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Home , Crepidotus mollis, Gyromitra gigas, Lentinellus, Melanoleuca cognata

2005 No. 2

The Oyster (Jacq.: Fr.) Kummer Tricholomataceae, , Fungi

It is difficult, if not impossible, to go for a walk anywhere and not see any fungi. One very common and widespread in Alberta is the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. Oyster are edible and a favourite among mushroom collectors. The taste of the oyster mushroom varies from very mild to very strong, sometimes sweet with a hint of anise (licorice). It varies in texture from very soft to very chewy, depending on the Pleurotus ostreatus is easy to spot and excellent as a side or part of a main dish. strain and what time of the year This year has produced some beautiful, large specimens. you pick it. The oyster mushroom has one of the longer life spans of amount the first time and check if water can rid you of the smaller the fleshy mushrooms and can your body reacts adversely to the diners. grow for a period of up to three ; some people are allergic to The common name comes weeks. However, you will find that oyster mushrooms. Like many from the white, shell-like the larger, older specimens get to other fungi, oyster mushrooms appearance of the fruiting bodies, be fairly tough, while the younger serve as food and habitat for many not from the taste. It is pickings are both tender and animals, including fungus gnats, characterized by a white spore delicious. horned fungus beetles, springtails, print, attached to decurrent white As with any wild mushroom, some turtles, white-tailed deer, or yellowish gills, often with an off it is important to eat a small and squirrels. A brief soak in (The oyster... continued on page 3)

FEATURE PRESIDENT’S PAST EVENTS FORAYS DEVONIAN PHOTO WORKSHOP MUSHROOM MESSAGE Jack Pine Alberta Foray EXPOSITION Framing and The Oyster Some things to Grazing Reserve ... pg 6-7 City of Cropping... pg 11 ... pg 1 be thinking about Foray ... pg 4 Champignons while picking ... pg 9 MUSHROOM Recipes Ashland Dam mushrooms. Oyster Foray and Foray and ENVIRONMENTS ... pg 7 & 8 ... pg 2 CALENDAR OF ... pg 12 Roast ... pg 5 Campout EVENTS ... pg 8 ... pg 10 www.wildmushrooms.ws Summer - 2005 No. 2 1 The executive is currently 2005 Executive President’s Message working on the details for the first “Alberta Foray”, to be held in the Edmonton Mycological Society foothills towards the end of the summer (page 6). This is a new President: Markus Thormann (780) 432-1392 event for the Edmonton [email protected] Mycological Society and will greatly increase our visibility in Past President: Peter Arabchuk the province. In addition, our (780) 479-6630 annual “City of Champignons” at [email protected] the Devonian Botanic Garden is fast approaching August 07 (page 1st Vice President: Mike Schulz 9). (780) 930-2102 The annual Canadian [email protected] Botanical Association conference was be held at the University of Membership: Alan Fleming Alberta from June 15-18. Aside (780) 463-8540 from chairing a session of research [email protected] presentations, I presented some of my research data as well. I am Treasurer: Loretta Puckrin currently examining basidiomycete (780) 458-9889 diversity and their roles in [email protected] peatlands. My projects have implications from climate change Secretary: Melanie Fjoser and biodiversity perspectives. (780) 987-4412 While my work is highly technical [email protected] and deals mostly with molds, its Foray Coordinator: Bill Richards Markus Thormann, president of the underlying principles are similar Edmonton Mycological Society (780) 998-3507 to the goals of the Edmonton [email protected] Mycological Society. Rather than The second foray of 2005 has just collecting different fungi on Program Director: Martin Osis come and gone. Our annual spring forays, it is worthwhile to think (780) 987-4412 foray took us to the Jack Pine about the roles of those fungi as [email protected] Grazing Reserve near Wabamun well. Do they decompose organic Lake northwest of Edmonton. As matter? Are they mycorrhizal Newsletter Editor: Geri Kolacz anticipated, there was a great turn- with trees and shrubs? Are they (780) 475-7927 out and both true and false morels pathogenic? These different roles [email protected] were found along with various are crucial to maintain ecosystem other basidiomycetes. Sadly, I was health (yes, pathogens are Communications: Gail Daniluk unable to participate in that foray, important too); however, the (780) 986-4493 because I was away on business diversity of fungi (and their roles) [email protected] and vacation in Germany at that we see today will likely be altered time. While there, I saw very few to some degree during our lifetime mushrooms on my numerous hikes in response to a changing climate. through the central German mixed We may see some previously wood forests. I did come across common species become rare or Directors-at-large: small patches of little brown disappear altogether, while others Pieter Van Der Schoot mushrooms (or “LBMs”), which may expand their current known (780) 696-2436 are notoriously difficult to identify ranges and miraculously appear in Robert Rogers with any degree of certainty, and our favourite foray spots. Hence, (780) 433-7882 some bracket fungi (Fomes and our efforts to document fungal

Fomitopsis spp.), but not much diversity today becomes that much else, despite ample moisture in the more important in the future. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ soil and from above (it rained MAILING ADDRESS: almost every day). The reasons for With that in mind, cheers and this mycological sparseness at that happy ‘shrooming, Markus Edmonton Mycological Society time of year remain a mystery to 1921, 10405 Jasper Avenue me. Standard Life Building Edmonton, AB T5J 3S2

2 Summer - 2005 No. 2 www.wildmushrooms.ws The oyster moist environment, and enjoy the (continued from page 1) harvest. The same log can yield harvests for many years. centre stem, or no stem at all. The Since these mushrooms can semi-circular caps can be up to 20 look different at different times of cm wide and often occur in the year, it is easy to confuse them clusters. with other mushrooms, even In Alberta, oyster mushrooms poisonous ones. One of them is grow abundantly from early June . It also has to August on dead and decaying white spores, but it has serrate aspen (Populus spp.), and (saw-toothed) gill edges. If you sometime birch (Betula spp.), logs look at the basidiospores under and stumps, which they decompose the microscope, they are small and to obtain nutrients. Sometimes amyloid (blue) in Melzer’s reagent they are also found growing on (the active ingredient of which is living trees. In these cases, P. iodine). In addition, the gills ostreatus is parasitic, rather than have many amyloid-staining saprobic, in nature. hyphae in them. Other common Oyster mushrooms are mushrooms that can be confused cultivated in both Japan and The with Pleurotus are spp. This tree stump covered in oyster Netherlands, with over 20,000 They also lack a stem; however, mushrooms was found near St. Paul on tonnes per year sold worldwide by they can easily be distinguished June 7, 2003. Photo: Bill MacLowick the early 1990s. Commercial based on spore colour. Spores of cultivation has to take into Crepidotus spp. are brown, rather consideration that the spores, than white as in Pleurotus spp. that what you have collected really especially in the dense settings of Neither of these two look-alikes are oyster mushrooms. cultivation, are highly allergenic is deadly poisonous; however, they Remember, if in doubt, throw it and can cause severe reactions. should not be eaten. out! If you find an ‘oyster log’ that So, next time you go for a - Markus N. Thormann is portable, the mushroom does walk, keep your eyes open for lend itself to cultivation. Take the oyster mushrooms; however, keep You can also check out some log home, put it in a warm and in mind to be absolutely certain recipies on page 7 & 8.

The young oyster mushrooms clusters are more tender and usually have a The lack of a stipe or stalk and the presence of gills with a nicer flavour. Thay also tend to have less insects. Photo: Loretta Puckrin white spore print are indicators of an oyster mushroom. Photo: Loretta Puckrin www.wildmushrooms.ws Summer - 2005 No. 2 3 Morel Foray at Jackpine Morel Foray Fungi List Collybia sp Fomes fomentarius Grazing Reserve esculenta Gyromitra gigas elata Psathyrella madeodisca Verpa bohemica Verpa conica Xeromphalina campanella

The Mushroom Hunt ended with a pooling of various mushrooms that had been found and an identification session (see the list above showing the various The “Morel Family” of Mushrooms: , Gyromitra gigas, Verp mushrooms that were located). An bohemica, Verpa conica, Morchella elata. Photo: Loretta Puckrin. introduction to the various morels, especially the Gyromitras (a.k.a. very successful. The Verpas were The hotel parking lot at false morels), was of particular not as shy and many soon found Gainford was full of cars and interest to many of us. their way into our baskets and pails. excited Mushroomers. We had rain All in all, a successful foray. and we had sun. The - Geraldine Kolacz Morel season was upon us!!!! The convoy began behind our fearless leader - Martin - and we arrived safely at the Jackpine Grazing Reserve. After some educational points about where to find these elusive but very tasty mushrooms, everyone scattered to try their luck. As the cartoon suggests, the Morchella elata eluded the majority of the foray group, although I understand Ready! Set! Go! After a short session on where to look for the morels, the group scattered in all that some members were direction, eager to find and pick mushrooms. Photo: Gerllinde & Claus Cegielny.

4 Summer - 2005 No. 2 www.wildmushrooms.ws Oyster Foray and Pig Roast The more I wonderful meal. In addition to the attend the EMS samples of mushroom dishes brought forays, the more I by the members, we had a wild understand that a mushroom soup, coleslaw and a club organized freshly roasted pig to round out the foray is not only meal. The evening closed with draws about finding for door prizes. After supper, we mushrooms - it is adjourned to the BBQ area for the about learning to identification and recording of the identify what you species found. Thankfully we have find and seeing members who can identify the what the mushrooms at a decent pace or we mushroom looks would still be there. like ‘in the wild’. See you at the next foray! No matter how - Loretta Puckrin many books you read, or even how Poplar Creek June 18 Foray many mushrooms Fungi List you see in some Agaricus silvaticus The non-polypore table was filled with expected, unusual and tasty one else’s basket, Anellaria semiovata varieties. The oyster mushrooms are on the top centre and the the only way to Baeospora myriadophylla boletes are bottom left. Photo: Loretta Puckrin really appreciate Clavaria pyxidata Coprinus atramentarius the environment Coprinus sp. It Rained. We were soaked. of a specific mushroom is to see it Crepidotus mollis Temperatures Fell. grow. The filling of your basket is a Exidia glandulosa We were cold. bonus when it happens. Fomes fomentarius We explored several different Fomitopsis pinicola Oysters hid. We found other Galerina cf. venenata mushrooms. habitats within Pieter van der Schoot’s woodlot, one of which yielded Ganoderma applanatum No matter what was thrown our Gloeophyllum saepiarium Suillus granulatus, and two species of way, as a group we found ways to Gyromitra esculenta Leccinum (L. insigne and L. snellii, enjoy ourselves. It wasn’t hard. Gyromitra gigas see sidebar for full list of species). Heliocybe sulcata As an educational outing the Later, as a group, we explored a lacunosa oyster foray was a great success. As a portion of the Poplar Creek Natural Hypholoma fasciculare form of entertainment it was Area (NE 17 Twp 48 Rge 5 W5M). It Hypomyces sp. definitely something that bears Leccinum insigne was here that we were lucky enough repeating. Leccinum snellii to actually find some oyster Over thirty people braved the Lentius sp. mushrooms. Lenzites betulina inclement weather to go hunting Once we had done our duty to Marasmius oreades oyster mushrooms. Some of us had the mushrooms, we relaxed to a Marasmius pallidocephalus already found substantial cognata growths this year and Mycena haematopus were very positive about Mycena pura filling our baskets and Myxomphalia maura Peziza repanda freezers. We forgot to tell Phellius ignarius the oyster mushroom Phellinus pini what their role was in Phellinus tremulae this event. Piptoporus betulinus We did have a Pleurotus ostreatus surprise when members Plicaturopsis crispa Pluteus cervinus of the bolete family Pluteus patricius showed up. What was Polyporus badius thought to be a “Red Polyporus brumalis Cap” Leccinum borealis Ramaria abietina was in fact a close cousin. Russula fragilis Now I know how to tell Russula sp. Schizophyllum commune the difference. Stereum hirsutum To say that the day Suillus granulatus was not a success because Trametes ochracea we didn’t harvest a lot of Bill Richards worked with Martin Osis to identify and Tremella mesenterica mushrooms would be classify all the mushrooms found on the June 18th foray. Trichaptum biforme misleading. This identification process is an important part of the work Tricholoma saponaceum done by our association. Photo: John Thompson. Tricholomopsis rutilans

www.wildmushrooms.ws Summer - 2005 No. 2 5 The First Alberta Foray Over the last few years I have Friday Night, September 2nd: jealously read about the different ·Registration, set up and mixer. 6:00 to 10:00 annual forays other mycological clubs have been holding across Canada and the States. We are finally doing Saturday, September 3rd: something similar. This type of event, where everybody gets together, ·Breakfast - 8:00 to 9:00 provides tremendous learning ·Registration - 9:00 to Noon opportunities as well as being a whole ·Foray - 9:30 to 11:30 lot of fun. As our club grows and gets · Introduction & foray outline - 11:30 to 12:00 more members from across all of ·Lunch - 12:00 to 1:00 Alberta, having a foray of this scope ·Foray - Foraging 1:00 to 4:00 reaches out to everyone and brings ·ID tables - 4:00 to 5:30 Alberta mycological interests ·Mushroom tasting - 5:30 to 6:30 together. With that in mind, we will hold ·Dinner - 6:30 to 7:30 our 1st “Alberta” Foray coming up on ·8:00 to 10:00 p.m. the September long weekend. The – Canning and preservation location will be at the Crimson Lake Hall just west of Rocky Mountain House. We have scouted out the area Sunday, September 4th: and the habitat looks fantastic. ·Breakfast - 8:00 to 9:00 Forays are planned both inside and ·Foray – Walking ID class: 9:30 to 11:30 outside the provincial park. The hall gives us a nice meeting place with full – Crimson Lake Provincial Park kitchen facilities. There is lots of ·Lunch - 12:00 to 1:00 room for motor homes, trailers, and ·Foray - Foraging - 1:00 to 3:00 campers, but there are no hook ups. ·Keying and ID workshop - 3:00 to 5:30 We also have a baseball field where ·Mushroom tasting - 5:30 to 6:30 tents can be set up. Anyone looking · 100 year Alberta Birthday for other accommodations would have Banquet Bash - 6:30 to 8:00 to travel to Rocky Mountain House, · 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. which is about ten minutes away. – “Preparation of medicinal mushrooms” There are also several “Bed and Breakfasts” in the area. To keep our costs to a minimum, we need to rely on volunteers both in Monday, September 5th: the kitchen and at our ID tables. The · Foray - 7;00 - 9:00 best way to learn is to jump in with · Breakfast - 9:00 - 10:00 both feet and participate. The cost for · ID morning foray finds the weekend including all events, and question and answer camping, and food will be $75.00 per session. – 10:00 to 11:30 person ($25.00 per day). No charge for children. · Wrap up - 11:30 - 12:00 Registration is open until our · Pot luck Lunch Mushroom Exposition on August 7, · Clean-up, Pack-up but please register as soon as and head home. possible. - Martin Osis

6 Summer - 2005 No. 2 www.wildmushrooms.ws ALBERTA FORAY – Registration Form Please fill out and send, along with your cheque, to: EMS at 1921 - 10405 Jasper Avenue, Standard Life Building, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S2 Name ______Address ______Phone Number ______Email Address ______ Full Weekend $75.00 Saturday Only $25.00 Sunday Only $25.00 Children under the age of 16 are free Yes I can help…If you can help in any way, please let us know. The volunteer time of our members is what continues to make EMS forays such a success and a great time for everyone. Martin will contact you with details prior to the foray. Registration Desk (Name Tags, Distribution of information, taking payments and preparation of receipts) Friday 6-10 pm Saturday 9-noon Sunday 8-9:30 ID Tables (Set up, creation of lists, clean up) Saturday 3:30-5:30 pm Sunday 3:00-6:00 pm Monday 10-12noon Cooking Sessions (preparation of mushrooms, cooking, clean up) Saturday Mushroom tasting 5:00-6:30pm Sunday Mushroom tasting 5:00-6:30 pm Preserving Sessions (canning, preserving, preparation of medicinal mushrooms) Saturday Preserving Session 8-10pm Sunday Medicinal Mushrooms 8-10 pm Kitchen (help prepare meals and clean up) Saturday breakfast lunch supper Sunday breakfast lunch supper Monday breakfast Pot Luck Hall Monitor (keep in good shape, and final clean up on Monday) Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

Puree of Leeks, Oyster Mushrooms and Cardamom Enjoy the contrast between the smooth puree of the mushrooms and the crunch of the fried leeks. The soup can be made several days in advance. Add the cream just before serving. Freshly ground cardamom adds a pleasant camphor flavour that works well with the richness of cream. 1 tbsp butter (or olive oil) 15 mL 2. Transfer soup to a blender or food processor and 4 cups leeks, cleaned and sliced 1 L puree in batches (be sure to place a dish towel on 1 tbsp garlic, minced 15 mL top of the blender and press down firmly to avoid 2 cups oyster mushroom pieces 500 mL splashing the hot liquid). Return to the pan, add (or button, crimini or cauliflower fungus) cream and stir well to mix. Bring to a boil, check salt and pepper to taste seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper. Reduce 1 cup white wine 250 mL heat to a simmer and keep warm while you 1 tsp ground cardamom 5 mL prepare the crispy leeks. 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock 1.5 L 1/2 cup whipping cream (or yogurt) 125 mL 3. In a heavy -bottomed pot or wok, heat oil until hot garnish (350 F/180 C). Test temperature by adding a few 1 leek, split, washed and julienned 1 strands of leek. The oil should bubble vigorously 1 cup vegetable oil 250 mL around the leek. Add leek to the pan and stir often until the leeks become crisp. When golden brown, remove from the oil and drain on a plate 1. In a medium stock pot, heat butter over high heat for lined with a paper towel. Season well with salt 30 seconds. Add sliced leeks and garlic and saute for 2- and pepper. To serve, ladle soup into bowls, 3 minutes, until leeks are soft. Add mushrooms and garnish with a mound of the crispy leeks and season well with salt and pepper. Saute for an serve at once. additional 5 minutes, or until mushrooms are soft and appear dry. Add white wine and cook until the liquid is almost evaporated. Add chicken stock and bring to a Recipe courtesy of: The Savoury Mushroom, Cooking boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until with Wild and Cultivated Mushrooms by Bill Jones vegetables are very soft. www.wildmushrooms.ws Summer - 2005 No. 2 7 Ashland Dam Foray and Campout - July 9/10

Just a reminder to folks about picking large amounts of your favourite grilling item. We the Ashland Dam Campout. This mushrooms on Saturday until after also usually make a big pot of foray is intented for all our newer the workshop, as we will be doing communal mushroom soup and members to introduce them to basic more serious foraging on Saturday welcome any other potluck dish. mushroom identification and the use evening and Sunday. There are signs for the of keys. This will be a continuation There are some barbeques on Ashland Dam on Hwy. 39 a few and the field portion of our last site (which we will fire up) so bring miles past the town of Warburg. regular The turn-off on the gravel road for meeting. Of the campsite will be marked. If you course all of miss it and reach the sign for the our members Ashland Dam you have gone about are welcome 1 mile too far south. to participate. - Martin Osis Starting Welcome to the Talisman Energy Ashland-Strawberry Creek out is always Reservoir Picnic Area. the most The Edmonton Mycological Society has full use of the Facilities difficult time For July 9 & 10 2005. Sherwood Park and we want Enjoy the Facility and please use it with respect. Natural Area Foray to introduce people to the June 8 Foray Fungi List some of the Agrocybe dura basic Alberta Bjerkandera adusta edible Clavicorona pyxidata mushrooms. 55 KM Leduc to Warburg Collybia butyracea Collybia dryophila Using keys is Warburg one of the Collybia sp. 1 most Collybia sp. 2 Fomes fomentarius important From Warburg, go west 1.6 km on Township Road 48-5. Turn left onto Range Road 3-2 and go south 1.6 km. T Fomitopsis pinicola skills to Turn right onto Township Road 48-4 and go west 3.2 km. Hyypholoma capnoides develop and Turn left onto Range Road 3-4 and go south 1.0 km. Turn right onto lease road and go west 0.9 km. Hypoxylon mammatum we will have Turn left and go south 0.2 km into site Lycoperdon pyriforme an afternoon Mycena haematopus workshop in Peziza repanda doing that. Phellinus tremulae We would Polyporus badius like our Polyporus varius members to Psathyrella hydrophila refrain from Tricaptum biforme

Stuffed Salmon

This recipe works well with a 4 cups of cooked rice Mix all ingredients. Stuff into salmon. Cover in foil wrap and full salmon and used as a stuffing 2 cups of oyster mushrooms - bake until all the fish is cooked. or you can sandwich the stuffing chopped or sliced into thin sections between filets or even fold over a salmon side to create a pocket. If 1 medium onion (red with salmon, For a more unique taste cook not using a whole fish (you don’t white with whitefish is suggested the rice in white wine, chicken have to use salmon) make sure you but even leeks can be used) - broth, or even milk. use some method of holding the chopped or thinly sliced pieces together (string or skewers). 1 cup chopped celery You can also sew the fish Either pre-cook your favourite rice 4 cloves of garlic - chopped closed and grill on a BBQ but in (a mixture of wild and whole grain Salt, Pepper to taste that case you might want to pre- rice works very well) or use instant cook the entire stuffing first. rice.

8 Summer - 2005 No. 2 www.wildmushrooms.ws grass cluster, deciduous leaves, etc) will add visual impact, so please EMS Goes Public bring some along. When you take the mushrooms to the Devonian Gardens, they are categorized based on their growing area and displayed on large tables (see photograph). EMS will have the display tables, Spore Prints, books and mushroom soup available for guests and members alike. Martin and Bill lead short forays into the Devonian Garden grounds to show the proliferation of mushrooms even in that semi-cultivated environment. Please contact either Martin Osis or Pieter Van der Schoot if you can assist in the event. We need Photo: Louis Galick. assistance in setting up the tables, categorizing the mushrooms, Once a year, we have the The idea is to carefully pick the serving the soup, assisting Alan opportunity to share our love of entire stalk rather than cutting the with memberships, and talking to mushrooms with a wide variety of mushrooms the way you would do the visitors about mushrooms. The people. It is the “City of for foraging. Complete mushrooms event starts at 10:00 am with the Champignons” Exposition at the (full caps and stipes) and opening of the gates to the public, Devonian Gardens, which is being mushrooms of the same species but so please arrive an hour earlier to held on August 7th this year. different ages (from button to fully help set up. The day before (August 6th), expanded caps) help complete the With enough volunteers, members either get together (the displays. To keep the mushrooms as everyone will have a chance to group site is Poplar Creek this year fresh as possible, pack them in moss sample the mushroom recipes, – contact Pieter Van Der Schoot if to preserve the moisture level. It is check out the foray findings, and you are planning on joining the truly amazing how many different learn a little bit more about some group) and pick as many different varieties of mushrooms grow in our varieties of mushrooms. It is a fun, types of mushrooms as are willing geographic area and can be picked educational, and interesting event to be found. If you can’t make it to in one day. that helps to promote our the Poplar Creek area, simply go to A few samples from the association. the areas where you know there are natural area (a small pine branch, a - Loretta Puckrin mushrooms and pick samples there.

The Pine Pavillion (above) and a map to find the Devonian Botanical Gardens (right). www.wildmushrooms.ws Summer - 2005 No. 2 9 Please Join Us!! All forays are undertaken at your own risk. You are responsible for transpor- EMS Calendar of Events for 2005 tation and accommodation.

July City of Champignons Exposition at Devonian Gardens, Sunday. September A weekend (Sat-Sun) 7 Member volunteers are needed! 9/10 foray. New Member Long Weekend Foray - Field Orientation, KEY 3-5 First Annual Alberta workshop Wide Foray Mushroom: The King Bolete Location: Ashland Dam site, Late-Summer Wednesday Mushroom: Leccinum, Russula, Camp out Evening Foray Lactarius and other agarics 17 Mushrooms: Various Weekend Foray to the Location: Edmonton River Valley Foothills - Campout (Mill Creek or Whitemud Creek) 10/11 Mid-Summer Wednesday Mushroom: Hedgehog Evening Foray and Honey Mushrooms Mushroom: Various 13 Location: Foothills - TBA Location: Mill Creek Ravine (meet at the swimming pool parking lot) MEETING - Preparing MEETING - your favourite mushrooms. 28 Photography Contest 24 Location: TBA Finalists

MEETING - Obscure October Edible Mushrooms of 27 Weekend Foray to MEETING - AGM Alberta - Mike Schulz 27/28 the Foothills Area 26 Mushroom: Gypsy, Man-on- Horseback, Hedgehogs November August Location: Robb President’s Dinner:

Saturday Foray collecting TBA for Mushroom Exposition 6 2005 Mushrooms in our Mushroom: All world - by Markus N. groups from all habitats 22 Thormann Location: Your choice Location: Riverbend Public Library, 7:00-8:45 pm

General Member Meetings Fourth Wednesday of every month. Time: 7:00 pm Location: Riverbend Library

10 Summer - 2005 No. 2 www.wildmushrooms.ws Framing and Cropping 2A You can’t always shoot a great clear identity and is photo. The camera selects an area over-exposed (white for its focus that isn’t what you where there should intended, you can’t get close enough be colour) in some or you don’t have the time to frame areas. Overall the things properly if you want to stay photo is very poor. with the group and not get lost. Rather than simply There are a variety of reasons that deleting the file you the photos you bring home from a have a chance to foray are not what you wanted. salvage a portion. By Don’t despair. In today’s taking the lower technological world there are the right side of the electronic tools for changing the picture we have original photo into something you created a totally different photo. It would want to keep. now has a focus - the round globular 2B In the first example (1A) we mass of fungi. The focus is not have a photo that doesn’t have a centered in the image but rather placed in the top left corner. Remember that people in Canada 1A read from left to right and top to bottom. By placing the main image in the top left corner the eye will start with our focus point and the move to examine the less important parts of the photograph. In the second example (2A) the main image was too small. The green identification. If the photographer foliage, rather than adding depth had stopped and picked one of the and interest, is simply taking away mushrooms and laid it on its side from the main image. To eliminate (or upside down) to see the gill these problems the photo was structure and stipe, that would have cropped in tightly deleting the extra been even better as far as twigs and leaves. With the good identification goes but might have contrast between the mushroom reduced the visual impact. and the dead leaves on the forest Remember to submit your floor, we now have a more dynamic favourite photos to the EMS photo photo. With three mushrooms and contest by emailing them to: the different sizes there is creative [email protected] imbalance that makes the photo along with your name, a description more appealing. Having only one of where you captured the fungi and mushroom and centering it rarely identity (if you know, but not creates the best photograph. essential). 1B Having the young of the - Loretta Puckrin species in the shot is good for www.wildmushrooms.ws Summer - 2005 No. 2 11 Mushroom Environments The Be Able to Describe an the wood of dead or dying trees. balsam Environment They are not found in the grass or poplar Knowing how to describe an in pine forests so the areas in which bark is environment not only allows you to you look can eliminate all non- similar to identify your species of fungi but deciduous or grassy regions. the maple will also help you identify other The trees don’t have to be on tree bark areas where that species might be the ground - they can be stumps or with found. This is important to the trees which only have a few leaves dark, long-term mushroom picker as the on the crown. Pleurotus ostreatus deeply same site is rarely good year after tends to grow on trees which still furrowed year. Remember the reason have their bark and have been bark. mushroom grow - they are helping downed the previous year. aspen. As you can see by the proper to break down the waste products of Many people enjoy looking for name, the aspen is a member of the the forest (dead leaves, downed oyster mushrooms as they can be same family. It is no wonder that trees etc.). As the breakdown spotted from the car. The bright, some areas have Pleurotus ostreatus occurs, the substrate on which the near white mushroom against the mostly on the aspen trees, while in fungus grows is used up. For this dark of the tree trunk almost shouts this area we find them on Balsam reason every site has a built-in time out “stop the car”. As the poplar - they are part of the same limit. Some people recommend that mushroom grows in clusters rather family of trees. you have as many as 10 spots for than individually, it makes them -Loretta Puckrin each edible variety you wish to pick. easier to spot. Make sure you are It might be good to start with not trespassing in your identifying some mushroom-bearing quest for these delicious locations and keep visiting them fungi. until you know what grows in which part of that forest area. By tracking The Balsam Poplar your findings (a log book or The balsam poplar mushroom diary is indispensable) leaves have a smoother you will develop reliable sites. You profile than the other can’t count on having someone else poplars (see photograph) share their sites! and they are shaped more like the spade image on Oyster Mushroom Locations playing cards. The poplar is Since we are featuring the half-way between the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus Balsam poplar and the Watch out for oyster look alikes, such as the polypores ostreatus) in this issue, we should above. Check for gills, spore colour and smell. look at the environment that fosters the growth of this fungus. One book lists the habitat at “deciduous trees, especially willow and aspen, rarely on pine and hemlock”, but in this area it is most commonly found what is commonly called black poplar trees (Balsam poplar). Remember - that is “most commonly found” - not “always” or “only”. One especially delicious clump was found on a Mountain Ash tree in the city. The other important point to note is Knowing the species of trees will help you identify potential mushroom sites. that Pleurotus ostreatus grows on

12 Summer - 2005 No. 2 www.wildmushrooms.ws