2006 No. 1

Macrolepiota rhacodes, The Shaggy Parasol (a.k.a. rachodes, Macrolepiota rachodes) When asked what their favourite edible is, many people say the old standards; morels, king boletes, portabellas, etc. But when I am asked, eyebrows either lift in interest or are furrowed in confusion when I unequivocally state “Macrolepiota rhacodes”. Most edible are a variation on the theme of the basic mushroomy flavour – some a little more earthy like morels, some a bit sweeter like chanterelles, others with different textures - and although there’s certainly nothing wrong with a mushroomy flavour, it can get a little old. You can spice them up and cook them in creative ways to Macrolepiota rhacodes usually appear in groups and are easy to identify but can be mistaken be sure, but the great thing about the Shaggy parasol is that you for a non-edible variety. Photo courtesy: Loretta Puckrin. don’t have to! They have a unique two morels or one hedgehog reasons to love them, they and delicious nutty flavour that thinking, “What am I going to do almost always appear in large stands out on its own, and makes with this puny thing?” With a gregarious groups, produce any mushroom dish unique. So, single mature shaggy in hand, you several crops per year, and come being a bit of a unique person (read have to think, “What will I do with back year after year. It should “oddball”) myself, I can’t help but the leftovers?” And I do be noted that some people have love the “shaggies”. recommend waiting until they are gastric reactions to shaggies, Another great thing about mature – you get a bigger meal, and it is best to cook them with shaggy parasols is that when you they rarely go buggy, and they taste high heat because they can find just one, you’ve got a meal. No just as good big in my humble become a bit watery. coming home from a foray with opinion. As if you needed more (The Macrolepiota rhacodes ...continued on page 3)

FEATURE PRESIDENT’S WEIRD & WACKY AGM PAST EVENTS UPCOMING MUSHROOM MESSAGE .. pg 4 What a way to Polypore Foray EVENTS Macrolepiota Welcome to start the year off ... pg 7 ... pg 9 rhacodes 2006 and ... pg 1 ... pg 6 & 7 another success- WHAT IS A FORAY? FORAY 2005 MEDICINAL .. pg 5 MUSHROOMS RECIPE ful year NAMA FORAY UPDATE .. pg 10 ... pg 11 & 12 ... pg 5 ... pg 2 page 8 www.wildmushrooms.ws Spring 2006 No. 1 1 upcoming year and develop the President’s Message agenda for the Annual General 2006 Executive Meeting, which many of you Edmonton Mycological Society attended. This year, we adopted a different format, making it a full-day President & Webmaster: event with various speakers and a pot-luck lunch. We hope this format Markus Thormann was well received. Please let us (780) 432-1392 know if you would like to see [email protected] something different next year. This year promises to be an Past President: Peter Arabchuk exciting one. We are hoping to (780) 479-6630 complete the “Pick a Wild [email protected] Mushroom, Alberta” event, co-host the North American Mycological 1st Vice President: Mike Schulz Association foray near Hinton, hold (780) 939-2106 the 2nd Annual Alberta Foray in the [email protected] foothills of the Rockies, have another fantastic “City of Champignons” Treasurer: Loretta Puckrin Mushroom Exposition at the (780) 458-9889 Devonian Botanic Garden (this year [email protected] on July 30th – mark it on your calendars), and have a series of local Secretary: Melanie Fjoser forays to satisfy your mushroom (780) 987-4412 needs and desires from both [email protected] educational and culinary perspectives. Don’t forget our regular meetings though. They will Membership: Alan Fleming (780) 463-8540 Markus Thormann, president of the once again be held from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m. at the Riverbend Public Library [email protected] Edmonton Mycological Society meeting room every 4th Wednesday of Welcome to 2006! I hope you the month. Please check our web Foray Coordinator: Bill Richards all had a fantastic break over the site at www.wildmushrooms.ws for (780) 998-3507 winter months and are sharpening regular updates and information [email protected] your knives and cleaning your about your Edmonton Mycological baskets in anticipation of another Society. Program Director: Martin Osis mushroom season. We have had Our newsletter, the Spore (780) 987-4412 very little snow so far, which doesn’t Print, has evolved over the past [email protected] bode well for fungi, but we still have years and is the best natural history a few months of “winter” left. So, club newsletters I have seen!!! As a Communications Coordinator: let’s all hope for some snow (or rain) new feature, I am planning on Robert Simpson between now and our first foray in writing a regular series of short (780) 481-7905/ Wk: (780) 420-6850 the spring. articles highlighting some of the [email protected] Your executive has already met weird and whacky characteristics of twice this year. On January 13th and fungi. Well, they’re weird and th whacky only to the uninitiated! As Newsletter Editor: Geri Kolacz 14 , we had a Board Development (780) 475-7927 meeting at the Northern Forestry an example, you may already know Centre. This meeting was organized that the honey mushroom, [email protected] by Chris Floden and Doug Armillaria spp., is a major global Mailing: Diane Murray Ledgerwood and sponsored by plant pathogen (kills primarily Alberta Community Development, in Canada), it is a delicious Directors-at-large: Grant MacEwen College, and The edible (with caution for some Pieter Van Der Schoot Wild Rose Foundation. Our people), glows in the dark (780) 696-2436 organization has been growing (bioluminescent), and is mycorrhizal Robert Rogers substantially over the past couple of with some plants. I will expand on (780) 433-7882 years and our projects have equally this unique in a future David Rowe grown in size and complexity. This newsletter in more detail, but it is (780) 469-7187 Board Development meeting was this “strange” combination of George Litven designed to streamline the characters that would qualify it for (780) 476-7912

Edmonton Mycological Society and one of my articles. In this issue, I ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ formalize some of the more delve into the world of smells, MAILING ADDRESS: important aspects of our odours, and mimicry of fungi… Edmonton Mycological Society organization. We are currently Once again, I hope you’re all 1921, 10405 Jasper Avenue developing some policies which will ready for a great mushroom season. Standard Life Building achieve those goals and make us a Our first regular meeting will be on Edmonton, AB T5J 3S2 more efficient and effective society. April 26th. Hope to see you all then. More recently, we met to discuss the WEBSITE ADDRESS: Cheers and happy ‘shrooming, www.wildmushrooms.ws

2 Spring 2006 No. 1 www.wildmushrooms.ws Macrolepiota rhacodes (continued from page 1) Now that I’ve got you completely convinced of the superiority of M. rhacodes you of course want to know where to find them. First shot: check your yard: I found my first shaggies growing in mine. Then check your neighbours’, the park down the road, or other disturbed areas, especially near conifers, shrubs, and compost (but in woods and The gill structure of the Shaggy Parasol is strongly notched with varying length of gills. fields occasionally too). Although the gills detach very easily, they shold be taken as part of the harvest. On mature Shaggy parasols are pretty species, the may be very fibrous, so, some people only pick the caps. easy to recognize, if you know what to look for. If not, you could fairly equally all the way to the mistake it for a deadly Amanita or margin – again unlike most Lepiota and die: not the Lepiotas, which have smaller scales recommended course of action. that tend to be concentrated Their size is the first clue. The towards the middle in mature caps are 5-20 cm across (although mushrooms, although this may not I’ve rarely seen a mature be clear until the cap is fully mushroom less than 15 cm across), extended. Note that they are scales and lack an umbo (a swelling or (sections of cap that have curled bump at centre of cap). These up), and not warts (sections of features distinguish it from the universal veil that sit relatively flat generally smaller and usually on the surface, and start loose but umbonate Lepiotas. The caps have may become attached with time) a whitish background with large, like the poisonous Amanitas. light to dark brown scales that go Shaggy parasol scales are soft and fragile and come off easily; just lightly rubbing the cap is usually enough to get your hand covered in One of the characteristics of the Shaggy them. Like Amanitas and Lepiotas, Parasol is the rapid staining which however, the gills are free and the occurs when the mushroom is cut. is white. The spore print becomes very important if indistinct volva; however, the cap the mushroom is found in a featuring darker scales on a greenhouse, by a recently-planted lighter background instead of plant, or in warmer climates, as lighter warts on a darker the poisonous background, as well as the molybdites is virtually annulus characteristics, reliably indistinguishable aside from its distinguish M. rhacodes from green spore print; however, C. similar Amanitas. Another molybdites does not appear to be distinguishing characteristic able to survive in our cold climate. comes when you cut the Like the cap, the stipe or stalk mushroom, and the white flesh of of the shaggy is also huge (5-24 x 1- the cap, gills, and the entire stipe 3 cm, although again I’ve never quickly turns reddish, especially seen them below 10 cm tall). It is around the edges. smooth (no scales!), hollow, and So there you have it. The whitish becoming reddish brown in shaggy parasol is big, beautiful, age. On the stipe is a huge, thick and delicious. If you haven’t tried The Shaggy Parasol with one of the near annulus - a biteful in itself! - that one yet, get going! Then, the next ‘look alikes’. The cap is not as scaly and the is collar-like (not skirt-like) and time someone asks you what your veil is substantially different. This particular double-edged. The stipe base is favourite mushroom is, you might look-alike is non-edible and tends to grow always thick and bulb-like (to 7 just move some eyebrows. shorter than the average parasol mushroom. cm), and may be mistaken for an Michael J. Schulz www.wildmushrooms.ws Spring 2006 No. 1 3 Weird and whacky fungi – how some fungi and some plants mimic each other

Mimicry from a bodies (Neinhuis et biological perspective is al. 1994). To attract defined as “the pollinators, again resemblance of one some poor fungus organism to another or to gnats, the flowers an object in its emit an earthy, surroundings for meaty, mushroom concealment and scent. The major protection from volatiles are all predators”. You probably terpenoids, which are have seen the “walking common in many stick insect”, which essential oils derived resembles a twig on a from plants, e.g., plant, or heard of some camphor. butterflies that resemble So, some plants other butterflies with can mimic fungi. known defense What about the other mechanisms, such as Figure 1. The Dracula chestertonii has developed features and scents that way around – fungi spines or toxic chemicals attract fungus flies and help pollinate the flowers. mimicking plants? on their exoskeletons. The rust fungi, a There are thousands of examples growing in North America, including group of pathogenic worldwide. In all cases, mimicry in Canada. basidiomycetes, are experts at animals is used as a defense For example, Dracula mimicking plants. Rust fungi mechanism to avoid being eaten by chestertonii, common in the belonging to the genus Uromyces a predator. Well, there’s a new kid Colombian Andes, is an orchid that can form impressive in town… grows a large lip that resembles the pseudoflowers when they infect Flowering plants produce underside of a gilled basidiomycete Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress flowers and scents to attract (Figure 1; Kaiser 2006). Along with spurge, common to North America pollinators, such as insects or bats. the emitted mushroom scent, females and Eurasia; Figure 2). Like the In some cases, these scents are of the fungus fly are attracted to the true flowers of this plant, the rust delightful, in others they’re putrid. visual and olfactory cues of this fungus’ yellowish pseudoflowers In any event, they get the job done flower, lay their eggs into the lip, and produce a flowery scent and and the plant can produce seeds pollinate the flower at the same time. sweet-smelling nectar on its following pollination. From a Sadly, the eggs never hatch. Other surface to attract insects, which reproduction perspective, usually species of Dracula, such as D. end up transferring fungal only the plant benefits from this vampira and D. chimaera, use a reproductive structures to other interplay (although the insects often similar approach to attain pollination plants (Pfunder and Roy 2002). get some nectar as well). Here is at the expense of fungus flies. There The chemical constituents of these where it gets interesting. Some are four chemicals that constitute volatiles vary and are quite flowers emit scents and produce about 70% of the volatiles this plant complex in nature, often varying flowers that mimic mushrooms to emits to attract the insects (Kaiser slightly among regions and among attract specific pollinators. Classic 1993). The names of these chemicals the species of the rust fungi. examples include fungus gnat are not important, suffice it to say Witch’s Broom, caused by the flowers, such as species belonging to that they are complex organic rust fungus Puccinia arrhenatheri the flowering plants Asarum (wild molecules also produced by fungi. on Berberis vulgaris (barberry), is gingers), Aristolochia (dutchman’s Another striking example of another example of a fungus pipe or pipevine), Arisarum (mouse mushroom mimicry is that of mimicking a plant to further its plant), Arisaema (jack-in-the-pulpit Aristolochia arborea, a small tree own cause, namely dispersal of or cobra lilies), and Dracula (orchid, growing in the Central American propagules (Naef et al. 2002). sorry, it grows in South America, rainforests. It produces flowers at Infected leaves of barberry appear not in Transylvania). Almost all of the base of its stem, which are perfect yellowish, reminiscent of flowers, these plants have some species imitations of Marasmius fruiting and emit a strong fruity and/or (Weird and Wacky ...continued on page 10)

4 Spring 2006 No. 1 www.wildmushrooms.ws What to expect from a Mycological Foray

When my sister and I first also a handy tool. Normal hiking joined the Edmonton Mycological items such a bottled water, sun Society we did so to enlarge our hat, sun screen, insect repellent, knowledge of edible mushrooms. We wet weather gear, camera or knew that there were many drawing materials, etc. are mushroom which we were not always handy on a foray. picking as we weren’t comfortable Use the foray to increase your with identification. In our opinion knowledge and help the association Photos courtesy: going to the foray was to find great increase the data about fungi in Loretta Puckrin picking locations and have a timely Alberta. We have been discovering harvest of edible mushrooms. new species and species never before Although this can happen we recorded as growing in Alberta. of knowing only 3 edible learned that we were wrong in our Sometimes these discoveries are mushrooms you will have idea of the purpose of EMS forays. more of a reward than finding a field discovered and developed comfort Think in terms of a field study of edibles. in positive identification of more rather than a harvesting session. The primary result of our than 10 edibles. You will have The forays are wonderful forays is an enjoyable day with learned what type of terrain your opportunities to increase your people who have similar interests in favourite varieties prefer. You will knowledge of fungi – and not just the the great outdoors. Come rain, come be well on your way to finding your edible kind. The diversity is truly shine – the forays will happen and own ‘private’ sites to fuel your amazing! As you learn more about the fun will flow. And at the end of harvesting trips. Come, enjoy and identification you will find that it is the season you will find that instead learn – the mushrooms will follow. not as simple as seeing an Loretta Puckrin illustration in a book and Recipe understanding which mushroom to pick. If that were the case there would be no need of identification Mushroom Soup forays. Some varieties are easy to spot while others require Ingredients: microscopic, or even DNA testing, to 1 cup each of both Shaggy Mane and Shaggy Parasol mushrooms. make the identification reliable. Keep the mushrooms separate. Chop each into bite-sized pieces Fortunately there are a large 4 tbsp butter number of fungi that are more easily 1 medium onion chopped identified. It is those which the 1 clove garlic - crushed forays address. 3 3/4 cup of stock (chicken is preferred but any stock will do) 4 tbsp of cream Be prepared to pick one sample of 2 tbsp of lemon juice a mature member of each new Salt and Pepper to taste species (new to you that is) and bring them to the common area for identification. Young 1. Take 1/2 of the butter and fry the Shaggy Mane mushrooms with the specimens are not normally onion and garlic until all are soft. developed enough to identify. 2. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Be prepared to spend the entire 3. Put in a blender and liquify. day on site to allow for adequate 4. Melt remaining butter and cook the Shaggy Parasol mushrooms until time for the foray, identification soft. Add the parasol mushrooms to the liquified stock. Bring to a and meals. boil. Be prepared to learn. 5. Add cream and lemon juice. Be prepared for identification with 6. Serve with additional cream swirled into the soup for contrast. your mushroom key, mushroom 7. Serve with parsley or garlic bread. book and magnifying glass. A sharp knife to bisect the fungi is Recipe courtesy of Loretta Puckrin www.wildmushrooms.ws Spring 2006 No. 1 5 Another First and a Huge Success The Edmonton Mycological Society’s First Full Day Annual General Meeting

Robert Rogers had a presentation of “Hallucinogenic mushrooms” and for all those who have asked “What are they?”; “Do they grow in Alberta?”; “”What are the effects?: -- well, they should have attended the AGM. We have a wealth of psycho-active mushrooms in this province that need further investigation especially the part they may play in our evolution. Our third presenter was Melissa Day on “Fungal diversity in arctic and alpine ecosystems”. Her talk was both humourous and informative on the relationships between various groups of fungi and their effect on the ecosystems that Some of the members that attended our first all day annual general meeting they inhabit. Melanie Fjoser updated us on The Edmonton Mycological in other major centres; a the “Pick A Wild Mushroom Society Annual General Meeting membership goal of 500; Association” progress and surprised was held on Saturday, February scholarship fund for us with the official unveiling of “A 25, 2006 in the Pine Room at the students. Provincial Mushroom” poster and Northern Forestry Centre. Reports from the other bookmarks. Everyone who attended The all day event had many members of the executive followed the meeting were given both posters interesting and informative including our financial status. and bookmarks to take home and moments. The first presenter of the day give to friends and businesses (see The meeting began with the was Dr. Adrianne Rice and her our website for more information on President’s report. Markus topic “Blue-stain fungi associated what they are and how to get some). highlighted our many with mountain pine beetle in Martin Osis provided accomplishments of 2005 and Alberta” was both informative and information on the upcoming discussed some year end goals of concern to all of us who love to NAMA Foray that will be held and long term goals that he walk in the Albertan forests and in the Hinton area August 17- envisions for the Society. Among pick mushrooms and enjoy nature. 20, 2006. Some of the best scientists the year end goals were: The combination of the mountain from around the world will be there increasing membership to 175; beetle and the blue-stain fungi has to identify the mushrooms that are more members from outside the decimated huge areas of lodgepole found during scheduled forays in Edmonton area; the conclusion pine in British Columbia and there various areas around Hinton and of the Provincial Mushroom is a fear that they will attack our William A. Switzer Provincial Park. Campaign headed by PAWMA. jack pine here in Alberta. Evidence We will be able to obtain photos, Among the long term goals has already been documented of learning about identifying were: becoming the leading their destructive powers here in mushrooms and attend lectures that authority on mycology in Alberta Alberta. Research is being done to will be given throughout the and Western Canada; a name see what can be done and what weekend. change that would be more environments the beetle and the Our club will be involved to a inclusive of Albertans; chapters fungi need to flourish. certain degree and Martin will need

6 Spring 2006 No. 1 www.wildmushrooms.ws Whitemud Creek Foray - February 26, 2006

As a follow-up to the Annual General Meeting, members of the Edmonton Mycological Society met at Whitemud Creek for a Sunday morning Polypore foray. First, I need to apologize to anyone who may have come and missed the parking lot as I had propagated some misinformation that I had received. In all five people showed up for the walk in the old growth forest along the Whitemud Creek. In total 16 The fronts of our new species were identified. In bookmarks. On the backs addition, five unidentified of each bookmark there is species were collected for future information on the determination. mushroom that appears on the front. Also a look at our new Bill Richards poster. The PAWMA Committee has done an excellent job and deserve a huge THANK YOU. Species List many of us to volunteer in various especially if you are entering the Bisporella citrina areas: contest. We are encouraged to take Chlorociboria aeruginascens our cameras into the field and get a need for Foray leaders. Exidia truncata pictures. These will be invaluable as Fomes fomentarius members to man the registration our database is being setup and Fomes pinicola tables. photos are very important. There will be a Photo Contest Fomitopsis cajanderi transportation coordinators 2006 as well. For updates on the Ganoderma applanatum members to man the vendor contest and to see the 2005 winners, Hypoxylon mammatum tables. please access our website: Hypoxylon cf. fragiforme These are some the main areas www.wildmushrooms. ws Phellinus punctatus that volunteers will be needed. If Oh yes!!! and then there was Plicaturopsis crispa you can make a commitment, please the Potluck Lunch. It was Nectria cinnabarina let Martin know. mushroom heaven. The number of Spongipellis unicolor The Photo Contest 2005 dishes that arrived containing Stereum hirsutum Winners were also shown as well as mushrooms was awesome and all the some examples of what to do when food was excellent. Stereum striatum taking photos and what not to do, Trametes elegans Geraldine Kolacz www.wildmushrooms.ws Spring 2006 No. 1 7 Foray review 2005

As most of our membership knows, we try to maintain a fairly active foray schedule, which we hope to continue into the future.

Annual Forays The introduction of a Winter Polypore Foray several years ago has extended our season several months and allows me at least to spend more time in the “bush”. On March 12 we had approximately [I do a better job of recording the fungi than the forayers’] 14 members out to Poplar Creek Natural Area, west of Breton. Twenty-three species were noted, some of which were not polypores, like Russula nigricans, which we found because of the low Bill Richards, EMS’s Foray coordinator, studies his books as he snow cover under the white spruce. identifies the varied mushrooms that were picked by EMS members on No unexpected polypores were seen. a foray. Photo courtesy: Loretta Puckrin Our Annual Morel Foray on May 14 in Jackpines Provincial collections were very productive, I Grazing Reserve, south of Gainford Summer Evening Forays have yet to see a final species count We had four well-attended was a huge hit even if the morels were but collections were a great success few. I was unfortunately not available evening forays. The first was at again. Sherwood Park Natural Area but the 30 or so participants had a Our Foothills Foray took us to good time by all accounts. From a on June 8. Nearly a dozen Lambert Creek and area on August participants braved the few mycological standpoint, it was very 27-28. A species new to most of us interesting with a wide arrangement Chanterelle tubaeformis was found, mosquitoes and cool evening (for of ascomycetes available for and a Boletus sp., which has yet to yet some) to find 17 species assorted immediate comparison. These to be identified. Most of the 14 fungi. June 29 was a more pleasant included Gyromitra esculenta, G. participants camped out giving us evening and ten of us found our gigas, Morchella elata, Verpa more time to identify 43 species. way to North Cooking Lake bohemica and V. conica. Our First Alberta Wide Foray Natural, and searched 29 Thirty participants attended our was an exceptional success. It was identifiable species. Our Poplar Creek Oyster Mushroom held in the vicinity of Crimson Lake Boulevard Blitz brought out the Foray held June 18-19, where we had Provincial Park on Sept 3-5. We average complement of forayers on weekend campout and pig-roast with acquired a collection permit, which July 13 in the Mill Creek area. It other great foods and many fungi. It allowed us to collect within the park. was the intent to search lawns and was wet, however and why that Thanks to all those who participated boulevards but the good citizens should disturb mycophiles, I will and a special thanks to Dr. Leonard must be conserving water, as few never know. Thanks to Pieter for Hutchison who assisted with the arranging the warm dry New Moose fungi were on the lawns so we identifications. We had phenomenal retreated to the slightly moister Hill Hall for our use and to all the success with over 220 species other organizers and participants. woods along the creek, where 11 identified (all groups); 120 species of species were found. Our last Identification sessions and lectures Cortinarius identified to genera; 20 were also provided. Oyster summer evening foray of 2005 took species of Russula identified to place on August 17. Markus led mushrooms were among the 51 genera; six Lactarius species species found but their low numbers these eager 12 participants to identified to genera and nearly 200 Whitemud Creek Ravine for a attest to the continual habitat change more specimens yet to be determined. of the area. We may even have some new species successful hunt of 27 species. Our New Members Field for the province and possibly one new Thanks to the foray leaders who picked up Orientation on July 9-10 at Ashland to North America. We also found the slack in my frequent absences. In Dam gave new and old members 45 some truffles thanks to Dr. addition, a special thanks to all the species to study. The king bolete failed Hutchison. to show to the disappointment of all members and guests who make these A much smaller group again met forays worth the effort of arranging. Here who were expecting his presence, but at the Lambert Creek area on is to an equally good 2006 foray season. this king does no one’s bidding. September 10. As it was wet, we did a The August 6 forays “to various non-scientific pot collect only. habitat” for the pre-expositions Bill Richards

8 Spring 2006 No. 1 www.wildmushrooms.ws 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.

March Meeting: Mushroom August Meeting: New member identification DVD/Video by North American 28 Taylor Lockwood orientation by Alan Fleming Mycological 22 and Introduction to Field 17-20 Association Guides by Martin Osis (NAMA) Foray July Mushroom: Mushroom Collection for New Members Field the Database. April Orientation and Camp-out Location: Hinton & Area Mushroom: Various seasonal Meeting: Foray Fashion 8/9 Location: Ashland Dam Site Meeting: Show and some do’s and Talk and presenter TBA 26 don’ts by Bill Richards 13 Mid-Summer Evening Foray in May the Edmonton River Valley Summer Evening foray in 19 Mushrooms: Various 30 the Edmonton River Valley Ashland Parkland / Boreal Location: TBA Mushrooms: Various Forest Regions Location: TBA 13 Mushrooms: Morels, Verpas and Spring Foothills Foray Location: Rannach Mushrooms: Leccinum, September Provincial Grazing Reserve 21/22 Russula, Lactarius and Foothills Campout and other Agarics Foray Meeting: Morels and other Location: Bow Valley Provincial Park spring mushrooms by Mike 9/10 Mushroom: Honey 24 Schulz Mushrooms, Hedgehogs and Meeting: Mushroom Chanterelles identification aids - stains and Location: Lambert Creek Area 26 other chemicals June Final discussions and plans for the Meeting: Honey mushrooms - Volunteer Steward mushroom exposition at the the multiple faces of Armillaria Commitment Devonian 28 by Markus Thormann 17 Mushroom: Various seasonal Pre-exposition foray Location: Poplar Creek Mushrooms: As many different October Natural Area 29 varieties as possible. Location: Members choice. Meeting: Scary and nasty Summer Evening Foray in the mushrooms by Martin Osis Edmonton River Valley “City of Champignons” Mushroom 25 21 Mushroom: Various Exposition seasonal 30 Mushrooms: Any and all types Location: TBA of fungi November Location: Devonian Botanic Garden TBA President’s Dinner General Member Meetings Fourth Wednesday of every month - March 22th is our first meeting for 2006 Time: 7:00 pm Location: Riverbend Library www.wildmushrooms.ws Spring 2006 No. 1 9 The North American Mycological Association Foray (NAMA) is coming to Alberta NAMA is coming to Alberta for unidentified. We get the opportunity to Volunteers to help coordinate and their annual foray being held in Hinton see and record the names of lead forays making sure that no one is from August 17th through to August mushrooms which we have never been left out in the woods. 20th! able to identify before. As a club we are very excited about Normally the NAMA foray is only Any volunteer participation this for several reasons. The main open to members but this year we have usually has its own rewards and in the reason is we get to mingle and learn been given permission to invite all Alberta tradition of active volunteerism from some of the best experts in the EMS members as well. For people who we will make this event a great success world. If you aren’t familiar with are not NAMA members this foray for NAMA, EMS and all our individual NAMA, their annual foray is an represents a unique opportunity to be members. international gathering of both part of an international event. The Please contact Martin with any professional and amateur mycologists best way to get the most out of this questions, comments and suggestions on who meet for both an extensive series of event is to volunteer and become an how you can help. Make your decision to presentations as well as field gathering integral part of the organisation. We participate soon and book your and identifications as a result of daily will be looking for local volunteers to accommodations early as, due to forays. NAMA is an organization help out in a number of areas. industrial activity in Hinton, there is expected to be a shortage of dedicated to, and to a large extend run Volunteers who could collect door by, amateurs who are interested in the accommodation. We have identified and prizes and other sponsorship items reserved a number of camping spots for fruiting bodies of fungi, the mushrooms. as well as helping in the running of This is what interests most of us as well. this event but hotel and bunking an on-site market selling books, accommodations are only arranged for The second reason we are excited dvds, discs, drinks, poster and such. about NAMA coming to Alberta is that out-of-town participants. the foray leaves no mushroom Volunteers to help man registration and information/ help desks. Martin Osis

Weird and Whacky (continued from page 4) Literature cited: Puccinia Connick, W.J. and R.C. French. 1991. punctiformis. Here, Volatiles emitted during the sexual stage of the Canada Thistle rust fungus the fungus colonizes and by thistle flowers. Journal of thistle shoots and Agricultural and Food Chemistry 39: produces a strong 185-188. floral scent to attract Kaiser, R. 2006. Flowers and fungi use pollinators in order scents to mimic each other. Science to disperse its sexual 311: 806-807. reproductive Kaiser, R. 1993. The Scent of Orchids. structures (Connick Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. and French 1991). pp. 31-34. So, both fungi Naef, A., Roy, B.A., Kaiser, R., and R. and plants can Honegger. 2002. Insect-mediated reproduction of systemic infections by Figure 2. Rust fungi have pseudoflowers that attract insects, “(ab)use” each other Puccinia arrhenatheri on Berberis thus helping to carry the fungi to other plants to further their own vulgaris. New Phytologist 154: 717- causes. Both can 730. produce volatile chemicals or form Neinhuis, C., Roth, D., and W. Barthlott. herbaceous scent, which attracts a visual attractants that attract 1994. Aristolochia arborea: the biology variety of insects. These insects various pollinators. By the way, and thread of a remarkable rain forest facilitate the reproduction of the tree from Central America. Der these same scents can also elicit Palmengarten [The Palm Garden] 58: pathogenic fungus by dispersing its strong human responses and are 15-19. spermatia (sexual reproductive often used as a base for new structures) as they visit these Pfunder, M. And B.A. Roy. 2002. Pollinator- perfumes. Hence, in the end, we mediated interactions between a “flowers” in search of nectar. may be the ultimate benefactors of pathogenic fungus, Uromyces pisi Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense, is these mimicking efforts by plants (Pucciniaceae) and its host plant, a widespread weed and is also “used Euphorbia cyparissias (Euphorbiaceae). and fungi. American Journal of Botany 87: 48-55. and abused” by a rust fungus, Markus Thormann

10 Spring 2006 No. 1 www.wildmushrooms.ws Medicinal Mushrooms Part II (this article is being continued from the Winter Issue of Spore Print)

Champex, a patented field mushroom derivative, is a functional foodstuff designed to deodorize the body in the digestive system. It is 400% more effective than parsley seed extract. As a nutritional supplement it helps eliminate breath and body odour, improves intestinal function and regularity, helps blood cleansing and detoxifies the kidney and liver by suppressing the increase of serum levels of creatinine. It has been clinically proven to repress production of indole and tryptamine in-vivo. In pets, it helps reduce fecal/ ammonia odour, and suppresses odours internally, resulting in cleaner litter. Dr. Tatsuo Shiigai of Toride mushrooms can be used to treat associated with tumour formation, Kyodo General Hospital, found that leukocytopenia, inhibit bacterial also found in stinging nettles. The serum creatinine levels, a measure growth and reduce blood sugar inhibition of aromatase is directly of the progress of kidney failure, levels. They can also be taken after linked to prevention of breast and was significantly suppressed by used cancer operations to prevent prostate cancer. Champignon extract. Six of nine metastasis. Portabella contains about 8% patients with glomonephritis that Experiments by Wardle and chitin. This substance has valuable did not respond to a low protein Schisler in 1969, shows that the application in chemistry, diet, were helped by the extract. It growth of mushroom mycelium in biotechnology, agriculture, is possible that the mushroom vitro was stimulated by the addition dentistry, food processing, extract works, in part, by reducing of lipids. Safflower oil added to the environmental protection and the production of nephrotoxic cultivated mushroom enhanced the textile production. Chitosan, a substances in the intestines. growth and size. It appears that derivative, is a supplement used to It is extremely safe with a linoleic acid stimulates both lower cholesterol and promote LD50 value of >50,185 mg/kg (LD mycelial growth and initiation of weight loss. stands for lethal dose for 50% of test fruiting bodies. Work by Beelman et al., Int J subjects). The compound lenthionine is Med Mush, 2003, 5:4 favorably Work by Werner and Beelman, believed a contributing factor in the compared nutritional and Int J Med Mush, 2002,4:2, found flavour of the wild button medicinal benefit of Portabella selenium enriched button mushroom. mushrooms to shiitaki and oyster mushrooms can be produced for the Cremini and Portabella mushroom. functional food or nutraceutical mushrooms are variations of the Portabella contains significant industry. Mushrooms containing Button with richer, meatier flavour. amounts of mannose, glucose and 20% of RDA of selenium could be Crimini is high in crude protein sugar alcohols. marketed as an excellent source of (43.5%) and acid hydrolyzed fat. Agaratine, one of the this important mineral. Portabella is a large brown hydrazines, is a powerful mutagen, In Traditional Chinese form previously thought un- activated by tyrosinase, a Medicine, the button mushroom is saleable, and taken home by mushroom enzyme that makes it used to regulate body energy, and mushroom pickers. Today, through heat stable. The mushroom’s SOD remove phlegm from the body. It is good marketing, and a growing and aromatase inhibitors may help also good for the stomach and appetite in North America for more neutralize some of agaratine’s intestines, measles, contagious fungi variety, the Portabella is potential danger. hepatitis as well as coughs and available at supermarkets year One Swiss reported suggested hiccoughs. round. that four grams of A. bisporus daily According to one report, a It contains compounds that polysaccharide from button inhibit aromatase, an enzyme (Medicinal Mushrooms...continued on page 12) www.wildmushrooms.ws Spring 2006 No. 1 11 The closely (continued from page 11) related Wine coloured Agaricus Agaricus campestris led to the lifetime risk of cancer of ( A. (field mushroom, two cases per hundred thousand subrutilescens) of lives. the B. C. meadow mushroom, ghost ears) Tyrosinase, on the other hand, rainforest is helps lower blood pressure and is reported to be Agaricus arvensis used in treating hypertension. anti-fungal (Min It is prudent to not eat this et al., 1996). (horse mushroom) mushroom raw. Cooking only Agaricus Agaricus brunnescens reduces the carcinogenic blazei, from hydrazines by 25%, however. Brazil, is Agaricus bisporus In France, another fungi or attracting a lot of green mold called Trichoderma is attention from Agaricus hortensis used as a spray concentrate as an the myco-medical alternative to the systemic community. It has (wild button mushroom, cultivated fungicide, benomyl, to control been found to mushroom, portabella, crimini) Verticillium fungicola, a serious contain many of pathogen of A. brunnescens. the same Agaricus bitorquis Flat Top is widespread but not polyhydroxysteroids common, and recognized by its as Turkey Tail (spring agaricus black scales over a beige base. and has beta Agaricus placomyces Studies by Cochran in 1978 glucan levels from indicate anti-viral potential, and 9-14%. Its Agaricus praeclaresquamosus contains the steroid ergosterol, that polysaccharides converts to vitamin D. promote natural (flat top) Yellow staining Agaricus (A. killer cells that xanthodermus) and Felt Ringed are selective to tumour cells, but Agaricus (A. hondensis) are not conditions similar to A. the mushroom also possesses recommended edibles and have brunnescens. The mushroom is very immune modulating properties. phenolic and metallic odours popular in Japan, and known as Like other Agaricus, it inhibits respectively. The yellow staining Himematsutake. It possesses a aromatase and a rising star in the varieties tend to concentrate heavy mild, but distinct, sweet almond potential treatment of cancer. metals, another reason to avoid flavour. It is a semi-tropical species them. Local commercial button that is cultivated under controlled mushroom producers will eventually discover the marketing opportunity this fungus presents.

Robert Rogers is the author of Medicinal Mushrooms of the Prairies and ten other books related to health benefits from regional plants. He is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, Fellow of the International College of Nutrition, and past chair of the Alberta Natural Health Agricultural Network. Robert teaches plant medicine at both Grant MacEwan College and the Northern Star College of Mystical Studies. He can be contacted through Earth Medicine Consulting at [email protected] or 1-780- 433-7882.

This article on Medicinal Mushrooms is provided through the courtesy of Robert Rogers, author of Medicinal Mushrooms of the Prairies.

12 Spring 2006 No. 1 www.wildmushrooms.ws