance for error in identifying at the species level than there is at identi- fying Amanita as a genus. So our golden rule for beginners is (and we use it for ourselves as well): Don't east any Amanital
Now look at it this way— there are three species of poisonous snakes in Ohio, the copperhead, timber rattler, and swamp rattler. If you know these three to avoid, you can feel reasonably safe with all the others. It is almost the same with mushrooms— if it is not an Amanita, you have a 95% you won't wind up dead. Now you had better learn the hog-nosed viper because he looks like a copperhead, i.e., a "look alike". Stay away from him, too, even though he's harmless, and you will be less likely to make a mistake.
Lepiota. Learn your amanitas, then stay away, at least for now, from their look-alikes, the lepiotas. Learn this genus well including the common poison- ous species Chlorophyllum molybdites (formerly a Lepiota). Lepiotas parallel amanitas very closely. The stature of both is similar. They often both have scales on the caps, although not the same kind. For right now in beginners' class, scales are scales. They both have white gills that do not touch the stem ("free"). Most drop white spores {Chlorophyl- lum spores have a slight greenish cast), have rings on their stems, and the stems end in a swollen bulb.
We tell beginners to avoid lepiotas for two rea- sons although there are some choice edibles in the genus. The most important reason is that mistakes are too easily made confusing Lepiota and Amanita. Amanitas are seldom eaten on purpose, but mostly because they have been confused with something else. The second reason to avoid lepiotas is because there is at least one deadly species {Lepiota hel- veola) and one that can make you very sick {Chloro- phyllum).
There are a few other deadly species, but they are either very rare or so small to be considered as food. Small poisonous mushrooms find their way into human stomachs in two ways. One is by ac- cidentally picking them when they are growing in amongst an edible species. The other incident, all too common, is when "grazing" toddlers pick them and stick them in their mouths.
The deadly fall Galerina, {Galerina autum- nalis), often takes up residence among honey mushrooms (the Armillaria mellea complex). They also grow on wood at about the same time as the honeys. It is not so much that it looks like a honey, but because of its growth pattern, it is sometimes
collected along with the honeys. Therefore, look at every single mushroom you collect carefully. If the gills are a different color or there is something else that looks different or doesn't fit, toss it out. What's a mushroom or two? Is it worth risking your well being for a meal of mushrooms? While we are at it, toss out any "past their prime" specimens, even if you are sure of their I.D. Some people have experienced some bad reactions to com- mon edible species simply because chemical changes occur as the mushroom goes into senescence and these may be harmful. Sulfur shelfs and honeys will do this. Even worse, botulism bacteria found in the soil may begin growing on decomposing specimens and THESE are lethal!
Up to this point, I have aimed at saving your life. The following paragraphs are included to spare you from non-life threatening, but serious gastro- intestinal discomfort as well as the "bathroom blues". Anything from belly aches to bottom aches is included here.
Don't eat any bolete that has any red on it, whether on the cap, pore surface, stem, etc. That is any kind of red including a blotch. Same applies to bluish or greenish color changes on bruised or cut flesh. These may not all be poisonous, but it is a good, safe rule-of-thumb.
Avoid pink-spored mushrooms—none of them are particularly good anyhow. I won't try to define them here. Read about Pluteus and Entoloma. Vol- variella species are rare, but check them out as well. You won't be able to always make this determina- tion in the field and you will have to make a spore print. Get into the habit of taking a spore print of at least one or two specimens of whatever you plan to eat. Check the color with the description in your manual. If the print is rouge to pink, including sal- mon pink, rosy pink, etc., don't eat the mushrooms.
Incoybe is a genus that has been incriminated in some incidents although true, toxicologic in- formation is scarce. They are too small to be con- sidered as food, but the grazing toddlers get in trouble with them because they are rather common on lawns in the morning. They could conceivably be found with Marasmius oreades, the fairy ring mushroom that occasionally grows in the same habitat and has a similar appearance.
Clitocybe dealbata, as Bob mentioned in a post script to my article on edibles in the last issue, is more likely to be collected with the fairy ring Marasmius, not because of the "look-alike" busi- ness, but because of the habitat. They grow in the same manner in troops or fairy rings among the dark green grass circles they cause on lawns. This species is called "the sweater" for the striking symp- toms it causes. Don't eat Marasmius oreades for awhile until you become more familiar with mushrooming.
There is a deadly Cortinarius species, but is very rare. However, identifying corts to species is for. people with advanced skills and we say, leave them all alone. Be sure you can recognize the genus, however. Also leave the genus Hebeloma alone.
Learn how to separate chanterelles from Hygrophorus species and Omphalotus olearis (the jack-o'-lantern), all look-like situations.
By now you are probably saying, "What can I eat?" This article was aimed at those of you who are new to gathering wild mushrooms for the table. Actually there are few rules here and very few genera that you need to learn, but we advise you to learn them THOROUGHLY. If you keep after it, in a couple or three years, you will add new species to your familiarity and you will be more confident in not only what you know and more importantly, what you don't know. Rank beginners fail because they do not know what they do not know, a very dangerous situation. Aim for acquiring knowledge and confidence. Possession of confidence without knowledge will get you in serious trouble. It is not a matter of intelligence because anybody can learn these few rules, but what is important is experience and there is no substitute for that.
The subject of mushrooming is not simple; in fact, it is very complicated, but the picture is not so bleak as many would have you believe (especially from those on the outside looking in), you are walk- ing among a few enemies and hundreds of friends in the world of fungi. As with any trade, there are tricks to it and like any trade, you must spend some time and effort familiarizing yourself with them. If you neither have the time/effort or are unwilling to spend it, by all means do all your mushroom gather- ing at the supermarket.
From Ohio Mushroom Society Newsletter, The Mushroom Log, Sept-Oct, 92
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MUSHROOMS CAN BITE BACK IN OTHER WAYS
Musfiroomers are properly concerned about the potential toxicity of their quarry, but only from the culinary aspect. A few raise the possibility that some so-called mushroom poisonings may actually be due to "allergy", but in another place I have critiqued the unlikelihood of that happening (Mcll- vainea, 1978). However, allergy to fungal spores brought about by inhalation is an entirely different matter and is responsible for a lot of nasal and sinus allergy annually. When the deeper airways are af- fected, bronchial asthma may even result, a much more serious affliction. Spores from many imper- fect fungi, mildews, etc. are fairly well known caus- ative agents of these types of allergies. If you get stuffed up after entering a damp basement or a used furniture store, you very likely have a respiratory al- lergy to mold spores.
Can mushrooms be the cause of this type of al- lergy? Definitely. A group of medicos headed up by Sam Lehrer at Tulane has been looking into this for a number of years. They fmd that in season, our old friend Ganoderma applanatum produces prodigious numbers of spores accounting for much of the allergy incidence. Since the size of the spores is so small (as compared to pollen), they remain sus- pended in the air for long periods of time. "Hay fever" sufferers may really have an allergy to some- thing like this. I have had such types of mold al- lergies in the past and I notice that I get these kinds of nasal symptoms at the foray tables if they are lo- cated in an enclosed room. It has been estimated that 10-15% of the population has at least some level of allergy to G. applanatum and Coprinus micaceous.
Sometimes we only realize we had a problem in retrospect. In Wales during the 60's there was an alarming increase in the number of deaths due to asthma (more than tripled) which was never satisfac- torily explained. In the first place, realizing that the number of deaths to a particular disease comes slow- ly and only after statistics have been gathered over a long period of time. Analyzing the statistics fur- ther, a pronounced seasonal increase in the deaths was noted to occur in the June to September period. Such seasonal activity is usually associated with climate or a biologic agent. In large metropolitan medical centers, allergists often have a "trap" set up to monitor airborne particles by type and density.
Ohio Mushroom Society, Sept-Oct, 92
Such a device was in use in Wales since 1962. Go- ing back over the records with special reference to the types of particles present, the medicos were able to compare what they found with weather records from the same period.
Observers were trained to distinguish ascospores, basidiospores, and imperfect (mold) spores micro- scopically. It will be no news to you that there was a dramatic increase in spores of all kinds from July through October. Pollen season stretches from March through September with the heaviest (in Wales) in June and July. It is interesting to compare the actual particle counts among the various classes identified. Whereas average pollen counts during the months of June to September averaged 1,500- 3,600, those from basidiospores ranged from 5,000- 40,000, ascospores from 2,500-37,000, and imper- fects 70,000-160,000! Thus, in terms of airborne concentration, that of fungal spores was much high- er than for pollen, the classical allergen. Those with fungal spore sensitivity, which in itself is rather common, were thus exposed to higher and continu- ous amounts of respiratory challenge. Statistical analysis indicated that the group of fungi that most closely correlated with the seasonal death incidence were the ascomycetes (cup fungi). Unfortunately it was not possible to identify the species of cup fungi and this group has never been adequately studied by allergists.
So if your nose, or more importantly your lungs, misbehave when you are working with your mush- rooms, you had better observe some precautions. Work with them in a well ventilated place. Make your spore prints outside and better yet, leave all specimens outside as much as possible. Avoiding airborne spores from environmental sources, i.e., when the Ganoderma are shedding, would be impos- sible. But quite obviously, these fungi cause far greater misery then the comparatively few intoxica- tions reported annually.
Bob Burrell
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MOUNTAINS. MEADOWS AND MUSHROOMS A guide to cooking wild mushrooms by Brenda Davidson-Shaddox
This book contains over 100 pages of information and recipes. Seventeen sections of mushroom recipes, ranging from chanterelles to blewits, tell how to prepare vegetables, meats, stews, soups, poultry, dressings, desserts, eggs pastas, salads, pates, pickles, relishes — the gamut of mushroom cooking. Each recipe is followed by a "menu" for preparing a whole meal with dishes which compliment the mushroom recipe (as well as a recommended wine).
There is general information on gathering wild mushrooms as well as how to clean and preserve mushrooms you gather. Freezing, dehydrating, salting, pickling, and preserving mushrooms in oil are explained at the rjeginning of the book. An "accompanying dishes" section at the end of the book sets out recipes from the menus to assist in the preparation of a full meal.
The author has been involved in gathering wild edible mushrooms for over twenty years and has spent the last four years developing recipes specifically for this book. In addition to her own recipes, she has included contributions from friends in Europe who have a long history of mushroom gathering and insist that only traditional ingredients (such as lard) can be used. So this book blends old world cooking with contemporary dietary tastes.
The book is beautifully illustrated by artist Suzy Olsen who is also a mushroom enthusiast.
To order the book send $1 1.94 (includes shipping) to Mushrooms, 1250 NE Loop 410, Suite 725, San
Antonio, Texas 78209.
THE OREGON CHANTERELLEPROTECT
In 1986, the Oregon Mycological Society in conjunction with the USDA Forest Service, began a study to investigate the ecology and assess the effects harvesting might have on future fruiting and mycorrhizal partners of Cantharellus cibarius (the yellow chanterelle). Plots were established in Mt. Hood National Forest in a 100 year old stand of western hemlock and Douglas fir. Elevation of the site is 2010 feet with an annual rainfall of 70 inches and mean temperature of 53 degrees F. Plant and fungal inventories are made throughout the year and every two weeks during the fruiting season each chanterelle is marked and mapped.
In 1989 each plot was marked Control or Harvest. Mushrooms could not be removed from control plots, but could be collected from harvest plots. Collections were dried to obtain biomass information and then vouchered. In harvest plots designated as Cut, the chanterelles were sliced even with the substrate. In harvest plots designated as Pull, they were pulled from the substrate.
To quote the results thus far: "With only two years of actual harvest data, we have no firm conclusions yet. We do seem to note that, surprisingly, chanterelles would rather be cut than pulled and that they respond better to hot than to wet. But the thousands of numbers and data must yet be tortured to provide any conclusions. "
A lot of work has been required: over 50 volunteers have logged in 2,000 hours and 10,000miles of driving. Considering that the work is often tedious, done in spite of wet weather, and the study is scheduled for at least ten years, the Oregon club deserves the highest compliments on their endeavor.
From Boston Mycological Club Oct, 91 Bulletin, and edited by M. W. Bair for Oregon Mycological Society Sep-Oct, 91.
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The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants- At Evening, it is not- At Morning, in a Truffled Hut It stops upon a Spot
I feel as if the Grass was pleased To have it intermit- This surreptitious scion Of Summer's circumspect.
As if it tarried always And yet its whole Career Is shorter than a Snake's Delay And fleeter than a Tare-
Had Nature any supple Face Or could she one contemn- Had Nature an Apostate- That Mushroom - it is Him!
Tis Vegetation's Juggler- The Germ of Alibi- Doth like a Bubble antedate And like a Bubble, hie-
from Final Harvest, Emily Dickinson's poems selected and introduced by Thomas H. Johnson. Little, Brown and Co, Boston.
Triangle Area Mushroom Club
Box 61061 Durham, NC 27705
IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT?
DEADLINE for submissions for March/ April:
February 1
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P. O. 61061,
Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 12 Number 2 March/ April, 1993
TAMC is NAMA affiliated
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President:
Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511467-6642
Secretary /Treasurer:
Joanna Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct
Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419
Fungifile Editors:
Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth St.
Durham, NC 27705 383-5853
OPEN!
Fungifile Mailing:
David Green 17 Colony Apts. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 929-9768
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Foray Chairs:
Harriet Sato 1709 Sagamore Ct. Raleigh, NC 27604 231-8421 Steve Preissler 416 Severin St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 942-2577 Program Coordinators: Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr Cary, NC 27511 467-6642 OPEN!
MEETINGS
Saturday, March 27: 9 am - noon Shiitake Inocu- lation Workshop with Edmond Badham in the backyard and driveway of Jacques and Marsha Poirier in Durham. This is a combination with the March foray. More information in newsletter. (See map)
Monday, May 10:7:30 pm Lichenized Fungi talk will be given by Francois Lutzoni. Francois is a graduate student of Rytas Vilgalys in the Duke Botany department. He has studied fungi in the Arctic and Antarctica, specializing in Omphalina. See May fungifile for location.
Saturday, April 3: Morel foray will take the place of a meeting. See announcement in FORAY SCHEDULE.
MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR 1993
IF THERE IS A RED STAR ON YOUR MAIL- ING LABEL, it means you have not paid your 1993 dues yet!
Please send dues to Joanna Billman, treasurer right away. This will be the last newsletter you receive until they are paid.
FORAY SCHEDULE
FORAY POLICY: Meet at the specified location ^ Foray Committee has set the tentative sched-
at 9:30 am on Saturdays unless otherwise noted. ule for entire 1993 season- For March> APnl
In case of drought or heavy rain, contact the foray md May the "^formation is complete. For the
leader to confirm. Bring a snack or lunch and rest of the W more ^formation will be furnish- drink. Although some mushroom identification m fature newsletters, but this list will allow you
may be done on the trail, bring wax paper or to Put ±e forays on y°ur calendar now so you
paper (not plastic) bags to carry mushrooms for won>t mss a smSle one! identification at the end of the foray. Brame Supply Co. in Durham sells waxed paper sandwich bags that work well. Don't forget repellent and a hat or sunscreen.
Saturday, March 27: Annual Shiitake workshop at the home of Jacques and Marsha Poirier in Durham from 9 am to noon. Additional information is included in an article in the newsletter. Note that you are encouraged to post copies of the map/poster on your favorite bulletin boards.
Saturday, April 3: Annual Morel Foray will be led by Bill Burk. Meet in Chapel Hill at the Texaco Station (see map) at 9 am.
Saturday, May 1 & Sunday, May 2: Asheville Morel Foray. If you are interested, contact Dennis Drehmel (H 467-6642,0 541-7505) for details.
Saturday, June 19: Duke Forest, led by Jacques Poirier.
Saturday, June 26: Schenck Forest, Wake County near Raleigh, led by Dennis Drehmel. Saturday, July 3: Reed Richter's property, led by Reed Richter. Alternate leader is David Green. Sunday, July 18: Battle Park, Chapel Hill, led by Steve Preissler. Saturday, July 31: Bladen Lake State Forest, led by Dennis Drehmel. Saturday, August 7: Maxabell Acres, led by Jacques Poirier.
Saturday, August 14 & Sunday, August 15: Grayson Highland, Va, led by Dennis Drehmel.
Saturday, August 28: Wallace Kauffman's property, led by Wallace Kauffman. Alternate leader is Bill Burk.
Saturday, September 3 - Monday, September 5: Asheville Club's annual Labor Day Foray.
Saturday, September 18: Weaver Creek, Chatham County, led by David Green.
Saturday, September 25: Falls Lake, led by Owen McConnell. Alternate leader is Jacques Poirirer.
Saturday, October 2: Duke Forest, Durham, led by Rytas Vilgalys.
Saturday, October 16: Uwharrie National Forest, led by Steve Preissler.
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SHIITAKE INOCULATION
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The annual opportunity to replenish your supply of Shiitake logs will take place on Saturday, March 27 from 9 am to 12 noon in the driveway of Jacques and Marsha Poirier at 210 W. Laven- der Avenue. Note that the price per log, spawn and supplies is $3.00. If you bring your own logs, the cost will be $1.50 per log for spawn.
If you bring your own logs, they should be:
- freshly cut within 6 weeks of inoculation and stored off the ground
- 3 to 7 inches in diameter, from 2 to 4 feet long.
- Branches or trunks are fine, but tree should be healthy with bark intact; avoid blemishes.
- Preferable types of trees are: White Oak(best) Red Oak Maple Hickory Beech Sweet Gum
NOTE the map page is a poster! Please dupli- cate and post it as widely as possible.
HELP is needed to get the oak logs cut and delivered to the Shiitake inoculation on Saturday morning, March 27. Dennis Drehmel (467-6642) will need help with cutting and transporting logs to the Poirier backyard for the Shiitake inocula- tion. If you and/or your truck will be available, please give him a call soon to work out details.
MYCOPHAGIST'S TABLE
These soups are from New Jersey Mycological Association NEWS, Vol 19, #6:
WILD RICE SOUP WITH MORELS
1 can cream of potato soup 1 pint milk Vh cups water
xh cup wild rice, measured dry 1 small onion, chopped 1 Tbsp butter
xh lb sharp cheddar, grated xh to 1 cup of morels
Saute1 mushrooms. Cook wild rice with 1 xh cups water and salt to taste (approximately V/i hours). Saute onion. Heat potato soup with milk and 1 cup water. When hot, add onions and cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Add cooked rice and sauteed mushrooms, stir and serve. OK to use chanterelles, boletes or black trumpets.
Recipe by Ursula Pohl
CURRIED CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER AND CHANTERELLE SOUP
Dice fine and saute 1 onion, 2 ribs celery and 1 peeled apple in 2 Tbsp butter until soft.
Sprinkle 2 Tbsp flour and xh to 1 tsp curry powder over sauteed mixture, stirring and cooking for 2 minutes.
Add 4 cups chicken bouillon and bring to a boil. Add 1 cauliflower broken into florets and cook until soft. Puree and add xh lb sauteed Chante- relles and 1 pint milk or cream. Add salt and pepper to taste, heat to just below boiling point and garnish with fresh or dry chopped dill.
Recipe by Rhoda Roper
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NEWSLETTER LOSES VALUABLE EDITOR
Bill Burk will no longer be contributing his valu- able service to the fungifile. Over the past year, Bill has scanned newsletters from other clubs all over the country, choosing articles to be shared with TAMC members. His editorial judgement has been clear and to the point. The club will miss Bill's valuable contributions to the newsletter
and hopes he will soon be able to scan a few exchange newsletters again.
If anyone would be willing to take over this job, or wants more information on what it involves, please contact Billie Sessoms (383-5853).
PROGRAM COORDINATOR POSITION OPEN
Marge Richter, who has coordinated programs for TAMC so well will no longer be doing this impor- tant job. Dennis Drehmel has agreed to handle this responsibility, in addition to being our club president until a new program coordinator volun- teers.
If you can contribute some assistance in planning programs, please call Dennis at 467-6642. TAMC must have volunteers willing to give take their turns supporting the club structure if we are to be a viable group.
THE BOOK SHELF
Morelling: The Joys of Hunting and Preparing Morel Mushrooms by Margaret M. Evans and Nettie Lou Samuels
Morelling is "fun" reading about morel hunting from a lay person's viewpoint. They cover a common sense approach to morelling that can be applied to any mushroom hunting expedition. The stories are entertaining and true about the joys and frustrations encountered by morel hunt- ers. Although I enjoyed the book, the fact that the authors hail from my home state where I found my first morel over a quarter of a century ago definitely biases my opinion. This book is an easy read and I would recommend it to novice hunters provided they used other sources to identify morels. I would not recommend this book to those who are looking for technical infor- mation or lack a countrified sense of humor. The book is $8.95 plus $2.00 shipping. You can send a check or money order to Daniel and Daniel Publishing, Inc, PO Box 21922, Santa Barbara, California, 93121. Or call l-805-962-1780to order using Master Card or VISA.
A Morel Hunter's Companion by Nancy Smith Weber
As the name implies, this is a complete book about morels. While chapter 4 gives timetables and locations for Michigan, the rest of the book is a valuable source of information for any location. Topics include how to prepare for the hunt, iden- tification complete with keys and color pictures of both true and false morels, the life history of the morel, and detailed information about the prepa- ration and eating of morels. What is to be praised most about this book is the great attention to SAFETY. All of the topics discussed include points to be remembered by even the most experi- enced morel hunter. Although some sections may be a bit technical for beginners, this book should be considered a MUST for anyone who makes morelling an annual event. The book is $14.95 plus $2.75 shipping. You can send a check or money order payable to "State of Michigan" to Michigan Natural Resources Magazine, Box 3003- 4, Lansing, MI 48909, OR call 1-800-248-5 848 to order using VISA or Master Card.
Book reviews from New York Mycological Society NEWSLETTER, June, 92
ATTACK OF THE VANDAL FUNGUS by Billie Sessoms
In the summer of 1992,1 suddenly noticed small, hard black dots on our cars. Since the cars were not parked under trees, this condition wasn't be- ing caused by tree sap. We thought perhaps some insect had decided our cars were the perfect spots for eggs. To remove them, it was necessary, while washing the car to scrub vigorously after carefully scraping them off first with a plastic ice scraper.
Now I think I have found the answer to the mys- tery in the March, 1993 issue of Organic Garden- ing in the New Ground section.
They recount the calls received from readers in panic over the black dots suddenly appearing on the outside of their painted houses. Larry Kuhns, Ph.D., professor of ornamental horticulture at Perm State University told them that the black dots were "the spore masses (reproductive bodies) of a minuscule fungus that thrives on wood mulch-the kind that's often used for borders for borders around homes and ornamentals. This fungus can throw its spore masses up to 22 feet, and it aims those projectiles toward light-colored surfaces... the fungus has recently become a problem because such mulch now contains more hardwood than it did a decade or so ago." He explained that while wood chips used to be all bark, chip makers are now including a lot of hard- wood that used to go to landfills or into wood stoves. The fungus shot spore masses, but in the woods, not at houses and cars.
Since the spore masses are so difficult to remove, Dr. Kuhns recommended avoiding the problem by preventing it. "The fungus develops and hurls its offensive little dots only in the cool weather of spring and fall, so you can interrupt the natural growth of the fungi by spreading a thin layer of new bark mulch at these times, or by raking the surface of the old mulch. You can also use mul- ches composed of fungus-resistant cedar or red- wood near your house and driveway. " Both cedar and redwood have fungal inhibitors in them.
Evidently, the spore masses were being hurled at my light grey car, but just as many stuck to the charcoal gray car also. Since my house is brick, I didn't notice, or search for black dots! The maga- zine article mentioned use of rubbing alcohol or weak bleach solutions in the effort to remove the rascals. I found that a plastic ice scraper, bristle brush and plenty of soapy water did the trick with much scrubbing by hand. This year, I am going to change to pine needle mulch close to the house and driveway, and save the chips for areas located over 22 feet from anything but trees!
The illustration of Sphaerobolus stellatus, showing the forcible catapulting of the g!eba, cr spore- container, makes me think this is likely the fungus to which Dr. Kuhns refers. If any member has another candidate, please let me know.
SPHA.RO BOLUS
^0^(9/9)220-8002. Durham t A/. . Z7?g</
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Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 61061 Durham, NC 27705
IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT?
DEADLINE for submissions for May/June: April 4
COUCH *I0L0CY LIBRARY UNC
C 3? 32 80 COKER HALL CHAPEL HILL NC 27599-3280
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the fungiflle
P. O. 61061,
Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 12 Number 3 May/June, 1993
TAMC is NAMA affiliated
UNC- CHAPEL HILL
President:
Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
Secretary /Treasurer:
Joanna Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct
Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419
Fungifile Editors:
Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth St.
Durham, NC 27705 383-5853
Second Position OPEN
Fungifile Mailing:
David Green 17 Colony Apts.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 929-9768
Foray Chairs:
Harriet Sato 1709 Sagamore Ct. Raleigh, NC 27604 231-8421 Steve Preissler 416 Severin St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 942-2577 Program Coordinators: Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr. Cary, NC 27511 467-6642 Second Position OPEN
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
MEETINGS
Monday, May 10: 7:30 pm Lichenized Fungi talk will be given by Francois Lutzoni at 144 Bioscience Building, Duke Campus. Francois is a graduate student of Rytas Vilgalys in the Duke Botany de- partment. He has studied fungi in the Arctic and Antarctica, specializing in Omphalina.
Saturday, July 24: 2 pm workshop on Boletes led by Owen McConnell. Location will be announced in the July/August fungifile. See workshop infor- mation in this newsletter for more information.
FORAY REPORT
Morel Foray, April 3, 1993: David Green reports that because of the smaller than usual turnout, the entire group went to the traditional area along Highway 15-501. In spite of abundant rainfall in the weeks prior to the foray, the group found
no morels. David thinks a possible cause for the lack of morels is the scheduling of the foray about a week earlier than in previous years in response to a warmer than usual winter. In this case, the early bird did not get the worm!
deCurrent EVENTS
June 17-20: Lichen Weekend in the Adirondack Mountains hunting mushrooms and lichens with Alan and Arleen Bessette. Participants will stay at the Hotel Saranac. Days will be spent collect- ing and identifying mushrooms (or lichens) and evenings will consist of informal and informative lectures and slide presentations with something for both beginners and advanced folks. Regis- tration is limited.
Contact Dr. Alan Bessette, Biology Department, Utica College, 1600 Burrstone Rd, Ithica, NY 13502, (315) 792-3132.
August 19-22 The Bessettes will host another Lichen Weekend.
August 26-29 The Bessettes will host a third Lichen Weekend.
MUSHROOM MADNESS
Please circle the date July 24 on your calendar > In response to your interest in more help with identification of mushrooms, TAMC will begin a series of special workshops (one each summer) to feature a particular group for study. This summer the featured mushroom is the bolete.
Please recall that a large percentage of boletes are edible and that many are choice. We will have our own bolete expert, Owen McConnell, on hand to examine that mystery bolete that you keep finding in the woods behind your house. We will also send teams to the coast and the mountains to bring back fresh specimens for further identification and com- parison.
The day of the bolete workshop is Saturday, July 24. We will begin at about 2 in the afternoon to allow time for members to gather fresh specimens that morning if they wish. The location of the workshop will be announced in the July/August newsletter.
During lunchtime before the workshop, TAMC members are invited for a buffet lunch at the home of Dennis Drehmel, 1131 Sturdivant Dr., Cary. The buffet will feature King Bolete and other fun- gal finger foods. If you are interested in attending the lunch please let Dennis know (467-6642). Directions to Dennis' house will also be given in the next newsletter.
MYCOBABBLE from the PREZ
During February, I sent out 30 letters to local members to determine if TAMC should consider changes in the way we hold meetings in order to increase attendance. The letter asked for responses in four areas: Problems in attending, high interest programs, suitability of Monday nights, and interest in a bolete workshop.
In the problems area, many were just too busy and others were mostly interested in forays. It was also pointed out that meetings held at the beginning of a newsletter period may be over before the newsletter is received. Starting next fall, we will try not to hold meetings in early January, March, May, etc.
Regarding high interest programs, members chose mushroom identification by approximately 2 to 1 over any other alternative. Next most requested were specialty workshops. By 3 to 1, members thought Monday night was a good meeting night. By 5 to 1, members approved of plans for a bolete workshop.
More later on further plans to provide programs of interest to you. (If you did not return your letter, it's not too late—Send it in.
FORAY SCHEDULE
FORAY POLICY: Meet at the specified location at 9:30 am on Saturdays unless otherwise noted. In case of drought or heavy rain, contact the foray leader to confirm. Bring a snack or lunch and drink. Although some mushroom identification may be done on the trail, bring wax paper or paper (not plastic) bags to carry mushrooms for identifi- cation at the end of the foray. Brame Supply Co. in Durham sells waxed paper sandwich bags that work well. Don't forget repellent and a hat or sun- screen.
The Foray Committee has set the tentative schedule for the entire 1993 season. For March, April and May the information is complete. For the rest of the year, more information will be furnished in fu- ture newsletters, but this list will allow you to put the forays on your calendar now so you won't miss a single one!
BOTANY LJBR s.pv
MAY 7 1993
Saturday, June 19: Duke Forest Leader: Jacques Poirier (477-5837). See map. •
Saturday, June 26: Schenck Forest, Wake County near Raleigh. If coming from the west, exit 1-40 at next exit after Cary/Unstead Park exit where 2 lanes split to the right. Exit onto Blue Ridge Road and turn left (north).
Turn left on another dirt road and park at the gate. See map. Leader: Dennis Drehmel (W)541-7505 (H)467- 6642.
Saturday, July 3: Reed Richter's property, led by Reed Richter (929-3677/286-3440). Alternate leader is David Green (929-9768). Meet at the Texaco Station on 15/501 at 9:30. See map in March/ April fungifile.
Sunday, July 18: Battle Park, Chapel Hill, led by Steve Preissler.
Friday, July 23: Bladen Lake State Forest, led by Dennis Drehmel.
Saturday, August 7: Maxabell Acres, led by Jacques Poirier.
Saturday, August 14 & Sunday, August 15: Grayson Highland, Va, led by Dennis Drehmel.
Saturday, August 28: Wallace Kauffman's property, led by Wallace Kauffman. Alternate leader is Bill Burk.
Saturday, September 3 - Monday, September 5: Asheville Club's annual Labor Day Foray.
Saturday, September 18: Weaver Creek, Chatham County, led by David Green.
Saturday, September 25: Falls Lake, led by Owen McConnell. Alternate leader is Jacques Poirier.
Saturday, October 2: Duke Forest, Durham, led by Rytas Vilgalys.
Saturday, October 16: Uwharrie National Forest, led by Steve Preissler.
NAMA FORAY - 1994
Make your plans now to attend the 1994 NAMA Foray which will be hosted by the Asheville Mushroom Club. They report that the foray sites have been narrowed to Western
Carolina University, Mars Hill, and Warren Wilson. For TAMC members who have never attended a national foray, this will be a grand opportunity to do so.
r '
MYCOPHAGEST'S TABLE
MUSHROOM PIROGIS
Dough: Vh c flour
2 t baking powder 14 t salt 1 c butter 1 c yogurt
Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Cut in butter by hand until you have an evenly crumbly mixture. Stir in yogurt until the dough forms a soft ball. Wrap in waxpaper and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
Soak boletes in 1 cup hot water for 20 minutes. Drain and save liquid. Chop mushrooms. In a skillet heat some oil. Add onions and garlic and cook until translucent. Add boletes and cook about 5 minutes. Add soaking liquid and cook until nearly all the liquid is gone. About 2 or 3 Tbsp should be left. Add this to the rest of the ingredi- ents in a bowl. Adjust seasoning. If the mixture seems too dry, add 3 or ounces softened cream cheese.
Filling: 1 1/2 oz dried boletes
6 ied red potatoes, boiled with skins and chopped into \ in cubes
1 chopped onion
2 cloves chopped qarlic 1/3 t caraway seeds 1/2 t savory
2 chopped, boiled eggs Salt and Pepper to taste
To assemble:
Divide the dough into eight balls of the same size on a floured board. Roll to about V* inch thick and shape into a rectangle. Fold the long sides of the dough inward and seal by wetting the overlaps with water lightly. Now do the same with the other ends. Place on a cookie sheet with the folds under- neath. Repeat until you run out of dough or filling. Bake in a preheated 375 o oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Once assembled, these freeze nicely. Defrost and bake as usual.
Recipe by Theresa Rey, Sporadic News, Asheville Mushroom Club, March, 1993.
NOTE:
If you don't have a supply of Boletes you dried last summer, you can wait until you find some this year,
substituting approximately 6 ounces fresh, or you can purchase dried boletes at Wellspring Grocery.
Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 61061 Durham, NC 27705
I
COUCH BIOLOGY LIBRARY UNC
CBj?3280 COKER HALL CHAPEL HILL NC 27599-3280
IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT?
DEADLINE for submissions for July /August: June 1 DEADLINE for submissions for September/October: July 1
r/ze fungifile
P. O. 61061,
Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 12 Number 4 July/August, 1993
TAMC is NAMA affiliated
President:
Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
Secretary /Treasurer:
Joanna Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct
Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419
Fungifile Editors:
Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth St.
Durham, NC 27705 383-5853
Claire Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
®93
Fungifile Mailing:
David Green 17 Colony Apts. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 929-9768 Foray Chairs:
Harriet Sato 1709 Sagamore Ct. Raleigh, NC 27604 231-8421 Steve Preissler 416 Sevenn St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 942-2577 Program Coordinators: Dermis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr. Cary, NC 27511 467-6642 Second Position OPEN
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
MEETINGS
Saturday, July 24: 2 pm workshop on Boletes led by Owen McCormell. Location is the Dreyfus Auditorium on the campus of Research Triangle
Institute. See map and more information m this newsletter.
deCurrent EVENTS
August 19-22: Lichen Weekend in the Adirond- ack Mountains hunting mushrooms and lichens with Alan and Arleen Bessette. Participants will stay at the Hotel Saranac. Days will be spent collecting and identifying mushrooms (or lichens) and evenings will consist of informal and infor- mative lectures and slide presentations with something for both beginners and advanced folks. Registration is limited.
Contact Dr. Alan Bessette, Biology Department, 2Utica College, 1600 Burrstone Rd, Ithica, NY 13502, (315) 792-3132.
August 26-29 The Bessettes will host another Lichen Weekend.
August 26-29 13th annual Telluride Mushroom Conference in Telluride, CO. Contact Fungi- phile, PO Box 480503, Denver, CO 80248, Phone 303-296-9359.
October 14-17 North American Mycological Association annual foray. The Daniel E. Stuntz Foray, with Mushrooms and Their Natural Habi- tats as the theme. NAMA foray will be held in Fort Worden State Park and Port Towns end, WA. Contact Denny Bowman, foray chairman, 520 NE 83rd, Seattle, WA 98115. (You must be a NAMA member to attend, but there is still time to join.)
FORAY SCHEDULE
FORAY POLICY: Meet at the specified location at 9:30 am on Saturdays unless otherwise noted. In case of drought or heavy rain, contact the foray leader to confirm. Bring a snack or lunch and drink. Although some mushroom identification may be
done on the trail, bring wax paper or paper (not plastic) bags to carry mushrooms for identification at the end of the foray. Brame Supply Co. in Durham sells waxed paper sandwich bags that work well. Don't forget repellent and a hat or suns-
creen.
/O
Saturday, July^: Reed Richter's property, led by Reed Richter (929-3677). Meet at the site at 10 A.M. See map. From 15-501 Bypass, exit at Mt. Carmel Church Rd, then Old Lystra Rd for 1 mile, then left into gravel road on the immediate left of the mailbox marked "Dollar" 1448. Keep bearing left on the gravel road for about 0.6 mile.
Sunday, July 18: Note the change from Saturday! Battle Park, Chapel Hill, led by Steve Preissler. (H942- 2577; W733-4539) The park is bounded by Country Club Rd, Boundary St and Park Place Dr. Entrance is off Park Place Dr. See Map.
Friday, July 23: Scheduled for Friday in conjunction with the Bolete workshop. Bladen Lake State Forest, led by Dennis Drehmel. (H467-6642; W54 1-7505) Meet for car pooling at the Ridgewood Shopping Center in west Raleigh at 9 A.M. From I 40 from Chapel Hill or Durham, exit at Wade Ave/289. The shopping center is about 2 miles from the exit on the NE corner of Wade Ave and Ridge St at the first traffic light. Meet in front of the Wellspring grocery. The trip from Raleigh to Bladen Lake will take about VA - 2 hours.
Saturday, August 7: Maxabell Acres, Person County, led by Jacques Poirier. (H 220-8002) Meet for car pooling and directions at the Edison Johnson Recreation Center, 600 W Murray Ave, Durham. From I 85 exit at Duke St/Roxboro Rd North. Turn right into Murray Ave at second light. The Center is on left.
Saturday, August 14 & Sunday, August 15: Weekend camping foray in Grayson Highland's State Park, Va, led by Dennis Drehmel. Call Dennis as soon as possible so site reservations can be make. (H 467-6642; W 541-7505) This is a first for the club to the Highlands so come join us to explore the area where the air is cooler. Meet at the campgrounds. Look for TAMC sign at the campsite. There win be a Friday afternoon foray for early comers. Directions: Take I 40 west to Winston Salem, then 52^£S?7Mt. Airy for about 60 miles, then 58 west for about 50 miles to entrance of park. Then see map. Traveling time will be about 4 hours.
Saturday, August 28: Wallace Kauffman's property, Chatham County led by Wallace. Contact person: Bill Burk. (H942-6387; W962-3783) Car pool at the Texaco station at the University Mall at Estes St and 15-501, Chapel Hill.
Saturday, Sept 3 - Monday, Sept 5: Asheville Club's annual Labor Day Foray. Saturday, September 18: Weaver Creek, Chatham County, led by David Green. Saturday, September 25: Falls Lake, led by Owen McConnell & Jacques Poirier. Saturday, October 2: Duke Forest, Durham, led by Rytas Vilgalys. Saturday, October 16: Uwharrie National Forest, led by Steve Preissler.
Saturday, October 23: Garland Gourmet mushroom growing facility and foray led by Frank Garland.
MUSHROOM MADNESS
Please circle the date July 24 on your calendar. The bolete workshop will be held Saturday, July 24 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. We will begin at 2 in the afternoon to allow time for members to gather fresh specimens that morning if they wish. The location of the workshop will be Dreyfus Auditorium on the campus of Research Triangle Institute (RTI). RTT has two entrances off of Corawallis Rd in the Research Triangle Park (RTP). Comwallis may be accessed directly from Durham via the Durham Expressway (NC 147) or from Raleigh and Chapel Hill, take I 40 to RTP and exit north on Davis Dr and turn left on Comwallis. See map.
Lunch preceding the workshop will be at the home of Dennis Drehmel, 1131 Sturdivant Dr., Cary from 11:30 to 1:00. It's OK to come early and if you want a chance to taste specialty mushrooms, do not come later than 11:30 because supplies will be limited. It is important to let Dennis know by July 17th if you are coming; call 467-6642 (night) or 541-7505 (day) or write to 1131 Sturdivant Drive, Cary, NC 27511. Sturdivant Drive is a right turn off Walnut St (going toward downtown Cary) and 0.7 mile from Crossroads Ford. See map.
ouiArtY LIBRARY UNC-CHAPa
JUL 6
J393
MYCOBABBLE from the PREZ
It looks like we have another date for you to circle on your calendar. This time it is Saturday, October 23. Garland Gourmet's president Frank Garland and VP Michelle Davis have invited the club for a tour of their state-of-the-art gourmet mushroom growing facility on 100+ acres near Hillsborough. Frank will not only show us around his laboratory but will also lead a foray weather permitting. Frank also notes that he has a large fish pond and fishermen in the club are invited to give it a try. Club members should plan to arrive sometime after lunch and stay for an early pot-luck supper. Please note that this will be the club's annual fall potluck. Given the long lead time, these plans are tentative and details will follow in the next newsletter.
Also in late September, the club will have a regular meeting to identify any mushrooms of interest to you and have a presentation on some aspect of mushroom identification. No meetings are planned for August but club members are reminded to check the extensive foray schedule. Also note that the Asheville Club foray is over the Labor Day weekend. This is an excellent foray and members may contact me for information. You may want to become acquainted with this foray because next year the national foray (NAMA) will take place in Asheville. NAMA will attract many outstanding experts on mushroom identification.
ROLE OF SHIITAKE IN CONTROL OF AIDS VIRUS
Two teams of Japanese researchers have investi- gated the effects of mycelial extracts of Lentinus edodes in inhibiting the infectivity of various strains of human immunodeficiency virus. In both cases the substance tested was extracted from the mycelia as opposed to the fruiting body of the mushroom. Researchers from Yamaguchi University School of Medicine found that cell-free infections of HIV-1, HIV-2, and HTLV-1 was inhibited in the presence
of the extract. Researchers from the University of Tokyo tested a purified fraction of Lentinus edodes mycelial extract and found that it completely inhib- ited the cytopathic effect of HIV-1. This material is also reported to promote the proliferation of bone marrow cells and have an immunostimulating ef- fect.
Written by David Green. References for this arti- cle are obscure medical journals. To read the sources, contact David at 929-9768.
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Bits of News from French-Canadian Mushroom Friends
Liberally translated by Clair Drehmel who has suppers, forays,...) aim to create a climate of
agreed to fill the second editing slot on the fungi- togetherness among the members. " Some hints for
file. our club perhaps...
First, an ecological note: their newsletter (Le Mycologue vol. 18, #1, April 1993) in pamphlet- form is printed on recycled paper, the cover 100% and the pages 50%.... speaking of membership, the president notes the following: "The Montreal Circle of Mycologists (Inc.) finished the year with more than 900 members; almost 250 more than at the end of 1991... Without doubt the Circle is re- sponding to a real and growing need for mushroom knowledge... Mamtaining a balance between the scientific activities and the social activities is a principle dear to the Circle. The scientific activi- ties (excursions, Monday night meetings, courses, herbal projects, exhibits) focus mainly on the devel- opment of one's knowledge of mushrooms. The social activities mycological weekends, mushroom
...From an article by Yves Lamoureux, The Rela- tionships Between Trees and Mushrooms.
"...it has to do with an exchange of nutritive ele- ments, the one furnishing for the other what it cannot synthesize or extract from the earth on its own. Generally speaking, the mushroom helps the tree to draw mineral elements and water from the earth; in exchange, the tree furnishes sugars for the mushroom. . .
"The relationships presented in the following list were chosen from those involving the more well- known mushrooms... and are in no way exhaustive. Lit's hope that this information will facilitate your research. "
Partial List of Relationships Between Trees and Mushrooms
Amanita hemibapha Red Oak, Beech
Amanita pantherina Red Oak
Boletinus cavipes Larch
Boletinus grevillet... Larch
Boletinus pictus White Pine
Boletus bicolor Red Oak, Beech
Boletus edulis Hawthorne, White Pine, Fir
Boletus ornatipes Red Oak, Beech
Boletus subvelutipes.. Hawthorne
Cantharellus cibarius.Red Oak, White Pine, Fir
Cantharellus cinnabarinus..Red Oak
Cantharellus ignicolor Red Oak
Cantharellus tubaeformis... Hawthorne Cortinarius traganus.. Hawthorne
Craterellus fallax....Red Oak, Beech Lactarius chrysorheus.Red Oak
Lactarius indigo White Pine
Lactarius thyinos Hawthorne
Leccinum aurantiacum. . Poplar, Pine
Leccinum scabrum Birch
Russula laurocerasi...Red Oak, Beech
Russula peckii Pine
Russula variata Red Oak
Strobilomyces floccopus....Red Oak
Suillus americanus White Pine
Suillus luteus White Pine
Tricholoma flavovirens Pine
Tricholoma magnivelare Pine
Tylopilus chromapes... Hawthorne
...and finally, a short article apparently translated from English into French and now rendered once more into English. . .
Morels Which Make People Sick
In its 1992 annual report the Mushroom Poisoning Registry or NAMA reports a case of mushrooms poisoning involving 77 persons, during a banquet in British-Columbia. The species in question...? Well, it was the mush-praised edible Morel (Mor- chella esculenta). What!? ...That is the unavoidable result whenever this
mushroom is eaten RAW, as it was during the dinner. The noticeable symptoms are quite numer- ous: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal cramps, bloating, weakness; no permanent disabilities were mentioned. (Source: Mcllvainea, vol. 10, #1, 1992)
MYCOPHAGISFS TABLE
Just in time for summer picnics, here are two recipes for pickled or marinated mush- rooms.
Marinated Mushrooms
Champignons a la Grecque
3/4 Cup Wine Vinegar lA Cup Oil
1 Clove Garlic, crushed
1 Tsp Sugar
2 Tsp Water VA Tsp Salt Dash of Pepper Dash of Hot Pepper 14 Tsp Oregano
1 Med Onion, thinly sliced Fresh, Clean Mushrooms
Combine all ingredients, bring to a boil, add mush- rooms and simmer for 8-10 nun. Let marinate 8 hours or more. Drain and serve.
5 quarts of water 1 pint olive oil 1 xh Tbsp coriander 1 Tsp peppercorns Vh Tbsp salt
Lg bouquet garni of thyme, bay leaf, fennel & celery stalk
Juice of 10 lemons, strained
Clean and trim 100 or more mushrooms. Plunge them into the mix as trimmed. Bring mix to a boil and continue boiling for 8 - 10 minutes at the most.
This recipe is from Larousse Gastronomique and can be cut if your gathering is not so successful.
Reported by Bob Cooper of Mycopages, Rochester, NY to be from the Rochester Democrat and Chron- icle.
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£ TELEPHONE Q^RESTROOM A TRAIL SHELTER VC VISITOR CENTER
Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 61061 Durham, NC 27705
COUCH BIOLOGY LIBRARY UNC
CB£3280 COKER HALL CHAPEL HILL NC 27599-3280
IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT?
DEADLINE for submissions for September/October: July 1
^£ fungifile
P. O. 61061,
Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 12 Number 5 September/October, 1993
TAMC is NAMA affiliated
President:
Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
Secretary /Treasurer:
Joanna Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct
Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419
Fungifile Editors:
Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth St.
Durham, NC 27705 383-5853
Claire Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Fungifile Mailing: David Green 17 Colony Apts. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 929-9768 Foray Chairs:
Harriet Sato 1709 Sagamore Ct. Raleigh, NC 27604 231-8421 Steve Preissler 416 Severin St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 942-2577 Program Coordinators: Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr. Cary, NC 27511 467-6642 Brad Millar 2112 Stuart Dr. Durham, NC 27707 471-6572
MEETINGS
Tuesday, September 21: 7:30 pm Uses of Mushrooms presented by Bill Burk. Bring collect- ed mushrooms for identification. Dreyfus Audi-
torium on the campus of Research Triangle Insti- tute. See map and more information in this news- letter.
deCurrent EVENTS
October 14-17 North American Mycological WA. Contact Denny Bowman, foray chairman,
Association annual foray. The Daniel E. Stuntz 520 NE 83rd, Seattle, WA 98115. (You must be
Foray, with Mushrooms and Their Natural Habi- a NAMA member to attend, but there is still
tats as the theme. NAMA foray will be held in time to join.) Fort Worden State Park and Port Towns end,
FORAY SCHEDULE
FORAY POLICY: Meet at the specified location at 9:30 am on Saturdays unless otherwise noted. In case of drought or heavy rain, contact the foray leader to confirm. Bring a snack or lunch and drink. Although some mushroom identification may be done on the trail, bring wax paper or paper
(not plastic) bags to carry mushrooms for identifi- cation at the end of the foray. Brame Supply Co. in Durham sells waxed paper sandwich bags that work well. Don't forget repellent and a hat or sun- screen.
Saturday, September 18: Weaver Creek, Chatham County, led by David Green. Saturday, September 25: Falls Lake, led by Owen McConnell & Jacques Poirier. Saturday, October 2: Duke Forest, Durham, led by Rytas Vilgalys. Saturday, October 16: Uwharrie National Forest, led by Steve Preissler.
Saturday, October 23: Arrive after lunch for a tour of Garland Gourmet mushroom growing facility, a foray led by Frank Garland, and the fall pot-luck dinner. See MYCOBABBLE from the Prez for more details. See map.
FORAY REPORTS
The June 26 foray to Schenck Forest followed a period of warm dry weather. The following species were found:
Cantharellus cinnabarinus Coltricia cinnamomea Hygrophorus sp. Lac tan us luteolus Stereum ostrea
In the week leading up to the July 24 bolete identification workshop, teams of fungus hunters were dispatched to all parts of the state to collect choice specimens for identification. By Saturday, July 24, everyone had returned to the area. Mindful of the arduous task confronting them, they fortified themselves with a hearty lunch at the home of Dennis and Claire Drehmel. Fueled by dandelion wine, the group pushed westward into the uncharted regions of Research Triangle Park. Following presentations by Owen McConnell (on identifying characteristics of bolete genera and North Carolina boletes) and Dennis Drehmel (on a new identification scheme for North Carolina boletes), the following species were identified:
Austroboletus gracilus
Boletus separans
B. subvelutipes
B. vermiculosis
B. Piedmontenses
B. auripes, var. typicus
B. varipes
B. communis
B. speciosis
B. inedulus
B. fratemus
Chalciporus rubinellus Pulveroboletus auriporus Tylopilus plumbeoviolaceus T. perlbidus Boletellus Russellii Xanthoconium stramineum Leccinum chromapes L. subglabripes Gyrodon proximus Suillus pictus
Foray reports submitted by David Green.
MYCOBABBLE from the PREZ
Tuesday, September 21 the club will have a regular meeting to identify any mushrooms of interest to you and have a presentation on uses of mushroom as presented by Bill Burk. This meeting will be at Dreyfus Auditorium on the campus of RTT. I have also been in contact with Larry Grand of NCSU who is an expert on suillus (a type of bolete). Since September is a good time for suillus, I am trying to arrange for Larry to help with the mush- room identification. Unfortunately, Larry will not be sure of his schedule/commitments at NCSU until September. Larry expects that he will be able to give us a program sometime in the future, especial- ly if he cannot make the September meeting.
On Saturday, October 23, Garland Gourmet's president Frank Garland and VP Michelle Davis have invited the club for a tour of their state-of-the- art gourmet mushroom growing facility on 100 + acres near Hillsborough. Frank will not only show us around his laboratory but will also lead a foray, weather permitting. Frank also notes that he has a large fish pond and fishermen in the club are invit- ed to give it a try. Club members should plan to arrive sometime after lunch and stay for an early pot luck supper. Please note this will be the club's annual fall pot luck. See the map for location.
BOTANY LIBRARY UNC- CHAPEL HILL
USE OF WHITE ROT FUNGI FOR SOIL AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Two groups have recently reported on testing of white rot fungi to degrade pentachiorcphenoi (PCP). This chemical is often present in soil and groundwater at sites where wood treating operations have been conducted. A group from Utah State University conducted bench scale wastewater treat- ment experiments with Phanerochaete chrysospori- um. They found that PCP concentrations in water could be decreased from 5 to 2 part per million with 20 minutes contact in an aerated continuous flow reactor in which mycelia were immobilized on a Nylon web.
Researchers from the Department of Agriculture's
Forest Products Laboratory treated contaminated soil in 100 square foot beds with various wood degrading fungi. The tests were conducted at an abandoned wood treating site in Mississippi. Clean sand was placed at the bottom of each bed; a ten inch layer of contaminated soil was placed on the sand and wood chips were added to provide a growth substrate for the fungi. The beds were inoculated, irrigated and rototilled. The best results were obtained in the plot inoculated with Phanero- chaete sordida. The initial PCP concentration in the soil of 670 parts per million was reduced by 89 % in a period of 42 days. An untreated bed showed a decrease in concentration of only 15%.
Report by David Green.
MYCOPHAGIST'S TABLE
Mushroom and Lentil Soup
Fish with Cream and Morels
1 large onion, chopped 1 TBSP olive oil 5 cups chicken stock 8 oz mushrooms 1 med carrot, diced xh cup dried lentils 1 tesp dried rosemary
Saute onion in oil over medium heat until lightly browned, about 12-15 min. Add all other ingredi- ents. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover loosely. Let simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 min. Discard bay leaf. Serves 4.
Recipe from Mike, Odelia, et al, Spore Print, Trumbull, CT.
4 whole fish (trout, whiting) or 4 thick fillets (hali- but, sole, flounder) Seasoned flour 6 TABSP butter XA lb morels, sliced Salt and pepper Lemon juice 2 cups heavy cream Cayenne pepper
Coat fish in seasoned flour. Clarify butter by bringing it to a boil then pouring through muslin- lined sieve into frying pan. Brown fish on both sides over high heat in butter. Remove fish from pan. Cook morels in fish juices, season to taste. Sprinkle fish with lemon juice and return to pan. Pour cream over all, add a pinch of cayenne, bring to a boil. When cream is bubbling, place all in cooking dish under hot grill for about 8 minutes until a golden crusty skin forms on top. Serve hot. From The Curious Morel by Larry Lonik, from Spore Print, Trumbull, CT.
MOREL STENCIL
Cut out the black areas of this morel with an exacto knife and you have your own morel stencil. Apply it to your favorite vasket, T-shirt, socks, cap and stationery. Copy it first and make a reduced version for your socks, and enlarge it for your big morel basket. From Spore Print, Trumbull, CT.
BAGGING GAME
Vito's instructions surprised me; I had expected intrigue, but his approach was straightforward: "Come to the house about ten in the morning Sun- day. Park out in front of the house. Everyone in the neighborhood will be getting ready for church. I want 'em to see you. Knowing there is a stranger with me, they'll never suspect that I am making a 'run'. Wear clothes like we was going to the library. Don't bring anything that looks like a container. Don't carry anything in your hands or even your pockets. I want to look like we're going out to look at used cars or talk about life insur- ance."
During the long negotiations leading up to this moment early in spring, Vito had impressed me with his insistence on absolute secrecy. "I am sharing with you what a man shares only with his son." he said. "And just like you was my son, if you betray this confidence, I'll nail your gizzard on a fence post someplace west of Wahoo. " I assured Vito that I understood the importance of secrecy. That I held sacred his confidence in me, and that being the kind of guy who is uneasy about getting a haircut, I was not likely to place my gizzard in jeopardy.
not trying to hide anything. Although of course we were.
As we drove through Omaha (I won't tell you what direction we took, mostly because I don't know what direction we took), every now and then Vito made a quick right or left turn and circled around a couple of blocks to see if we were being followed. After an hour or so of looping around the city and then snaking along gravel and finally dirt roads in the Missouri River bottoms, Vito pulled up his Chevy behind a decrepit corn bin.
"The farmer knows me," Vito explained. "For a share of the take, he lets me use the place. If someone's following me, he chases them off with a double-barreled ten-gauge. Here, " he handed me a plain paper bag, a little smaller than the ones you get in a grocery store. "Put this in your back pocket. I don't want it out where it can be seen."
"But...."
"And don't talk out loud about what we're here for. The worst thing you can do is let your guard down now. We're not alone."
Just as Vito had told me, I arrived at precisely 10 AM, parked in front of his modest home on Oma- ha's south side, walked boldly up to the front door, and knocked. Vito opened the door widely and invited me in. We had a cup of strong coffee while Vito reminded me again of his requirements: "My grandfather is probably spinning in his grave, what I'm doing today. Nothing you write or say to anyone better lead anyone to where we're going, not that you're going to know, once we get there, where we've been."
We went out the side door to the tiny garage beside the house and crawled into his immaculate '57 Chevy. "I would have guessed we would take your old van for a job like this," I said.
"Nah, If I fired up that old beast, everyone in the neighborhood would know what I'm up to. Even over in the Slovak part of town, they know that van. I've gone past Pavelka's tavern in that van at straight-up noon, and by the time I went past the Sokol Hall at 12:05, there would already be sic Slovak cars sitting there waiting to follow me. "
He started the Chevy, raced the engine a couple of times, and then sat in the driveway for a few min- utes warming up the engine— and making it clear to his neighbors that we were in no hurry and were
We walked through heavy woodlands for another quarter of an hour, stumbling down a ravine and across a couple of small creeks. Woodlands are not, strictly speaking, a usual part of the Nebraska landscape, except where we were, along the banks of the Missouri. We came to a small, level clear- ing-no, not really a clearing; there were still a lot of trees, but they were dead and so sunlight reached the forest floor and gave an impression of openness. Vito reached back with his left hand and without looking at me pushed against my chest, signaling me to stop and stay. He stepped slowly into the clearing. He patted his left back pocked, checking to see if the paper bag was still there. He stepped around a large, dead hackberry. I could see his face. What had been furrowed with in- tense, worried lines now opened up like this spot in the forest, full of light. Vito held both arms far out to his sides, his fingers open, the palms of his hands upward and open. He tilted his head to one side and laughed.
He circled the tree, squatted, and looked up. He stepped close to the tree and then well back from it. He motioned me forward. "Now you," he said, "Look at them form every angle. Squint. Open your eyes wide. Teach your eyes what it is they should be seeing. Look at the color and the tex- ture. See how the light hits them. Look up close and far away. " He held up his hand to cast a
shadow on the tree trunk. "Look in shade and in light."
I stepped around the tree and looked at the bracket fungi known around Omaha as beefsteak mush- rooms—huge, pink, fleshy.
"Don't pull out your sack until the last moment," Vito said. "The beefsteak knows. You'll scare away others."
Czechs, Germans, and even Omaha Indians and told me the same sort of thing about mushrooms: Mushrooms know. When you hunt mushrooms, you walk into the woods as if on a stroll, whistling a tune, enjoying the spring scenery, maybe even carrying a camera or fishing pole. No container should ever be carried in the open; mentioning the name of your quarry insures failure.
Woods and forests are not common on the Plains so neither are mushrooms. I restrict my own searches to morels, inky caps and their relative the shaggy- mane, and when I am on the eastern fringes of the Plains, puffballs (Known in latin as Calvalia gi- gantea, but around here better described as Calvatia punyea).
Inky caps and shaggymanes are relatively easy to find (inky caps, for example, like elm stumps, and one of the reasons we don't have many trees these days in Nebraska is that we have increasing num- bers of elm stumps). They are also relatively easy to identify, which has been an important factor to me since the day I read a detailed account of how one dies after ingesting the romantically named Destroying Angel. But these two abundant and delicious mushrooms, the inky cap and shaggy- mane, have the extraordinarily unpleasant side effect of making a lot of folks sick when either is combined in a meal with alcohol. If you're a Baptist, you'll love them.
Morel mushrooms are more elusive geographically than inky caps and shaggymanes but more seasonal- ly restricted, sparing us the trouble of looking for them most of the year. I have heard a lot of folk theories about when one should seek the succulent morel, but traditional timing systems have their problems. Perhaps the most commonly mentioned sign for gathering morels, for example, is "when the leaves of an oak tree are the size of a squirrel's ear. " But the time required to find an oak and catch a squirrel might be better spent looking for morels. "The last full weekend in April" is anoth- er unreliable guide, as least in Nebraska, where it can be 108 degrees F in the shade the last full weekend in April or, alternatively, you might have to wear snowshoes.
Another traditional belief is that morels pop out when lilacs bloom. The Mr. Science in my life, Russ Meints, an old buddy who is a life-science wizard at Oregon State in Corvallis, explained to me that this belief probably arose because lilacs and morels operated on the same light schedule. So, when lilacs have had enough light to bloom, morels have had enough light to bloom too.
I suppose the real question about collecting mush- rooms is, Why bother, when we can buy little wooden baskets of perfectly nice, safe mushrooms at the grocery store? But of course it's worth it! I even get a kick out of growing store-variety mush- rooms from boxed kits I get by mail order from Pennsylvania.
Me: I grew these mushrooms myself, right here in the laundry room.
Guest: Goodness, what a genius you must be!
Me: Oh, it's nothing, really.
The magic of morels and beefsteak mushrooms is even more powerful than that of button mushrooms grown under cover of my used socks. I grew up secure in the knowledge that on one could grow morels in captivity. If you want morels, you know where and when to look, you go out when the conditions are just right, you carry a paper sack in your back pocket, you don't say the work morel out loud, and you go get them. That sort of world makes sense to me. To the victory goes the prize, faint heart never won fair lady, and no morels without stumbling around in the woods all day on the right day.
Now, I understand, some French lunkhead has devoted his life to figuring out how to grow morels commercially, and if he has his way, ne'er-do- wells who don't even own a paper bag will soon be able to walk into the supermarket and say, "Why don't you give me a pound of so of those wrinkly tannish things over by the kiwi fruit?" I like to thing that morels will never put up with that sort of nonsense.
You're thinking, this guy actually believes mush- rooms see, hear, think, and scheme. Well, yes, I do, and I have plenty of evidence to support that understanding. Mushrooms even have a sense of humor.
I once took a class of college students out on the Platte River for a nature weekend— last weekend in April, lilacs blooming, oak leaves... well, you get the idea, our intent was to gather morels and wild asparagus (which around here, stabs toward the sky
about the same time morels show up). Kim Pfeif- fer, sister of my old pal Phil Pfeiffer, was in the front of my canoe, and as we skimmed along the riverbank, I tried to help her identify edible wild plants for a school project
"That gray-green fuzzy plant right there... there to your right... that's catnip. Lovely mint. Makes a nice tea. And that is a chokecherry bush; it will fruit about the first week or two of July."
But there were no morels, and we were on the river for morels. Kim had never seen a morel, so I tried to describe them. "They are sometimes called 'coral' mushrooms because they are wrinkled up like a brain, sort of, except they have pits rather than wrinkles, as opposed to false morels, which have wrinkles rather than pits. They are light tan, taller than they are wide, kind of pointy on the top, about the size of my thumb. " But we saw no morels.
Now, if you were a morel, what would you do to embarrass the wise-guy professor who is playing nature boy with a beautiful coed in a canoe? I know what you would do if you were a morel; you would junker down under some leaves so the poor jerk would go home without having found one morel to show the young lady. Well, that's not what a morel would do.
We were floating along a small island somewhere between Grand Island and Central City when Kim asked over her shoulder, "Professor tyelsch, is that a morel?" She pointed. I gasped. I fell over the back of the canoe. I struggled through the water toward the island. I stuttered. I drooled. There was a morel as big as my head.
"I thought you said morels are as big as your thumb," Kim said.
"Gagaboogada! " I sputtered, or something like that. I picked up the Mother of All Morels. It weighed pounds. This was a Norman schwarzkopfea. Later, when we butchered that morel, we found that although it was hollow, like all morels, it contained a second mushroom, so that the flesh was fully an inch thick. We halved it, then quartered the halves. Each eighth of that mushroom covered one huge T-bone steak.
I stood holding that mushroom until I regained some hint of composure and was about to say something like, "Kim, everything I told you about morels is true. This morel is a one in a trillion, mutant ninja mushroom. " But before I could say a word, I saw another morel, just as big, a few steps away. And then another, and another, and another.
Kim and I picked eight morels that day, so huge they were more than the tow of us could carry back to the canoe in one trip. Morels have a sense of humor; no more were found that day. So Kim Pfeiffer, to this day, thinks (l)morels are about the size of a professor's head, and (2)both are hollow.
"Are you okay?" Vito asked, startling me.
"Yeah, I was just daydreaming about some other mushrooms I've known," I answered.
"Well, don't stand there too long. Take another look at this beefsteak and let's get going. I don't want to sit here any longer than I have to. Let's pick what we can and get out of here. There's been talk about some of the Slovak boys renting a helicopter. "
Mushroom hunters are funny folks, all right. But then so are mushrooms.
Author: Roger L. Welsch
From Spore Print, Trunbull, CT.
Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 61061 Durham, NC 27705
COUCH BIOLOGY LIBRARY UNC
C 3^32 80 COKSR HALL CHAPEL HILL NC 27599-3280
IS YOUR LABEL CORRECT?
DEADLINE for submissions for November /December: October 1
the fungiflle
P. O. 61061,
Durham, North Carolina 27705 Volume 12 Number 6 November /December, 1993
'if e
TAMC is NAMA affiliated
President:
Dermis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
Secretary /Treasurer:
Joanna Billman 3201 Stoneyford Ct
Raleigh, NC 27603 779-2419
Fungiflle Editors:
Billie Sessoms 802 Duluth St.
Durham, NC 27705 383-5853
Claire Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr
Cary, NC 27511 467-6642
1 5 1993
Fungifile Mailing: David Green 17 Colony Apts. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 929-9768 Foray Chairs:
Steve Preissler 416 Severin St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 942-2577 Carolyn Norris 406 Allen Ruffin Hillsborough, NC 27278 732-5996 Program Coordinators: Dennis Drehmel 1131 Sturdivant Dr. Cary, NC 27511 467-6642 Brad Millar 2112 Stuart Dr. Durham, NC 27707 471-6572
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
MEETINGS
Saturday, November 20: 2:00 pm Tour of Rytas Vilgalys' mycology laboratory at Biological Sciences, Duke University Campus. See map.
Monday, January 17: 7:30 pm Polypores - keys to identification and notes on medical uses at RTI Dreyfus Auditorium.
deCurrent EVENTS
August/September, 1994 North American Myco- logical Association (NAMA) annual foray will be hosted by the Asheville Mushroom Club.
You must be a NAMA member to attend, so send in your NAMA dues and plan to sign up early.
FORAY SCHEDULE
No forays planned for the winter months. Plan to attend programs and join fellow club members for more
forays beginning with the annual Shiitake foray next March.
FORAY REPORTS
Duke Forest. June 19. 1993 Leader: Jacques Poirier. This being the driest June on record, four of us who turned up for the foray did not expect great mushrooms. What we found were small numbers of tiny shriveled fungi - some Amanitas, Russulas, Boletes, Marasmius', Corals and Poly- pores. One great find was a log full of fresh Co- prinus quadrifidus.
Boletaceae
Boletus communis (?) B Strobilomyces B floccopus Boletus sp
Schizophvllaceae (Split Gill) Schizophyllum commune
Gilled mushrooms Amanita farinosa A. sp Russula sp
Phylloporus rhodoxanthus Oudemansiella radicata Crepidotus applanatus Marasmius rotula Coprinus quadrifidus
Chanterelles
Cantharellus minor
Polyporaceae
Heterobasidium annosum
Stereaceae (Parchment fungus) Stereum ostreum
Phallales (Stinkhorns)
Pseudocolus shellanbergiae
Tremellales (Jelly)
Auricularia auricula Tremellodendron pallidum
Grayson Highlands State Park. Va. August 14. 15. 1993. I suppose the 5 of us who went to Gray- son Highlands ought to consider ourselves lucky that it poured more and more heavily on us as we drove to the park on Friday. Consequently, Dennis and Claire decided to stay overnight at a nearby motel while the rest of us opted to brave the ele- ments and camp out. The rain did peter out gradu- ally and Saturday turned out nice and sunny. Fri- day afternoon we hiked the Stampers Branch trail and the next day the Wilson Creek trail which was at times steep but well worth the view of the over- hanging trees of the creek and the water trickling over the rocks. We picked sufficient quantities of Pleurotus ostreatus to supplement our lunch. Other mushrooms found included:
Boletaceae
Boletus hortonii B. pallidas Leccinum scabrum L. rugosiceps Tylopilus gracilis
Polyporaceae
Polyporus varius P. arcularius Laetiporus sulphurous Ganoderma applanatum Piptoporus betulinus Tyromyces chioneus Meripilus giganteus Fomes sp.
Gilled
Amanita chlorinosma A. flavoconia A. fulva A. muscaria Russula sp
Oudemansiella radicata (Collybia var furfuracea) Clitocybe clavipes Marasmius sp. Tricholomopsis platyphylla
radicada
Stereaceae
Stereum ostrea
Lvcoperdales
Lycoperdon pyri forme Scleroderma aurantium Calvatia cyathiformis
Tremellales
Ramaria formosa
Pezizales
Galiella rufa
Battle Park. Chapel Hill: My 1*L 1993. Lead- er: David Green
Continuing drought and high temperature brought out only two people on this foray. Nevertheless we managed to find a perfect specimen of an edible mushroom, Laetiporus sulfurieus. Other fungi, in order of their find, were:
Ischnoderma resinosum or Fomitopsis pinicola
(unable to identify)
Cantharellus cinnabarinus
Lactarius hygrophoroides
Stereum ostrea
Amanita atkinsonia
Omphalina ericetorum
Tyromyces chioneus
Daedalea quercina
Maxabel Acres. Person County. August 8j 1993. Leader: Jacques Poirier
It was a lovely foraying day - cloud cover and temperature only in the eighties. Some scattered rain across the state made us hopeful but alas there was evidence of meager rainfall at this sight. The creek and pond were dry and so was the soil be- neath the surface. The eight following specimens include shriveled fungi as well as some as tiny as 14 inch across:
Amanita atkinsonia Sarcodon atroviridis Marasmius sp Pluteus cervinus Schizophyllum commune Stereum ostrea Trametes versicolor Galiella rufa 2 vigorous box turtles
Saralyn Foray. Chatham County August 28. 1993 list by David Green:
Strobilomyces sp. Boletus ornatipes B. Curtisii B. auriporus
Tylopilus plumbeoviolaceous
Lactarius indigo
L. volumus
L. subplinthogalus
L. Peckii
Russula emetica group R. aunginea Cantharellus cibarius
C. cinnabarinus Amanita Atkinsonia Hypomyces lactifluorum Lepiota rachodes Craterellus fallax Hygrophorus sp. Pleuritis ostreatus Ramaria formosa Clitocybe robusta Sarcodon sp. Lycoperdon pyri forme Collybia dryophila Polyporus elegans Stereum ostrea
NEW FORAY CHAIR
Carolyn Norris is joining Steve Preissler as one of the foray chairs. We welcome her to this most important job. Harriet Sato has ably filled this position. Her foray reports have been a special addition to the fungiftle. We will miss her descriptive weather and trail comments.
MYCOBABBLE from the PREZ
First a word about future meetings. All meetings next year will offer a door prize. No, you will not have to buy tickets, just be a member of TAMC. The door prize will be your choice among a num- ber of books or posters. On Saturday, November 20th, Rytas Vilgalys has invited us to tour his mycology laboratory at Duke University. Because Rytas has been teaching a mycology course this semester, there should be plenty of projects for us to look at. In addition, Rytas' graduate students may have some advanced research which can be observed. Meet in front of or in the lobby of the botany building at 2 pm. (The botany building is where we have had many meetings in the past; also, see map.) Do NOT feel that you have to be a mycologist to enjoy this tour.
On the third Monday of January, we will have a program on polypores— keys to identification and notes on medical use. Please save any interesting polypores you find between now and then. Meet at 7:30 pm at Dreyfus Auditorium on the campus of Research Triangle Institute. More details and map will be in the next newsletter. Our annual meeting which features a cooking demonstration will be in February and will also be described in the next newsletter.
to buy some insurance we will slightly change our foray policy. We will schedule only out-of-town forays. Local forays will be held at times when there has been a good fruiting and may be arranged in only a couple of days notice. If you wish to be involved in these forays, you have two options— either call one of the foray chairs, David Green, or me at mid-week or leave your number with one of the above with instructions to be called. We have arranged for a number of volunteers to check con- ditions at several good foray locations. Yes it's true, we now have a mushroom hotline.
My final words are for those who have not attended many of our forayor none at all and have a number of concerns. For example, it takes too much time or I'm afraid to eat what I find anyway. Our local foray locations are easy to access and easy to leave early so give it a try for as little time as is reason- able for you. You do not have to stay for the whole thing. Moreover, with the new foray policy, we will only foray when there are interesting fruit- ings, many of which will be edible. And yes, there are a number of safe edibles which you can feel confident in trying. I have seen many this year even under the very poor mushrooming conditions we have had.
As to forays next year, we are certain to do better than the severe drought we had this year. But just
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MYCOPHAGIST'S TABLE
Pleurotus Appetizers
1 lb Pleurotus cut into medium pes
4 TBSP unsalted butter
3 TBSP flour
xh cup half-and-half
!4 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg Salt and pepper to taste
In a skillet quickly saute" mushrooms in 2 table- spoons butter. Pour off any liquid from the cook- ing mushrooms into another container. Set aside.
Continue to saute mushrooms until they become cooked but not brown. Remove from skillet into another container. Set aside. Add the remaining butter to the same skillet and stir in the flour. Whisk in the half-and-half and the liquid from the cooking mushrooms. Simmer over low heat until sauce is thickened. Add mushrooms, thyme, and nutmeg to the sauce and season with salt and pep- per to taste.
A mushroom cooking hint: salt should be added toward the end of cooking since it tends to remove water from the mushrooms, makipg^hpaaras^ft and:?** less flavorful.
NOV 1 5 1993
Pleurotus - Shellfish of the Woods
Pleurotus ostreatus and its relatives are easily learned, common in North Carolina, and all-pur- pose in the kitchen. They are, therefore, good for beginner mycophagists.
Oyster mushrooms are wood decomposers found widely in North Carolina on deciduous tree stumps and fallen logs. They have also been reported found on telephone poles and, in one instance, on a chair in somebody's basement. Their overhanging shelves of oyster-shaped fruiting bodies cover the wood host like roof tiles.
Always popular with mycologists, the oyster has now become available to the general public in markets. In fact, Pleurotus has been cultivated so successfully that many varieties now exist beyond what you are likely to find in the forest. Blue, yel- low, and pink oyster caps have been developed to please the gourmet's eye and palate. However, the old-fashioned white, buff, and silvery gray ones in the forest are much more exciting to harvest and,
Botany Sscuon UNC-CHAPEL HILL
some say, better in taste and texture. Furthermore, this is a prolific mushroom in the wild, and the Pleurotus season is a long one so availability is fairly dependable.
When gathering for the table, choose young caps. Fresh specimens have a lovely scent of mild anise, usually not present in the cultivated varieties. Cut off the stems, which can be very tough. Wash them well and rid them of pests by soaking them in salted water.
A nice way to use these shellfish of the woods is to saute them in a little olive oil with some shallots, brandy, and fresh herbs. Put the mixture into scallop or oyster shells, sprinkle with bread crumbs, drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil, and broil them for a few minutes until brown.
By Louise Freedman, Mycena News, Mycological society of San Francisco, December, 1991. Edited by Billie Sessoms.
the fungifile needs a new editor. Due to other oblications, Billie Sessoms will no longer be able to serve as one of the editors. If you think you might be willing to share this job with Claire Drehmel,
please call Billie at 383-5853 and leave your name and address. We can mail you a description of the types of jobs that need to be done for you to use in making a decision to become an editor.
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Identifying Characteristics of Bolete Genera
Compiled by Owen McConnell
SOLETACEAE (spores either smooth or pale pink)
1. Gyroporus : pale yellow spore print; cap not viscid; white hymenophore when young; unornamented stem hollow at maturity.
2. Gyrodon : stipe eccentric (not central), reduced, or absent; tubes gill-like and decurrent.
3. Suillus : usually cap is viscid; stipe often with glandular dots; hymenophore a shade of yellow and pores sometimes radial.
4. Xerocomus : pores angular and wide; hymenophore decurrent
or with decurrent tooth; cap hairy; stipe cylindric and rather thin, sometimes with brownish coarse network at apex (never finely reticulated).
5. Chalci porus : pores same color as tube interior—some shade of red or pink; stipe smooth, without dots, scales, or reticulation; basal mycelium bright yellow.
6. Pulveroboletus : cap has a powdery yellow surface or veil (stains fingers) or is viscid or glutinous; hymenophore usally yellow, often bright golden yellow (never red or pink).
7. Xanthoconium : spores rusty yellow-brown; flesh of cap white, unchanging; hymenophore of medium long white to yellowish tubes with small pores the same color as the tubes; pore mouths bruise orange-brown; stipe rather thick, completely smooth and solid.
8. Tylopi lus : spore print ranges from pink to dull flesh color
to reddish or purplish brown; white or pallid tubes become fleshy pink as spores mature and tube-mouths often turn a darker shade of that color or browner when bruised; flesh of cap is white, changes little (at least not bluing), and often bitter.
9. Leccinum : rough, dark scales on a paler colored stipe give
it a singed look; tubes very long in comparison to the thickness of the cap flesh and the diameter of cap but are drastically shortened near the stipe (almost "free" as in an Amanita ) ; pores fine to small; flesh usually changing from white to reddish, vinaceous, brown, grayish, or rarely blue; hymenophore white or pallid; stipe relatively thin at apex, easily breaking there.
10. Eoletus : not with the combination of characteristics of any of the above genera--annulus or veil always absent, pores not radially arranged, stem without viscid dots, stem ornamentation never becoming darker at maturity; cap usually dry, flesh white or yellow and often changing to blue when cut, spore print with olive hue; stipe usually thick and solid, reticulate or finely hairy or scaly, rarely smooth.
ST30BIL0HYCETACEAE (spores mostly ornamented, brown to black)
1 . Strobilomyces : cap and stipe dry and either warty or wooly, the margin often projecting; flesh white, turning reddish and then black; hymenophore strongly convex beneath, whitish to gray, becoming darker in age; spores almost black; stipe with annulus and relatively long and slender, not enlarged in the middle .
2. Porphyrellus : cap and stipe dry and covered with soft, fine hairs that may form tufts but not as warty as Strobilomyces ; flesh white, unchanging or turning slightly bluish, greenish, reddish, or purplish when cut; hymenophore initially grayish-white or pale buff but becoming darker (gray or brown) with age and may change to blue, green, or red in spots where bruised; spore print cocoa, purplish-brown, or even maroon.
3. Botellus : spores with longitudinal striations or ridges that are olive-toned in print; cap smooth, felty, scaly, or shaggy; hymenophore yellow, becoming olivaceous, changing to blue or not; stipe smooth, roughened with branlike particles, or reticulated, sometimes coarsely.
4. Austroboletus ; a recently created genus consisting of species of boletes that have pitted spores. Aside from pitted spores and an absence of veils, they have few similarities which define them as a group.
Triangle Area Mushroom Club Box 61061 Durham, NC 27705
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