2007 No.3 Clitocybe nuda - or in common tongue The Blewitt Tricholomataceae, Agaricales This mushroom, widely distributed throughout North America, is popular wherever it grows. On the prairies, the season is July-September, sometimes with multiple fruitings from the same Clitocybe nuda. Painting courtesy: Helen Engel site. What keeps it from being harvested more often is the confusion of correctly identifying One thing that adds to the Clitocybe graveolens - lacks the the mushroom. Although this confusion is that the Blewitt has had purplish colour and has a mushroom has a definite purplish many different scientific names. It strongly unpleasant odour tinge, that tinge can be anything has been known as Lepista nuda and and taste from a definite purple to a purple- Tricholoma nudum. So if you are Lepista saeva - has a buff cap rather tan, depending on the age and familiar with either of these two than purplish cap although it condition of the mushroom. The names, we are talking about the does have a purplish stalk, amount of purple is also affected by same mushroom species. edible the amount of moisture and the Clitocybe tarda - is purplish but has growing location - some varieties Let’s take a look at the a much thinner, fibrous stalk have barely a tinge while others are mushrooms which may be confused Cortinarius albovinlaceaus - definitely purple. The purple can with the Blewitt. cobwebby veil when young, fade from the time of picking to the gills turn rust-brown from review at your vehicle, making you Lepista irina - similar shape but spores, edible wonder whether you really did see lacks the purplish colouration the purple and whether this is really the Blewitt you wanted to get. (Blewitt...continued on page 3) www.wildmushrooms.ws Fall 2007 No. 3 1 identified as honey mushrooms. President’s Message These two cases just highlight the 2007 Executive importance of knowing exactly what Edmonton Mycological Society you are collecting for consumption. To their credit, the two individuals President & Webmaster: had saved some of their mushrooms, Markus Thormann which is something you should do as (780) 432-1392 well when you eat a new fungus for [email protected] the first time. As the saying goes…If Past President: Mike Schulz in doubt, throw it out. By the way, (780) 939-2106 neither individual died from their [email protected] misadventure. As you all know, the President’s Vice President: Martin Osis Dinner is the last event of the year. I (780) 987-4412 have been in contact with [email protected] Sorrentino’s South (on Calgary Trail), and you can expect to enjoy a Treasurer: Loretta Puckrin culinary masterpiece once again. I (780) 458-9889 will send out the menu and [email protected] registration form in early October. Secretary: Vacant As always, it will be limited to 40 registrants. I will prepare a fun Membership & Webmaster: presentation about magic Alan Fleming mushrooms, since that is always the (780) 463-8540 topic of the first question I have to [email protected] Markus Thormann, president of the answer when I reveal my Edmonton Mycological Society educational background. And no, Foray Coordinator: Bill Richards The past two months have been there won’t be any magic (780) 998-3507 very exciting ones. The Alberta mushrooms for consumption at the [email protected] Foray in Lac la Biche has been a dinner…I swear huge success despite dry conditions, Fall is upon us, bringing with it Program Director: Robert Rogers and our annual mushroom a change in the species of fungi we (780) 433-7882 [email protected] exposition “City of Champignons” at will find in our favourite hunting the Devonian Botanic Garden spots. To me, this is the most Media Relations Director: attracted about 250-300 visitors to interesting time from a mycological Melanie Fjoser our displays. I thank all of our perspective, since we can expect (780) 987-4412 volunteers for their countless hours many more fungi involved in the [email protected] of time working towards the decomposition of organic matter that successful execution of both events. ends up on the forest floor to make Newsletter Editor: Geri Kolacz Have a look at the more detailed an appearance. Sadly, this season is (780) 475-7927 accounts on both events in this also the beginning of the end of yet [email protected] newsletter. another fruitful and exciting Directors-at-large: Recently, I was contacted by mushrooming year. We have only a Pieter van der Schoot the Edmonton Poison Control Centre couple of forays remaining before (780) 696-2436 re: two cases of mushroom the President’s Dinner and our winter Ethel Luhtanen poisoning in the Lesser Slave Lake break. I hope you have been able to (430)220-9610 [email protected] region. Apparently, two individuals stash away a few fungi in dried or John Thompson had eaten some mushrooms they frozen state, so you can enjoy them (780) 456-9424 had picked earlier in the day and as part of your favourite dishes over [email protected] fell ill shortly thereafter. the winter months. Robert Simpson (780) 481-7905 Thankfully, they had saved a few Our next newsletter will be [email protected] specimens in their fridge and called the Stinkhorn in recognition ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ brought them along to the hospital. of our 20th anniversary and the MAILING A DDRESS: These specimens were eventually newsletter we published in the late Edmonton Mycological Society couriered to me, and I identified 1980s. You can expect it in your 1921, 10405 Jasper Avenue them as a species of Cortinarius and inbox or mailbox in November. Standard Life Building Pholiota squarrosa (neither of which Until then, happy ‘shrooming to Edmonton, AB T5J 3S2 we recommend for consumption). you all, WEBSITE ADDRESS: The latter were likely erroneously Markus www.wildmushrooms.ws 2 Fall 2007 No. 3 www.wildmushrooms.ws Blewitt (continued from page 1) Inocybe geophylia var. lilacina - brown spores, small cap - Poisonous Mycena pura - purple but small and slender with white spores - Poisonous The Blewitt is found in open areas, either in the woods or along paths. If you find one, check in an arc pattern as they often grow in rings or partial rings. When picking in blackberry country, checking close to the vines is a great place to start. In our area of the country open areas in the woods are the best bet. The basic growing matter is compost, so look for a spot where 2. Do the older specimens have the leaves have been blown and a pinkish/buff spore print Medicinal Properties collected. In some areas this 3. Is the stalk thick with a (from Robert Rogers - mushroom will sprout in compost bulbous base Fungal Pharmacy) 4. Absence of a veil (especially a heaps! The Blewitt has the action cobwebby one which is common for of regulating blood sugar Cortinarius) metabolism and supporting the Characteristics: 5. Slightly fruity but pleasant nervous system, possible due CAP odour - 2-6” wide to the high thiamine or Vitamine B1. They could be - convex to flat or broadly sunken Although some references used as part of a hypoglycemic in the centre suggest that you taste the mushroom control diet. - margin incurved, then wavy and in its raw state, you should be able to upturned determine the variety without - moist to dry, smooth resorting to that - Silvery-violet grey when dry or dangerous technique. tinged brownish Make sure you cook - Fragrant odour these mushrooms, as GILLS you should with all wild Notched, (can be adnate to mushrooms. No special adnexed) crowded violet to buff, processing (eg. drying, discolouring throw away boiled STALK water, etc.) is required. - 1-3” long; .5-1” thick, usually Just cook and eat! This with a large bulbous base species is great in - Solid, dry, scaly omelets and soups or - Violet to gray or brown-tinged grilled with a touch of - No veil olive oil and spices. - Spores: pinkish-buff, peach With the pine rich - Flesh - light lilac odour, this mushroom combines well with the The younger specimens tend flavour of wild meat or to have more of the purple colour. A nuts and cheese. quick check would be: 1. Are the young specimens purple toned (Blewitt...continued on page 11) www.wildmushrooms.ws Fall 2007 No. 3 3 Species List Alberta Foray Alberta Foray 2007 Lac La Biche – Lac La Biche Aug 3-6, 2007 Agaricus silvaticus August, 2007 Agaricus silvicola Albatrellus syringae Amanita vaginata var. vaginata The Alberta Foray on the registration, followed by a small foray Antrodia sp. August long weekend will, in my around the Portage College campus, mind, always be remembered as the and then an orientation to start the Antrodia serialis “Wasp Foray”. Despite this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, Antrodia xantha intimidating title, the foray was an we were able to choose two forays per Apiosporina morbosa overwhelming success. day from a total of 12 locations around For those members who did not the Lac La Biche area. In the Artomyces pyxidatus attend, many of us were stung by an evenings, we were treated to talks Auricularia auricula-judae unusual surplus of wasps. Although I from Paul Kroeger, Jim Ginns and Bjerkandera adusta got stung myself, I think Bill and Martin Osis. There were even Bovista plumbea Alan were hit the enough edibles for worst, both of them Judy to cook up Cantharellula umbonata incurring stings to some samples for Ceriporiopsis subvermispora their faces. This everyone on Sunday Cerrena unicolor drama should not night. Each filled Chalciporus piperatus overshadow the high day ended with some points of this weekend much anticipated Chlorociboria aeruginascens adventure.