SPORE PRINTS BULLETIN OF THE PUGET SOUND MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY Number 463 June 2010 RARE SQUAMANITA PARADOXA FOUND The Squamanita could also be growing in other areas of Vancou- The Spore Print, L.A. Myco. Soc., January 2010 ver Island, said Ceska, who would like to hear from anyone who thinks they have seen the mushroom. Vancouver Island, Canada - An extremely rare mushroom that Southern Vancouver Island has a wealth of fungi, said Ceska, who looks as if it’s wearing yellow rubber boots has been found on believes someone should be compiling an in-depth inventory of Observatory Hill in Saanich, B.C. species in B.C. During the five years Ceska has been working on Victoria mycologist Oluna Ceska, who is working on a fungi the Observatory Hill inventory, she has documented 850 species. inventory for scientists at the National Research Council’s Domin- “And I am sure that is not close to the final number,” she said. ion Astrophysical Observatory, found the Squamanita paradoxa mushroom on Nov. 27 and has now had its identity confirmed. FUNGUS SPREADS SOUTH FROM B.C., Squamanita paradoxa BECOMES MORE DEADLY various sources A. Ceska It’s the first time the It sounds like a villain from a science fiction film. Squamanita has been Cryptococcus gattii—an airborne fungus that appeared on Vancou- found in Canada, she ver Island in the late 1990s—is real, and it’s gathering strength as said. it spreads to the south. According to research published April 22 Ceska’s husband, Ad- in the journal Public Library of Science Pathogens, it has mutated olf, former botany cu- into a more lethal strain since it moved into Oregon. The fungus rator at the Royal B.C. has now spread to California. Museum, was with her So far, Washington cases of cryptococcosis caused by C. gattii when the strange mushroom was found. “Adolf almost wanted to have been reported in Whatcom, King, and San Juan counties. throw it away and I said, ‘My God, put it back and take pictures,’ ” “The cases in Washington—and there’s only been eight or nine said Ceska, who did not know exactly what it was but sensed it of them—are strongly linked to the British Columbia strain,” said was rare. “I thought it was just a new species of a genus I knew, Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson but when I got home I couldn’t find out what it was.” counties. When she realized what she had found, her excitement grew and Fortunately, though potentially deadly to humans and animals she contacted other mycologists around the world. infections of C. gattii are still rare. According to the Oregon De- Squamanita was described by University of Washington mycolo- partment of Human Services (April 26, 2010), since 2004 about gists in Seattle in 1948 and some have been found in the Mount 50 people have been identified with the illness in Washington, Hood area. There was another report of the species from Priest Oregon, and California and about 10 people have died. Lake, Idaho. “Our find is the first in Canada and perhaps only the Cryptococcus gattii is not transmitted from person to person or third record from North America,” said Adolf Ceska. carried by insects or animals. Rather, the fungus forms spores that Even in Europe it is rare, with about half a dozen reports from are blown in the wind or moved by disturbances of the soil. People areas such as France, Italy, and the Czech Republic, said Oluna who stir up the soil—landscapers, loggers, outdoor recreational- Ceska. ists—are the most likely to encounter the fungus. Besides being What makes the mushroom particularly interesting is that it grows spread by the wind, the fungus can be spread by humans on shoes parasitically on more common species of mushrooms, she said. and even on car tires. That means the bottom of the fungus, which resembles the yel- The spores are inhaled and colonize the lungs before they spread low boots, is a completely different species. “The lower part is throughout the body. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest not even related.” pain, long-lasting coughs, fever, and headaches—even weeks Samples of the mushroom have been sent to the University of after exposure. Most cases are like a pneumonia that slowly gets B.C. herbarium and to the University of Tennessee, where a DNA worse and worse. analysis will be conducted. Treatment involves six to eight weeks Photos have been sent to other researchers, and the find will prob- of intravenous antifungal medications ably be included in a paper written by a U.S. mycologist on North followed by months of pills. American species of fungus. “Now we know where it grows, we can go every year to see if it’s Cryptococcus gattii fruiting. Everything depends on the weather,” Ceska said. page 1 MEMBERSHIP MEETING Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 Spore Prints NE 41st Street, Seattle is published monthly, September through June by the Our featured speaker this month will be Jack PUGET SOUND MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY Czarnecki, speaking on “Oregon Truffles—Old Center for Urban Horticulture, Box 354115 World Pleasures, New World Treasures.” Jack is University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 a noted wild mushroom hunter, cooking author- (206) 522-6031 http://www.psms.org ity, and award-winning cookbook author. He User name: Password: received the James Beard Award in 1996 for A OFFICERS: Marian Maxwell, President2010–2012 Cook’s Book of Mushrooms, and his other books Milton Tam, Vice President2009–2011 include Joe’s Book of Mushroom Cookery and John Goldman, Treasurer2010–2012 The Portobello Cookbook. Jack has also written Denise Banaszewski, Secretary2009–2011 articles for many food and wine publications, has appeared on TRUSTEES: 2009–2011: television, and has judged wine competitions for over 20 years. Brenda Fong, Debra Lehrberger, He moved from his native Pennsylvania where he ran Joe’s, the Randy Richardson, Jennifer Slack, family business, for 22 years, to Oregon and opened The Joel Kim Traverse Palmer House Restaurant in 1997. He featured the local mush- 2010–2012: rooms and paired them with fresh produce such as fiddleheads, Louise Asif, Jim Hughes, seaweeds, and top-notch regional wines to create a wonderful Pacita Roberts, Ed Sakai, restaurant with an enthusiastic following. Jack also learned to Tony Tschanz harvest the native white and black truffles, which he began to use, Patrice Benson (Immed. Past Pres.) in addition to the local mushrooms, in his restaurant. He has since ALTERNATES: Ruth Buttler-Rhese, Sharon Chappell turned the restaurant over to his son, and now makes and sells SCI. ADVISOR: Dr. Joseph F. Ammirati a line of Oregon white truffle oil. Jack is currently a director of Distinguished Restaurants of North America, a board member of EDITOR: Agnes A. Sieger, 271 Harmony Lane, the American Institute of Wine and Food, a founding member of Port Angeles, WA 98362 the Society of American Cuisine, and an advisory board member [email protected] of Penn State University. Annual dues $25; full-time students $15 Would members with last names beginning with the letters A–K please bring a plate of refreshments to share after the meeting. CALENDAR FIELD TRIP REPORT, APRIL 17 Brian Luther June 5 Field Trip (see website) June 8 Membership Meeting, 7:30 pm, CUH We had a very good day in terms of membership turnout and the diversity of fungi brought in. The weather was overcast but not June 21 Board Meeting, 7:30 pm, CUH especially threatening. Between 2:00 and 3:30 pm we got a brief July 19 Board Meeting, 7:30 pm, CUH drizzle which dampened our clothes a bit but certainly not our Aug. 13–15 NAMA Foray, Winter Park, CO spirits. Aug. 16 Board Meeting, 7:30 pm, CUH Forty-six people signed in, but I suspect a few forgot to, which Aug. 24 Spore Prints deadline is common. We were lucky that John Goldman just retired in March, because PSMS has already received the benefit of John Sept. 14 Membership Meeting, 7:30 pm, CUH and Andrea’s involvement in hosting. The Goldmans got there Friday evening and had already touched bases with the Forest Service Ranger, so when it came to Saturday morning they were BOARD NEWS Denise Banazewski super organized. They had their RV right in front of the gate, which made it easy for getting all the hosting supplies in and out. It was We had the best turnout at Mushroom Maynia! this year that a great spread of goodies and coffee. Doug U-Ren, in his usual we’ve ever had, and as a result, we have 12 new members! We manner, also provided tables and water and other things that really also have an outreach opportunity coming up at the Arboretum helped. These kinds of cooperative contributions by members are called the Bioblitz. Bioblitz is a 24-hour event starting on May 21 what PSMS is all about. Thanks Andrea, John, and Doug! where scientists, students and citizens will help to inventory all I brought over 100 lb of firewood from home and had a fire -go of the life they can find in the Arboretum, including mushrooms. ing all day in a beautiful spot next to the ID table overlooking the You can even tent out in the Arboretum! If you are interested in river, and it felt pretty good. volunteering, please contact Marian Maxwell, 425–235–8557. The board also discussed lease renewal options, as our lease at CUH Hildegard Hendrickson did an admirable job by personally taking expires in 2014; however we have only tentative information on a large group of people out collecting.