Volume 48:1 January ⁄ February 2007 www.namyco.org Bovista, Mycenastrum, and Other Puffballs of the Carden Alvar by John Sparling plants and at the same time encour- The Carden Alvar in Ontario, ages the presence of weedy species. Canada, is a large limestone plain During a foray in September and occupying lands that were flooded October 2005 to inventory the fungi by large glacial lakes formed after and assess presence of typical forest the retreat of the ice sheet. Gene- and grassland fungi, we were sur- prised at the numbers of fungi rally there is a thin soil cover except Mycenastrum corium in lowlying areas, where deeper associated with dung-enriched soils sandy and peat soils occur. The including several puffballs. a smooth outer case, the exoperi- openness of the alvar has been Puffballs are oval to round gill- dium, that on closer examination caused by past fires and heavy less fungi often common in nitro- was shown to have no sterile base grazing pressure that suppress tree gen-rich grasslands and woodlands. and a mycelial taproot. This was growth. Most grow on the soil, where they Bovista pila, which seemed to be the Alvars possess a flora with are attached by a number of rhizoids. commonest gasteromycete on the many plants rare or absent else- The rhizoids are aggregations of hy- alvar. We were pleased to find the where. An important factor in the phae, which penetrate into the humus other Bovista present in Ontario, ecology is that the grazing increases and absorb nutrients and moisture. growing in the shrubby and wooded the nitrogen content of the soil as Amongst the first we found areas. This was Bovista plumbea; the well as causing surface soil distur- were small to medium-sized white identification was confirmed by bance. This decreases many alvar puffballs almost spherical and with Continued on page 6
In this issue:
Message from Sandy: Spread the Word! ...... 2 Forays and Announcements ...... 3 Fungi in the News ...... 3 Book Review ...... 6 Beug Wins NAMA Award ...... 6 Call for Award Nominations ...... 7 Recalling Elsie Knighton ...... 7 2006 Slide Winners ...... 8, 9 NAMA Educational Offerings...... 10 Photo Contest Entry Form ...... 14 Photo Contest Rules ...... 15 Dougall Wins Knighton Award .... 15 Mushroom of the Month ...... 16
Mycenastrum corium Carden
1The Mycophile, January/February 2007 Moving? S P R E A D T H E W O R D Please send your new address, two weeks before you move, to Ann Bornstein Spread the Word: Mycology NAMA Membership Secretary The prime purpose of NAMA is to educate our members and the public 336 Lenox Avenue Oakland, CA 94610-4675 about fungi. As chair of the NAMA Education committee, I think that we all
The Mycophile, January/February 2007 2 FORAYS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Point Reyes National Mendocino County. Activities for the Community College’s CML Seashore Mycoblitz Foray weekend include guided field trips to Conference Center, 4000 E. 30th Saturday, January 20 prime, local mushroom habitats; Ave., Bldg. 19, Eugene. For full mushroom ID; and fabulous food. schedule of events including This is an effort to collect and Co-sponsored by the Bay Area information on registering, visit document the fungi at Pt. Reyes—a Mycological Society and the Fungus www.oregontrufflefestival.com or cooperative venture of local Federation of Santa Cruz. For more call (503) 269-5929. mushroom clubs, UC–Berkeley, San information and to register, contact Francisco State University, and the Debbie Viess at national park. Learn about fungi and Medical Mycology Society of
F U N G I I N T H E N E W S
Although winter is upon us and the many Phytophthora genes of probable is potato; the pathogen was respon- woods are mostly devoid of mush- phototroph (photosynthetic organ- sible for famine of Ireland and rooms, the literature out there is isms) origin supports a photosyn- Europe in the mid 1800s, and every chock full of things fungi! The most thetic ancestry for the stramenopiles year it still causes $5 billion dam- recent issues of many of my maga- (for more on this, see the Book age to the crop worldwide. No small zines and journals are sitting on my Reviews in this issue). Comparison potatoes. (That was rotten, I know!) desk, dog-eared, so let’s see what of the two species’ genomes reveals Besides better determining the evo- I’ve come up with. a rapid expansion and diversification lutionary origins for the genus, and of many protein families associated Oömycetes, the large team of Genomes Highlight Plant with plant infection such as hydro- researchers, led by Brett Tyler of Pathogens’ Powerful Arsenal: lases, ABC transporters, protein Virginia Polytechnic Institute, hopes A recent issue of the journal Science toxins, proteinase inhibitors, and, in to eventually be able to slow the (313: 1261–66) reports that draft particular, a superfamily of 700 assault of these pathogens by either genome sequences have been proteins with similarity to known designing better chemical treat- determined for the soybean “fungal” oömycete avirulence genes ments or engineering stronger resis- pathogen Phytophthora sojae and the Sudden oak death (SOD) has tance (to the pathogen) in the sudden oak death pathogen Phytoph- been in the news quite a bit lately, plants. thora ramorum. Oömycetes such as but the entire genus is infamous for In another issue of Science (314: these Phytophthora species were its destruction of plants and impact 661–64) scientists have constructed long considered fungi (based on on humanity. The genus Phytoph- a molecular phylogeny for the their appearance), but are now thora (aptly, Greek for “plant de- cellular slime mold Dictyostelium classified in the kingdom Strame- stroyer”) contains some 70 species discoideum. Cellular slime molds nopila with photosynthetic algae that can attack just about all species such as diatoms. The presence of of broadleaf plants. Most noteworthy Continued on page 4
3The Mycophile, January/February 2007 Fungi in the News, continued from page 3 and the microbes in each dish formed dozens of slugs and fruiting bodies. Upon observing their social development, are another group of organisms that spend their lives the team observed that individual fruiting bodies con- masquerading as fungi (see above paragraph). In tained predominantly one strain or the other. It’s unclear general, they’re no longer considered to be true fungi how D. purpureum distinguishes relatives from non- and sometimes go by the name of social amoebas (or relatives, but it likely relies on a genetic mechanism. Dictyostelia) because of their curious morphology and growth habits (they exist as single amoeboid cells for Magical Mushroom Tour: The September 2006 issue periods of time, then will swarm together for purposes of Scientific American discusses the findings of a paper of spore production). Despite widespread interest in published earlier in the July 12 issue of the journal Dictyostelium discoideum as a model system to study cell Psychopharmacology. Mycophiles know that psychedelic communication and multicellular development, almost mushrooms have for millennia been said to trigger no molecular data exist from the rest of the group. The mystical experiences. The drugs, primarily psilocybin, team of researchers led by Sandra Baldauf at the showed some initial promise in treating chronic pain University of York in the UK constructed the first and depression in terminally ill patients but a wave of molecular phylogeny of the Dictyostelia, utilizing nearly recreational abuse in the late 1960s led to outlawing all of the known 90 species, and found that dictyostelid and a halt in research. Now it seems the most rigorous taxonomy requires complete revision. Their current scientific experiment with the hallucinogen, and the taxonomy, first described more than 50 years ago, is first in 40 years, proved capable of producing mystical based purely on morphology. By the way, the full states in the laboratory safely. A rigorous, double-blind genome of D. discoideum was published in Nature in study has reopened the doors of scientific investigation, 2005. reporting spiritual effects and long-term impacts from While we’re on the subject of Dictyostelium . . . the use of psilocybin. Neuroscientist Roland Griffiths of New research published by Rice University biologists in Johns Hopkins University and his colleagues tested the a recent issue of the journal Nature (442: 881–82) finds effects of psilocybin—which appears to mimic the that even the simplest of social creatures have the effects of serotonin in the brain—on 36 middle-aged ability not only to recognize their own family members Americans who had never tried psychedelics before. but also to selectively discriminate in favor of them. The volunteers were chosen because they all are The study provides further proof of the surprisingly “spiritually active” and “who might interpret the experi- sophisticated social behavior of microbes, which have ences best,” according to the researchers. Many re- been shown to exhibit levels of cooperation more searchers believe that psychedelic effects are driven in typically linked to animals. Recognizing one’s own large part by expectations of the experience so neither family is a common trait among animals—be they monitors nor subjects knew when they would be given chimpanzees, ground squirrels or paper wasps and the psychoactive drug. This blinding seemed to work as because kin recognition can strongly influence coopera- even the medically experienced monitors misidentified tive behaviors it can also significantly impact the social which drug had been given in 23 percent of the ses- evolution of species. While researchers have repeatedly sions. Volunteers were given a drug or placebo, made documented cases of kin recognition, the Rice study is comfortable, and kept from distractions. Immediately among the first to document the more sophisticated following the roughly eight-hour sessions, the partici- trait of kin discrimination in a social microorganism. pants were asked to fill out a series of questionnaires The new study is based on an examination of designed to probe the nature and quality of the experi- Dictyostelium purpureum, a common soil microbe that ence. Twenty-two out of the 36 volunteers described a feeds on bacteria and is a close relative of D. discoi- so-called mystical experience, or one that included deum (see previous story). In the wild, when food runs feelings of unity with all things, transcendence of time short, D. purpureum aggregate together by the thou- and space as well as deep and abiding joy. In follow-up sands, forming first into long narrow slugs and then interviews conducted two months later 67 percent of into hair-like fruiting bodies. Resembling miniature the volunteers rated the psilocybin experience as mushrooms, these fruiting bodies consist of both a among the most meaningful of their lives, comparing it freestanding stalk and the spores that sit atop it. Ulti- to the birth of a first child or the death of a parent, and mately, the spores are carried away—commonly on the 79 percent reported that it had moderately or greatly legs of passing creatures—to start the life cycle all over increased their overall sense of well-being or life again. But in order to disperse the spores, some of the satisfaction. Independent interviews of family mem- colony’s individuals must altruistically sacrifice them- bers, friends and co-workers confirmed small but selves in order to make the stalk. significant positive changes in the subject’s behavior The investigators sought to find out whether D. and more follow-ups are currently being conducted to purpureum discriminate by preferentially directing this determine if the effects persist a year later. The authors altruism toward their relatives. In the lab, wild-caught of the study say that further investigations should be cellular slime molds were cultured, food was withheld, conducted to determine the efficacy of such mushroom
The Mycophile, January/February 2007 4 compounds as tools for understanding the neurobiology previously undetectable amounts, or nearly so) is all of human consciousness, self-awareness and their that’s necessary to ruin a batch of wine juice. potential as therapeutic agents. Also published by the British Mycological Society is The Mycologist, which has a terrific review article by Fungi and Fungal Toxins as Weapons . . . Anke and Weber (20[3]: 83–89) on white-rot and brown- Should we be afraid? A paper in the September issue of rot fungi. Timely, as that’s about the only mushrooms the journal Mycological Research (110[9]: 1003–10) you’ll find in the woods right now. The article does a provides an excellent overview and should be read by great job of explaining the difference between the two all mycophiles living in a “post 9/11 world.” Recent types of fungi and how they break down wood. aggressive attacks on innocent citizens have resulted in governments increasing security. However, there is a From the pages of Mycologia: Yang and Pfister of good case for prevention rather than reaction. Bio- Harvard University have published “Monotropa uniflora weapons, mycotoxins, fungal biocontrol agents (FBCA), plants of eastern Massachusetts form mycorrhizae with and even pharmaceuticals contain, or are, toxins and a diversity of russulacean fungi” (98[4]: 535-540). Plant need to be considered in the context of the new para- species in the subfamily Monotropoideae (including digm. Is it desirable to discuss such issues? Russell and Monotropa or “Indian pipes”) are mycoheterotrophs; Paterson, two researchers from Portugal, point out that they obtain fixed carbon from photosynthetic plants via none of the fungi are (a) as toxic as botulinum toxin a shared mycorrhizal network. Previous findings show from Clostridium botulinum, and (b) as dangerous as mycoheterotrophic plants exhibit a high level of speci- nuclear weapons. One toxin may be defined as a phar- ficity to their mycorrhizal fungi. In this study they maceutical and vice versa simply by a small change in explored the association of mycorrhizal fungi and concentration or a moiety. Mycotoxins are defined as Monotropa uniflora in eastern North America. The naturally occurring toxic compounds obtained from investigators collected M. uniflora roots and nearby fungi. They are the biggest chronic health risk when basidiomycete sporocarps from four sites within a 100 incorporated into the diet. The current list of fungal km2 area in eastern Massachusetts. Using DNA se- toxins as biochemical weapons is small, although quence techniques, they found that all 56 sampled M. awareness is growing of the threats they may pose. T-2 uniflora mycorrhizal fungi were members of the toxin is perhaps the biggest concern. A clear distinction Russulaceae, including isolates from the genera Russula is required between the biological (fungus) and chemi- and Lactarius. The truly fascinating aspect of this cal (toxin) aspects of the issue. There is an obvious association is that the sugars that the mycoheterotroph requirement to be able to trace these fungi and com- plant (Monotropa) uses to build its tissues are coming pounds in the environment and to know when concen- from a phototroph (the plant that Russula is a symbiont trations are abnormal. This paper indicates how to treat with). The mycorrhizal fungus is merely a bridge, mycotoxicosis and decontaminate mycotoxins. There is allowing Monotropa access to that photosynthate. considerable confusion and inconsistency surrounding this topic that requires assessment in an impartial and Earthly Delights is the title of an article in the “Eating scientific manner. Of course I’m greatly summarizing Wisely” section of the October issue of Yoga Journal. here; their paper provides an excellent review of the The article describes a number of fresh mushrooms topic of mycotoxins as potential weapons. (common and exotic) and then explains their health Also from Mycological Research (110[10]: 1179–83) benefits. More importantly (to me), the author then comes an article titled “Fatty acid composition of lipids describes terrific ways to prepare them. Tempura from mushrooms belonging to the family Boletaceae” by Maitake, anyone? Thanks to member Bill Petty of Canadian researchers Pedneault et al. The fatty acid Florida (and to his daughter who passed it on to him) (FA) composition of 11 mushroom species of the family for sending me the article. Boletaceae was determined. More than 25 different FAs were found in the mushroom lipids. Unsaturated FAs, Photographic Delights abound in the November 2006 mainly linoleic and oleic acids, accounted for about 83 issue of National Geographic. A beautiful photo essay is % of the total FA. See, mushrooms ARE healthy for featured, highlighting some incredible shots taken in you! Hopefully I don’t have to tell you that linoleic acid Ecuador by the writer, photographer, and insect biolo- is an essential fatty acid—we cannot make it ourselves gist Mark W. Moffett. If unfamiliar—he seems to be but must get it from our diet. So, eat up! everywhere; I recently heard an interview with him on And while you’re at it, have a little wine with your NPR—then try to track down his terrific Web site. mushrooms. From that same issue of Mycological Research (110[10]: 1184-1192) researchers have pub- The Fungal Tree of Life—Probably the biggest fungal lished a method to identify the powdery mildew fungus news from the journals since the last issue of The of grapes, Erysiphe necator, directly from grape juice. Mycophile was the publication of “Reconstructing the The sensitivity of their new test method is key, as very early evolution of fungi . . .” in the October 19 issue of little of the fungus (only about 1% infection rates— Continued on page 15
5The Mycophile, January/February 2007 B O O K R E V I E W S
The Fly-Truffler, by Gustaf Sobin. one’s life to the study of a fading Since the death of Cabassac’s 1999, first American ed. 2000; W. W. language can be tough emotionally young wife Julieta, the truffles have Norton & Company, New York, NY. and financially, I’m guessing. He come to represent something far ISBN 0-393-04832-2; 155 pp. lives in a dilapidated farmhouse— more than a delicacy for Cabassac’s the family home for eight genera- palate: these black truffles have a The Fly-Truffler is a pretty little book. tions—selling off a parcel of land strange additional power, one that No, there are no pictures of mush- each year in order to make ends gives Cabassac’s hunt a special rooms—or anything else for that meet. Every sale is a small betrayal, urgency: eating them brings on matter. The book is actually a novel for Cabassac’s roots in the Provençal dreams of his recently deceased by the acclaimed author and poet landscape run deep. To fill his larder wife. Desperate to prolong his night- Gustaf Sobin. In fact, the book could (and rejuvenate his mind) he stalks time contact with Julieta, he ne- probably be called a novella—partly the estate’s property for natural glects teaching, his estate, and because of its length (it can be read delicacies, “truffling every winter, indeed all the obligations of his in a single sitting), but also because gathering wild asparagus in the waking life—except for hunting the it’s very engrossing. And the lan- spring, flowering medicinal herbs keys to the underworld where his guage of Sobin . . . very pretty. The each summer, and a plethora of wife dwells. topic of the book is of a fungal sort, pale, speckled mushrooms each The book is so richly written that and there aren’t many such works of fall.” He is most devoted to the art of you can almost smell the damp fiction out there, so I feel compelled truffling and, not unlike, the Old earth which Cabassac’s fingers to review it in these pages. World truffle gatherers who use pigs probe—desperately, somnambulisti- Our hero is a certain Philippe or dogs, he watches for the fungus cally—for one more of those hypo- Cabassac, a French linguistics flies, “lei mousco,” which, drawn by geous sporocarps. professor whose pet subject is the the rich scent of truffles, lay their —Britt Bunyard dying Provençal language. Devoting eggs in the loose topsoil nearby.
Michael Beug Wins Puffballs, cont. from page 1 certainly was not the Giant Puffball, Calvatia gigantea. NAMA Award examining the spores microscopically. We collected the specimen and In the woods and shrub lands soon were able to identify it as The NAMA Award for Contributions we were able to find two species of Mycenastrum corium, seldom reported to Amateur Mycology for 2006 has Lycoperdon: L. perlatum on the in eastern Canada. It is more often been awarded to Dr. Michael W. Beug, ground and relatively common in found in western Canada, where it Ph.D. Congratulations, Michael! the grassy shrub areas, and L. is reported as widespread but Dr. Beug is Chairman of the pyriforme, frequent on decaying logs generally uncommon, but found NAMA Toxicology Committee and in the woodlands. around cattle or horse corrals. This Professor Emeritus at The Evergreen The most exciting find was is exactly where we found it! State College in Olympia, WA. He is encountered around the corral in the Mycenastrum corium is in a an environmental chemist who has middle of the Cameron Ranch, family on its own, the Mycenas- taught chemistry, mycology, organic where the cattle are gathered up. traceae, which has only one species. agriculture, and energy studies since Here we found a much larger It is attached to the ground by a 1971. puffball, about 8 cm across. It had “root” of hyphae, which on maturity He has served as President of split open and at this stage of becomes detached so that the fungus the Pacific Northwest Key Council, a maturity was detached from the can roll in the wind. The outer skin group dedicated to writing macro- ground. Bovista spp. also become is thin and soon wears away, scopic keys to the mushrooms of the similarly detached and tend to blow leaving a patchwork of squares Pacific Northwest. He has been along the ground in the wind. This whiter against the darker inner skin, active on the Education Committee specimen was much larger, and the or endoperidium, that is leathery of NAMA since the mid 1970s. skin was tough and leathery, about greyish-brown. The fungus breaks NAMA-affiliated clubs throughout 2–3 mm thick. Inside were the open into several pointed lobes to the country use his numerous slide- remains of the spore mass, deep release the spores. The spores are tape programs on mushroom identifi- brown and hanging together in globose, dark brown with rounded cation and on mushroom poisoning. clumps. We were surprised to see bumps over the surface.The spore His mushroom photography now the patches on the outer cover. appears in close to 30 books. It was new to all of us, and was Continued on page 15
The Mycophile, January/February 2007 6 C A L L F O R A W A R D N O M I N A T I O N S
Award for Contributions to and must be renominated to be Knighton Service Award Amateur Mycology reconsidered. The Knighton Service Award, because of the wording of The North American Mycological Nominations are now being accepted the criteria for being considered for Association is soliciting nominees for the Award for Contributions to this award, has a three-year limit. for the Harry and Elsie Knighton Amateur Mycology. This award is Please note that a person who has Service Award, which was estab- given annually to recognize a person contributed mainly or exclusively in lished by NAMA’s Board of Trustees who has contributed extraordinarily service to an affiliated club should be to recognize and encourage persons to the advancement of amateur nominated for the Knighton Award who have distinguished themselves mycology. Its recipients have often rather than the Award for Contribu- in service to their local clubs. It is extensively conducted workshops, tions to Amateur Mycology, which is named for the Knightons because led forays, written or lectured widely intended to recognize a broader range their efforts resulted in formation of about mushrooms and identifying of activity. the North American Mycological mushrooms, all on a national or Association in 1967. international level. Selection is The annual award consists of a made by a committee consisting of framed certificate; publicity for the he ycophile past award winners, and the award winner and club in T M ; includes a plaque and lifetime a one-year membership in the membership in NAMA. organization; and registration, Nominations for this award housing, and foray fees for the next should include a description of the annual NAMA Foray. accomplishments the nominee has Each NAMA-affiliated mycologi- made in the field of amateur mycol- cal club may nominate one candi- ogy. Extensively conducting work- date who it feels has performed shops, leading forays, writing or meritorious service during the cur- lecturing about mushrooms and rent or preceding year. Normally, the identifying mushrooms, beyond the president of the affiliated club local club, are examples of such makes the nomination (unless, the accomplishments. Previous nomi- President is the nominee). Candi- nees who were not selected to dates need not be NAMA members. receive the award are still eligible Selection of the recipient will be for re-nomination. made by the three most recent Nominations should be sent to recipients of the award. Gary Lincoff, 157 W. 95th St., Apt. Letters of support, photographs, 1A, New York, NY 10025-6653 no Elsie Louise Knighton clippings from newsletters, etc., may later than April 1, 2007. accompany the descriptions of the Remembered member’s contributions in service to To all NAMA members and the affiliated club. NAMA affiliated clubs: Please look Elsie Louise Knighton, 88, died Oct. To nominate, send four copies around you for people you think are 21, 2006 in Portsmouth, OH. A of the nomination and supporting deserving of one of the two NAMA native of Portsmouth, she was born material by April 1, 2007, to Gary Awards. You may believe that April 2, 1918, to Joseph Webb and Lincoff, Awards Chairman, NAMA, someone already has one of these Frances Mae Hudson Webb. Elsie 157 W. 95th St., Apt 1A, New York, Awards, but with only one Award a was preceded in death by her NY 10025-6653. year in each category, and with no husband Harry S. Knighton on May Award that need be given in any 26, 1999. Elsie and Harry, founder of given year, very few of these have NAMA, were very active members It has also been brought to our actually been awarded. If you think of NAMA and organized a number attention that several other NAMA someone has already been nomi- of annual Forays. Elsie was secre- members have recently passed nated, think again. The NAMA tary of NAMA for many years. away, including Bob Spurgen, Award for Contributions to Amateur —David L. Riepenhoff William Henry, Dr William Scott Mycology has a five-year time limit. P.O. Box 628, MS-2218 Chilton, Dr. C. Wayne Ellett, and Anyone nominated through 2000 is Piketon, OH 45661 Ruth Krasner. —Editor no longer on the active ballot list
7The Mycophile, January/February 2007 Slide ContestWinners A F for 2006
E
Q
JP
BGH
L M N
The Mycophile, January/February 2007 8 Pictorial Limited First Place: Entomophthora on a hoverfly by Lawrence Leonard...... A Second Place: Phragmidium rust on blackberry by Lawrence Leonard ...... B
Documentary Limited First Place: Hypoxylon fragiforme and Its Imperfect: Nectria episphaeria by Lawrence Leonard ...... C Second Place: Cribraria intricata 8X by Lawrence Leonard ...... D
Pictorial Open First Place:: Morchella esculenta by David Work ...... E Second Place: Pholiota aurivella by Noah Siegel ...... F Third Place: Calvatia subsculpa by Ron Pastorino ...... G Honorable Mention: Aleuria rhenana by Ron Pastorino, K Phaeomarasmius erinaceellus by Walt Sturgeon, Polyporus alveolaris by David Work, Hygrocybe sp. by David Work, Omphalotus olearius by Charles Fonaas
Documentary Open First Place: Leucocoprinus birnbaumii by Walt Sturgeon ...... H Second Place: Lactarius rubidus by Ron Pastorino ...... J Third Place: Coprinus comatus by Charles Fonaas ...... K C Honorable Mention: Boletus parasiticus by David Work, Cortinarius limonius by Noah Siegel, Gymnopilus luteofolius by Walt Sturgeon, Gomphus clavatus by Walt Sturgeon; Clitocybe by Charles Fonaas
Series Winner: Lawrence Leonard Gymnosporangium claviforme on Juniper ...... L Gymnosporangium claviforme on Hawthorne ...... M Gymnosporangium claviforme spermagonia ...... N
Judges Option O Gill/Pore Study of Polyporus squamosus by Charles Fonaas ...... O Pleasing Fungus Beetles by Noah Siegel...... P “I’m All Ears” Caloscypha fulgens by Ron Pastorino ...... Q Laccaria Gills by Walt Sturgeon ...... R
On the Internet: To view all the digital photos that won awards or honorable mention, go to http://photos.yahoo.com/ namphocon and select the Photo D Album entitled 06 Awards. R
9The Mycophile, January/February 2007 N A M A E D U C A T I O N A L O F F E R I N G S
Catalog of Educational Programs on 3. Gilled Fungi: The Friesian Genera. Dr. David Hosford & Kit Scates-Barnhart. 60 min. 80 slides. For Mushrooms and Other Fungi mushroom identification classes and advanced stu- dents. Demonstrates which genera of each spore color Enrich your meetings and teaching sessions with occur in each stature type and explains how to tell NAMA slide and video programs. When ordering, them apart. Most effective if used after program #2. please allow plenty of time for packing and shipping by Programs 4–11 are a series intended to help the student our volunteer. All programs have written scripts, and learn to identify a wide variety of common mushrooms, most also include a narrative on audio cassette. The including edible and poisonous species. Program 4 should cassettes are not cued for automatic advance. Some be viewed first, but the others can be used in any order. programs are now on videotape. To order: Write, call, or e-mail Carlene Skeffing- 4. Introduction to the Major Groups of Mush- ton, giving your name, street address (no P.O. boxes), rooms. Dr. Michael Beug. 40 min. 80 slides. A general date you need the program (allow time for previewing), overview of mushroom identification, with music back- alternative program choice, and phone number where ground. May be substituted for program 1. This is a new you can be reached. If you wish a confirmation, please program and not a revision of #4. enclose a self-addressed postcard with correct postage. 5. Gilled Mushrooms I: White Spored. Dr. Michael Cost: These programs are available on loan to Beug. 48 min. 80 slides. VHS video available. Includes NAMA members and NAMA-affiliated clubs at no Amanita, Lepiota, Hygrophorus, and Russula families. charge; but due to financial restraints, we are request- 6. Gilled Mushrooms II: White Spored. Dr. Michael ing voluntary contributions (suggested amount: $5 to Beug. 43 min. 80 slides. VHS video available. Includes $10 per program) to cover the costs of outgoing postage Armillaria, Mycena, Flammulina, Collybia, Marasmius, and upkeep. Checks should be made payable to NAMA Clitocybe, Laccaria, Lentinus, Pleurotus, and others. and enclosed with the program return. Dr. Non-members pay $20 per program; include with 7. Gilled Mushrooms III: Pink to Brown Spored. Michael Beug. 42 min. 80 slides. VHS video available. your order form a check made payable to NAMA. Covers Pluteus, Volvariella, Entoloma, Paxillus, Gym- After use, please return programs promptly via first nopilus, Pholiota, Heboloma, Cortinarius and others. class (i.e., priority) mail, insured for $50 per program. UPS or similar commercial carrier is fine, too, and 8. Gilled Mushrooms IV: Purple-Brown to Black usually includes up to $100 insurance. Please return Spored. Dr. Michael Beug. 36 min. 80 slides. VHS the enclosed form or pertinent information so that we video available. Discusses Agaricus, Stropharia, Psilo- can verify your return of borrowed materials. cybe, Coprinus, Panaeolus, Chroogomphus, and more. Address for orders and return shipments: 9. Non-Gilled Mushrooms I. Dr. Michael Beug. 42 Carlene Skeffington, 505 West Hollis St., Suite 109 min. 80 slides. VHS video available. Chanterelles, (preferred place of contact), Nashua, NH 03062. boletes, hydnums, and polypores. Work: (603) 882-0311,
• A copy of Emily Johnson’s “North American Slime Molds I, II, & III. These three historic films Mushroom Photos Postcards” have been collected on one video, running about 65 minutes. The color films were prepared by James The rental fee for this program is $40 for NAMA Koevenig in 1961 at the University of Iowa under the members and $50 for non-members. Return postage direction of C. J. Alexopoulos, G. W. Martin, and R. T. and $100 insurance will be paid by the renter. Send a Porter. The video uses live-action and time-lapse photog- request for renting the program for one week, together raphy, photomicrography, and animation to teach about with a check or money order made out to NAMA, to the fascinating world of myxomycetes. Tapes will be Carol Dreiling prepared as individual orders are received, so allow 380 Curtis Parker Road extra time. Cost per tape is $29.95+ $5.00 shipping and Alexander, NC 28701-9667 handling ($7.00 s/h overseas). (828) 683-8678 The regular tape is in NTSC format (for North [email protected] / (828) 254-6199 America) but is available in SECAM (France and others) The program was developed by Theresa Oursler, with or PAL (Spain, Germany, and others) by special order. the help and major contributions from Carol Dreiling, Specify the required format and send check or money Louise Freedman, Samuel Ristich, Sandy Sheine, and order for $46.95 (shipping included), payable to NAMA, Aileen Stanley. The program is the property of the to Dean Abel author and of NAMA and is not to be copied or used for Biological Sciences 138 BB commercial purposes. We encourage nonmembers to join University of Iowa NAMA in order to rent our programs at the member rates. Iowa City, IA 52242
Notes: If you know of a slide, audio or video production that should become a part of this NAMA service, please contact Sandy Sheine, Education Committee Chair, P.O. Box 81640, Rochester, MI 48308, (248) 652-9498,
Here’s the latest news from Taylor Lockwood: His other sites are www.taylorlockwood.com (personal), www.kingdomoffungi.com (store), and www.fungiphoto Check out the mushroom video shorts on his Web site. .com (catalog). There are trailers for “Trilogy” and “Treasures . . .” Also, Mushroom Mousepads have just arrived at DVDs, one called “The Secret Mushroom Garden,” and www.kingdomoffungi.com/a.pages/mp_a.php featuring a new project called “The Mushroom Minute.” They are one of Taylor’s favorite illustrations, “Close Encounters Flash videos so almost everyone should be able to view of the Fungal Kind.” They look great, work great, and them. Your comments are always appreciated! are just in time for the holiday season. Happy Holidays Taylor will post more in the future at from Taylor Lockwood! www.kingdomoffungi.com/b.video.pages/V.Index.php. 13 The Mycophile, January/February 2007 2007 NAMA Photo Contest Entry Form CATEGORIES
Name: Documentary: Images suitable to Last First Middle Initial identify the fungus or Address: myxomycete to genus and species in a guide book.
Judges Option: Pictures that don’t fit either of the other two Phone:(- - ) E-mail: < > categorie, e.g. people, humor, etc.
(- - ) Pictorial: Beautiful pictures of fungi or myxomycetes suitable for By entering a photograph in this contest, the photographer gives permission for a calendar, poster, or coffee table that photo to be reproduced and used by the members and delegates of The North book. American Mycological Association for educational purposes, and not for the collec- tion of royalties. Except for this stated permission, all other benefits of copyright, Your $4 fee allows you to enter up including, but not limited to, the right to collect royalties and/or profits from the use, to 15 images in either the film or publication, or sale of the photo, remain with the photographer. Persons wishing to the digital contest. Please enter the publish that photo in any book, periodical, calendar, or other form of profit-making venture, must contact the photographer to negotiate permission, royalties, or sale titles of your photos on the lines price. above.
INSTRUCTIONS Signature Date FOR SUBMISSION
Entry Fees: D1 ❏ $4.00 for Film Contest D2 ❏ $4.00 for Digital Contest
D3 Total enclosed: $______D4
D5 FILM: Mail color slides, entry forms, and entry fees (check D6 payable to NAMA) to:
J7 John Plischke III 201 Culbertson Ave J8 Greensburg PA 15601 (724) 832-0271 J9
P10 DIGITAL: Mail files on CD disk, entry forms, and entry fees (check P11 payable to “NAMA”) to:
P12 Damian R. Pieper 35 Ventura AV P13 Iowa City, IA 52245-1638
P15
The Mycophile, January/February 2007 14 Dick Dougall Wins Knighton Award
Annual Photo Contest Rules The 2005 recipient of the Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award is Dick Dougall of the Western Pennsyl- 1. The Documentary image must include at least vania Mushroom Club. Congratulations Dick! Your club one specimen in situ. i.e., not moved from its has become a mycological powerhouse in the East, in original location or altered in any way, except for large part because of you. the removal of detritus or soil that obscures the In 2005 mushroom clubs in the Northeast, Mid- view of the subject. west, and on the West Coast nominated eight individu- als, each of whom was worthy of receiving this year’s 2. The photo must include half of a specimen that award. has been carefully sliced from top to bottom with This year’s winner appeared on the ballots of all a plain sharp knife or razor blade. A horizontal three judges. He has distinguished himself in every section should also be included if it is necessary to facet of his club’s activity, from presenting programs to exhibit some character such as a hollow/solid/ being program chair, to being the president of the club, stuffed stipe or other interior structure. to writing articles for the club’s newsletter and being 3. If a spore print is useful in the identification proofreader of the club’s newsletter, as well as chair of of the species, that must also be set somewhere in the club’s large annual foray, which comprises dozens the frame. The spore print may be omitted if the of jobs that must be successfully delegated to others or spore color is already clearly evident somewhere done by the chair. He is everywhere, doing everything, in the frame, or if you attach notes describing the and making it all seem effortless. Dick serves as a spore color with any standardized color chart or model for others. system. 4. For fungi and myxomycetes which change color with development, age, bruising, etc., a shot Fungi in the News, cont. from p. 5 of the same specimen in each color stage must be included somewhere in the frame. the journal Nature (443: 818–22). This blockbuster paper stems from a massive ongoing project called Assembling Images may originate from any flatbed scan, any the Fungal Tree of Life (AFTOL), which is part of an even kind of film, Polaroid, or other digital source. bigger project to assemble an evolutionary tree for all life Photographers are encouraged to use any on the planet. The mycologists seem to be way out in available methods, including computer programs, front of almost all the other groups—hurray! I won’t take to correct an inappropriate color balance, over- or up any space here to describe the findings of the study; underexposure, crop, assemble several images you can see them for yourself online or in the printed ver- into one frame, etc. sion of the journal. Plus, I’m certain that Else will do a The contest director requests that you create and stellar job in her annual literature review in the up- use a file name for each entry in this form: coming spring 2007 issue of our own journal McIlvainea. See you then! • Entry letter & number matching the one on your entry blank • Genus and species (optional but very helpful) • Photographers full name or first, middle, and Puffballs, cont. from p. 6 last initials in capitals mass is held in a network of fine branched threads • File extension called capillitium which expand and contract with the For example: D3 Biscogniauxia atropunctata by changing humidity releasing the spores. The specimen Johnathan E. Smitherbergmann.jpg we collected was photographed, documented, and forwarded to the mycological herbarium in Ottawa. Any NAMA member may enter the contest. You [John Sparling is Vice-President of the Mycological Society may enter up to 15 images in each contest. Use of Toronto. This article first appeared in the April–June ‘06 two entry forms if you enter both the digital and issue of the Toronto club’s newsletter, Mycelium, and was the film contests. reprinted here with permission of the author.] All entries must be received by May 15, 2007.
15 The Mycophile, January/February 2007 North American Mycological Association 336 Lenox Avenue NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Oakland, CA 94610-4675 PAID PERMIT NO. 1260 Address Service Requested CHAS. WV 25301
Mushroom of the Month
The Blewit (Lepista nuda), a choice edible. To find out more about mushroom identification, check out NAMA’s educational offerings listed in this issue. Photo courtesy of J. N. Dell.