Three Lichenomphalias from the Top of Gros Morne Mountain by Andrus Voitk
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Volume 47:5 September ⁄ October 2006 www.namyco.org Three Lichenomphalias from the Top of Gros Morne Mountain by Andrus Voitk Within the genus Omphalina there are two kinds of mushrooms—those that exist as mushrooms alone and those that exist as the fungal component of a lichen. Genetic studies of the genus showed that the lichenized mushrooms shared DNA similarity different from the rest of the genus. Therefore, Canadian mycologist Scott Redhead proposed splitting these into a separate genus, Lichenomphalia. Fig. 2 Lichens are very interesting organisms composed of two or more other organisms. One of these is always a fungus and the other(s) is/are either one (or more) alga actually not true lichens, for they are loosely associated or a cyanobacterium. The fungus is by far the major only, with no intermingling of components—i.e., the component of any lichen, gives its thallus shape, and alga grows freely and the fungus grows freely but only the lichen is known by the name of the fungus. In together with the alga. For example, Multiclavula some instances, both component organisms exist cannot exist without its algal partner, although it is not separately as well as in their combined lichenized structurally linked to the latter. True lichenized fungi form. Of the thousands of lichens, very few have a have their algal partner(s) trapped inside a film or basidiomycete as the fungal partner. Only about 20 pocket of fungal tissue. Thus it is a somewhat unbal- species are formed with agarics (mushrooms with cap, anced partnership: the partner that cannot exist without stem and gills). It seems that in these uncommon the other encapsulates the latter and lives off its cases, over time the basidiomycete has lost its ability to produce. live independently and is an obligate lichen component, The poor soils of barrens, including mountaintops, found only in its lichenized form. The associated alga are preferred habitats for many lichenized agarics. may not be similarly limited and may live indepen- Three species of the genus Lichenomphalia were dently as an alga or with a host of fungi as a lichen. encountered on top of Gros Morne Mountain July 4, The method of association between fungus and 2006. All three are associated with the same alga, alga varies. Some seemingly obligate “lichens” are Continued on page 11 In this issue: President’s Message ................................................. 2 Fungi in the News ...................................................... 3 2006 NAMA Fellowship Recipient Announced ......... 4 Book Review ............................................................... 5 Mushroom Cultivation . in a Glovebox! ................ 6 Recent Additions to the Mycophilic Library ............. 8 Forays and Announcements ................................... 10 Mushroom of the Month ......................................... 12 Fig. 1 1The Mycophile, September/October 2006 Moving? P R E S I D E N T ‘ S M E S S A G E Please send your new address, two weeks before you move, to Ann Bornstein The NAMA Foray in Hinton is a couple of weeks away as I write this. I NAMA Membership Secretary must admit that I’m looking forward to getting out of this late-July heat 336 Lenox Avenue Oakland, CA 94610-4675 here in the Southeast and into those big mountains of Alberta. <[email protected]> This year’s foray will be different for many of us. For one of only a few Otherwise—you may not be getting times since I became interested in mushrooms will I be at a NAMA foray your newsletter for a while. Each without Dr. Orson Miller. He and Hope have been such regulars at the issue, several Mycophiles are forays that you can truly say they have become fixtures. And it’s not just returned as undeliverable because of no forwarding address on file. NAMA the national forays but the NAMA regional and even club forays where you is charged seventy cents for each could count on spending many wonderful moments with the Millers. Orson returned or forwarded newsletter. passed away in June after becoming ill while hunting mushrooms. I first met Orson and Hope at just such a club foray. The year was 1987, and I had been interested in fungi for only about a year when our newly NAMA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions to support formed Blue Ridge Mushroom Club invited Orson and Hope to join us in the scientific and educational activi- the mountains of North Carolina for our first official club foray. They ties of the Association are always jumped at the invitation. My knowledge of mushrooms at the time might welcome and may be deductible as have taken up one page of Orson’s book—double-spaced! So here was this allowed by law. Gifts of any amount may be made for special occasions, ignorant CPA (a term you see in the news too much these days) picking such as birthdays, anniversaries, and everything he saw, hoping for the chance for the man who “wrote the book” for memorials. to help me identify the collection. I didn’t have to ask. Suddenly there he Special categories include and Hope were going through my basket, taking the time to show me every Friend of NAMA: $500–900 little characteristic of each of my mushrooms. While my interest in fungi Benefactor: $1000–4900 Patron: $5000 and up had already been sparked, they truly fanned the flames. Send contributions to Continued on page 10 Judith McCandless, Treasurer 330 Wildwood Place Louisville, KY40206-2523 <[email protected]> The Mycophile is published bimonthly by the North American Mycological Association, 6615 Tudor Court, Gladstone, OR 97027-1032. NAMA is a nonprofit corporation; contributions may be tax-deductible. Web site: www.namyco.org Isaac Forester, NAMA President P.O. Box 1107 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-1107 <[email protected]> Judy Roger, Executive Secretary 6615 Tudor Court Gladstone, OR 97027-1032 <[email protected]> <[email protected]> Britt Bunyard, Content Editor W184 N12633 Fond du Lac Avenue Germantown, WI 53022 <[email protected]> Judith Caulfield, Production Editor 927 Lansing Drive Lichen and diptera (photo courtesy J. N. Dell). See Lichenomphalias article, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 continued on page 11. <[email protected]> The Mycophile, September/October 2006 2 F U N G I I N T H E N E W S By now, you’ve no doubt heard the On a disappointing note, the Ten species had abundance levels sad news of Orson Miller’s passing. editorial of the same issue explains that varied by management class. He was among the greatest North that at the end of the year, BMS will Two of these species, Cystostereum American mycologists of all time cease publication of The Mycologist. murraii and Rigidoporus crocatus, and will be greatly missed. Ike’s It will be replaced by a new journal, were most abundant in old growth words echo the sentiments of us all. titled Fungal Biology Reviews. While I and might be good indicators of look forward to reading informative stands with old-growth characteris- On a happier note, a void has been review articles in the latter, I will tics. Oxyporus populinus, an filled in the mycological world, as greatly miss The Mycologist. No important pathogen of Acer spp., was our own journal, McIlvainea, has doubt, regular features like “Myco- most abundant in even-age stands. been reborn. By now all members of logical Dispatches” and “Profiles of As you might expect, variability NAMA should have received their Fungi” (where a different plant from year to year suggests that more copies. I greatly appreciate all the pathogen or other interesting garden than two years of sampling are kind words of praise I’ve received or woodland fungus is discussed) needed to characterize annual over the past few weeks. Most of will be dropped. Other pertinent variation. Changes in the diversity the praise should go to Judith articles will likely find a home in and species composition of the Caulfield as she is the reason it Field Mycology. Of course, this wood-inhabiting fungal community looks so good! I also am thrilled by verifies the importance and timeliness could have significant implications all the requests for copies and of the resurrection of McIlvainea. for the diversity, health, and produc- author instructions from future I’m confident the members of tivity of forest ecosystems. authors. With such interest and NAMA will welcome all mycological How many nuclei are present in enthusiasm from the mycological refugees left stranded by The a mushroom spore? Think it’s a trick community, I’m confident that Mycologist’s demise. question? You’ve probably always McIlvainea is back on track and here just assumed it was one. And why to stay. The next issue is scheduled From the Mycological Society of would the number of nuclei per for an on-time delivery in the fall. America’s Mycologia comes a spore matter to the mushroom any- Stay tuned! number of interesting articles. The way? Thomas Horton explains Mar/Apr issue (vol. 98, no. 2) is the (98[2]: 233–38) that the production of From the British Mycological current one; mine arrived today. even a limited number of hetero- Society’s The Mycologist (vol. 20, part “Species diversity of polyporoid karyotic spores would be advanta- 2) comes a review of Albert and corticioid fungi in northern geous for establishing new indi- Hofmann’s life and involvement hardwood forests with differing viduals after long-distance dispersal. with the discovery of LSD, derived management histories” by Dan (This strategy is analogous to self- from a plant pathogenic fungus Lindner, Hal Burdsall, and Glen R. fertilization in plants. While called Claviceps purpurea (a.k.a. Stanosz (98[2]: 195–217) describes inbreeding is bad for the population, ergot).