Gymnopus=(collybia) cervata

March 2012 * Mycolog* No.287

Russula sp

Directions to HBMS Meeting Place Unitarian Fellowship Hall 3471 Jacoby Creek Rd., Bayside, California

Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., September through May. Doors open at 6:45 Show and Tell at 7:00 Program at 7:30

1. From Hwy 101, take the Bayside Cutoff. 2. Turn left on Old Arcata Road. 3. Turn right on Jacoby Creek Road. 4. Go 0.7 mile on Jacoby Creek Road. On the right side you will see a blue metal sign saying "Unitarian Fellowship Hall" and their wood-paneled building.

MYCOLOG

Number 287 Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Mycological Society March 2012

HBMS February Field Trip– Brad Thompson

On Saturday Feb 11th we met up at nine and decided to go inland abit to see what was up in the Oaks. We went out east of Redwood Valley to the Lacks Mtn area and collected under white, live and black oaks mixed with Douglas fir on the lower to mid valley sides, working our way up to the ridge and collecting under it’s dense Tan Oak and Doug Fir areas. The weather was OK and we shared some crazy conversation and some great views Craterellus cornicopioides going up. We saw more fungi than expected, especially jellies and ascos, with sufficient edibles for the table (black and yellow-foot chanterelles). Perhaps the highlight find was a dazzling malachite green fructification of Microglossum viride. No orchids this time (we often see lots of calypsos there), but once again we bumped into a salmander that was happy to do it’s defensive display (bright orange aposomatic bellied Taricha) upon being disturbed. Mike also entertained us with his new hound dog that always seemed to go in the opposite direction of his beckoning dog whistle

Auriscalpium vulgare

Microglossum viride

A list of the mircrofungi seen follows:

Pholiota bakerensis Craterellus cornicopioides, C. tubaeformis Stropharia semiglobata, S. ambigua Pseudohydnum gelatinosum Clitocybe fragrans, C. dealbata Pluteus cervins Xeromphalina campanella Psathyrella sp Porodaedalea pini Mycena heamatopus, M. aurantiomarginata Fomitopsis cajanderi Inocybe geophylla Cystoderma cf fallax Gymnopus acervata (=Collybia acervata) Craterellus tubaeformis Ganoderma applanatum, G. oregonense Tremella mesenterica Pseudohydnum gelatinosum Daldinia concentrica Microglossum viride Leotia lubrica New and Interesting Macrofungal Discoveries From the Guiana Shield

This was the topic of the presentation given by Dr. Terry Henkel, professor of Mycology at HSU, at our February meeting.

Terry began his talk with a discussion of mycorrhizae, reviewing the fact that the mushroom is the fruit of the fungus and the mycelium, a mass of hyphal threads below ground, is the vegetative structure. Mycorrhiza refers to the symbiotic relationship between the mycelium of the fungus and the rootlets of vascular plants.The mycelium forms a sheath-like structure around the rootlets of the host in ectomycorrhizal fungi(EcM)or actually enters the rootlet cells in endomycorhizzal fungi.In temperate areas of the world there are lots of trees that host EcM but in new world tropical forests there are few. When encased with EcM fungus, the root has no direct exchange of nutrients with the soil; they all come through the fungus as there is a suppression of the root hairs when EcM are present. The microanatomy of the EcM shows that the root tip is enshrouded with a mantle of mycelium and that individual hyphae form the hartig net which surrounds the host cells. The mycelium greatly increases the surface area available for nutrients. Approximately 20% of the hosts energy derived from photosynthesis goes to make carbohydrates to support the mycorrhizae.

The Guiana Shield is in the Guyana Highlands northeast of the Amazon Basin. It is formed of primary igneous rock formed very early and then overlain with sedimentary rock. These soils are very nutrient deficient and trees must rely on recycling nutrients. Very few of the species of trees host EcM fungi. The forests in the study area are primarily monodominant stands of leguminous trees of the genus Dicymbe which have EcM associates. This single species dominance is unusual. Out of 50,000 macrofungal species worldwide, both EcM and endomycorhizzal, there are known to be about 7,000 EcM species in 250 genera. The total EcM diversity may be > 20,000 species and the majority are undescribed.

The fungi in Terry’s plots have been studied since the year 2000. There are Dicymbe plots and mixed species plots. In the Dicymbe plots they have found 127 species of EcM fungi from 25 genera and 113 families. Of the species found, 68 are new and have been described, 29 have previously been described and 30 require further study. The families most frequently represented are Russulaceae with 20 species, Boletaceae with 25 species, Clavulinaceae with 17 species, and Amanitaceae with 16 species.

A very interesting aspect of Terry’s research is the collection of root tips with mycorrhizzae for DNA analysis The process requires excavating out from the trunk of the tree to the root tips and cutting off those that have a distinctly different appearance. Each fungal species controls the morphology of the mycorhizzae so they look different from each other. The tips are then bagged with soil attached and taken to the research site and rinsed, using a dissecting microscope. The tips are then stored in individual bottles of buffer for transport back to the US for molecular analysis. Many of the taxa found by molecular analysis of root tips have not been found as fruiting bodies. There were 118 species identified from 1200 EcM root tips across three species of host trees which shared all the species. Conservative estimates are that there are 250-300 species found in or around these same plots and many are unknown.

We look forward to more information about this fascinating research at our April meeting when Jessie Uehling gives her presentation on the Guiana project. Written by Joann Olson

Posted on the HBMS Yahoo group. Just an update and call for more volunteers. We have about four people signed up so far. It would be great if a few more folks could sign up. If you can join us, go to the website below and sign up soon. Then email me and let me know you're coming. We're organizing a group to go to Sacramento and speak up on behalf of state parks, and better policy on mushroom collecting. Please register, include the name of your organization, and that you would like to be on the same PAD team as David Rust: http://www.calparks.org/takeaction/pad/pad-2012-rsvp.html California State Parks Foundation Go To Calparks.org | http://my.calparks.org/site/R?i=sUlk0faWT3o0Yg6dxNMi0A Please join CSPF in Sacramento on Tuesday, March 20 for our 10th Annual Park Advocacy Day and help us send a powerful message of support for California's 278 state parks! Park Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity for state park supporters to take action by meeting with policymakers and urging them to keep California's state parks open, protected, accessible and well-funded. This year will be especially important as the countdown to park closures continues and as lawmakers grapple with important funding and policy questions that will have significant impacts on our state parks system. You can register here:http://my.calparks.org/site/R? i=q1dHYBmTv4cYifWvS6Ty6Q Park advocates will speak with lawmakers about a variety of issues impacting state parks, including park closures and the governor's proposed trigger cuts which would result in the elimination of lifeguards on state beaches and a 20% reduction in state park rangers. We need your help to make sure the voices of park supporters from throughout California are heard! 10th Annual Park Advocacy Day Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sacramento, CA

David Rust Calendar 2012

March 17, Saturday Field trip, 9:00 am. March Meeting to Feature Presentation on Bring a sack lunch & beverage. Meet on the 7th St. Mushroom Cultivation side of the Safeway parking area, Uniontown Plaza Mike Egan of Mycality Mushrooms will give a Shopping Center in Arcata. Destination based on presentation on mushroom cultivation as it is done at his locations known to have mushrooms fruitings. commercial facility. He has offered to bring cultivation

March 21, Wednesday 7:00pm-9:00pm. substrate and spawn so attendees can assemble their Monthly Meeting, Michael Egan, owner operator own small kits. We have also asked Mike to give of Micality Mushrooms in Arcata, CA. will talk about members a tour of his facility for our April field trip. his experiences in his mushroom cultivation enterprise HBMS OFFICERS April 14, Saturday Field trip, 9:00am. (707 area code) Bring a sack lunch & beverage. Meet on the 7th St. Coordinator Joann Olson 822-8856 side of the Safeway parking area, Uniontown Plaza Vice Coordinator Brad Thompson 826-7386

Shopping Center in Arcata. Treasurer Scott Davidson Fair Chairman Joann Olson 822-8856 April 18, Wednesday 7:00pm-9:00pm. Membership Don Bryant [email protected] Monthly Meeting Jessie Uehling, one of our Mycolog Editor Vicki Fikes [email protected] George Verback scholarship recipients, will give a Foray Chairman Brad Thompson 826-7386 presentation at that meeting on aspects of her Mail Officer Scott Davidson research with Terry Henkel in Guyana. Scientific Advisor Dr. David Largent Hospitality Chair Becky Deja May 12, Saturday Field trip, 9:00 am Culinary Event Planner Kathy Frankel Bring a sack lunch & beverage. Meet on the 7th St. HBMS Yahoo Website side of the Safeway parking area, Uniontown Plaza http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/H-B-M-S Shopping Center in Arcata.

May 16, Wednesday 7:00pm-9:00pm. Tee-Shirts We still have some tee shirts for sale at the Monthly Meeting Club election of officers, club meeting. Sizes are limited and only short sleeved. members photography, a finger food potluck and Cost is $12.00 social All photos, unless otherwise noted, are by photographer, HBMS member Vicki Fikes Newsletter Contributions Wanted & Needed The HBMS Mycolog is looking for members to share a story, adventure, some environmental mycological project, etc. All contributions are welcomed. Please send your contributions in a plain Word document to Vicki Fikes [email protected]

Change of Editors for Mycolog‐ Joann Olson

After several years as our Mycolog editor, Judi Ho‐ jnacki has stepped down and Vicki Fikes will take over as editor. We hope Judi will continue to contribute mate‐ rial to the newsletter as her articles, recipes, and website Mycena acicula, information have greatly enriched our enjoyment and Mycena oregonense, knowledge over the years. We appreciate that Judi has or something else… agreed to take on the new position of Publicity Chair for What is your guess the HBMS. This is one small fungi. It is twice the Vicki Fikes has already contributed to the last two size of a BB. Come to editions of the Mycolog and we’ve been enjoying her photos for some time. Look for some exciting ideas from the March meeting Vicki in the next few months. with your guess.

About the HBMS Steering Committee

The HBMS Steering Committee (SC) is composed of the Officers and the Scientific Advisor. HBMS members who would like to participate are invited to attend. The SC meets at least twice a year, usually in August and January. The Minutes of the last meeting, which follow, will give you an idea of the topics which are discussed and the decisions that are made If you are interested in attending, please contact Joann Olson at 707-822-8856.

Minutes of the HBMS Steering Committee Meeting Feb 1, 2012

Old Business

1. Mushroom Fair Report on 2011 Fair About 1007 people attended the Fair. The profit from the Fair was about $2800. Identification went very smoothly this year thanks to having enough knowledgeable identifiers Everyone liked having food available for the workers Suggestions for improving the Fair mostly involved needing more volunteers to help with set up and on the day of the Fair. Ideas included: Utilize H_B_M_S Yahoo group for volunteers Someone to contact members using the interest questions on the membership forms. Pay science club students to help (but not too many of them) Discussion was held on deleting from the Fair flyer the sentence about cooking demonstrations and omitting the phone number as the Olsons are discontinuing the phone line.

New Business

1. Problems with current Fair Chair and Program Chair positions being filled by one person. Joann Olson is willing to continue as Program Chair as needed but can no longer be Fair Chair as it is currently defined. Description of the problem: Combining the responsibilities of Fair Chair and Program Chair create a workload in the Fall that is too great for one person. Joann recommends either someone else chair the Fair or if no one can be found who is able to do this, that the position (see current position description) be revised as follows: Publicity be assigned to a newly created HBMS Publicity Chair. Judi Hojnacki volunteered for this. Shirt sales be assigned to a newly created HBMS Sales Chair. Kathy Frankel volunteered for this. Volunteers be solicited and managed by an individual other than the Fair Chair. Jenny Hanson volunteered for this. 2. Website for HBMS This is needed so members and potential members can access information about HBMS and it’s programs. Don Bryant offered that Mushroom The Journal hosts websites. Joann Olson agreed to get more information about setting up and maintaining a website.

3. Bylaws of HBMS Joann Olson passed out copies of the bylaws for members to review. An annual meeting and election of officers in April is called for in the Bylaws. Discussion was held and it was decided that for this year at least the annual meeting and election of officers would be held in May as we already have program planned for April. A slate of current officers agreeing to serve next year will be presented in the April newsletter. Nominations from the floor will be accepted.

4. Treasurer’s Report Scott Davison reported that the HBMS has about $10, 804 in savings and about $6, 463 in checking. Discussion was held about the contributions Scott’s work for the Forest Service has made to the balance and that we cannot count on that continuing. We did agree, however, that we could spend more money on speakers in the future.

5. Programs for 2012-2013 Dave Largent will give a talk in the Fall on his work on the fungi of Australia. Joann Olson suggested inviting Denis Benjamin to give a talk on medicinal mushrooms. Other possibilities will be presented at the next Steering Committee meeting.

6. Forays Joann recommended that we have more forays. Virginia offered to lead some that were educational in intent. Don also said he would lead some. Joann will continue with the Van Eck forays as they were successful this year. A spreadsheet has been created with the data from those forays. 7. Next Steering Committee meeting. A date will be set in August, 2012 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fungi-Portal/141374462649219?ref=logo

The Mycolog has gone digital in an effort to save resources. One of the amazing opportunities available is hooking our club members up to all kinds of internet resources like scientific exploration, stories, images, identification tools, receipts, maps, poetry, and links to other clubs all related to what we love, FUNGI. A resource page in the monthly newsletter would be great. Even better is a link that will take you to an unlimited potential resource page. In this March issue of the Mycolog, we are introducing “The Fungi Portal”. This internet page will continue to grow with time. This page will be shared with whomever is interested in fungi. Hopefully other clubs will contribute information and have permission to include “The Fungi Portal” in their newsletters. Although it is a resource for the HBMS, it is possible to share all kinds of links including some that could be commercial. To utilize The Fungi Portal, click on the link above.The Fungi Portal is a Facebook Page that I, Vicki Fikes, administer. It will be used to collect all the wonderful links club members know about. You will be able to go there, and if you are a Facebook user, you can add your links and information. Hopefully this will work for most folks. Trying something new. Your feedback is appreciated. Please do so by sending it [email protected]

1st Annual Shroomposium

Come check out the 1st Annual Shroomposium on March 24th and 25th in Boonville presented by Cloud Forest Institute, Ama- zon Mycorenewal Project & MendoDragon Intentional Community.

Free Educational Workshops on Mushroom Cultivation with Paul Taylor & Maya Face, Presentations, Discussions on all things Myco especially remediation, Fun-raiser dinner ($10-$15 sliding scale) and concert ($5-$10 sliding scale) with French Girls. Camping $5 per night at MendoDragon

Contact Freeda at 707 357_1000 [email protected] for more info, to register, and to sign up to give a presentation. Bring cultures to trade! http://www.facebook.com/events/233368600087570/ (This announcement was also on the HBMS Yahoo group site.)

Anybody Seen This Mushroom Lately?

Agaricus crocodilinus is a huge (can be dinner plate size) white Agaricus with squat stature and large warts on the cap. It is a delicious edible like A smithii or A. augustus in flavor. Members of the HBMS used to find it in March – May in large numbers in the sheep pastures along the “wildcat” road between Ferndale and Petrolia. It has been found very few other places. I asked Noah Siegel if he had a picture of this species for his book and he told me that no one has found it in years in Sonoma County where it also was found. I haven’t looked for it in years myself and Bob Fischer and Louise Minor, who used to collect it regularly, said they stopped looking for it because they didn’t find it for several http://www.mushroomobserver.org/67102 photos-mushroomobserver.org

years. Anyone interested in hunting for it? It is a bit of a drive but a beautiful one. Perhaps we could have a spe- cial field trip. If interested, call me at 707-822-8856. If anyone should find this mushroom, please photograph it, collect it and notify me. It is ecologically very interesting and I would like to document it. -Joann Olson

Remember to bring a mug for beverages at the meeting