V
OMPHALIN ISSN 1925-1858
Vol. VI, No 4 Newsletter of Jun. 14, 2015 OMPHALINA OMPHALINA, newsletter of Foray Newfoundland & Labrador, has no fi xed schedule of publication, and no promise to appear again. Its primary purpose is to serve as a conduit of information to registrants of the upcoming foray and secondarily as a communications tool with members.
Issues of OMPHALINA are archived in: is an amateur, volunteer-run, community, Library and Archives Canada’s Electronic Collection
OMPHALINA V Vol. VI, No 4 OMPHALIN ISSN 1925-1858 Jun. 14, 2015
CONTENT
Editor’s comments ...... 2 Foray matters ...... 3
New faculty, 2015 ...... 3 Detective in the herbarium Andrus Voitk ...... 4 Bishop’s sketchbook
Glynn Bishop ...... 9 Tricholomopsis sulphureoides update Saar, Voitk ...... 10 Ze’ev’s mushroom chèvre tart
Robin McGrath ...... 12 Hunt for Morchella norvegiensis Andrus Voitk ...... 13 Gyromitra toxicity
Michael Beug ...... 20 Partners ...... inside back cover Notice ...... back cover
This issue and all previous issues available for download from the Foray Newfoundland & Labrador website
OMPHALINA Midsummer approacheth, the hard winter is is mired in a considerably more primitive age. The phorgotten, and all nature prepares for autumn outward aesthetics of our provincial museum are phruiting. Take a breather before the main mushroom second to none. Alas, an empty shell! Inside, this season and join us for a look inside herbaria: two Provincial Museum is without a curator for Natural detective stories and one chase, to give you an History!!! We do not have space to house collections glimpse into the sort of problems encountered on the or the staff to look after them. The Foray’s collection taxonomic side of mushroom science. can not be curated at the Rooms. Imagine—so Taxonomy is an attempt by mankind to classify far this invaluable resource is handled out of the nature into manageable and defi ned units, so that we basements of a few individuals! can speak intelligibly about them with each other. Regular readers of OMPHALINA know how much It is inherently hopeless, because we impose an work has come out of this collection. Clearly, these artifi cial system on nature, who has no need for our three articles, discussing various aspects of solving rules or our system. But if we wish to communicate taxonomical problems, are but by-products of other with each other, we must eschew the luxury allowed research, based on the Foray collection. Although nature to thwart our system; we have to respect it. we have an institution with a mandate to curate the natural history artefacts of the province, this Over a quarter millennium, many taxa have been institution is not able to manage a valuable collection proposed, and many of them have undergone several of specimens —photographed, databased and interpretations. There are a myriad of names for what professionally identifi ed. Furthermore… may be the same thing. Adding new names in this setting often adds more confusion. At the same time, … Oops … our apologies, dear reader, somewhere we do need to have names for things to talk about we slipped off track. It happens more frequently with them. A great responsibility goes with proposing our new medications. Just ignore this last bit. If your nomenclatural novelties—fi rst we should do all we own heart pills are topped up, enjoy this potboiler of can not to trample the work of investigators who suspenseful cliffhanging thrillers. went before us.
The coin of herbaria are type species, those See you at the Foray! collections that bear the name of the species and its description. All scientists refer to these collections andrus to study a species. Herbaria become the stewards of stability in the biosciences; the collections entrusted to their safekeeping are priceless. But, just like PS: our rules, herbaria, because they are built, fi lled We have received a few comments that there is too and managed by us, mere mortals, may run into much content to absorb. As you may have noticed, problems—and we need to solve them. both the frequency and content has been reduced Cultures that understand the value of herbaria recently. Comments? Enough trimming? More? take pride in them. Governments fund them and benefactors support them. People are proud to house a them in edifi ces like the one shown on p. 4. In this regard, it is tragic that the culture of our province 2 OMPHALINA Foray matters…
ForayForay 20152015 inin GrosGros MMorneorne SquiresSSquiuirees MMeMemorialemomoriialal PProvincialrorovivinncciaial PaPPark,arkrk, lelleavingeava iinng thtthehe parkingpap rkrkini g areaarareaea aatt exeexactlyactltly 11111:00:000 AMAAM,M, FFrFri.,rii., SeSSep.pp. 225,55, IfIf youyou planplan to jjoinoin us fforor tthehe FForayoray tthishis yearyear,, 20152015 (see(see pp 10-11).10-11).) IfIf youyou come,come, bringbring youryour please try to register as soon as you can. We own lhlunch. have not been able to take all comers these Participation fee covers room and board from past 6 years, and it looks the same again. Fri supper to Sun lunch. Bedding is provided, Registrations are being fi lled apace, and in the but bring your own towels, soap and shampoo. words of our Registrar, “…when the music stops Alternately, these may be purchased from there’s going to be some disappointed regulars.” Killdevil for $3.50. Please note that for those able to make it, we Michael Burzynski begin the foray with a mycoblitz of Sir Richard President Faculty, 2015. As always, faculty bios will be in the Program Booklet. Here we introduce those faculty, who join us for the fi rst time.
Andy Methven is an emeritus professor of mycology Andy Miller is the mycologist at the and lichenology in the Department of Biological Illinois Natural History Survey at the Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. Among his University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He research interests are systematics and ecology of fl eshy specializes in the identifi cation of fungi using fungi, mycogeography, the application of molecular morphology and molecular DNA sequencing methods. Having traveled throughout techniques to fungal systematics, and the identifi cation the world, he is especially interested in and distribution of lichens in the Midwest. His fungal biodiversity and the discovery of current research program is examining the distribution new species. His lab is currently studying of the mushroom genus Lactarius in the Northern the relationships of a wide variety of fungi Hemisphere, and the application of molecular techniques ranging from false morels and earth tongues to phylogenetic studies in the mushroom genera to pyrenomycetes and loculoascomycetes. Clavariadelphus, Lentaria and Macrotyphula. OMPHALINA 3 Detective in the herbarium
Andrus Voitk The William and Lynda Steere Herbarium. Photo: Ivo Vermeulen. Permission to use courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden
Type specimens are the holy grail of and insects can do damage to problem. bioscience. These are the collections specimens, as can excessive heat Where such a possibility exists, or other records (occasionally during drying, and various other scientists studying holotype only fragments, cultures, seeds, environmental or stochastic events. collections (original material spores, DNA, or illustrations) of The era of DNA study has revealed identifi ed by the protologue as a species described for the fi rst that older specimens often do not that on which it is based) must fi rst time and given a scientifi c name. yield suffi cient DNA that can be determine whether the collection These are the collections to which amplifi ed for use in analysis. DNA is mixed. If new species are scientists turn ever after to study study has also brought to the fore discovered, comparison to known the species, and these are the fi nal another problem with fungarium species must be made with known arbiters to determine whether material: mixed collections. type material and not with similar other collections are the same or a What are mixed collections? species inadvertently included in the different species. Often the original Most forays have display tables type collection. If a mixed collection description (protologue) is quite where participants can view the is found, the “true” species needs to laconic, applicable to a wide variety collected species neatly arranged be identifi ed from the rest of the of similar species, and often over on trays, each with a tag bearing collection. Those portions can then time these original descriptions have its name. It is quite common to be declared a lectotype, although been reinterpreted, with characters consolidate such collections, so that the original holotype collection added that were not included all collections of Laccaria laccata, for must remain intact. “Physical type in the protologue, possibly even example, are placed on the one tray material is sacrosanct—even if undetectable with the technology with that name. Students of Laccaria demonstrably in confl ict with of the time. In contrast, the type will tell you that closer examination the protologue—and cannot be collection does not change and of such material may reveal that ‘cleaned up’” (Tom May, Secretary can not be reinterpreted; well the L. laccata tray has specimens of the Nomenclature Committee preserved, many characters will of L. bicolor, L. proxima, L. nobilis, L. for Fungi, personal communication, remain and none can be added. longipes, and other similar species 2015). Stable taxonomy depends on on it. Similar situations have been In the course of studying the robust type collections. In addition found with some type collections: holotype collection of Polyozellus to insuffi cient or incomplete inadvertently some similar multiplex (Underw.) Murrill, I material, collections may deteriorate species have been included in the encountered such a potential 1 with time. Bacteria, moulds collection. Obviously, this creates a problem. In 1899 Lucien Marcus
4 OMPHALINA Underwood described a new species, Cantharellus multiplex.2 The specimen on which this description rests was sent to him by Mrs Elizabeth W. Woodworth, and now rests as the holotype for the species in the Steere Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden. The herbarium sheet is kept in a folder, and has glued to it four folded paper packets, numbered 0080296, 0080297, 0080298, and 0080300. Figure 1 shows the sheet and the contents of the respective packets. My task was simple: examine the holotype and harvest tissue for DNA analysis from it. The diffi cult part was to determine what is the holotype. The presence of four distinct and numbered packets raised the possibility of a mixed collection, where each packet might represent a different organism. Only one can correctly be designated as holotype. There was no record on the herbarium sheet to explain how or why its contents ended up in four separate packets. Figure 1. The holotype collection of Cantharellus multiplex Underwood, from the Steere Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden. The herbarium sheet Herbarial practice is to keep notes with the four packets is on the right, and the fungal contents of each of the and other documents related to packets on the right. Packet numbers indicate the source for each. Bars scaled the collection with the collection, for 5 cm. and each time it is examined, the new examiner is expected to leave Figure 2. Lucien Marcus an annotation of the pertinent Underwood. From humble and fi ndings, opinions or conclusions, impecunious beginnings, he again to be kept with the specimen. rose to the forefront of academic prominence by dint of his own In addition to the fungal material hard work, both physical and in packet 0080300, it contained mental. A gifted orator and an undated written description, a author, at home as much in small black and white photograph the arts as the sciences, he and two letters (Jan. 19, 1899, and was known for his generosity, Feb. 6, 1899) to Prof. Underwood, friendliness and objectivity. At all sent by Mrs Elizabeth W. the age of 54, the peak of his Woodworth, the lady who collected powers not yet tapped, fi nancial losses propelled him into such the specimen. Two packets were profound despondency that annotated by H. E. Bigelow in 1973 he committed suicide, even that in his opinion the contents attempting to take his family were Polyozellus multiplex (Underw.) with him. Murrill. Photograph in the public Mrs Woodworth found some domain, from Wikimedia, unusual, leafy, black mushrooms source: Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, Vol. 35, Jan. in 1897 and 1898. She fi rst sent a 1908, photographer unidentifi ed. OMPHALINA 5 Figure 3. Mrs Woodworth’s second collection of 1898, unnamed, in the Farlow Herbarium of Harvard University. Hollis Webster’s initials on the original label. Farlow’s annotations on the left and Baroni’s bringing it to Polyozellus multiplex in 1980, below the original.
Photo: Don Pfi ster
photograph and description to Prof. of the Boston Mycological Club. Webster, and is now in the Farlow Charles H. Peck, who replied that At the time the BMC had its own Herbarium. Therefore, the material he did not know the mushroom. herbarium, so a specimen could sent to Prof. Underwood, must Then she sent a specimen to Mr end up there. The BMC herbarium be the single remaining fruit body, Hollis Webster, who also was not was transferred to the University collected in August. All the four certain of its identity. Finally, she of Massachussetts Amherst College packets of the holotype collection, sent a specimen to Lucien Marcus herbarium with Howard Bigelow, each clearly marked as collected Underwood, Professor of Botany at and later donated to the Steere in August, 1898, must come from Columbia University and Chairman Herbarium of NYBG by Roy Halling. a single collection, consisting of of the Board of Scientifi c Directors No other collection of Polyozellus a single sporocarp. The detailed of the New York Botanical Garden multiplex from 1898 exists in the letters of Mrs Woodworth allow (Figure 2). Underwood recognized Steere, and in the holotype no us to reach this conclusion with it as a new species and described it. packet is marked “ex BMC”. confi dence. Mrs Woodworth’s letters to Prof. Is it possible that this specimen How did this single fruit body Underwood were read for clues ended up elsewhere? Hollis end up in four separate packets? to why the contents were in four Webster often consulted Prof. W. The history is not recorded in packets. On January 19, 1899, she G. Farlow, and it is a reasonable the available material, but some states, “I have found it for two years assumption that a consultation speculation can produce a in the same place—two plants each about a striking unidentifi ed species plausible explanation. Underwood’s year.” She states that in 1897 she would result in its placement in protologue states it is based on did not preserve any specimens. the Farlow Herbarium of Harvard “specimens”—note the plural— This leaves at most two collections University. Indeed, pursuing this sent to him by Mrs Woodworth. in 1898, and we need to fi nd out possibility in the Farlow Herbarium The appearance of the fruit body whether the holotype collection has turned up a collection of Polyozellus in the holotype packets suggests material from one or both of them. multiplex, collected September 5, that it had been dried in a plant Her letter goes on to say, “This year 1898, from Mt. Desert, ME, by Mrs press, not uncommon at the time. I sent a plant to Mr Webster of the E. W. Woodworth, and initialled HW Sporocarps of this species can Boston Mycological Club. He had (Hollis Webster) and subsequently be quite large: my biggest single never seen it, but thought [it] a annotated by Farlow (Figure 3). Polyozellus sporocarp is divided Thelephora.” Mrs Woodworth only found two among six separate packets. Using Mr Hollis Webster was a founding sporocarps in 1898. One, collected a plant press instead of an air dryer member and long time Secretary in September, was sent to Mr Hollis may make them more compact, but 6 OMPHALINA to make pressing bulky specimens is illustrative of the easier, it would seem reasonable species from the to split the fruit body. This would type locality, but account for packets 0080296 and not of the actual 0080300, both of which contain specimen described relatively intact specimens. These in Underwood’s exsiccates are very friable, and protologue, now quite likely in the process several preserved as the fragments broke loose. It might be holotype collection. reasonable that these were saved Discovery of and placed in a separate packet, evolutionary thus explaining packet 0080298, relationships has the one with the larger fragments. brought about The fourth packet, 0080297, with disruption in ranking the smallest fragments, clearly based on morphologic states “Polyozellus multiplex, Mt. similarity. Herbaria, Desert, Maine, Piece broken off. See depositories for herbarium sheet for rest.” Packets scientifi c collections, 0080297 and 0080300 were provide the anchor that annotated by H. E. Bigelow. This stabilizes taxonomy in makes it most likely that 0080297 this period of turmoil. contains fragments that resulted Ironically, the same from events surrounding Bigelow’s DNA work has also examination of 0080300 in 1973, shown that many type whether during packing, unpacking, specimens, thought shipping or examination. Figure 5. Atsushi Yasuda in 1914, six years before to be reliable, consist receiving a black leafy mushroom from Z. Tasiro. The above paragraph is speculation, of mixed collections Because I have no photo of Hollis Webster, Atsushi an attempt to explain how the in need of resolution. Yasuda represents both young scientists, who holotype collection came to be This does not invalidate recognized on fi rst encounter that Polyozellus spread among four separate the worth of type multiplex belongs with the thelephoras. We packets. Whether this is how things collections, but merely have no record why, and can only assume that it happened or not, is not important. serves to underscore may have been on the basis of the microscopic It is important to know that the the importance of appearance of the spores. detailed documentation supplied adhering to best Lloyd named the species Phyllocarbon yasudai by Mrs Woodworth supports only herbarial practises. in honour of Prof. Yasuda. More knowledgeable a single sporocarp’s being sent to Part of these best linguists subsequently corrected it to “yasudae,” Prof. Underwood, making everything practises is not to mix possibly treating “Yasuda” as a feminine proper noun because it ends with a. I submit that while in the holotype collection a bona collections. Another Lloyd did not get the mushroom right, he did get fi de part of the holotype specimen. part is the keeping of the gender treatment of the name right, taking Nothing in the documentation meticulous records. its latinzed nominative as “Yasudaus,” masculine, supports the presence of additional The detailed accounts since the professor was a man. The genitive, “of collections. of Mrs Woodworth Yasudaus,” is “Yasudai.” Classical scholars A comment is warranted about and the archiving of an welcome to weigh in. the photograph in the holotype interesting specimen by Hollis Webster allowed us to Latin teacher, Mr Hollis Webster, for collection (cover photo). The same suspecting that the specimen might photo appeared in Underwood’s determine a question of reliability of this holotype collection. be a Thelephora. Whether this was protologue. Mrs Woodworth states Webster’s own conclusion or one that it was taken by a Mr White An interesting footnote to this story formed together with Farlow, we do of one of the specimens that she reveals the uncanny perceptiveness not know. Farlow’s annotation that found in 1897. She also states that of some people encountering this he thought the species fi t better she did not preserve specimens mushroom for the fi rst time. Credit with Craterellus than Cantharellus, from 1897. Thus, this photograph is due the 36-year old English and both quite a distance away from
OMPHALINA 7 Thelephora, suggests—but does nor prove—that Herbarium for requesting the loan on my behalf; and the Webster’s response may have refl ected Webster’s Farlow Herbarium of Harvard University for permission to own opinion, made before consultation. photograph the second collection. I also thank Don Pfi ster for photographing that collection, for providing additional Webster was not alone in thinking this species was a information, and for reviewing the MS; Jason Karakehian for Thelephora. In 1920 Prof. Atsushi Yasuda of Tohoku providing information from the BMC archives and elsewhere, University in Sendai, Japan, (Figure 5) received the and for reviewing the MS; Diane Woodworth Liebert for same species, collected from Mt Kirishima by Z. Tasiro. providing information about Mrs Elizabeth W. Woodworth; and Ellen Bloch for providing additional data from the He also thought it was likely a Thelephora. Unsure, he Steere Herbarium. I also thank Tom May for a discussion on sent a portion to the American mycologist, Curtis holotype collections, Atsushi Yasuda (unrelated) and Tohoku Gates Lloyd, who thought it was a hitherto unknown University Archives for the photo of Atsushi Yasuda, and The pyrenomycete (an ascomycete), and named it Smithstonian Institute for the privilege of examining Lloyd’s Phyllocarbon yasudai.3 This is why, if you ever look up Phyllocarbon yasudai. I thank Susan Goldhor for organizing Polyozellus multiplex in any taxonomical work, you will some of the help I had, and Greg Hartford for permission to use his photo of Seal Harbor at the close. see that name listed as a synonym. It took 54 years after Webster and 33 after Yasuda, References before Imazeki, on the basis of spore shape and the 1. Saar I, Voitk A. 2015. Type studies of two Tricholomopsis presence of thelephoric acid, placed Polyozellus among species described by CH Peck. DOI 10.1007/ the Thelephorales, where it is to-day.4 s11557-015-1068-5. 2015. 2. Underwood LM. A new Cantharellus from Maine. Cantharellus multiplex. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 26:254-255. Acknowledgments 1899. I thank the Steere Herbarium of the New York Botanical 3. Lloyd CG. Mycological notes. Mycological writings, Garden for permission to examine the holotype, photograph 6:1029-1101.1921. the exsiccata, reproduce the photograph in the collection, and also Barbara Thiers for help to use the photograph of 4. Imazeki R. Polyozellus multiplex and the family the Herbarium in the title banner; Gros Morne National Park Phylacteriaceae. Mycologia, 45:555-561.1953.
Little Long Pond, near Seal Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine. From a coniferous forest like that in the background, Mrs Elizabeth W. Woodward collected the fi rst Polyozellus multiplex. Photo: Greg A. Hartford, AcadiaMagic.com 8 OMPHALINA The Bishop’s Sketchbook
OOMPHALINAMPHALINA 99 Tricholomopsis sulphureoides update
Irja Saar, Andrus Voitk
Readers with better memories will recall that in 2011 drying. Microscopically, there are differences in their we published a review of the genus Tricholomopsis spores, but there is suffi cient overlap to prevent in the province, where we mentioned that our T. fi rm conclusions. Analyzing the DNA from a wider sulphureoides resembled that of the recently described sampling of the type collection should answer this T. osiliensis from Europe.1 Molecular studies of the two question. Our fi ndings to answer this question have species found that they were conspecifi c.2 recently been published.3 Here we update you on At the time we also got a small piece of tissue from these fi ndings, as they apply to T. sulphureoides in NL; the original article discusses a similar phenomenon the original collection identifi ed by Peck as the type on which he based the description of what is now known with another Peck type collection. as T. sulphureoides (Figure 1). Much to our surprise, this The DNA from another four fruit bodies of the piece turned out to be genetically conspecifi c with T. holotype collection (Figure 1) matched that of T. decora, a much commoner and scalier species than T. sulphureoides collected here and T. osiliensis from sulphureoides. This brought up a question: did Peck by Europe, forming a clade quite distinct from that of T. error describe a particularly smooth collection of T. decora and other known species. From this we can decora as a new species, or is his type collection mixed draw the following conclusions: with several species? 1. T. sulphureoides, as described by Peck, is a good There was a small hint: the type collection contains species. 17 intact fruit bodies and some fragments. We have 2. T. osiliensis is a later synonym for T. sulphureoides. never seen a single collection of T. sulphureoides 3. The type collection is mixed (i.e. not all material is with over eight fruit bodies, making the likelihood representative of the designated species). high that the type collection comes from more than What happens when a type collection is mixed? The one source. Fresh mushrooms differ in appearance, designated collection on which the description of a but these differences are not as obvious after species is based, is called the holotype. It is the name-
10 OMPHALINA bearing collection to which all scientists turn to learn the characters of the species. It becomes the fi nal arbiter to decide whether any future specimens belong to the same species or not. The holotype collection cannot be altered in any way. When it is learned that a holotype collection is mixed, an effort is made to identify some material from that collection that represents the described species. This material is then declared as the lectotype. The lectotype now becomes the name-bearing material on which the type is described, and to which all future scientists refer to learn the characters of the species. This was the situation with this collection, and the four fruit bodies identifi ed in Figure 1 were designated the lectotype for T. sulphureoides. If you read our earlier reports on this species, you may have noticed that we spelled it T. sulfureoides. “Sulfureoides,” with an F was the spelling of Peck at Figure 1. Photo of the holotype collection of the current Tricholomopsis his original description, taken sulphureoides. The yellow oval identifi es the fragment sampled initially, which from the American English turned out to be T. decora. The cyan triangles mark the approximate places of sampling of four additional fruit bodies. All turned out to be T. sulphureoides. usage of spelling the element These four fruit bodies are now designated as the lectotype for the species. The sulphur with an F. However, no exact identity of the other specimens in the holotype collection is undetermined. matter their origin, scientifi c names are latinized, and the correct spelling of sulphur permission to reproduce Peck’s original watercolour of T. in Latin is with PH. The Rules of Nomenclature suggest sulphureoides in the title banner, and publish the photo of the collection in Figure 1. We thank Ed Lickey (faculty of 2006 and following correct Latin usage, but do not invalidate 2010) for taking the photo of Figure 1 and for collection the a name because of a spelling error; it is called an specimen for initial analysis, and thank Lorinda Leonardi for help “orthographic variant,” and either it or the “correct” with identifying the sampled specimens. spelling is accepted. After some discussion, we decided it would be preferable to follow the Latin spelling References 1. Voitk A: Tricholomopsis of Newfoundland and Labrador. for a latinized word. As you see, rules are in place for OMPHALINA, 2(7): 6–9,
This tart can be made with any fresh wild mushrooms, but the version pictured here used frozen sautéed chanterelles because the freezer was full of them. They were brought to room temperature, as was the cheese, before the cooking began. You can cut corners by using a frozen pie shell, baked in the oven according to the directions on the package, or make one from scratch. Don’t forget to prick the surface of the dough or use baking beads or beans or something to keep the crust from puffi ng up. Either way, this is a quick, easy and delicious recipe. Amounts are approximate—use what is available.
INGREDIENTS
1 pie shell, blind baked 250 grams wild mushrooms 1 medium onion 1 large or 2 small shallots 2 large leeks 2 cloves garlic 2 tbs. butter 180 to 250 grams chevre Pepper Newfoundland savoury
PROCEDURE Slice the onion, the shallot, and the white of the leeks, and golden brown. Allow the tart to cool for a few minutes before sauté gently with the fresh mushrooms and crushed, diced serving it. This makes a good lunch with a side salad and it is garlic. If using previously frozen mushrooms, add them when an excellent starter for a dinner party. the onions are soft. Season with pepper, savoury and other herbs to taste. Simmer off excess liquid if need be, or lift the alliums and mushrooms with a slotted spoon and place into the bottom of the cooked pastry shell. Crumple the chevre over the top and put the tart under a broiler until the cheese starts to turn
12 OOMPHALINAMPHALINA 17 the hunt for morchella norvegiensis Andrus & Maria Voitk
In the February, 2014, issue of The current system of naming living this work we learned that Morchella OMPHALINA, Kerry O’Donnell organisms has been in use for over norvegiensis, described from Norway reported that we had three morel 250 years, so it is quite possible in 1990,3 could be a potential match species in the province,1 followed that what you believe to be a new for our Mel-19. (M. norvegiensis is by preliminary descriptions of these species may have been described described as growing on burned species. One, Morchella importuna, before by someone, somewhere. ground, but the fi re was over a was well known, but the other two Old descriptions can be obscure, decade earlier.) The authors of the were hitherto undescribed species, necessitating a very meticulous review had attempted to analyze which we code named Mel-36 and search. In the case of the regional DNA from the holotype (the Mel-19; Mel is Kerry’s short form Mel-36, prior description seemed original name-bearing collection on for black morels from the Morchella unlikely. On the other hand, it which its description was based), elata clade, and the number seemed more than naïve to think but unfortunately the specimen did indicates the order in which he had that the cosmopolitan Mel-19, a not yield material from all fi ve sites encountered them from the world species collected from all over required to determine phylogenetic over. These two similar species the Northern Hemisphere, and species among morels. Sequences differed dramatically in distribution: seemingly particularly common from sites that could be surveyed Mel-36 was parochial, known from in Scandinavia, the hotbed of fi t that of Mel-19, as well as three only the west coast of this province taxonomic activity (Figure 1), other macroscopically similar and the St Lawrence side of New had escaped notice for over two species. Only multilocus analysis Brunswick, whereas Mel-19 was centuries, until we stumbled on it in would be able to determine which widely distributed. Newfoundland and Labrador! of the four species it matched. We set out to report these new Fortunately much of the detective Because analysis of the holotype species formally. One of the work had just been done in the could not provide the answer, responsibilities when describing a course of a major taxonomic review another method had to be used. new species is to make sure that of Morchella in Europe and North An acceptable solution would nobody has described it before. America.2 From the coauthors of be to collect fresh morels in the
OMPHALINA 13 AB
Figure 1. Distribution of Mel-19. A: World distribution Green circle is probable Mel-19. Red star shows type indicated by blue squares. B: Distribution in the Scandi- locality of Morchella norvegiensis. Note that no known navian region. Blue squares indicate confi rmed Mel-19. collection of Mel-19 has been confi rmed for Norway.
type location (the site where the location. Sir Leif, unable to join the Mel-19 is M. norvegiensis, we also original specimen was collected). hunt, offered to meet us on arrival lack proof that they are conspecifi c. If these matched Mel-19, most in Oslo and treat us to dinner, so At least one of the authors feels likely it was M. norvegiensis. Our that we would not have to face the that morphologically they are plan was to select a specimen that Norwegian forests on an empty different species. Our best option is yielded the required DNA and stomach. To top all this off, Jon- to describe Mel-19 as a new species, designate it the lectotype (the new Otto told us that Roy Kristiansen, stating that current technology name-bearing collection to which the author (the scientist who fi rst cannot resolve the question. Should future researchers could turn), described it), of M. norvegiensis still future technological advances make which we planned to deposit in lived in the area and would guide us our name a synonym, the species the Herbarium of the University of through his haunts in our search for and its supporting data and material Oslo (O) alongside the original. his species. will have been available to scientists According to the records at O, The next few pages show photos of in the interim. Thus, although we did Morchella norvegiensis was collected our adventures: many unusual fungi, not settle the issue defi nitively, we in the third week of May, a time which do not grow here, some also can document that an effort was that coincides with our wedding rare for Norway, even some morels. made, point out what needs to be anniversary. What better way However, we did not fi nd any done in the future, and describe to celebrate our 50th wedding morels in the type location, which the species according to best anniversary, than hunt the elusive had changed signifi cantly over time. available information at the time. A M. norvegiensis? According to Roy, M. norvegiensis worthwhile result, because it gives us a clear direction. Decision made, we set about had not been seen there for the to look for help. Veterans of our past 30 years. He also felt that In the event that Mel-19 were forays will recall that in 2011 the identifi cation of M. norvegiensis shown to be conspecifi c with Norwegian polypore expert, Leif from outside its type locality is M. norvegiensis in the future, our Ryvarden was part of our faculty, unreliable, given the proliferation original argument would again be followed by Norwegians Gro of recent genetic species with pertinent: how likely is it that such a Gulden and Jon-Otto Aarnæs in similar morphology. Result: no fresh widespread and relatively common 2012. We wrote them of our plan, DNA-yielding sample of confi rmed morel had not been described until asked if they could help locate the M. norvegiensis for DNA analysis 1990? Therefore it behooves us to exact type location, and join us and inadequate DNA from the see which “classical” names might in the search. Jon-Otto organized holotype. What to do now? fi t with Mel-19. Two possibilities things on the Norwegian end, and As a general rule, it is better arise, M. elata Fr. and M. conica offered to be our chauffeur, pick if known species are formally Pers. To date, M. elata has not been us up and drive us around during described and named, their type matched to a phylogenetically the hunt. Gro invited us to stay at collections and DNA available to distinct species. In his protologue her summerhouse for the hunt, less other scientists. Although we cannot (the original species description) than an hour’s drive from the type entirely exclude the possibility that Fries described it as an uncommon species found in coniferous woods, 14 OMPHALINA especially in moist, burnt places (In disappear. In view of the illegitimate a name for both Mel-36 and Mel-19. silvis abiegnis, præcipue locis humidis status of the epithet at the species You will be pleased to learn that adustis).4 We stress the “præcipue,” level, and the unclear nature of the the authors of these species were (especially or primarily). We have species concept it represents, such a democratically minded people, who never found Mel-19 in burned proposal seems dubious to us. gladly accepted the name with the woods; in our experience it is not a most votes in each case. Stay tuned. Thus, we are left with giving fi re morel. For this reason we feel Mel-19 a new name, even though Acknowledgments that M. elata does not fi t Mel-19. we suspect that the species has We owe great thanks to Gro Gulden In the original description, M. conica been known before. How is this and Jon-Otto Aarnæs for facilitating this search at the expense of their time and was published by Persoon as an possible? Well, the brief look at cost to make it a memorable event. We alternate name for M. continua, and M. conica might hint at a possible thank Roy Kristiansen, who monitored therefore illegitimate by current explanation. The awareness of the the type location beforehand. Thanks nomenclatural rules.2 By the way, diversity of species in the genus are due Roy, as well as Klaus Høiland the Rules state that they are to be is a late phenomenon, primarily and Terje Spolén Nilsen for guiding us in their respective regions. And, applied retroactively, so that what triggered by the availability of DNA of course, to Sir Leif Ryvarden for may have been acceptable practice analysis. Morphologically these providing the initial nourishment that at one time is no longer such, if species are so alike that in many allowed us to brave the Norwegian the Rules forbid it later. What the cases interspecies differences were forests (Figure 2). Finally, we thank species represents is somewhat Pierre-Arthur Moreau for the image of likely not appreciated. Hence, a the type collection herbarium sheet of diffi cult to ascertain, because it has description of what was taken Morchella norvegiensis used in the title variously been interpreted as a to be a single species probably banner. The good will of these friends yellow morel (M. esculenta clade) encompassed several. As such, it caused the interpersonal rewards and a black morel (M. elata clade). may no longer be valid for any of this adventure to outweighed its mycological worth, by far. Current interpretation and usage, of the newly defi ned species. The particularly in Scandinavia, has result will be that each new species References considered it as a species of the M. will need its own unique name, and 1. O’Donnell K: A preliminary assessment elata clade, and some collections the “classical” names, which likely of of the true morels (Morchella) in Newfoundland and Labrador. determined to be Mel-19 were embraced several species, may no OMPHALINA 5(2):3-6. 2014 identifi ed in the fi eld as M. conica. longer match any single species. 2. Richard F, Sauvé M, Bellanger J-M, Because Mel-19 has been identifi ed OK, if you have read this far, you Clowez P, Hansen K, O’Donnell K, from the Netherlands, type region Urban A, Courtecuisse R, Moreau no doubt want to know what for M. conica, somebody used to P-A: True morels (Morchella, these new names are. Sorry. To be thinking of M. conica as a black Pezizales) of Europe and North validly published, names must not America: evolutionary relationships morel might make a proposal to be published beforehand, so you inferred from multilocus data and conserve the name and apply it to a unifi ed taxonomy. Mycologia; will have to wait for the defi nitive Mel-19 in favour of its new name. doi:10.3852/14-166 . 2015. scientifi c description. At that time, The Rules of Nomenclature allow 3. Kristiansen R: Nye arter for we shall update you. The loyal for such proposals in order to vitenskapen, originalbeskrevt fra reader of OMPHALINA, of course, will Østfold. Agarica 10–11:6–12. 1990. conserve a classical name in current know that at one time we gave our 4. Fries EM: Morchella. Systema usage, which might otherwise readers an opportunity to vote for mycologicum 2:8. 1822.
Figure 2. Priming the nutritional reserves on arrival to Oslo, before tackling the wild Norwegian mushrooms. Clockwise from the Left lower corner: Maria Voitk, Andrus Voitk, Sir Leif Ryvarden (host), Jon- Otto Aarnæs (chauffeur—note that his beer is non-alcoholic).
Clandestine photo by servitrix Elise Kåks using cell phone of anonymous colleague.
OOMPHALINAMPHALINA 15 The collectors
Top: Standing almost on the exact spot where the fi rst Morchella norvegiensis was collected in 1983 are our intrepid hunters: Maria Voitk, Gro Gulden, Andrus Voitk, Roy Kristiansen (guide for the day and the man who fi rst discovered the species and described it in 1990), and Jon-Otto Aarnæs. The soil is calcareous from human activity because the site had been used to dump high calcium factory tailings and store materials. It is on the banks of the Glomma River, seen to the right of Jon-Otto’s head; this has overfl owed and eroded the bank at snowmelt. Middle: Admiring a collection of Sarcosoma globosum after an absence of decades from Norway, in the calcareous Follum Forest, led by Terje Spolén Nilsen, guide of the day, at the left. The area had rings comprising over 100 specimens. The Follum Forest region yielded the highest diversity, 22 species—not bad for this time of year. Bottom: Under the arc of a majestic horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) in full dramatic bloom in the King’s gardens, near Oslo, joined by mycologist Klaus Høiland (second from the left), our guide on this Pentecost Sunday. A calcareous area, where morels could be expected, but not this time. The King’s garden, of course, is much more than a garden, containing forests, paths, fi elds, cattle, horses, and other accoutrements needed by kings, including many chestnuts in full bloom, many species of pine, and, yes, gardens. Detail of the dramatis personæ was sacrifi ced to capture the full arc. Sorry, Klaus.
16 OMPHALINA AB C
D E
The collected
A-C: Undetermined M. elata clade morels found in F G Follum; may or may not be M. norvegiensis. A by Gro Gulden. D-E: Morchella importuna; we suspect both are the same species, but E appeared later, during rain, accounting for colour difference (our opinion, not fact). Yes, we ate most, but kept a few, should you wish to sequence them. F: M. esculenta found, photographed and determined by Terje Spolén Nilsen after our visit. G: M. esculenta clade morel, suspected by Roy Kristiansen to be M. vulgaris, or close to that taxon. OMPHALINA 17 A B
A: Gyromitra longipes, photo: Jon-Otto Aarnæs. Not different species. Ours grow in birchwoods. European known from North America, this species has only been books claim theirs grow in coniferous woods, but note recorded in Norway once before. B: G. gigas. True to that it is surrounded by last year’s fallen birch leaves. its name, it is gigantic. This specimen, at 22 cm cap Three mushrooms grew within a circle of fi ve large birch diameter, is at least three times as big as the biggest I trees in the middle of a coniferous forest. G. esculenta, have seen here, suggesting the two continents may have also found, is not shown.
A: Anemone nemoralis, a smaller relative of our rare Anemone A canadensis, covered the ground everywhere in the woods. Among the anemones was an interesting parasitic cup fungus, Dumontinia tuberosa (B). As shown, this fungus has a deep root, which connects to the rhizomes of the anemone, whom the cup fungus taps for food without offering anything in return. We demonstrated what seemed to be a connection between mycelia and Anemone rhizomes, but did not demonstrate the sclerotium or tuber, which gives the species the name “tuberosa.” Although often reported, is it possible that we were either too late or too early to see it? Presumably, its function is to store extra food that tides the fungus over the winter and allows B for early spring fruitbody formation. If so, there may be a time after fruitbodies have matured, when it is used up, before it forms again. Maybe?
18 OMPHALINA The authors, somewhat battleworn husks are decomposed by fungi to after half a century of shared release the building blocks used to adventures—a mere blink of an make them, so that new organisms eye, compared to the half a billion can be formed. year old rocks behind them. To the We found pyrenomycetes, right, hosts Gro Gulden, above, and imperfect fungi, some small Jon-Otto Aarnæs, below. ascomycetes, and four macrofungi, We close this contemplation on decomposing conifer cones. In the passage of time with a photo addition to Mycena plumipes, also of the beautiful Hepatica nobilis decomposing spruce cones was among cones of Picea abies on Strobilurus esculentus. On pine which grow Mycena plumipes cones grew its beautiful relative, (formerly M. strobilicola)—all part S. stephanocystis, and on both we of a cycle. Both tree and fl ower found Auriscalpium vulgare. fertilize its seed (the tiny grains on A full species list available from the mushroom caps are spruce the editor, probably in exchange pollen) to grow new fl owers and for a modest keg of aged Grande trees as the old ones wear out. Champagne Cognac. When the seed is dispersed, its
OMPHALINA 19 GYROMITRA TOXICITY
MICHAEL BEUG
Ed Note: The mail page has been given over to the read in NAMA’s Mycophile, vol 55, nr 3, available for most signifi cant comment in response to our last issue free download from: (all others were highly laudatory—thank you). The
The article about Gyromitra in the esculenta, Disciotis venosa or G. factors. Also, morels (and many last OMPHALINA1 prompted me to ancilis. I have not been able to learn other species) can accumulate review Gyromitra toxins. how much MMH might be in G. arsenic and lead, in some cases Gyromitra esculenta contains gigas. causing serious poisoning. about 9-11 gyromitrins that The North American Mycological Consumption of Gyromitra produce monomethylhydrazine Association (NAMA) database esculenta is very dangerous. Should (MMH), which is both cytotoxic for North American poisonings by you choose to cook and eat other and carcinogenic. The difference species in the genus of Gyromitra Gyromitra species, consider doing between a harmless dose and has numerous serious examples the cooking outdoors. Personally, a lethal dose is small, so that a from consumption of Gyromitra I prefer not to take chances and do person might eat a large meal of esculenta. While there have not eat Gyromitra species. G. esculenta for several days with been no deaths reported for this References no ill effect, and then die from a species in North America, cases subsequent meal. MMH levels in G. hospitalization with severe liver 1. Miller AN, Matlak A, Raudabaugh D, Pärtel K, Tamm H, Methven AS, esculenta vary with collection site, damage occur nearly every year. Voitk A: The genus Gyromitra in NL. altitude, duration of preservation, When you add the fact that these OMPHALINA 4(3): 4-15. 2015. and type of preservation.2 mushrooms are also very potent 2. Andary C, Privat G, Bourrier M-J: Of even greater concern is the carcinogens, it is very clear Variations of Monomethylhydrazine carcinogenicity. In studies with that consumption of Gyromitra Content in Gyromitra esculenta. mice, even a single small dose of esculenta is a very dangerous Mycologia 77(2): 259-264. 1985. MMH caused lung, preputial gland practice. Since both Gyromitra 3. Toth, B: Hydrazine, methylhydrazine and liver tumors.3-5 Thus, even one infula and Gyromitra ambigua and methylhydrazine sulfate meal of G. esculenta might start are in the Esculenta subclade of carcinogenesis in Swiss mice. Failure tumors. Gyromitra, these species should be of ammonium hydroxide to interfere avoided as well. in the development of tumors. Int. J. Ascomycete astudies have shown No poisonings from other Cancer 9: 109-118. 1972. that MMH levels are highest 4. Toth B, Nagel D: Tumors induced in in G. esculenta and Cudonia Gyromitra species are recorded. The few reported cases of mice by N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine circinans. Helvella macropus, H. of false morel, Gyromitra esculenta. crispa, H. lacunosa, H. elastica, poisoning by the G. gigas complex J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol. 93: H. acetabulum, Leotia lubrica, could all be attributed to: 1) 109-121.1978. Spathularia fl avida, Otidea onotica misidentifi cation, 2) undercooking, 5. Toth B, Nagel D, Patil K: and Neobulgaria pura had 5-10% or 3) individual sensitivity. An Carcinogenesis by a single dose of of the MMH of G. esculenta. No examination of the numerous N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine. J. MMH was found in Morchella reported poisonings by morels and Toxicol. Environ. Health 6: 577-584. verpas turned up the same three 1980. 20 OMPHALINA OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
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OMPHALINA