SPOR E PR I N TS BULLETIN OF THE PUGET SOUND MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY Number 503 June 2014 WOULD A ROSY GOMPHIDIUS BY ANY OTHER NAME SMELL AS SWEET? Rebellion against dual-naming system gains Many fungi are shape-shifters seemingly designed momentum but still faces a few hurdles to defy human efforts at categorization. The same species, sometimes the same individual, can reproduce by Susan Milius two ways: sexually, by mixing genes with a partner of Science News April 18, 2014 the same species, or asexually, by cloning to produce To a visitor walking down, down, down the white genetically identical offspring. cinder block stairwell and through metal doors into the The problem is that reproductive modes can take basement, Building 010A takes on the hushed, mile- entirely different anatomical forms. A species that long-beige-corridor feel of some secret government looks like a miniature corn dog when it is reproducing installation in a blockbuster movie. sexually might look like fuzzy white twigs when it is in Biologist Shannon Dominick wears a striped sweater cloning mode. A gray smudge on a sunflower seed head as she strolls through this Fort Knox of fungus, merrily might just be the asexually reproducing counterpart of discussing certain specimens in the vaults that are a tiny satellite dish-shaped thing. commonly called “dog vomit fungi.” When many of these pairs were discovered, sometimes This basement on the campus of the Agricultural decades apart, sometimes growing right next to each Research Service in Beltsville, Md., holds the second other, it was difficult or impossible to demonstrate that largest fungus collection in the world, with at least one they were the same thing. So one species would get million specimens stored in high banks of institutional- two names. Careful observation later suggested that beige metal cabinets. The organisms can glow in the officially different species are actually one, but the pairs dark, turn living ants into leaf-biting zombies, fetch of names remained. In fact, it soon became standard thousands of dollars per pound at gourmet food shops mycological practice to name many species twice – or snarl international commodities markets. once for the sexual form, once for the asexual one. “Zoologists,” says mycologist David Hawksworth of It may look like the ultimate triumph of human order Universidad Complutense de Madrid, “throw up their over natural chaos. But looks can be deceiving. hands in horror.” For animals, one name covers the Shape-shifting fungi caterpillar and the butterfly it becomes. Botanists don’t just go naming a big tuft of fern fronds one thing and Long before DNA analysis, the sharp-eyed brothers its separate, little green gametophyte another. Charles and Louis René Tulasne realized that the same fungal species can take different forms. In 1861 Yet until recently, mycologists had no choice. They the brothers published drawings of a powdery mildew knew full well that Aspergillus flavus, the powdery fuzz fungus that sometimes forms clusters of dark, spiked that taints peanuts with carcinogenic aflatoxin, is the orbs or microforests of spore-bearing hairs, now exact same species as Petromyces flavus. They knew known to be sexual and asexual forms. At the time, the that Cordyceps takaomontana is also Isaria tenuipes. Tulasnes labeled both forms Erysiphe guttata. But faced with such a dizzying array of shape-shifters, cont. on page 4 Cookbooks reflect the times we live in, Seattle University, PSMS join hands and mushroom recipes prove it to honor Hildegard Hendrickson Jo Henderson A tree dedication and Union Green is just on the There is no question that the mycologist and plaque unveiling will west side of the universi- mycophagist are a special breed. We are foragers to honor long-time PSMS ty’s St. Ignatius Chapel, be sure, but we specialize in foraging for what can be member Hildegard Hen- and accommodates autos. the most elusive of forest and field production – the drickson, who disappeared Street parking on 12th is fungi. For some of us, it replaces the Easter egg hunt while hunting mushrooms nearby. last June. of our youth. For others, it is species identification of If you would like to help a particular type and the thrill of perhaps discovering The 1 p.m. ceremony will PSMS offset the cost of something new. But for most of us, it is the pleasure take place at Seattle Uni- the tree and plaque, checks of consuming something delicious pulled from the versity’s Union Green on may be sent to PSMS with see RECIPES on page 7 Sunday June 8. "HH" written on them. MEMBERSHIP MEETING Spore Prints Michael Beug is Professor Emeritus of The Evergreen is published monthly, September through June by the State College in Olympia where he taught chemistry, mycology and organic farming for 32 years. At our June 10 PUGET SOUND MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY membership meeting he will speak on the topic, “For the Center for Urban Horticulture, Box 354115 Love of Ascomycetes: Morels, Truffles and More.” University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 (206) 522-6031 http://www.psms.org His first book, Ascomycete Fungi of North America, with OFFICERS: Marian Maxwell, President2012–2015 co-authors Alan and Arleen Bessette, was published in [email protected] (425) 235-8557 March 2014 by the University of Texas Press. The book DanielWinkler, Vice President2014–2016 covers over 600 species and contains 843 color photographs. [email protected] (425)-822-5080 John Goldman, Treasurer2014–2016 [email protected] (206) 933-0838 He is a member of the North American Mycological Denise Banaszewski, Secretary2013–2015 Association (NAMA) where he serves as Editor of the Journal McIlvainea, Chair of the Toxicology TRUSTEES: 2014–2016: Larry Lee,, Danny Miller, Donna Committee, and member of the Education Committee. Naruo, Jeff Stallman Michael was winner of the 2006 NAMA Award for 2013–2015: Contributions to Amateur Mycology. Michael is currently Luise Asif, Teddy Basladynski, Vice President and has served four terms as President of Jon Hall, Andrea Rose, The Pacific Northwest Key Council, a group dedicated Reba Tam to writing macroscopic keys for the identification of ALTERNATE: Shannon Adams, Michael Hilliard fungi. His specialties are the genus Ramaria, all toxic and hallucinogenic mushrooms, and Ascomycetes. He regularly SCI. ADVISOR: Dr. Steve Trudell writes about mushrooms in McIlvainea, The Mycophile, EDITOR: Agnes A. Sieger, 271 Harmony Lane, Fungi, and Mushroom: The Journal of Wild Mushrooming. Port Angeles, WA 98362 He is a contributing editor of Fungi magazine. He is co- [email protected] author of MatchMaker (with Ian Gibson), a free mushroom Annual dues: single or family $30; full-time students $20 identification program covering 4,092 taxa with over 5,000 images of 1,984 illustrated taxa. * MAY 10 FIELD TRIP REPORT Brian S. Luther What happens when you get 74 people who sign in on a field others out, in several different directions. Even so, edible trip to a beautiful location in the mountains, with mostly collections were in short supply. Because morels were few warm, sunny weather? Well, everybody has a great time, and far between, we kept count and were up to about 13 that’s for sure. morels for the whole group, according to Julia Benson. Our hosts were Jeff Stallman and Doug U-Ren and they Thirty species were displayed. Besides the scant morels had our favorite spot reserved and a big spread of morning already mentioned, a few Ptychoverpa (Verpa) bohemica munchies with hot coffee all ready early in the morning. were found and one person ran into a very nice fruiting of Doug and others also brought wood and had a campfire prime Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on downed already going. Doug’s powerful generator also allowed us cottonwood. Randy Richardson found a single Boletus to make additional coffee much easier, without having to edulis button in perfect condition, but had to go all the way use the PSMS propane camp stove. Extra special thanks back down to Cle Elum to find it. Interesting finds included Doug and Jeff, you really did it right. one basidiocarp of Chromasera cyanophila (Mycena The exciting member news is that we found out that Rachel lilacifolia) and a small piece of the polypore Bjerkandera Arnold is expecting (in June). Congratulations Rachel and adusta. Jeff Stallman brought me the tiny (1 to 2 mm in Greg! You’re starting an incredible adventure, challenge diameter) bright orange coprophilous (dung inhabiting) and journey in life. ascomycete Cheilymenia stercorea that he found on a “cow pie.” It has tiny excipular hairs that look like eye lashes and Five members volunteered to be Field Trip Guides to lead also has stellate hairs on the lower areas of the ascocarp. cont. on next page BOARD NEWS Denise Banaszewski So far we have 188 people signed up to go to NAMA. who will need to pay an entrance fee), and Sunday will We expect it to fill up so if you want to go, sign up soon! be open to the public. Kim Traverse and Milton Tam We have people coming from many states as well as will be co-chairs. Finally, Michael Beug will speak Belgium, Estonia, Italy and Canada. After a convincing at the June meeting. Michael has a new book out on presentation by Kim Traverse, we will hold a PSMS Fall Ascomycetes, which is beautiful (see review page 6.) Show October 25 and 26. Saturday October 25 will be That’s it, the year is clearly winding down but we will open to PSMS members only (and their invited guests, have a board meeting in June, then again in August. page 2 Ladybug, ladybug, where’d you get all by as much as 40 percent (Nalepa and Weir 2007, Weir and those bloodsucking microscopic fungi? Beakes 1996).