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Home , Agaricus campestris, Chroogomphus vinicolor, Edible mushroom, Hericium, Hericium erinaceus, Hydnum

2005 No. 4

Hericium ramosum - comb’s tooth fungi

This year we have been featuring the finalists of the “Pick a Wild , Alberta!” project. Although the winner was the boreale all the finalists are excellent edibles which show the variety of mushroom shapes common in Alberta. If all you learned were these three finalists and the ever popular morel you would have a useable harvest every year. The and medicinal qualities of each is very different so you not only have variety in shape and location but in taste and value as well. If you learn about various edible and hunt for harvest you will become a mycophagist. Although you won’t need four years of university to get this designation, you will find that over the lifetime of learning about and harvesting mushroom you will put in more time than the average ramosum is a delicately flavoured fungi that is easily recognized and has medicinal university student and probably properties as well. Photo courtesy: Loretta Puckrin. enjoy it much more. edible as well. With their white moments of rapt viewing before the Although often shy and hard fruiting bodies against the dark picking begins. People to find, this delicious family trunks of trees, this fungus is knowledgeable in the medicinal is a favourite of new mushroom easily spotted and often produces pickers as all the ‘look alikes’ are (The Hericium ...continued on page 3)

FEATURE PRESIDENT’S PAST EVENTS NAMA FORAY & UPCOMING MUSHROOM MESSAGE Lambert Creek ... pg 5 CONFERENCE EVENTS The Hericium It has been a ... pg 9 ... pg 10 ramosum busy and Alberta Foray ... pg 6 & 7 ... pg 1 MEMBERSHIP successful year MEDICINAL Sorrentino’s Mushroom .. pg 4 RECIPE ... pg 2 Walk & Dinner ... pg 9 WHAT A ... pg 11 & 12 ... pg 10 DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES ... pg 8 www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter - 2005 No. 4 1 direction. So far, our new web site 2005 Executive President’s Message has been visited well over 1,350 times since its mid-July launch Edmonton Mycological Society date. Our annual “City of Champignons” Mushroom Expo- President: Markus Thormann sition in early August once again (780) 432-1392 was a huge success. Recently, I [email protected] received a phone call from a Devonian Botanic Garden staff Past President: Peter Arabchuk member, thanking us for organizing (780) 479-6630 this event and holding it on their [email protected] grounds. It is tremendously popular with the visitors to the Botanic 1st Vice President: Mike Schulz Garden, I was informed. In early (780) 939-2106 September, our first ever Alberta [email protected] Foray near Rocky Mountain House yielded an astounding richness of Membership: Alan Fleming fungi. The data have not all been (780) 463-8540 tallied yet, but in two short days, we [email protected] collected about 500 different species of fungi (!!!). Many of them have Treasurer: Loretta Puckrin not been identified to either (780) 458-9889 or species yet and await further [email protected] processing in the near future. This has been an event that was very Secretary: Melanie Fjoser well received by all in attendance. I Markus Thormann, president of the (780) 987-4412 look forward to the next Alberta [email protected] Edmonton Mycological Society Foray! I am sure that 2006 will be an Another mushroom season is Foray Coordinator: Bill Richards equally, if not more successful year. closing slowly, and it is time to (780) 998-3507 We can look forward to finishing formulate some final thoughts [email protected] about our past year’s activities. The (hopefully) our “Pick a Wild Mushroom, Alberta” campaign, the EMS elected a new executive in Program Director: Martin Osis April and began to develop a North American Mycological Association foray will take place (780) 987-4412 program for 2005 shortly thereafter. [email protected] It has been an excellent near Hinton in August, we’ll mushrooming year, which is very continue to expand our digital evident in the species lists published fungus image collection, and Newsletter Editor: Geri Kolacz in this year’s newsletters. We went perhaps take the first small steps (780) 475-7927 on 11 forays in the foothills, towards a database of fungi in [email protected] southern boreal forest, urban Alberta. I am very excited about centres, and the aspen parkland and these projects. Mailing: Diane Murray found a myriad of different I want to thank each member basidiomycetes, ascomycetes, jelly of the EMS executive and various fungi, and slime molds. Many of internal committees for their help, these fungi were edible and have advice, and countless hours of ended up in various dishes volunteer time throughout the first Directors-at-large: throughout the year or were dried, year of my tenure as president. Pieter Van Der Schoot frozen, or pickled for later Last but not least, without our (780) 696-2436 enjoyment. members from across Alberta, the Robert Rogers Our regular monthly meetings EMS would not be what it is today. (780) 433-7882 were highlighted by a number of I thank all of you for making the

excellent presentations on digital Edmonton Mycological Society one ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ photography, common and obscure of the best natural history clubs in MAILING ADDRESS: edible mushrooms, and how to go Alberta. My hat goes off to all of about identifying all those fungi Edmonton Mycological Society you! 1921, 10405 Jasper Avenue that grow throughout the growing I wish you all a festive Standard Life Building season. The EMS web site and the upcoming holiday season filled with Edmonton, AB T5J 3S2 Print were redesigned in lots of mushroom dinners. 2005, and both look stellar! A true WEBSITE ADDRESS: testament that the EMS is maturing Cheers and all the best for 2006. www.wildmushrooms.ws and progressing in the right See you all next year.

2 Winter- 2005 No. 4 www.wildmushrooms.ws The Hericium (continued from page 1) uses of mushrooms claim that this family enhances the immune system and helps to prevent cancers of the stomach, esophagus and skin. The genus Hericium has three edible species commonly called the Coral (), the Comb and the Lion’s mane (or Old Man’s Beard)(). The major differences between these species is the number of branches and the length of the spines or ‘teeth’ on the specimen. They are all white in colour but differ as to what type of trees and the amount of decay required for them to grow and fruit. The Conifer Coral, as the name suggests, grow primarily on and Douglas-fir trees which The Hericium family contains a number of species. The Hericium ramosum is one that have died. The specimens are most can be found in our area. Photo courtesy: John Thompson. common in the Pacific Northwest and should not be expected to be rather than in groups. When the cooked with strongly flavoured sighted in Alberta. Large white mushroom starts to turn foods, Hericium ramosum ends up specimens can weigh over 100 kg. yellow it should be left for another contributing more fibre than taste. So you might want to consider a year as it is too old to eat. Of all Some EMS members prefer using trip out west during its growing the Hericium this is the most Hericium ramosum with scrambled season. common variety in North America eggs as a morning dish to maximize The Lion’s Mane variety is so and can be found almost anywhere the flavour and fry it with minimal dense with branches and in this continent. seasoning which otherwise might teeth that you can’t see The mask the mushroom taste. Other the branches until Regardless season for members use this mushroom with you cut into your Hericium rice as both the flavours are light. sample. This has of what it is called, ramosum The names of mushrooms are the longest spines by classification or is late always changing as scientists learn of the three summer more about the various species. varieties and common name, it is through Hericium was once classified as prefers the wounds a delicious edible. fall but it is coralloides and placed in of living hardwood very fussy the same family as the trees for its growth. about climatic mushroom due to the spines found The Hericium ramosum conditions and can on both species. The word is a more delicate variety with skip several years before ‘hericium’ means hedgehog in evident branches and fine shorter appearing. Once a spot is found latin. Now Hericium is a genus ‘icicles’ or ‘teeth’ decending from keep visiting it every year as this unto itself but this may change the branches. The teeth are fairly species is likely to re-fruit in the with the DNA typing of specimens evenly distributed along the same area, if not on the same tree. which often suggests other branches and normally vary from This species of mushroom has commonalities that looks alone 3-10 mm in length. This variety a very light delicate flavour and don’t show. prefers growing on older felled logs should be cooked with other foods and stumps in solitary clumps that have mild . When Loretta Puckrin www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter - 2005 No. 4 3 From the pen of our Membership Coordinator I’m still shaking my head. Just Most EMS members already O monthly meetings during the a year ago I joined the EMS know the benefits of being part of season with guest speakers on (Edmonton Mycological Society) the Club. However I will rehash mushroom related topics. some of them. Also in the event knowing nothing about wild O access to our mushroom Non-Members read this article I will mushrooms nor the EMS. Now here identification database that is take this opportunity to encourage I am your Membership Coordinator presently under construction. and enjoying the experience of them to become new members. meeting so many wonderful like- Well now, what are the O mushroom picking guided walks minded people. We are a diverse benefits of joining our club? / forays – throughout the group of dedicated individuals who There are many, but a few of mushrooming season – location want to expand our knowledge of the key ones are: and timings are only available to members. all aspects of wild mushrooms. O four high quality newsletters Some people have joined for () per year O information on mushroom scientific purposes, some to learn containing information on identification, books, keys, on- about their medicinal values and specific mushrooms, club events, site field identification, the rest of us just want to learn meetings and general mushroom information etc. how to identify and enjoy the picking data are produced. multitude of edible varieties. O access to other clubs throughout The Edmonton Mycological O information on when and where North America. various mushrooms start Society presently consists of more O access to local mycologists. than 140 members in good appearing – we have some very standing, made up of family groups active members who seem to O information about international (2 or more), individual members have the uncanny knack of mushroom picking forays. and students. finding the first of a variety for the season. Alan Fleming Take the time NOW to renew your membership for 2006 Membership Registration Form

Name: ...... Address: ......

City: ...... Prov: ...... Postal Code: ...... Email: ...... Phone: ( ) ...... J Individual Membership ... $25.00 per year J Student Membership ... $15.00 per year J Family Membership ...$35.00 per year

Disclaimer Membership information is for the sole use of the Edmonton Mycological Society If you do not wish this information to be available to members please check the box below: Please do not make my membership information available to other members.

4 Winter- 2005 No. 4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Lambert Creek Foray Lambert Creek Foray List Albatrellus ovinus August 26-28, 2005 Boletus sp. tubaeformis This year’s weather for the cf. Bankera violascens vinicolor August Lambert Creek Foray was Clavariadelphus borealis one of the warmest weekends we Clavariadelphus sachalinensis experienced this summer. The biting odora insects were also bountiful. Three alboviolacius parties arrived on Friday evening to Cystoderma amianthinum camp overnight and fifteen Fomitopsis cajanderi members in total went on Saturday Fomitopsis pinicola morning to find gypsy, hedgehog Fuscoboletinus ochraceoroseus and man on horseback specimens. Fuscoboletinus spectabilis Gloeophyllum sepiarium As usual many other specimens Bill Richards, the foray leader, shows Gloeophyllum trabeum were collected. glutinosus We found three everyone an excellent specimen of a Rozites mushrooms, which I understand are caperata or gypsy mushroom. Helvella crispa highly prized and called peckii One member couple Hydnellum pineticola in . There were some large participated in their very first Hydnemum Repandum tamarack , a good number of foray and was awed by the Hygrocybe conica hedgehog and gypsy mushrooms Hygrophorus chrysodon diversity of mushrooms. They and the not so common Northern Hygrophorus eburneus shared a wonderful mushroom dip Pestle mushroom. The group Hygrophorus erubescens which was consumed as all Hygrophorus saxatilis dispersed in the afternoon, with congregated around a large Laccaria bicolor some members having to return crackling fire in the evening. Laccaria laccata home. aspideoides Since we had been made Bill Richards, with help from aware of a bear being sighted in the some of the group, again diligently Lactarius repraesentaneus vicinity, precautions were taken not Lactarius resimus identified the various specimens and to leave anything edible out Lactarius rufus eventually fried up samples to taste. Lactarius scrobiculatus overnight. Fortunately the critter This tasting and sampling is Lactarius subtorminosus never showed up. certainly one of the favorite Lactarius uvidus Sunday arrived as a nice Leccinum insigne activities at the foray outings. warm day again. Some of the Leccinum snellii overnight campers broke Lycogala epidendrum camp to foray in another Otidea onotica area while some stayed to Phellinus pini foray at Lambert Creek and Phellinus tremulae left for home around noon. A good time was had ostreatus Ramaria sp. by all and most of us Rozites caperata learned to identify yet nigricans another mushroom. Russula subfoetens My husband and I imbricatus Spathularia spathulalia joined the society one year Stropharia aeruginosa ago, enjoyed the company of brevipes likeminded people, had fun Suillus cavipes being outdoors and learned Suillus granulatus a lot about mushrooms by Suillus tomentosus Suillus umbonatus participating in the forays Trametes pubescens this year. Trichaptum biforme Tricholoma flavovirens Some of our members having fun sorting and Story and photos by identifying an assortment of mushrooms that were Gerlinde and Claus Cegielny Tricholoma zelleri picked on the foray. www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter - 2005 No. 4 5 ‘shrooming in Alberta

It has been a good season for fall mushrooms in Alberta. During the Labour Day weekend, we were fortunate enough to participate with members of the Edmonton Mycological Society in their 1st Alberta Foray – a 3 day event. It was held at the Crimson Lake Hall near Rocky Mountain House, 2 hours north-west of Calgary Many camped in the area; others stayed in local bed and breakfasts or motels/hotels. Forays were held each morning and afternoon and all meals (which included of a diversity of mushroom dishes) were prepared by volunteers in a rented community hall. The 30 participatants found approximately 500 different Some of the individuals that mushrooms, including a couple came to Crimson Lake for our which may be new finds for Alberta first Alberta Foray.(top) – and even for North America. We Thanks to everyone who helped found 150 Cortinarius specimens get meals ready and the cleanup alone! Experts from the club, went like clockwork (left). including several mycologists using a large number of references and Hmmmm, these are sure going microscopes, spent long hours to taste great! (bottom). identifying the specimens. A database will be formed documenting the finds. Leonard Hutchison (a former member of the club), now a mycologist in the Forestry Dept. at Lakehead University, attended and assisted with identification. This was the first time that the club had found during a foray in Alberta and they were plentiful, supplying food for a number of meals. We received a warm welcome; learned a lot; met some great people; and generally had a fun time. We look forward to participating again next year, when the NAMA foray will be hosted by the society. Ethel Luhtanen

6 Winter- 2005 No. 4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Bill, Markus, Mike, Martin and Leonard spent a major Species List amount of their time The Edmonton identifying the huge assortment of fungi that Mycological Society had a everyone enthusiastically collecting permit for the picked. collection of specimens Ethel Luhtanen and Leonard within Crimson Lake Hutchison (bottom left) Provincial Park and we discussing, what else, also collected in several mushrooms. other sites on adjacent (Bottom right) A sampling of land, including the the mushrooms that were proposed Rocky Mountain found House Natural Area. There were about 500 specimens collected. Of those 200 were identified to species. 120 Cortinarius, 25 Russula, 11 Lactarius, 10 Hobeloma, 5 Inocybe, and 5 Tricholoma were identified to genera and the rest are to be worked on to determine their species and genera. It is possible that we found a new species for North American and several new species for Alberta, but much work is needed to both verify and complete the collection list. Bill Richards

Photos courtesy of George and Anne Litven, Alan Fleming and Rosalind Quail.

www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter - 2005 No. 4 7 What a Difference a Year Makes

and in great Underlying all of this have abundance. The been the terrific people we have 2005 season began become acquainted with that have on a delightful contributed immensely to our spring like day in enjoyment of these activities in the March in the Poplar past year. Club members alert us Creek area on a when mushrooms are making their Foray. The appearance for the season, assist in medicinal the process of recognizing likely properties of the environments, developing merit identification skills and provide greater attention, information on harvesting, and we have come processing and storage of these to know several treasures. We can soak in a people who are pan of salty water or smoke the wee enthusiastic about beasties out before your family sharing information know they have been there. on how to take Our fellow amateur advantage of these mycologists are a cross section of private industry, the public sector, Rae and Alan Fleming with the king of boletes -- . attributes. In May Photo courtesy: Loretta Puckrin the morels and retirees and moms caring for the verpas were quite next generation of shroomers. This We became aware of the EMS elusive (at least to our eclectic group has wide ranging during the media campaign for the inexperienced eyes). Perhaps it was interests and expertise in many PAWMA (Pick a Wild Mushroom the glorious display of vivid blue areas of our ecosystem, e.g. Rub the Alberta). As a result of this past and buttercup yellow spring bark of an aspen and apply to your year’s exposure to the fungi that distracted the eyes. A wet face to benefit from its sun block kingdom the evening stroll is weekend in June did not dampen properties. Stop a moment and forever changed. Several weeks ago our enthusiasm as we joined club enjoy the wild Alberta orchid that we were walking through a small members that congregated at the Pieter has pointed out. Did that pair neighborhood park that has been on Poplar Creek area in search of of overflying Sandhill Cranes nest in our regular route for many a year. mushrooms. We spent a the area or are they on their way Suddenly we became aware of a wonderful evening trading stories south? Provide relief for your tired Suillus that had to be collected and with our fellow ‘shroomers, as we aching feet by placing alder leaves in studied. After reviewing all the shared some wild mushroom soups, the bottom of your footwear. distinguishing characteristics of the spit roasted pork and an assortment Troubled by , gather and steep mushroom and pouring over our of other mushroom dishes. For us some wild . rapidly expanding mushroom the highlight of the Ashland Dam As we review our participation library, the species was verified and Foray was the opportunity to at the end of year one it occurs to us that we have been fortunate to the pan was readied. As novices to practice using the identification key stumble onto an organization that the process a successful conclusion that Martin had developed. The will afford us with many an may not always be achieved; First Alberta Foray in September opportunity for continued learning. however, there is no greater was an incredible experience with It has been a fascinating excitement than completing our the collection of about 500 species of introduction to the field of first independent identification. mushrooms, a few of which may be and we are looking toward to many Our first foray took us to recorded for the first time in years of expanding on this basic Lambert Creek mid September Alberta, and copious quantities of knowledge with this diverse group 2004. We learned that under certain Cantharellus tubaeformis to feast of individuals that comprise the conditions a great variety of on. These are just a few of the EMS. mushrooms do “grow in the snow” highlights from this past year. Rae Fleming

8 Winter- 2005 No. 4 www.wildmushrooms.ws NAMANAMA ForayForay andand ConferenceConference As some of you may have preserved and put into herbaria, people who can help edit and put already heard, the North American giving another great boost to our together Discs and DVDs. Mycological Association (NAMA) is club’s goal of assembling a NPeople who could collect door planning on holding their annual database of all Alberta fungi. prizes and other sponsorship 2006 foray in Hinton, August 17-20 A third reason is that we items. Others who can help in the (Thursday to Sunday) . This is an hope to record much of the running of an on-site market international gathering of both conference / lecture portion of the selling books, DVDs, discs, drinks, professional and amateur foray as well as record some of the poster and such. mycologists. This is exciting for forays in the woods. This would NCoordinate printing and assembly several reasons. The main reason is become a major component of our of Foray programs and handouts. that we get to mingle and learn from education program both for in- NPeople to help man registration some of the best experts in the club use and as education material and information/ help desks. world. Remember that NAMA is an for other Albertans. NPeople to help coordinate & lead organization dedicated to, and to To make this foray a success, forays making sure that no one is some extent run by, amateurs. This both as a learning experience and left out in the woods. means that they are mostly financially, we will need to ask our The best way to get the most interested in looking at the larger members to come forward in their out of any event is to volunteer and macro fungi, especially the fruiting various areas of expertise and help plan on attending the entire bodies or mushrooms. This of course us organize the event. We will weekend. We need your is what interests most of us. require help with: commitment now to be a part of Secondly, NAMA leaves no NPeople who are familiar with this unique opportunity. mushroom unidentified. We will get coordinating transportation and Please contact Martin at the opportunity to see and record the entertainment. [email protected] or names of mushrooms that we have NPeople who are familiar with phone 780 987-4412 with any never been able to identify before. Audio visual equipment and questions, comment and suggestions NAMA foray collections are all recording devices. As well as on how you can help.

Mushroom Walk & Dinner Species list sp. group On September 10, forty After about an hour and a half mushroom enthusiasts met at foraying the lawns and bushes along Calocera sp. Sorrentino’s West to partake in a the multipurpose trail, we had Clavicorona pyxidata mushroom walk and dinner collected over 150 mushrooms, Coprinus comatus sponsored by Sorrentino’s and led which represented 19 different cf. Hebeloma sp. by Martin Osis, our Program species, including many edible Director. Most of the forayers were species. Hygrophorus sp. not members of the Edmonton We then made our way back to Lactarius deliciosus Mycological Society, but had an Sorrentino’s West for the Lactarius spp. interest in mushrooms from a subsequent 3-course mushroom Leucoagaricus naucinus culinary perspective. This walk was pasta dinner, especially prepared for Lycoperdon sp. part of the restaurant chains’ this event. Martin made the rounds annual Mushroom Harvest event, to every table and spoke with our Marasmius sp. which spans the month of fellow mushroom hunters about th September and is now in its 11 mushrooms, mycology, mushroom Polyporus cf. varius year. books, and the Edmonton Russula cf. olivacea We set off along Wolf Mycological Society, which resulted Russals sp. Road, picking mushrooms in a few new memberships. I thank Suillus grevellii here and diverse there, all Martin for leading the mini-foray the while Martin explaining what and Arleigh Stockwell, Marketing & the first such event, and we hope to these mushrooms were and what Promotions Coordinator for continue to further our relationship their roles are in the grand scheme Sorrentino’s, to work with our with Sorrentino’s in the years to of things. We turned into Westridge Society and establish a mutually come. Park and continued our mini-foray. beneficial relationship. This was Markus Thormann www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter - 2005 No. 4 9 Markus Thormann will be giving a talk to the general public on EMS Bylaw November 22, 2005 Vote at 7:00 pm at Riverbend Library. The Edmonton Mycological At the last regular meeting Society is looking for a There will not be on September 28, 2005, the another Calendar of Events membership in attendance Communications Co-ordinator. voted unanimously in favour to If you are interested or need published until after the hold the Annual General more information about the Annual General Meeting. Meeting (AGM) in February of position, please email Please check your emails each year. This change of date for information on the for the AGM from October to Markus Thormann, EMS February has been made in the president at Polypore Foray that is being Bylaws of the Edmonton planned, probably for Mycological Society and is [email protected] February of 2006. effective immediately. Consequently, our next AGM Recipe will be held in February 2006. The membership of the Edmonton Mycological Society Mushroom Pate will be notified of the exact date Ingredients: and agenda in due time. 150 grams of dried mushrooms (can be mixed) 3 medium spanish or white onions Markus Thormann 3 dried kaiser buns with crust removed 3 tbsp chopped (you may wish to use more for the coating) President, Edmonton 1/2 lb. butter Mycological Society 5 eggs (separate) 1 cup sour cream Salt & Pepper to taste

Need a ride? Found some 1. Wash mushrooms, cover with hot water and let sit overnight. mushrooms and would like to let 2. Save the liquid from the mushrooms and soak the dried buns in this everyone know that they are out? liquid. Chop onions. Melt all but 1 tbsp of butter in pan. Fry onions Have some information that you and mushrooms. Add buns (squeeze out the water). Cook the would like to share with the rest of mushrooms, onions and buns for a few more minutes stirring the club? constantly. There is an easy way. 3. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add 2 tbsp of hazelnuts, S&P, egg Just email your questions or yolks, and sour cream. Mix well. Beat egg whites and then mix with information to: the other ingredients in the bowl. [email protected] 4. Grease a tureen with the reserved butter. Place the rest of the This is the general site for all the chopped hazelnuts in the pan. Put the ingredients from the bowl on members who have emails. The list top of the hazelnuts. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 180°C for is never given out. This protects the one hour. members but allows anyone to Recipe courtesy of Judy Lasinski access the group. Annual General Meeting February, 2006. Watch for details in your email messages.

10 Winter- 2005 No. 4 www.wildmushrooms.ws Medicinal Mushrooms The meadow mushrooms are in kind the best, It is ill trusting any of the rest. - Horace such as beriberi, debility, loss of appetite, Agaricus may derive from indigestion, and agrarius meaning growing in the insufficient breast milk fields, or from the Greek secretion. It also AGARIKON. is used to prevents the rupturing describe all mushrooms with gills, of capillaries, gum and and comes from the name of a pre- abdominal bleeding, and Scythian people, the Agari, who were pellagra. skilled in the use of medicinal plants, K, a including mushrooms. They used a hemaglutinin, can be fungus called Agaricum, which was extracted from A. probably a Fomes polypore. campestris. It contains Bitorquis means having two rings, campestrin that is for the double annulus that effective against both distinguishes it from its close gram positive and relatives. negative bacteria; and used traditionally for treating tuberculosis (field and sinusitis. Wild Agaricus species tend to mushroom, meadow mushroom, ghost ears) Inhibition rate against be more pliable, less “chalky” and (horse mushroom) sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich softer, with a nutty earthy flavour Agaricus brunnescens carcinoma is 80%, due in part to when cooked. the Retine, or alpha-keto In parts of India and Agaricus hortensis (wild button mushroom, aldehyde content. Afghanistan, it is known as cultivated mushroom, portabella, crimini) A. campestris also has been KALLULAC-DIV, meaning “fairy’s (spring agaricus reported to possess significant cap”. anti-viral potential in work by Field Mushroom releases all of Agaricus placomyces Cochran, in 1978, and also its 16 billion in a single 24 Agaricus praeclaresquamosus (flat top) contains (S)-agaridoxin, and hour period. indigo. Horse Mushroom is resistant Culpepper said that garden to both gram positive and negative mushrooms (A. campestris) bacteria. Its inhibition rate against were used medicinally. (They sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma Button is related to the size and are) “Roasted and applied in a is up to 100%. shape. The term button mushroom poultice, or boiled with white lily It is somewhat larger than the is an English slang term for small roots and linseed, in milk, they field, and can be further identified male genitalia. ripen boils and abscesses better by having an anise/ odour. There is some controversy than any preparation that can be In Traditional Chinese which of these is the relative of the made”. In Norfolk, the mushroom Medicine, the dried mushroom is familiar supermarket mushroom. was stewed in milk to soothe used as part of the Tendon Easing According to Dr. Malloch, A. throat cancer. powder, for curing lumbago, and brunnescens (formerly A. bisporus) is Modern research by Gray and pain in the legs, numbed limbs and the winner. Others believe a pure Flatt found that administration of discomfort in the tendons and veins. white field mushroom, discovered by A. campestris to lab mice in Horse Mushroom has one of a farmer in 1926, is the original drinking water, countered the the highest contents (8.7% dry wt) parent of today’s supermarket hyperglycemia of diabetic bred of phosphatdylserine found in fungi; mushrooms. mice. The releasing activity and could be of interest to In 1998, over 860 million is greatest in the polar fractions, formulators for brain and nerve pounds of this mushroom were sold and leads to as many questions as function. on the American market. Few are answers. Button Mushroom has been grown organically, and in fact, the The fungi was called Ghost used traditionally in both and industry heavily uses pesticides. Ears by the Mohawk and used as a Korea by breast-feeding mothers to The Field mushroom contains food and flavouring agent by this help increase milk production. many valuable trace such and other native tribes. The It is known in the former as B1, C, P, K. etc, and taken neighbouring Onondaga called it country as MO GU, as well as JI regularly prevents many problems ANANAU’TRA, meaning hat or cap. (Medicinal Mushrooms...continued on page 12) www.wildmushrooms.ws Winter - 2005 No. 4 11 Agaricus Photos courtesy: Loretta Puckrin transfer to humans, but (continued from page 11) nonetheless, Button mushrooms should probably be cooked; and yet ZU MO GU, chicken foot 80% of this species are consumed mushroom, MO GU XUN, raw in the and mushroom gill fungus, and ROU Canada. Recent studies have failed XUN, meat gill mushroom. to confirm these previous The button mushroom is observations, but the data is too cooked in soups to ease limited to be certain one way or the indigestion and increase appetite. other. It is often simmered with Reishi Conventional wisdom held for mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) years that hydrazines were for treating chronic hepatitis, destroyed in . two weeks on and three days off. Some authors believe that The Button mushroom has In a study by Swanston-Flatt aromatase, anti-oxidants and anti- been found to contain a et al at the University of Surrey in cancer neutralize PA3DE, which shows 1989, button mushrooms were the effect, but the jury is still out. inhibitory effect against the found to be anti-diabetic. This There is a definite need for the mushroom countered the development of agaritine free initial reduction in plasma strains. In 1998, the Button insulin, the reduction in Mushroom accounted for 98% of pancreatic insulin the market with 861 million pounds concentration and sold. In 1970, the button improved the mushroom accounted for over70% hypoglycemic effect of of the total global mushroom exogenous insulin. production, but by the new century, The purple coloured it accounts for only 30%, even observed on some though production has more than cultivated and washed doubled in those years. mushrooms is due to the Of more concern, is the heavy oxidization of L-Dopa by use of malathion and other tyrosinase to indol,-5,6- pesticides used in commercial quinone, to melanochrome mushroom cultivation. Organic to melanin. production is on the way! Button mushrooms Studies by Gruter et al., (A. bisporus) also contain (1990) indicate that ethanol phenolic and quinoid extracts from Button mushrooms Helicobacter pylori bacterium, derivatives with anti- contain anti-mutagenic substances responsible for a high number of bacterial activity (Vogel et al., that are heat stable. stomach ulcers, gastritis, and gastric 1974). Work by Yu-LuGang et al., carcinomas. Archives of Pharmacal The inclusion of dried button published in the 1999 Journal of Research, 1996 19:6. mushrooms at the 5% and 10% Biological Chemistry, 1999,274;8, The Button mushroom (A. level in diets of rats resulted in the found a lectin with potent anti- bisporus) is resistant to both gram- accumulation of lipids in the liver proliferative effect, but no apparent positive and gram-negative bacteria. with a simultaneous decrease in cytotoxicity. This Ga1 beta1- Agaratine is weakly mutagenic to the circulatory lipids, except NAcalpha lectin effect appears due Salmonella typhimurium. healthy phospholipids, in blood to a consequence of lectin Agaratine is also the most plasma. It also contains a trafficking to the nuclear notable carcinogenic hydrazine, hydrazide, agaritine. It is worthy periphery; where it block NLS which is quite heat stable. of note that mice fed uncooked dependent uptake into the Button Mushrooms also Agaricus bisporus, the common nucleus. contain aromatase inhibitors, in supermarkets, Decoctions of the dried similar to those found nettle , developed cancer tumours, fruiting bodies have been used in and possessing anti-cancer activity, supposedly from the diabetes. especially against hormone sensitive phenylhydrazine derivative, Champex, a patented field cells from the breast and prostate. J agaritine. The compound is often 2001,131; Recent Progress in accompanied by the analogue (This article on Medicinal Mushrooms will continue in Hormone Res 2002,57; Tox Appl agaritinal, previously found only in our first issue of the new year. Provided through the Pharm 2002,179:1; J Endocrin 2002, A. campestris. courtesy of Robert Rogers, author of Medicinal 172:1. Mice studies do not always Mushrooms of the Prairies. Robert teaches plant medicine and can be reached through Earth Medicine Consulting at [email protected])

12 Winter- 2005 No. 4 www.wildmushrooms.ws