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Home , Agaricus silvicola, Agrocybe, Agrocybe praecox, Albatrellus, Archaeomarasmius, Baeospora myosura

2006 No. 4

Rozites caperata or as it is commonly known Rozites - the Gypsy caperata or Throughout all the literature the gypsy that has come across my desk, mushroom every author has questioned the as it may reasoning for naming this be found in particular “gypsy”. To date the forest, no definitive answer has been but usually given. So the common label they have remains a mystery. Rozites caperata appeared has also been labelled as the one here “powdered sugar mushroom” and because of the white fibrils that another a can be seen on the caps of young bit of a hike fungi. The caps appear to have a away. Photo sheen or bloom or pasted Kleenex courtesy: effect. These are not, by any Helen means, the only questionable areas Engel about this mushroom – so maybe the name has arisen because they are so mysterious – like the gypsy for this was created Similar include: tribes. once it was studied in detail. The praecox – does not The classification for Rozites presence of a volva-like structure have a wrinkled cap and is usually caperata is: at the base of the stem and the found in cultivated areas. Order: were different in colour and aurea – has a Family: shape. more powdery-granulose cap and Genus: Rozites (named after An interesting article by stem. Ernst Roze, a Michael Kuo states that recent species – do not European mycologist) DNA studies have determined that have a membranous veil. Species: caperata (wrinkled) this mushroom is actually a Because there are similar look- Originally this fungi was Cortinarius and the gypsy alikes in the forest, it is best to labelled: caperata mushroom has been renamed and become very familiar with all the (wrinkled pholiota). A specific is now . (Rozites ...continued on page 3)

FEATURE PRESIDENT’S NAMA FORAY WEIRD & WACKY FORAY UPDATES UPCOMING EVENTS MUSHROOM MESSAGE Update Fossil fungi ... pg 10 ... pg 12 Another success- .. pg 4 & 5 Rozites caperata ... pg 7, 9 ful year ... pg 1,3 IDENTIFICATION Bow Valley Foray ... pg 2 EXPO SERIES ... pg 11 Update... pg 8 Stipes ... pg 6 www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter 2006 No. 4 1 those four days in mid-August. We all President’s Message should be very proud of our 2006 Executive accomplishment!!! Special recognition Edmonton Mycological Society goes out to the NAMA Foray Committee (in no particular order): President & Webmaster: Martin Osis, Melanie Fjoser, Alan Markus Thormann Fleming, Loretta Puckrin, Bill (780) 432-1392 Richards, and Jerry Fochler. You all [email protected] did a superb job! I will post some images from the foray on our web site Past President: in the near future…stay tuned. Vacant Let’s not forget about the “City of Champignons” Mushroom Exposition 1st Vice President: Mike Schulz at the Devonian Botanic Garden on (780) 939-2106 July 30. Despite some below average [email protected] weather (cool and rainy all day – thank Treasurer: Loretta Puckrin you, George, for your jacket), we (780) 458-9889 attracted about 300 visitors to our [email protected] exposition. Our many volunteers answered many questions about edible, Secretary: Melanie Fjoser poisonous, and medicinal mushrooms, (780) 987-4412 entertained them with mushroom slide [email protected] shows, sold memberships, mushrooms products, books, and other educational Membership: Alan Fleming materials, and cooked diverse (780) 463-8540 mushroom dishes. A propos mushroom [email protected] Markus Thormann, president of the dishes, a very special thank-you goes Edmonton Mycological Society out to Judy and her mushroom kitchen Foray Coordinator: Bill Richards staff! Once again, you provided us with (780) 998-3507 Wow…what a foray last a diverse selection of delicious [email protected] month!!! The North American mushrooms delicacies. The soup was Mycological Society and The superb, as were the sautéed Program Director: Martin Osis Edmonton Mycological Society co- mushrooms on buns. You have run the (780) 987-4412 hosted THE foray of the century in Exposition kitchen for many, many [email protected] Alberta out of the Forestry Training years, spent a lot of your time, effort, and money preparing mushroom dishes Communications Coordinator: Centre in Hinton. About 140 Robert Simpson professional and amateur mycologists in advance, doing the final preparations at the Exposition, and (780) 481-7905/ Wk: (780) 420-6850 converged on Hinton to scour the [email protected] surrounding foothills for fungi. In all, finally serving these delectable dishes to our guests and volunteers. Thank we identified and accessioned almost Newsletter Editor: Geri Kolacz you Judy et al., we truly appreciate 300 different species of fungi and (780) 475-7927 your contribution to the EMS!!! identified an additional 200 or so to [email protected] genus or not at all. The accessioned Another mushroom season is Mailing: Diane Murray specimens will go to the Field beginning to wind down. We have but Museum in Chicago and serve as one more month to go before fall is Directors-at-large: permanent records of our efforts here upon us and another successful year Pieter Van Der Schoot in Alberta. While only a snapshot in comes to an end. The last official event (780) 696-2436 time, this foray was unique in that it of the year will be the President’s Robert Rogers provides us with an immense view of Dinner in early November. I am (780) 433-7882 the fungal species richness and some beginning to think about this event David Rowe of the roles of these organisms in our and will provide you with more details (780) 469-7187 George Litven foothill forests. We will now prepare in the weeks to come. Last year’s (780) 476-7912 a report about the foray for the dinner took place at Sorrentino’s

Foothills Model Forest, who provided South and was a lot of fun. Since ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ us with a grant of $7,500.00 towards attendance will be limited again, make MAILING ADDRESS: sure to register as soon as I provide producing a set of educational DVDs. Edmonton Mycological Society These will be available to you for a you with the details. I will try to keep 1921, 10405 Jasper Avenue small cost within a couple of months. costs below $40/person. Standard Life Building A huge thank-you goes out to all of With that in mind, I hope you Edmonton, AB T5J 3S2 you who spent countless hours over had an enjoyable ‘shrooming season. WEBSITE ADDRESS: the past year organizing this event Cheers to you all, Markus www.wildmushrooms.ws and then making it all happen in

2 Winter 2006 No.4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Rozites caperata That is, enough to actually have (continued from page 1) a good meal and enjoy the unique flavours of this fungus. They aspects of this mushroom so that were very visible at the NAMA you do not mistake it for a Foray and were featured in one poisonous or non-edible fungus. of the dishes at the Mycophagy. Here in Alberta, they have Ecology made appearances at various This fungus is mycorrhizal sites including some of our EMS with , and foray areas. So put on your bushes in the blueberry family. In favourite hiking boots, grab your Alberta look for mossy, old-growth ‘shrooming kit and head out to coniferous forests. Gypsy The cap of Rozites caperata is wrinkled and has your special places. They are out mushrooms normally grow in radial lines. Photo courtesy: Loretta Puckrin there and not as shy as last year. northern zones throughout the Good luck and good hunting. world. slightly enlarged at the base. Geraldine Kolacz Morphology The base sometimes has a Cap: 5-15 cm (2-6”) wide. faint volvalike zone and the Oval expanding to convex, broadly apex is often striated or knobbed, wrinkled or corrugated scruffy. The veil leaves a radially, silky or silky scale, moist thick white ring at the with superficial hoary coat at first. midsection of the stalk that is movable. There may also be a whitish covering near the base. print: Rusty- brown, spores are 11- 15 x 7-10 microns, elliptical, roughened or warty. Some cystidia (see text and diagram on page 12) present on gill edges. Environment of the gypsy mushroom (above) and Rozites is often a grouping of some found in the Lambert Creek elusive but half of area (below).Photos courtesy: L. Puckrin & G. Notice the gill structure.Photo courtesy: L. Puckrin the fun of Kolacz ‘shrooming is the The colour ranges from a warm hunt. They don’t usually tan to a yellow-brown or orange- appear in groups or large brown with paler margins. The clusters and it generally flesh is thick and white. Because takes a bit of hiking to find of the radial and wrinkled effect enough to make a meal. the Gypsy cap has definite lines on Finding a gypsy mushroom the top. usually leads to a joyous Gills: attached to stem, close. dance. Last year they Begin pale and then turn brown or appeared sporadically in cinnamon brown in colour. The various areas. This year the gills are covered by a conditions appear to be more when young. favourable as we have found groups and singles in quite a Stalk: 5-12 cm (2-5”). Long, firm, few of our favourite sites. solid and whitish that is equal or www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter 2006 No. 4 3 “Rocky Mountain High- Species List for the NAMA Foray NAMA Foray -Hinton elevation Fungi”. She presented a power point cf. bitorquis presentation that included Agaricus silvicola Albatrellus cf. syringae alpine and sub-alpine ostoyae mushrooms. Some of the Auricularia auricula fungi that are located at these levels are smaller myosura Baeospora myriadophylla than a penny. The majority Bisporella citrina of the species are found Bjerkandera adusta doing the “Mushroom pila Crawl”. Our other speaker, Calocera cornea Calocybe cf. ionides Dr. Bryce Kendrick Cantharellopsis prescotii discussed Microscopic and Cantharellula umbonata Macroscopic species. The Catathelasma imperialis Edmonton Mycological Chlorosplenium aerugenascins Society was fortunate to have Bryce speak to our Chrysomyxa ledicola ? club at our general meeting Clavaria rosea that followed the NAMA Clavariadelphis cf. borealis Clavariadelphus ligula Foray. Dr. Walt Sundberg explains some of the intricacies of Clavariadelphus aff. identifying fungi to the beginner’s group at Cache Of course, meeting sachalinensis Clavaridelphus truncatus Percotte. The members of the group were not technically fellow mushroomers from all over North America had Clavulinopsis corniculata beginners, as in newbies, but we sure learned a lot and avellaneialba found some very interesting fungi. Photo courtesy: to be one of the highlights of Clitocybe avellaneialba Robert Rogers the weekend. The majority Clitocybe cerussata of attendees were from the Clitocybe clavipes United States, some as far Clitocybe dilatata The Hinton Forestry Training Clitocybe gigantea Centre was the perfect setting for away as and New York. The Clitocybe maxima the 2006 North American majority of the states were well Clitocybe odora Mycological Association’s Foray. A represented. Having a chance to talk Clitodybe clavipis to people about the types of fungi in familia huge thank you to Martin Osis and Melanie Fjoser and their NAMA their areas and the environments that Coprinus atramentarius committee for all their hard work. they grow in was a great learning Coprinus comatus In particular a huge thank you to experience and a lot of fun. Coprinus micaceus And then there was Mycophagy. Cortinarius cf. anserinus Alan Fleming and his drivers who Cortinarius cf. betulinus had to distribute over 140 people to When I read my conference program Cortinarius brunneus and from 18 different foray sites and saw: 4:30-5:30: Mycophagy Cortinarius cf. camphoratus over a period of four days with no Ursula Pohl - I was more than a Cortinarius croceus little curious. When we went into the Cortinarius cf. elegantior one getting lost! Cortinarius illibatus group The weather cooperated for the gymnasium to put our specimen out Cortinarius cf. limonius most part and the diversity of sites, for labelling, there was a table Cortinarius semisanguinius ranging from swamps to 45 degree marked “Mycophagy” Curiouser and Cortinarius sp. - multiformis group curiouser. Oh Well!!! who has time for moss-covered slopes in forests, were enjoyed by all. Those who did not mysteries, there are mushrooms to go on forays enjoyed a good variety find and mountains to climb. At four- of speakers and workshops and thirty I found out what mycophagy Cortinarius cf. vibratilis was all about-- FOOD. Yes, we applanatus some finished off their day with a Crepidotus calolepis dip at the Miette Hot Springs. enjoyed about ten different, delicious Crepidotus ellipsoideus Our lunches and dinners were and interesting dishes containing Cudonia cf. circinans sumptuous and we were treated to , edules, shaggy Cudonia monticola manes, Rozites and others. Cystoderma amianthinum some excellent speakers -- Dr. Cathy Cystoderma granulosum Cripps, our chief mycologist for the All-in-all a fantastic time was Dacrymyces palmatus event, gave us an inspiring talk on had by all. Daedaleopsis confragosa

4 Winter 2006 No.4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Exobasidium cf. vaccinii scrobiculatus Ramaria caulifloriformis Flammulina velutipes var. torminosus ? Ramaria concolor Floccularia fusca Lactarius uvidus Ramaria gelantiniaurantia var. Fomitopsis cajanderi Laxitextum bicolor gelantiniaurantia Leccinum boreale Ramaria leptoformosa ? Fuligo septica Leccinum insigne Ramaria rubripermanens hypnorum Leccinum cf. insolens var. Ramaria sandaracina var. sandaracina applanatum brunneo-maculatum Ramaria sp. fimbriatum Leccinum scabrum ? Ramaria sp. (subgenus Lentoramaria) Geastrum quadrifidus Lentinellus omphalodes Ramaria suecica cf. cortinarius Ramaria testaceoflava Geastrum triplex Ramariopsis kunzii Geopyxis cf. carbonaria Lepiota felina Rhodocollybia maculata Gloeophyllum odoratum Lepiota sp. - clypeolaria group Rozites caperata Gloeophyllum sepiarium Lepista irina complex aurea Gomphidius glutinosa Lepista nuda Russula brevipes clavatus Leptonia sp. - asprella- gracilipes complex Russula cascadensis ? penetrans ? giganteus Russula crassotunicata Gymnopilus penetrans Lycogala epidendrum Russula decolorans confluens Lycoperdon perlatum Russula delica Gyromitra infula Lycoperdon pyriforme Russula cf. foetens Hebeloma cf. crustuliniforme Lyophyllum decastes Russula gracilis Hebeloma sinapizans Lyophyllum fumosum Russula grisea elastica cognata Russula cf. integra Helvella lacunosa Melanoleuca melaleuca ? Russula lutea Hericium coralloides acicula Russula subfoetens Hericium ramosum Hydnellum caeruleum Mycena amabilissima Sarcodon calvatum var. odoratum ? Hydnellum suaveolens Sarcodon scabrosus Hydnum repandum Mycena cf. greiseiconica Scutellinia scutellata Hydnum umbilicatum Spathularia flavida Hygophorus cf. piceae Spathularia velutipes Hygrocybe acutoconica Mycena pura Sphaeronamella helvellae Hygrocybe conicus Mycena rorida Spongipellis spumeus chrysodon ericetorum Stropharia alcis Onnia tomentosus Hygrophorus hypothejus Otidea auricula Suillus cf. brevipes var. subgracilis Hygrophorus odoratus Otidea smithii Suillus flavidus Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus Panaeolus semiovatus Hygrophorus piceae Panaeolus solidipes Suillus grevillii Paneolus campanulatus Suillus laricinus Peziza arvernensis Suillus tomentosus Hypholoma capnoides Peziza repanda Suillus umbonatus Hypholoma fasciculare Phacidium sp. Syzygospora sp. Hypholoma sublateritium pini caryophyllea Hypomyces lateritius on Phellinus tremulae Thicholomopsis decora Hypomyces ochiaceus on Russula sp. Phlogiotis helvelloides Trametes pubescens Hypomyces sp. Pholiota destruens Trametes suaveolens Hypsizygus tessulatus Pholiota flavida Trichaptum abietinum geophylla Pholiota cf. spumosa Trichaptum subchartaceum Inocybe lanuginosa Pholiota squarrosa cf. atrosquamosum Inocybe cf. sororia Phragmidium sp. - poss. Rusa acicularis Tricholoma caligata Inocybe sp. rimosa group nidulans Tricholoma flavovirens Inocybe splendens var.splendens Pluteus cervinus Tricholoma focale Inocybe cf. terrigina Pluteus flavofuligineus Tricholoma cf. inamoenum Inonotus tomentosus Pluteus leoninus Tricholoma myomyces Pluteus lutescens Tricholoma platyphylla Laccaria bicolor Pluteus luteus Tricholoma saponaceum Laccaria laccata Pluteus cf. pellitus Tricholoma sulphurescens Laccaria pumila Pluteus petasatus Tricholoma sulphureum Lactarius aff. affinis var. affinis ? Pluteus romellii Lactarius affinis var. varidilactis Pluteus sp. nov. Lactarius deterrimus Polyporus badius Tricholoma virgatum Lactarius glyciosmus Polyporus cf. elegans Tricholomopsis decora Lactarius cf. kauffmanii Polyporus varius Tricholomopsis rutilans Lactarius repraesentaneus Psathyrella multipedata ? Tyromyces chioneus Lactarius resimus Psathyrella velutina campanella Lactarius rufus Ramaria abietina Xeromphalina cauticinalis www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter 2006 No. 4 5 Some mushroom varieties grow in clumps, like this example of the hedgehog. Mushroom Stalks This ‘clumping’ is also -or Stipes as we are told true of Honey they should be called. mushrooms. This does not mean that a viable example of When looking at fungi we often The straight with a concentrate so much on the cap and either of these lighter colour above the cannot grow by itself. the gill structure that we forget all delicate veil remnant is about the stem (or stipe). It just typical of Rozites. holds up the mushroom to make it easier for us to find, doesn’t it? Most indicators will be a has an easily movable, and When you start looking at the combination of all these removable, portion of the veil on the variations in the stipe you begin to characteristics. stipe. understand that there is as much Take our Leccinum boreale. We are used to the Boletus information for identifying your The stipe is thick, solid, slightly species having solid stems. There are, species in the stripe as in the other fibrous and has a fine netting of scales however, some Suillus species that pars of the mushroom. Be aware on the outside. The stipe will change have hollow stems – a cross section that “Mushrooms of Western colour when cut. No strong odour is would resemble a ring - hence the Canada” (which many EMS noticeable (except of course the of one species being members call ‘Leni’s book’) calls this wonderful mushroom smell). One ‘hollow-foot’. part of the mushroom the ‘stalk.’ book description is “white, grooved at Russula species have a great Most books will show you the top, coarse black ornamentation, range in cap colours but the stipe is various shapes of the stipe, which massive; narrower at the top and the consistent. One of the identifying are basically outlines of the shape. base, up to 10cm tall and 3cm wide at characteristics is that the stipe, when Others will also show you the way the top” Would you recognise the ‘Red broken across the width, has a sound the stipe attaches to the cap of the Top” species you pick by this reminiscent of a piece of chalk mushroom. Both of these are description or have you mostly breaking. valuable bits of information but the stopped at the cap and gill structure? The local Honey Mushrooms reality of mushrooms is that they The one point of ‘coarse black have two common edible types, which seldom match the exact graphic ornamentation’ is what will help you are mostly differentiated by the size representations. Be aware of pick out this particular mushroom and formation of their stipe. The variances, even within the same from its close cousins. earlier variety has a more slender picking site, and use that The Cortinarius species often stalk, while the later variety is thick, information as an indication rather have thin wisps of fibre, left over from approaching the size and shape of a than a definitive characteristic. the detaching of the veil, on the stipe. Leccinum stipe. If you laid the two The stipe is so much more than This is used as a major indicator of stalks together, minus the caps, you its overall shape and attachment. this group of mushrooms. could still tell the difference due to There is colour, staining, odour, The Gypsy (see main article) the outside colour and the inside texture and substance as consistency. The Honey well. Mushroom stipe has almost a cotton candy consistency and is easier to tear longitudinally, while the Leccinum is much more solid. The next time you are trying to identify a species of The stipe of the honey mushroom is fungi, remember to look at A mushroom can have a easy to shred. Even when trying to the outside, cut a cross- completely solid, partially break it across the radius, there section, try breaking, solid or completely will be splintering or a ragged tearing, smelling and By cutting a cross-section you hollow stipe - and then break unlike the Russula, which rubbing the stipe. The can easily see the inside colour, everything in between. breaks more cleanly. You can also resulting information will be texture, and attachment Again a cross section, this see the woolly texture on the inside valuable in your characteristics. time horizontally, shows of the stipe and the bright white identification process. Photos courtesy: Loretta Puckrin the difference clearly. colour. Loretta Puckrin

6 Winter 2006 No.4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Weird and wacky fungi – Precambrian Park: Fossil Fungi So, how old are fungi found in , e.g., in anyway? Good question, let’s go Oligocene (34-24 mya) and back in time. Many of you will (146-65 mya) have seen the Park from northern France. Fossils movies, with dinosaurs being the have been found from each of dominant force on Earth. These the four divisions of fungi. dinosaurs lived in the , Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, i.e., from about 250 to 65 million Zygomycetes years ago (mya), and many of The fossil records of them foraged on the lush plant life zygomyetes are restricted to that was abundant at that time. arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, What many people forget is that since they grow predominantly in most of these plants are there the roots of plants and preserve because of fungi. Colonization of much better than other free-living terra nova by the first land plants zygomycetes. The earliest record of is believed to have happened in the an AM fungus came from a 460 period, between 550 million year old Ordovician fungus and 440 mya. These plants were found in Wisconsin. The fossilized related to today’s liverworts, fungal hyphae (Fig. 2, hyphae in mosses, and hornworts, i.e., they roots of a plant) and spores of that were small, generally grew in specimen strongly resembled moist areas, and lacked a number modern AM fungi, in particular of characteristics common to members of the Glomales. Similar today’s flowering plants. At the fossilized fungi have been found in time, terrestrial environments many of the well-preserved Scottish were harsh terrains, poor in Rhynie chert plants, though to date nutrients, and prone to the only AM fungus formally desiccation. Consequently, most Chytridiomycetes described has been those found in plants would have had a very These tiny, predominantly the outer cortex of stems of difficult time surviving these aquatic fungi are the oldest fungi and Aglaophyton major (a fossil plant); conditions. We know that certain naturally have the earliest fossil it was named Glomites rhyniensis. fungi assisted plants with the records. Their fossil remains have colonization of land (more below). been found in the Vendian strata Ascomycetes We’re now closer to the origin of (Late Precambrian, 650 to 544 mya) The earliest unequivocal fossil fungi, but we still have to go back of northern Russia, and much more ascomycetes have been described a few more years. So, let’s take abundantly in the more recent from the Rhynie chert (Taylor et al. this journey and discover when Rhynie chert in Scotland (about 400 1999). The fruiting bodies of these fungi likely first appeared and how mya; Taylor et al. 1992). Most fossil fungi have been found just below they have evolved over time. chytrids resemble representatives the epidermis of partially decayed Some general background from two extant (meaning they are stems, rhizomes (below ground first. Fossil fungi tend to be alive today) orders, the stems), and microphylls (tiny microscopic and not always found Blastocladiales and the leaves) of the fossil lycophyte with their reproductive structures Spizellomycetales. These orders Asteroxylon mackiei (related to attached. Therefore, positive consist of of organic today’s club mosses, e.g., identification is often extremely matter and plant parasites (Fig. 1, Lycopodium). The fossil history of difficult. They are not especially the chytrid [top] has colonized the the ascomycetes is still poorly rare as fossils, and the best seed of a plant [bottom]). understood because of the imperfect preserved examples are generally (Weird and Wacky ...continued on page 9) www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter 2006 No. 4 7 Devonian Exposition Update Species List for the Devonian Exposition Agaricus spp. Leccinum insigne Agaricus silvicola Leccinum snellii Agaricus crocodilinus Leptonia spp. vaginata Leucopaxillus piceinus Clavicorona pyxidata Lycoperdon perlatum Clitocybe gibba Lyophyllum decastes Clitocybe geotropa oreades Clitocybe spp. Nectria cinnabarina Cortinarius alboviolaceus Nidula candida Cortinarius spp. Cortinarius trivialis Phellinus tremulae Crepidotus ellipsioides Pholiota squarrosa Cystoderma cinnabarina Piptoporus betulinus Cystoderma amiantinum ostreatus Another very successful “City of Champignons” fomentarius Pluteus cervinus Exposition was held at the Devonian Gardens. With the Fomitopsis subroseus Polyporus badius warm weather, lack of rain and scarcity of fungi, we Fomitopsis cajanderi Polyporus umbellatus were all a bit concerned about the quantities and Fomitopsis pinicola Pseudohydnum gelatinosum qualities of the fungi on display. Thanks to the Rozites caperata Geastrum triplex foragers, the public had plenty to explore. With Russula subfoetans Gloeophyllum sepiarium Russula aurigena Melanie’s leadership and a lot of hard work from EMS Russula spp. volunteers, the Expo was a huge success. Russula decolorans Everyone braved the rain and the cold and Hericium ramosum Russula chamaeleontina enjoyed the warm atmosphere at the Pavilion. Hydnellum peckii Spathularia flavida Visitors learned about fungal identification by looking Hydnum repandum Stereum spp. at the fungi and seeing the spores at microscopic levels. Hygrophorus erubescens Syzygospora mycetophila They also had a chance to learn by watching a Hypomyces luteo-virens Trametes sp. Hypsizygus marmoreus presentation by Martin Osis and checked out other Trichaptum abatinum Inocybe sororia Trichaptum biformis display tables that included preserves, books, posters Inonotus obliquus Tricholoma virgatum and other items pertaining to fungi. When it was time Tricholoma calagatum for a break from all the learning, there was Judy and Lactarius rufus Tricholoma saponaceum company (photo bottom, far right) cooking up a storm Leccinum boreale with their mushroom soup and mushrooms on buns. Leccinum fibrilosum The volunteers enjoyed a special treat -- mushroom burgers. Our efforts were rewarded as we gained quite a few new members, approximately a dozen to date. By sharing our knowledge we are helping the general public understand the role fungi play in our environment and the role they play in health matters as well. A huge thank you goes out to our hosts at the Devonian Botanic Gardens. Thanks for asking us back again this year, for allowing us to use your beautiful facilities (the Pine Pavilion), and for your advertising and encouragement.

Photos courtesy: Henry Kolacz

8 Winter 2006 No.4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Weird and Wacky mya) and (24-5 mya) This one was a smut (a parasite), (continued from page 7) periods. The fruiting bodies of which had colonized the leggetti (Fig. 4) reproductive structures of a from mid-Cretaceous amber of New flowering plant. In fact, our co- Jersey resemble the extant genera founder and life member Randy Marasmius and Currah is in an elite group of (Hibbett et al. 1997). Its spores are mycologists worldwide to have smooth and broadly elliptic with a examined fossil fungi. distinct hilar appendage (a tiny So, from an evolutionary basal “knob” on the spore). perspective, chytrids are the oldest Protomycena electra, similar to the fungi, followed by zygomycetes, extant genus Mycena, is represented ascomycetes, and finally our by a single, complete fruiting body youngest fungi, the basidiomycetes. from Miocene amber of the Fungi are older than any land plant Dominican Republic. Based on and most likely facilitated the comparison to extant Marasmius expansion of aquatic plants onto and Mycena species, the two fossil land some 500 mya. Comparatively, fungi were likely decomposers of the fossil record of fungi is quite leaf litter or wood debris. spotty and rather small compared We don’t have to go overseas to that of plants and animals, but though to find fossil fungi. Fossil in time, many of the gaps will be ectomycorrhizal fungi were found filled, and we will gain a better recently among plant remains in understanding of the origin and the middle Eocene (55-34 mya) history of this remarkable Kingdom nature of the fossil record. Essential Princeton chert in B.C. The fungi of Fungi. characters are only rarely preserved. were associated with roots of pine Photo courtesy: Markus Thormann The special significance of the trees, and although no fruiting Literature cited Rhynie chert is that structures are bodies were found, their morphological characteristics and Currah, R.S. & R.A. Stockey. 1991. A preserved in great detail. For fossil smut fungus from the the identity of the host suggest that example, the Rhynie chert anthers of an Eocene angiosperm. they were closely related to ascomycetes contain characters of Nature 350: 698-699. the sexual stage of the fungus (e.g., Rhizopogon and/or Suillus (LePage Hibbett, D. S., Grimaldi & M.J. perithecium [Fig. 3, the sexual et al. 1997). In that same chert, Donoghue. 1997. Fossil reproductive structure], asci, and Currah and Stockey (1991) found evidence of another basidiomcyete. mushrooms from Miocene and ascospores), which are Cretaceous ambers and the morphologically identical evolution of to those found in modern Homobasidiomycetes. Amer. J. pyrenomycetes (a general Bot. 84: 981-991. term given to small ascomycetes with flask- LePage, B.A., Currah, R.S., Stockey, R.A. & G.W. Rothwell. 1997. shaped reproductive Fossil ectomycorrhizae from the structures). This discovery middle Eocene. Amer. J. Bot. 84: has had significant 410-412. implications for dating the origin of this group of Taylor, T.N., Hass, H. & H. Kerp. fungi. 1999. The oldest fossil ascomycetes. Nature 399: 648. Basidiomycetes Taylor, T.N., Remy, W. & H. Hass. Two fossil fungi 1992. Fungi from the Lower similar to extant Devonian Rhynie chert: have Chytridiomycetes. Amer. J. Bot. been found in amber from 79:1233-1241. the Cretaceous (146-65 Markus Thormann www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter 2006 No. 4 9 Foray Updates July 08-09 2006, Ashland Dam and adjacent property species list

Agaricus silvicola Amanita vaginata Bisporella citrina Boletus zelleri Clavaria pyxidata Collybia dryophila Coprinus comatus Cortinarius aurantioturbinatus Cortinarius sp. Crepidotus mollis Dacrymyces palmatus Fomitopsis cajanderi Fomitopsis pinicola Galerina sp. The members of the first foray of the 2006 year for the Edmonton Ganoderma applanatum Mycological Society as they gather for the Morel Hunt.Photo courtesy: Alan Geastrum quadrifidum Fleming Gloeophyllum sepiarium Gomphus clavatus The Edmonton Mycological success as can be seen by the Hericium ramosum Society has had a number of forays species list for Ashland Dam (side- Hydnellum caeruleum this year, some forays were well bar). Lactarius rufus attended and some forays The NAMA foray, the Bow Leccinum boreale Valley Foray and the Devonian Lenzites betulina witnessed the few and hardy. The Leucopaxillus giganteus Rannach Grazing Reserve Foray Exposition are featured elsewhere Leucopaxillus piceinus (picture above) was a lot of fun but in this issue. Lycogala epidendrum the fungi did not cooperate. There Still to come is the final foray Melanoleuca cognata were a couple of forays in the river for this season at Lambert Creek Peziza repanda valley and at one of them, the (by the time you receive this issue, Phellinus igniarius Pioneer Cabin Foray, an interesting that too will have past and hopefully Phellinus pini Phellinus tremulae fungus was found. A Grifola many made it and had great Pholiota sp. umbellata was growing on a piece success). Phyllotopsis nidulans of ginger. Who would have thought Species List for the Edmonton Piptoporus betulinus we grew pieces of ginger in Edmonton!!! River Valley Foray Pleuteus lutescens The Poplar Creek and Agaricus silvicola Pluteus cervinus Ashland Dam weekends were well Agaricus sp. Pluteus patricius attended and there was a degree of Clitocybe sp. Polyporus varius Coprinus atramentarius Psathyrella sp. Fomes fomentarius Russula aeruginea Russula brevipes Gandoderma applanatum Grifola umbellata Russula sp. Hebeloma crustuliniforme Russula xerampelina Inocybe eutheles Scutellinia scutellata axifera Pholiota spumosa Pluteus cervinus Stereum hirsutum Stereum purpureum Polyporus badius Trametes elegans Russula subfoetens Trametes hirsuta Stereum sp. Trichaptum abietinum Grifola umbellata growing on a piece of Trametes hirsuta Trichaptum biforme ginger.Photo courtesy: Geraldine Kolacz Trametes versicolor Tricholoma populinum

10 Winter 2006 No.4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Rozites caperata Bow Valley Foray Update R. caperatus Cortinarius caperatus (THE GYPSY) Rozites is named after the 19th century French mycologist Ernest Roze. Caperata means wrinkled. The Gypsy is widespread and common throughout our woods, found singly or in groups on the ground. It is one of my favourite edibles, with a pleasant odour, and minty flavour. It contains the amino acid, S-2- amino ethyl-4-cysteine. The fungi contains anti- carcinogenic substances, with inhibition rates against both sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma A dozen or so EMS members Members participated in two of 70%. from the Edmonton area interesting hikes on their forays – travelled south to attend a foray one in the Grotto Canyon (no New anti-viral in Bow Valley Provincial Park on species here) and another along A new anti-viral, RC-183, has the July 22nd weekend. Seven the Heart Creek Trail (some been found to show in vitro activity members from Calgary were specimens of both mushrooms against the herpes simplex I and II, happy to commute daily to the and wild berries). as well as varicella zoster virus, foray site, to join them in events Daily group picnics, influenza A virus and the in their own backyard. involving a sharing of food items, respiratory syncytial virus. Drs. Temperatures were hot and added to the enjoyment of the Pirano and Brandt at the the ground dry, and mushroom weekend. University of Wisconsin- Madison diversity was inevitably affected The success of the foray can Medical School reported this by these conditions. However, be attributed to the ability of the discovery in Anti-Viral Research, some species were found, organizers to be flexible in 1999 43:2. adequate to prepare an organizing the program to match An anti-viral drug RC28, based impressive fungal exhibit for present conditions, as well as to on a protein molecular weight of 28 kD has been shown active people who came to the Visitor the ability of members to simply against a number of enveloped Centre of the park on Sunday have a good time together, viruses. As well as those viruses afternoon. sharing common as well as cited above, activity against One very unusual specimen diverse interests. Cytomegalovirus has been noted. appeared in the exhibit – a We in Calgary, appreciate the It is not active against non- ( efforts of the Foray leaders to enveloped viruses such as Coxsackie cibarius) - much to the surprise of plan a weekend within easy and strains of ECHO viruses. Work many members who claimed that driving distance for Calgary is ongoing. Frank Pirano et al, Int this particular mushroom did not members and look forward to any J Med Mush 2005 7:3. grow in the southern region of future EMS forays in this region. The related R. gonglylophora the province. The mystery was In the meantime, we will try to is cultivated in Brazil by leafcutting solved when it was learned that it get together as an informal group ants that eat the mycelical hyphae. had in fact been brought in by a to pursue our common interest. - The Fungal Pharmacy member who had been on a foray Medicinal Mushrooms a few days earlier (in the of Western Canada St. Catharine’s area of Ontario). Ethel Luhtanen by Robert Rogers www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter 2006 No. 4 11 Please Join Us!! All forays are undertaken at your own risk. You are responsible for transpor- EMS Calendar of Events for 2006 tation and accommodation. September Sorrentino’s Mushroom Walk Foothills Campout and Foray Mushroom: Honey Mushrooms, 9/10 Hedgehogs and and Dinner, September 10, 2006 Location: Lambert Creek Area In the afternoon of September 10, 42 mushroom-lovers met under a sunny sky at Sorrentino’s West to participate in this year’s Mushroom Walk & Dinner. Under the leadership of Meeting: Honey mushrooms - the Martin Osis, we embarked on a 2 1/2 –hr. walk through nearby multiple faces of Armillaria by Markus city parks and neighborhoods and picked any and all 27 Thormann mushrooms we could find. Along with the identities of each mushroom, Martin, Melanie, and Markus introduced everyone October to the diversity and many unusual characters of the world of fungi. Shortly before 6 p.m., we returned to the restaurant and Meeting: Scary and nasty mushrooms enjoyed a scrumptious meal. A forest mushroom soup wetted 25 by Martin Osis our appetites and was followed by one of three entrees (gnocchi, Photo Contest Recap penne, or risotto, each with various wild and cultivated mushrooms) and a delicious tiramisu for dessert. All participants had a lot of fun and enjoyed themselves. This was November the second year we participated in Sorrentino’s Mushroom President’s Dinner Species List TBA Watch for details. This is an Crepidotus sp. excellent way to wind up the year and, of Hebeloma crustuliniforme course, find out who the winners of the Agaricus sp. Lactarius deliciosus Armillaria mellea group Photo Contest are as well as enjoy good Lactarius sp. Bovista sp. Lepista sp. food and good company. Collybia sp. Lycoperdon perlatum Coprinus atramentarius Marasmius oreades The Annual General Meeting of the Coprinus comatus Suillus grevellii Coprinus quadrifidus Trametes pubescens EMS will be in February 2007 Cortinarius sp. Tricholoma flavovirens

Image of Panaeolus semiovatus from Joseph Henri Léveillé (1837) Sur le Cystidia are special “sterile” cells that are found on des champignons in Annales des Sciences Naturelles. Botanique the gills and other parts of some mushrooms. There are many shapes and sizes of cystidia. Because of this characteristic, a cell can be very useful in fungal identification. Cystidia cells do not produce spores but are located with the basidia, which are the spore producing21 structures. The cystidia are larger and when seen under a microscope their shapes are very distinct. To the right is a diagram of cystidia and basidia.

Last two meetings for 2006 are September 27 and October 25 Time: 7:00 pm Location: Riverbend Library

12 Winter 2006 No.4 www.wildmushrooms.ws