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The Journal of Wild Mushrooming

Spring-Summer 2018 Issue 118, Vol.33, No.1-2 $7.95 in U.S., $8.95 in Postmaster: Mailed as Periodical Small spalted bowl showcasing every of spalting. Turned and spalted by Seri Robinson

(test tubes) Full range of colors available from the four pri- mary spalting fungi: Scytalidium cuboideum, Scytalidium gano- dermophthorum, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, Chlorociboria aeruginosa

( in the lower left corner) zone line from the Ama- zon rainforest of Peru. Many zone lines appear black but are actually just highly concentrated colors.

(spalted wood just below) zone lines found in the Amazon rainforest of Peru

(spalted wood bottom right cor- ner) Red-purple pigment found in the Amazon rainforest of Peru

See the full article on p. 15!

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2 Spring-SummerWinter-Spring 2011, 2018, Mushroom the the Journal Journal ISSN 0740-8161 Issue 118 Vol. 33, No. 1-2 Spring-Summer 2018 The Journal of Wild Mushrooming

Cover Photo: jacksonii photographed by Walt Sturgeon. For more of Walt’s photos, see the photo-essay on pp. 56-7.

Coordinating Editors: Features Leon Shernoff ([email protected]) 13 A Term Defined, by Anne Yen Editor emeritus: 15 The Old Art and New Science of Spalted Wood, by Seri Robinson Don H.Coombs 22 Getting Started at Knowing , by Lee Schuler 33 A Life Full of Mushrooming, by Chuck Barrows Book Review Editor: Ron Tracy 58 Mushrooms and Microhabitats, by Jack Waytz ([email protected]) 66 – The Organometallic Dimension, by Beowulf Glutzenbaum Editorial Advisory Board: 68 An Unusual Poison Control Call, by Bill Bakaitis Scott Redhead Agriculture Canada, Ottawa Departments 4 Easy Edibles: The Newish Morels, by Bob Sommer and Leon Shernoff Santa Cruz, 9 Word Puzzle: Morel Names, by Donald and Leon Shernoff 10 Obituary: Maggie Rogers, by Betty Gering Paul Stamets Olympia, 24 The Cooking Column: The Joy of Black Trumpets 26 Book Reviews: The Forest Unseen and The Songs of , reviewed by James M. Trappe Ron Tracy State University 31 Video Review: The Magic of Mushrooms, reviewed by Sarah Prentice 36 Crossword Puzzle: Old and Bold, by Kevin Wald Roy Watling Edinburgh, Scotland 38 Myco-interview: From Long Island to North Carolina: an interview with Rytas Vilgalys Ed Tylutki 46 Fungi around the World: Collecting fungi in the Amazonian Cerro de Moscow, la Neblina, Venezuela, by Amy Rossman and Roy Halling 54 Photo-essay: Mushroom Colors, by Walt Sturgeon Lorelei Norvell Portland, Oregon

Contributing Editors: Bill Bakaitis Moselio Schaechter Larry Evans Dick Grimm Steve Trudell Tjakko Stijve

Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming, (ISSN 0740-8161) is published quarterly by Mushroom the Journal of Wild Mushrooming, NFP, 1006 E 62nd St, Periodical postage paid at Chicago, IL and additional mailing offices. Unit C, Chicago, IL 60637. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Mushroom the Journal, 1006 E 62nd St, Unit C, Chicago IL 60637 Subscriptions are $32 for one year, $90 for three years, $250 for ten years, and $700 for a lifetime subscription. Copyright 2018 by Mushroom the Journal of Wild Mushrooming, NFP. All rights reserved. No part of this Checks should be sent to Mushroom the Journal, 1006 publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. Advertising rates are available E 62nd St, Unit C, Chicago, IL 60637. upon request. Back issues are $8.95 each postpaid, four or more at $7.95 each. The journal welcomes contributions of photos or articles, and will be glad to consider them for possible publication. An information sheet is available for Checks drawn on Canadian banks should be marked potential contributors. “US dollars.” Subscriptions outside of , please add $25 per year additional postage.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 3 The Newish Morels

by Bob Sommer and Leon Shernoff1

The morel is one of the best who tries to bring together. Half-frees tasting and most sought after North The DNA testing provides support These are true morels – with a American mushroom. The only risky for splitters not just in species but also honeycombed head – that have a head look-alikes are species in color categories. Back in 2004, that projects a bit (like a skirt) where which are sometimes called false one grouped morels into “” they meet the stalk (see the diagram morels. They appear about the same and “blacks,” with half-frees thrown on this page). They are easy to name, time in spring as morels but are in on their own as trouble-makers. as only one species is recognized for neither conical nor pitted. Morels With more refined distinctions each half of the country. dry easily and I don’t wash them. I being made now, is now punctipes is the half-free tap them on a hard surface to knock officially recognizing some new morel that occurs widely east of away any dirt particles. forms, including some new colors the Rockies. Morchella populophila is Morels are edible and choice but and color transitions. a Northwestern species that occurs should be cooked before eaten and under black cottonwoods. M. semilibera the water discarded. Scattered or is the name in most of your books; clustered in the wodds, or on bark, but this is one of those European woodchips, fruiting from late winter species that turns out not to occur to early summer. Some people can’t in North America. eat them, which leaves more for the rest of us. Color categories and habitats My last morel column in this One can take the traditional color journal was in 2004. Since then, names as representing the color several new morel species have been of the ridges on the honeycombed identified, mostly on the west coast head more than the color of the of North America. I’m not sure how head overall. The ridge edges of many of these names will be in field black morels will often look singed, guides in 20 years but I’ll describe because they are so much darker than their characteristics. the rest of the cap; and morels I’d rather hunt a tasty morel that can be quite in the honeycomb may have a duplicate name than seek pits, but will have lighter ridges. a dull Agaricus or Lepiota. But in this There are also three main habitats article I will be a splitter (to use an for morels. Some morels come out older ) rather than a lumper the year after forest fires, and these

1 Bob is handling the west coast species and most of the general text here; Leon handles the eastern species and the text for the color-categories. Basically this is one of Bob’s regular Easy Edibles columns with some extra ID information from Leon. The pronouns “I” and “my” all refer to Bob.

4 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal like honeycomb cells and more like but the pits can remain dark for twisty passageways. These can get quite a while. It occurs in states and pretty big. These are the ones that provinces along the border between have traditionally gone under the the US and Canada, from Quebec to lumper name of . . The other group has gone under See also M. rufobrunnea, under the the name of deliciosa. They’re about strange ones (below). half the size of the first group, and they usually have some pretty straight vertical ridges, so the spaces between them look more like honeycomb cells. The big (esculenta-type) yellow morels , M. Yellow esculenta-type morels (prob- ably Morchella americana) showing ulmaria the long, winding walls on the head, Cap 20-110 mm tall, 15-40 mm making for labyrinthine crannies. wide. This is the most common yellow in North America, and is are known as burn morels. Other widely distributed throughout the morels come out under pretty much continent. It can be quite dark when the same circumstances as other young, but becomes gray or yellow mushrooms – when their habitat is at maturity. happy, the season is right, and they get enough rain. These are called They start out life a pale grey and “naturals.” The third group comes remain that color if they don’t get out in “disturbed ground” – places much sunlight, leading some local folks to theorize that “grays” and where humans or nature have done Deliciosa-type morels, showing the excavation or other disturbances “yellows” are a different species. more rounded cap and the cap cells and rearrangements of the soil. In And as far as eating goes, they that are not long and winding but homage to the human role in many might as well be, as they develop a also not vertically stacked. of these disturbances, these are called very different flavor when they turn Illustration from Émile Boudier’s yellow. Icones mycologicæ, ou Iconographie “landscape morels.” des champignons de , Volume There is no intrinsic relationship M. ulmaria often appears identical 2 (1910) between a morel’s color and its to americana, and cannot be reliably lifestyle: all burn morels are black told apart from it without sampling Little (deliciosa-type) morels; we have both yellow and the DNA (leading to the yellow morels black “naturals”; and we have one M. cryptica). It grows in Midwestern Morchella diminutiva & yellow and one black landscape hardwood forests, especially under morel. ash, american , and tulip sceptriformis trees. M. diminutiva has a cap 15-50 mm Yellows Morchella prava tall, 10-30 mm wide, and sceptriformis Yellow morels have a pale head, has a slightly larger size range. often with a yellowish cast to it Cap 30-60 mm tall, 20-50 Otherwise, they are indistinguishable when they are mature. There are two mm wide, often roundish or even without a microscope. Their head groups of yellows: one has randomly flattened, and the head is often tends to be more rounded – less oriented, often twisted ridges; so the dimpled or twisted. Its ridges are tapered, less pointy – than M. spaces between the ridges look less almost white from the beginning, americana.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 5 M. diminutiva is found throughout North America, under a of hardwoods; sceptriformis is found in wet areas under tulip trees in the southeast ( to northern ). Black morels Black morels can be all dark; or they can be tannish with dark ridges. When young they can be quite pale. But another way to tell them apart is that the pits on the cap tend to be vertically arranged – that is, the cap has many long, vertical ridges, connected by short crosswalls at irregular intervals, so their pits are The illustration from the original description of , from Émile Boudier’s Icones mycologicæ, ou Iconographie des champignons de France, often rounded rectangles. Kuo (2012) Volume 2 (1910). calls this arrangement “regularly Typically for black burn morels, the cap is arranged in long vertical ridges with laddered.” short crosswalls creating “regularly laddered” pits. The illustration also shows the “ant racetrack” groove between the bottom of the head and the stalk. The half-frees are genetically closer to the blacks than the yellows, They will darken as it ages or dries Typical western burn and this can be seen where the cap and become brown or black, but in morels joins the stem. Although black morels the meantime, it is easy to mistake don’t have the full-fledged “skirt” for a yellow morel. Kuo reports that Morchella eximia, exuberans, of the half-free morels, the head of “collectors often findMorchella snyderi sextelata blacks will often project a little bit, in a sort of transition stage, in which creating a small groove under the the ridges are yellowish toward the Black Morel, Pink Morel, overlap that Michael Kuo calls an bottom, but have begun to blacken “greenies” “ant racetrack.” toward the top.” The stem develops Cap 20-80 mm. tall, 20-65 mm ridges and pockets in maturity, and Black naturals wide; edges bluntly rounded. Edges these are the best bet for telling it brown to pale brown to dark brown, , apart from other morels. often on burned soil, sometimes in brunnea, septentrionalis/ It is not a burn morel strictly abundance on lightly burned soil. pulchella speaking, but it will colonize burned They emerge early in the season, areas before the other naturals do, “right after [the] fruiting of the Cap 30-80mm tall, 20-50mm and will come out the year after a natural black morels” according to wide. The default natural black morel fire on unburned areas within the Beug et al (2014). is angusticeps in the east, brunnea in aftermath of a fire. the northwest. Morchella septentrionalis These three species cannot (which is probably the same as the Michael Kuo named it after Leon be distinguished from each other European species M. pulchella) is a Snyder, who first gave this mushroom without further science. As with smaller, more northern species in a scientific name and description the yellow morels, there are many the east that often fruits from or near in 1938. Snyder’s name was invalid misapplied names for these. fallen hardwoods. because his type collection included When pale they can have a pink more than one species of morel; tint to them; and when darker they but Kuo says he did not want often have a greenish cast. They share Cap 35-80mm tall, 30-50mm Snyder’s work to be forgotten, so these color forms with other western wide. Found in the northwest. The he commemorated Snyder with this morels (especially M. tomentosa) and cap ridges are initially yellowish tan. name. (as with “grey” yellow morels in the

6 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal east) these colors do not indicate a The fuzzy burn morel: Western landscape morel different species of morel. To quote Beug (2014), p. 194: “Commercial (= M. pickers know these four burn morel A distinctive black morel found importuna) in burn areas of western North species as “pinks” and “,” This black morel is one of our but the coloration of each… is America. When young the cap and stem are covered in dense hair. two landscape morels in North variable, and color cannot be used to America. The other is the much more distinguish between them.” It appears bald in age but Beug et alia say that even then under yellow(ish) M. rufobrunnea. Morchella The reason that Beug et alia the microscope one can still find elata is a typical black morel – pointy mention “four” kinds of burn morels “abundant… brown hyphal tips” on cap, vertically arranged ridges – but it above is that they listed anthracophila, the stem and ridges. comes out in “disturbed areas.” carbonaria, and septimelata along with It starts out silvery gray, usually This was named as Morchella sextelata, but Richard et al (2014, importuna by Kuo et al (2012) and that published later that same year) becoming a dark uniform blackish in maturity but the black surface “soon name is still very popular – we’ve showed that the first three of these retained it in Jack Waytz’s article on were the same thing as the European cracking and breaking away to expose white to underlying tissue” so p. 58 because more people in the speces Morchella eximia. So everyone western US have a concept for it. can feel better about not being able to that it looks blond in age. But there are no burn yellows. However Kuo (2012a) was absolutely tell them apart. Boudier’s illustration correct when he said from the original description of M. This one fruits later than the eximia is shown on the facing page. other black morels: in late spring and I will not be surprised when a much older, European name is Among the three recognized here, summer, sometimes even August or Sept if the forest stays moist. It is found for ; I Morchella exuberans is microscopically have studied a collection that unique: its ridges have numerous most abundant at high elevations, and has a northern distribution, near the was sent to me from Belgium, protruding cells with a rounded head, and verified through DNA making them “capitate,” and giving border with Canada. the reason for the synonym Morchella capitata. But to distinguish M. eximia from M. sextelata, it seems that one needs to run DNA. Although we’re calling these “western” species, there has been an exciting find for those of us who, in our childhood, haunted the burnt-out campfire sites of our local NY [cough, cough] in an attempt to find burn morels in the east. Miller et al (2017) identified Morchella exuberans as the burn morel at forest fires in and Tennessee. The paper says these morels are found at “ burn sites,” which might explain their relative infrequency in the east, where most of our forests are hardwoods. Besides the two burns examined in the paper, the authors also mention previous Photograph of Morchella tomentosa by Michael Kuo, showing the fuzzy tomen- reports of burn morels from conifer tum that gives it its name forests and Ontario.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 7 analysis – and there are several European morel species… Some Morchella synonyms that appear, based on photos, The name in bold is the to match the morphology and currently correct name, and it is ecology of Morchella importuna. followed by its synonyms exuberans: capitata. R ichard et al (2014, also mentioned eximia: anthracophila, in the discussion of burn morels) carbonaria, and septimelata. indeed found that M. importuna’s elata: importuna DNA was identical to the much older ulmaria: cryptica European species M. elata. americana: crassipes, populina Other color-forms tridentina: frustrata Morchella frustrata (= M. tridentina) http://www.mushroomexpert.com/ morchella_importuna.html. The name (given by Kuo) says Kuo M, Dewsbur y DR , O’Donnel l it all. This species easily confuses. K, Carter MC, Rehner SA, Moore It is a black morel that isn’t black. JD, Moncalvo JM, Canfield SA, A PNW species, it is known as the Stephenson SL, Methven AS, Volk TJ “mountain blond.” The only known (11 April 2012). “Taxonomic revision competitors in ID are true yellow of true morels (Morchella) in Canada morels and M. snyderi. But it has the and the United States”. Mycologia. 104 “ant racetrack” that yellows lack; and (5): 1159–77. doi:10.3852/11-375. it doesn’t develop the fancy stem of PMID 22495449. M. snyderi. It can be gray, brown, and occasionally even whitish. Andrew N. Miller, Daniel B. Illustration from the original de- Raudabaugh, Teresa Iturriaga, The same 2014 paper by Richard scription of Morchella tridentina P. Brandon Matheny, Ronald H. et alia found that this is the same as by Giacomo Bresadola, from Fungi Tridentini Novi, vol. 2, 1892. Petersen, Karen W. Hughes, Matthias the European species M. tridentina. Gube, Rob A. Powers, Timothy Y. James & Kerry O’Donnell and historical of (2017): “First report of the post-fire This is the yellow(ish) landscape true morels (Morchella) reveals morel, Morchella exuberans, in eastern morel. Cap (25-75mm) ridged and an early Cretaceous origin and North America”, Mycologia, DOI: pitted with 10-20 primary vertical high continental and 10.1080/00275514.2017.1408294 ridges and many secondary horizontal provincialism in the Holarctic.” ridges, edges blunt or sharp. It Richard, Franck; Bellanger, darkens with age and bruises rusty Boudier, Émile (1910). Icones Jean-Michel; Clowez, Philippe; brown to salmon when young. mycologicae ou iconographie des champignons Courtecuisse, Regis; Hansen, de France principalement discomycètes avec Karen; O’Donnell, Kerry; Sauve, O’Donnell et al (2011) found this texte descriptif. Tome II, pl. 194–421. Mathieu; Urban, Alexander; Moreau, to be the most current morel – Librairie des Sciences Naturelles, Pierre-Arthur (30 December 2014). that is, the one that genetically most Paris. “True morels (Morchella, ) resembles the ancestral morels from of and North America: which all the current living ones Clowez Philippe (2012). “Les evolutionary relationships inferred evolved. morilles. Une nouvelle approche mondiale du genre Morchella”. from multilocus data and a unified Bibliography Bulletin de la Société Mycologique de France taxonomy”. Mycologia. 107: 359–382. doi:10.3852/14-166. PMID 25550303. O’Donnell K, Rooney AP, Mills (in French). 126 (3–4): 199–376. 14-166. GL, Kuo M, Weber NS, Rehner Kuo, M. (2012a, October). SA. Fungal Genetics and Biolog y. 2011 Morchella importuna. Retrieved from Mar. 48(3):252-65 “Phylogeny the MushroomExpert.Com Web site:

8 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Morels, More Problems by Donald Shernoff and Leon Shernoff

An acrostic is a set of words whose first letters spell out another word. This is a mesostic, a set of words with a middle letter that spells out another word, the scientific name of a morel. The cross words are all morel species names, and they are listed on the left below. In addition, the letters in each of the non-square shapes can be unscrambled to the name of a prominent morel taxonomist. Those have also needed some extra letters, which are provided in the sets of non-square shapes along with sufficient shapes to collect the appropriate letters.

M O americana angusticeps R brunnea C diminutiva elata H C eximia E exuberans H frustrata L W populophila L prava Z punctipes A rufobrunnea sceptriformis S septentrionalis E snyderi tomentosa X tridentina T ulmaria E L A T A

H K K

C H

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 9 Remembering Maggie Rogers

by Will & Betty Gering

Mary Margaret (Maggie) Rogers was born in Seattle, WA. on August 4th, 1933, joining parents George and Eathyl Salisbury in Kingston, across Puget Sound from Seattle. Maggie’s father was a chemist in Seattle; her mother an elementary teacher. Sister Betty was born a year and a half after Maggie, as the family continued life in a cabin on their Kingston property. Shortly after Betty’s birth, a fire erupted, consuming the property, forcing them to move to Seattle, where they were taken in by paternal grandmother Nana until a piece of property north of Seattle (Alderwood Manor, WA) became the new home. Around this home was logged-off land which provided opportunity to prowl and learn about “the woods.” With the family still growing, a move to larger quarters was effected in 1940. In 1943 Maggie’s father suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, lingering for six months before passing away. Two daughters and a two-year-old son required her mother to return to teaching. After Maggie’s mother re-married, brother John arrived in 1945. Shortly Maggie was drawn to mushrooming at an early age. thereafter, yet another move – this time to another cabin in the woods near Monroe. In 1949 Bruce filled out Mom’s quiver. Life now was a very

10 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal primitive existence, (off the grid) where the kids learned mushrooming was her special avocation for many years. to carry water from the creek canyon and to study by the Her interests many and varied, her 85 years were filled light of kerosene lamps. with the wonder of life, living each day with curiosity and The woods were a constant draw for exploring, picking awe. Her interest in mushrooming took her all over the and discovering morels and breadloaf mushrooms. world, teaching and always learning more. She loved her Sometimes they served as a “meatless” dinner. Who many years as a member of Oregon Mycological Society knows how Maggie knew they were safe to eat? for many years, leading forays, photographing and serving in many capacities, both local and nation-wide. Graduating Monroe High School with honors and a scholarship to Western Washington College in Many of her hours and days were spent learning more Bellingham, Maggie earned her teacher’s certificate in about wild mushrooms and sharing her knowledge with 1955. She worked in the library where her love of books many like-minded friends far and wide. From decided her future as a librarian. to the British Isles and Russia, she made lifelong friends and corresponded with them for many years. She left After Maggie married, she moved to Vancouver, WA., journals filled with her amazing adventures. teaching at Hudson’s Bay HS and serving as the librarian. She continued to take college classes and received her There is so much more to tell, but we are all blessed to Master’s from the University of Oregon. During these have been a part of her colorful life for over 80 years. years she was studying calligraphy, identification and grafting, colored pencil sketching, and dyeing fabrics Betty Gering is Maggie’s sister. All photo courtesy of her and with mushrooms. Her wonderful, witty and welcome George Salisbury, Maggie’s brother. There are two more photos on hand-written and decorated notes and letters were always the next page. accompanied by clever drawings, cartoons, and poetry. She loved classical music, fine art and good books, but

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 11 Two photos of Maggie Rogers (see appreciation, p. 10)

12 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal A Term Defined Illustrations by Anne Yen Definitions by Jason Cortlund

Gleba From , the noun “” describes the - bearing part of Gasteromycetes, fungi that include species of and stinkhorns. The fetid, dark tissue at the top of the stinkhorn elegans is its gleba. Fuscous From the Latin fuscus meaning dark, swarthy, or tawny. The adjective “fuscous” (pronounced FUHS’ kuhs) is a color description that refers to something of a brownish-grey or something that is dark or dusky. The commonly referred to as Old Man of the Woods (Strobilomyces floccopus) certainly fits that description.

Flabelliform The adjective “flabelliform” (pronounced flah- BELL-ih-form) comes from Latin and describes something that is shaped like a fan. While many species of polypore fungi growing from wood could be accurately described as flabelliform, few specimens would make a more elegant fan for keeping cool this summer than Ganoderma lucidum —also known as or reishi.

A Term Defined: Gleba, Fuscous, and Flabelliform, first appeared in the Summer 2011, 2011, and Summer 2012 issues, respectively, of the New York Mycological Society (NYMS) newsletter. Artwork was revised by the artist for this publication and text was reprinted with permission by NYMS.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 13 The Origins of Four of the original papers that initiated the concepts we use today

Schwendener: The Lichens as Parasites of Algae (1869) The first publication on the symbiotic nature of lichens van Benedén: Animal Parasites and Messmates (1876) In which van Benedén published his concepts of and commensalism De Bary: The Phenomenon of Symbiosis (1879) De Bary did not like van Benedén’s concepts, and came out with his own more general concept of symbiosis. Frank: On the Nourishment of Trees Through a - symbiosis with Underground Fungi (1885) The paper that gave us the term Except for the van Benedén, which is a long book, all four Heinrich Anton De Bary works are presented complete and unabridged, with study questions for classroom use. Simon Schwendener

All the original engravings are included. Additional modern illustrations are provided through links on the supporting website, http://www.mushroomthejournal.com/symbiosis van Benedén: The assistance rendered by animals to each other is as varied as that which is found among men. Some receive merely an abode, others nourishment, others again food and shelter.... But if we see, by the side of these paupers, some which render to one another mutual services, it would be unflattering to call them all either parasites or messmates commensaux( ). It would be more just to call these latter kinds mutualists, and thus mutuality will take its place by the side of commensalism and of parasitism. de Bary: Parasitism, Mutualism, Lichenism, and so on, are equally valid special cases of that general type of association that I call Symbiosis. If one wants to differentiate these primary categories further, then one might come up with antagonists locked in perpetual combat, or mutualists that each promote the welfare of both symbionts. But upon close examination, one cannot really endorse a sharp distinction between the categories. A sharp distinction is also missing in the other direction, that is between a “strict” symbiosis of connected symbionts with a common household, and the multitudinous relationships of organisms to one another that go under the name of social relations. Frank: [this paper] concerns the fact that certain trees nourish themselves ...in symbiosis with the of a , which carries out the function of a wet-nurse and takes over the entire nourishment of the tree from the soil. The whole body is thus neither entirely root nor entirely mushroom. Instead, as in the thallus of the lichens, a combination of two different species forms a single morphologically integrated organ, which can perhaps be suitably called a mushroom-root, or “mycorrhiza”.

This paperbound anthology is available Ship to: Number of copies:______for $5 apiece, prepaid only, from Mushroom the Journal Name______1006 E 62nd St, Unit C Address______Chicago, IL 60637 ______Inquiries: [email protected] City, State, Zip______

Add shipping fee: 1-5 copies: $4. 5-10 copies: $9. 10 or more Email Address ______copies: $15. For orders outside of North America, shipping costs are double. A pdf download of this flier is available from http://www. mushroomthejournal.com/symbiosis The Old Art and New Science of Spalted Wood by Seri Robinson

No, it’s not just moldy firewood. Some Definitions is also a soft-rotting wood decay Spalted wood—wood that has fungus is a spalting fungus. Basically, Today, spalted wood is broken into been colonized by pigmenting, if it secretes pigment and can decay three sub-types. The first, white rot,is wood-decaying Ascomycetes and wood, it is a spalting fungus. the lightening of the wood (often Basidiomycetes—has an ancient and to white) by the removal of lignin current history in wood design. Spalting Revival via white-rotting fungi. It is also The process of spalting, and sometimes achieved through a dense A Little History how spalted wood occurs in the cluster of white fungal hyphae in one They heyday of spalted wood forest, is well understood by science. area. The second type, zone lines, was in the 1600s in Germany, where Due to European guilds and the are melanin or other relatively high several guild families created wall Industrial Revolution, however, molecular weight pigments secreted paneling, ceilings, and other large- whatever communal knowledge was by fungi (secondary metabolites) that scale flatwork for the royalty of the held about spalted wood by artists form winding lines in wood. The time. Its known use dates back to and crafters did not make it into the third type is pigmentation, which is the early 1400s, and it persisted in modern era. As such, wood artwork still fungal secondary metabolites, (small pieces of solid wood from the 1400s-1700s that contain, but tends to be lower weight pigments being glued up to create a larger in particular the -green from that are secreted in patches inside image) and marquetry (small pieces Chlorociboria species, was thought to wood instead of in a firm line. Some of veneer being glued up to create a be synthetic or at the very least, not spalting falls between two categories, larger image) until the 1700s, when from fungal sources. such as the black melanin of Xylaria synthetic colorants became more polymorpha which forms lines so wide Then a few enterprising scientists prevalent. they often look like black mats, and and art restorers began to ask As Europe charged towards many blue stains that secrete black questions in particular about the blue- the Industrial Revolution, spalted and brown melanin that appears blue green colored wood in many German wood moved from royal palaces due to how light interacts with the and Italian and marquetries and churches to upper middle class surface of the wood. in the 1990s, foremost among them furniture. The 1700s saw spalted Dr. Robert Blanchette (USA) and Many types of fungal coloration wood more in bureaus and boxes Dr. Hans Michaelsen (Germany). are mistaken for spalting. Most mold than walls or ceilings. Unfortunately, They found fungal hyphae in the fungi, for instance, are not capable the use of spalted wood (and to some old intarsia and concluded that what of breaking down wood cell walls extent, where to find it and how to had been suspected artificial color nor are their pigments capable of ‘make’ it) was a closely guarded guild was actually due to fungi, and named deeply penetrating wood. Hence, secret. When the guilds fell apart Chlorociboria species the culprit, as the Trichoderma and Fusarium in your during the Industrial Revolution, this is the only known one on life don’t qualify. However, mold much of the collective art and craft the planet to produce the distinctive fungi like Scytalidium cuboideum, which knowledge was lost to time. blue-green color on wood.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 15 Top left: Heavily spalted Chlorociboria-stained wood from Alaska Top right: Close up of Chloro- ciboria sp. fruiting bodies Above: Multicolored spal- ted wood done through live inoculation of the fungi into sound wood Above right: zone lines on pashako wood from the Amazon rainforest of Peru Right: Red pigment of Scyta- lidium cuboideum in liquid culture, being used to dye paper pulp

16 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Top left: Wallpaper samples dyed with spalting fungal pigments as part of a class at Oregon State University in the Renewable Materials program. The paper was also handmade by the students. Top right: Spalted wood cut into veneer and pressed into flooring Above left: Hand woven small rug with the fibers dyed from spalting fungal pigments. Rug was woven and dyed by a student at Oregon State University in the Renewable Materials program. Above: Close-up of the rug Left: Large spalted bowl showing the full range of spalt- ing fungal pigments. Turned and spalted as a collabora- tive work by Mark Lindquist and Seri Robinson. Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 17 It has thus been confirmed across own pace seems like an outstanding many artworks that spalted wood evolutionary advantage. This also Spalting Around the World is present and was a commodity explains why the pigments are so S p a lt e d wo o d o c c u r s product back at the time the works durable: if a fungus takes years to everywhere on the planet, and were made. Modern use, however, decades to colonize a piece of wood, has a history with most cultures. has been somewhat limited. The the pigment has to stay put, through As spalting research expands, first breath of the revival came in any environmental condition. researchers at Oregon State the 1960s, when the father/son Because the pigments and zone University have been able to visit duo of Melvin and Mark Lindquist lines are released for competition and different areas to learn about used spalted wood (primarily zone resource capture, it’s not uncommon their historic and current use of line type) in their woodturning. to have spalting fungi grow in spalted wood, and the myths that As the family gained popularity laboratory media and not spalt. surround it. and their work moved from craft Spalting tends to be a response to For instance, spalted wood turning to sculpture (and moved stress, whether from other fungi does not appear to have a history of into major art museums), so too did or poor environmental conditions. use in historic woodcraft in Chile, spalted wood move along with it. Hence, adding things to media or but is used somewhat frequently Today the work of Melvin and Mark wood, such as sources and today by artisans—particularly Lindquist, primarily with spalted , can have the unintended blue-green Chlorociboria wood— wood, can be found in museums like consequence of slowing the pigment which is quite plentiful in the the Renwick Gallery (Smithsonian) production instead of speeding it forests there. A potential reason and the Metropolitan Museum of up! Art, among many others. why spalted wood was not used historically was told to Dr. The popularity of the Lindquist Modern Science Robinson in a 2018 trip to Chile. work placed spalted wood at the Scientists have long been fascinated According to local legend, a forefront of the US woodturning by spalted wood. As chemistry grew small man called a ‘trauco’ lives consciousness. It still resides there from alchemy in Europe in the late in Chiloe forests. He is quite ugly today, and woodturners are the most 1700s (it is important to note here that and has no feet but is apparently likely segment of the US population chemistry was far more advanced in irresistible to women (and was to be able to tell you what spalted other regions, however here we are the method by which the people wood actually is. Interestingly focusing on Western European explained unplanned pregnancies though, science has taken a shine spalting and so then Western for many generations). Blue- to spalted wood, and what those European chemistry), scientists green wood on the forest floor fungal pigments might mean in other began to experiment with the blue- is not to be touched, as it is the areas. green color from Chlorociboria species. poop of the trauco and thereby In particular they were interested in quite dangerous. Biology extracting the pigment, a feat that Although no one is 100% sure was successfully accomplished many why spalting fungi make their times, using a variety of (relatively secondary metabolites, the most toxic) solvents, from about the 1800s plausible answer is resource capture. onwards. form (and a ton of scientific literature Zone lines are generally composed of Once extracted, however, the on the subject). melanin—a high molecular weight pigment didn’t have much value. A pigment—that keeps fungal hyphae The real meat of spalted wood use for xylindein (the name for the research started in the late 1970s/early out of a given area. The pigments, in pigment from Chlorociboria species) contrast, are released throughout the 1980s, when two masters students was patented in the early 1900s as from Brigham Young University wood and have some antimicrobial a fungicide, however this does not properties (hence the Chlorociboria started really trying to understand the appear to have ever gained much mechanisms behind spalted wood as patent mentioned below). For slow traction. Zone lines were also heavily growing fungi, the ability to color an art material. Although their work studied around this time, and there is didn’t go much beyond their thesis the wood first and colonize at their still much fascination about how they

18 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Historical spalting: Bureau from the Bilbao Museum in . Spalted wood (blue-green from Chlorocibo- ria spp.) can be found on the inte- rior and side pan- els. Made between 1560-1570, when blue-green spalted wood was in its heyday, as there were no other syn- thetic or natural pigments that had the same longevity in the blue range. Manufactured in South Germany.

Above left: side panel Above: interior drawer Left: panel detail

19 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Winter-Spring 2011, Mushroom the Journal 19 Historical spalting: Cabinet from the National Museum of Decora- tive Arts, Spain (1600), decorated with images of birds. Manufactured in South Germany. All blue- green is from Chlorociboria spp. Overview and close-ups of some panels. Middle left is extreme close-up of the top-left panel. Some synthetic blue and green pigments were coming up around this time, but none had the longevity of blue-green spalted wood, and so the use of spalted wood persisted.

20

20 Spring-SummerWinter-Spring 2011, 2018, Mushroom Mushroom the the Journal Journal (in terms of spalting induction), The potential applications have finally outweighed the frustration, the flame was picked up again in however, and now spalting fungi are more than just an ancient art form and the 2000s, when spalting research curiosity. Those interested in learning more about the deep world of spalting really took off—and is now a major can get more information on the science from my website https://www. research focal point for the Applied northernspalting.com, and more on the history from my book Spalted Wood. Mycology Laboratory at Oregon State The History, Science, and Art of a Unique Material (Schiffer Publishing 2014). University. Seri Robinson is the assistant professor and Gene D. Knudson Forestry What does spalted wood research Chair, Department of Wood Science & Engineering, Oregon State look like? On the zone line end, it’s University a lot of pairing fungi up on Petri plates and on sterilized wood blocks to study their interactions (and their melanin production). For the pigments it’s more growing the fungi in liquid culture to stress them and cause mass pigment production so Historical spalt- that the pigment can be harvested ing: and applied to wood independently Cabinet from the of the fungi, thereby decreasing or National Mu- seum of Decora- eliminating decay. tive Arts, Spain The pigments have also found (1600), Manu- applications outside of wood. factured in South Germany. While Xylindein is under investigation not all the green as a thin film for solar cells and is from spalting batteries—work supported by fungi, the leaves the National Science Foundation. on the sides and Pigments from Chlorociboria and front panel are from Chlorocibo- Scytalidium species can be used in ria spp. inkjet printers to print textiles and soon, photos. The pigments are used as decking protection due to their UV resistance as tints in artists’ paints. And so, so much more. The components of spalting fungi that make them such excellent wood colorants translate well into other mediums, such as textiles and glass. As the fungi responsible tend to be fairly slow growing and the fungi are generally not primary wood colonizers, the pigments must be able to withstand rain and sunlight over decades. These properties also make them somewhat difficult to work with, as they cannot be extracted with water or ethanol, and scientists must often rely on stronger solvents such as dichloromethane (think paint stripper).

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 21 Getting Started at Knowing Mushrooms

by Lee Schuler

I’m a fungal foraging guide. It’s and the hike itself. They requested to the incredibly knowledgeable kind of a weird story, so I want to tell that I come back again for my own 3 and passionate mycologists I’ve you about it. A few years ago, my first hour hikes a few times a season. They encountered or become friends with. mushroom hike happened though also granted me access to private and Watching people who know what a local community environmental even some protected areas to develop they’re talking about argue through center. A mutual friend of the new hikes and look for anything I a tough ID is the best learning tool director had outed me as a mycophile could offer. I had unwittingly and there is, in my opinion. and they asked if I’d accompany their very randomly acquired a new, very I offer more than the environmentalist on one of their cool part-time job. environmental center walks now. I regular nature hikes, to loosely offer All of this has been a really offer educational walks on people’s any insight I had about the fungus big deal for me, and I never saw it property to tell them what they have we encountered. It sounded fun and coming. I knew I felt I owed it to and help to enable them to harvest I would be getting paid, so of course the people I’d be guiding on these wild food from their own land. I I said yes. The hike was listed on their hikes to amp it up and dive deeper offer hikes for small groups at local website and adjusted to include me. into fungal anatomy and some parks occasionally. More recently, To my surprise, we ended up microscopy to further develop my I’ve been asked to offer informational with a larger turnout due to the knowledge base and myself, as I had displays and classes at a few outdoor interest this community had in my internally vowed to never go into a festivals. All of these things are quite (extraordinarily feeble) mushroom fungal hike sweating and worrying literally the things of my dreams, identification abilities. Their nature again. and I would be happy to do them hike had suddenly turned into a I slowed down my indoor on my free time for no charge at all. mycology tour. It was terrifying cultivation hobby and shifted my I do actually complete most of it in and embarrassing for me, as I was focus onto wild ID and harvesting, my time off from my day job, but it’s not prepared to host any kind of although at any given time you will even been integrated lightly into my large educational outing. I held find a fruiting bag or log somewhere Dept. of Environmental Protection back much of what I felt I knew in in or around my house. In my fifth duties. All of this still strikes me as the fear that I’d inadvertently offer year, I’m still not always completely somewhat odd because I didn’t aspire some misinformation or mistakenly confident with on-the-spot to teach anything to anyone. I don’t express something in a way that could identification when it isn’t a known feel technically qualified to teach possibly result in someone getting edible or a known toxic species. I these things. I simply happen to sick. I was sweating and stuttering have made it to the point where I know a little bit more than the other and worrying for the entire hour know what I don’t know, I know how guy who also knew a bit, so here we and a half. to positively find out, and I’m able to are. Honestly, I don’t particularly I feel like I received 25-30 sometimes succumb to the idea that enjoy the teaching aspect of it but questions I didn’t know the answers I may have almost no idea what I’m I’m so incredibly passionate about to, but we hiked and talked and we looking at in some moments. mycology and fungal foraging that I all laughed a lot, so I made it through. rarely think of it as teaching. The journey into wild At the time I was slightly ashamed of mushrooming is a humbling one To close, I decided to compose my own performance, so I thanked indeed as the more you learn, the a short step by step analysis of how everyone and left as quickly as I more complexity you’ll uncover. I this happens for other beginners who could. They unexpectedly called find myself turning more to online want to start on the road to becoming the following week to express their forums than my field guides at this mushroom foragers, since the very satisfaction with the resident turnout point, and I’m eternally grateful first question I’m always asked is;

22 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal “Where do I start to learn the things you know about mushrooms?” Step 1 Be passionate about everything biological. No, really. If you don’t take note of everything going on in the ecosystem you’re foraging, you’re often going to be misled about what you think you’ve found. Learn about fungal ecology and mycorrhizal relationships. Learn to identify plants and trees, and pay attention to these fungal companions. And start using , even if you aren’t a biologist or have what it’s actually like to learn about personality to befriend, who I could any formal science background. I mycology. Just know that you’ll need message or call quickly for advice was formally educated in Biology and to be committed to fungal study, and on random issues that might arise. I Environmental Science here in PA at need to commit to learning in general needed some encouragement to really East Stroudsburg University, where I because as with most of the cool and stick with the process, and I also focused on microbiology and ecology. complex things in life, you’ll never be wanted someone to whom I could I now work in entomology and public able to stop. present my progress (or lack thereof), health (not my plan, but paths often and keep myself focused. I learn best curiously where they may). Being Step 3 kinesthetically; by going out and a biologist has helped, obviously, but Commit to learning. doing the thing I want to master, so it isn’t necessary and these things I decided a distance mentor would can be accomplished with enough You will need field guides. You’ll work. Luckily a brilliant, patient, commitment and passion. need to study the field guides, but encouraging, and kind person filled more importantly you’ll need to Step 2 this position even though I never be outside studying the fungus in actually asked him or told him he Understand that you have no its habitat and taking in all of the was selected. It went exactly as ecology around you. When you idea what you’re talking about. described and he was available to have no idea what you’ve found take me from time to time for questions, I don’t mean this completely pictures and go home to figure it out, complaints, direction, and lots of literally, of course. I have gotten to with help if need be. Never decide positive reinforcement. He’s still the point where I can say that I’m that you just don’t know. Keep going an invaluable resource and also quite skilled in fungal cultivation until you figure it out – every single a cherished friend. Just in case I and fungal foraging. I’m confident time. Experience and correcting your haven’t thanked him enough, he will enough to talk about it with own misunderstandings will be your undoubtedly read it here again.I’m a seasoned mycologists when the rare best teachers. bit of a handful sometimes and he opportunity presents itself. I feel as Step 4: Try to find a suitable deserves the gratitude. Additionally, though I know more about it than mentor. if someone reading this is in need of most of the other people I encounter. encouragement or light mentoring, I have only scraped the surface and The Mycology community isn’t you may feel free to contact me via dug a little, and I’ve also made a very large, but the local foods/farm email: [email protected]. I’d be fool of myself on many occasions to table/foraging movements have willing to try my best to help you believing one thing to be another. prompted a lot of growth recently. I along. Please see the mycological knowledge watched mycology experts online and chart for a visual representation of tried to find someone with a cohesive

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 23 The Joy of Black Trumpets

by Joe and Kathy Brandt

Swoon: The mind/body reaction reindeer!) Be still my beating heart! them gently with your fingers. Dirt to sticking your face into a bag of It’s a virtual carpet of the damn will sink, insects and twigs will fresh-picked black trumpets, and things! Pulse racing – OMG! Do I usually float. Using a sieve, skim inhaling deeply. Anyone who has have enough bags? Oh – there are off any floating insects or debris, ever found these in any quantity more over there! And over there! then using your hands or a wide- will know what we’re talking about. By the time you get back, you’re wired strainer, carefully scoop out Fresh cornucopioides elicit absolutely giddy – but now the work the , transferring to a a sensory (visceral?) reaction that begins, unless you need to store them colander to drain. (If possible, pour defies description. These beautiful, in the ‘fridge for a day or so, until you out the water onto a suitable substrate delicate, flower-like mushrooms are have adequate time to devote. – it will contain !) Repeat the among our all-time favorites, and When you’ve found only a few process if necessary – but only if the have no parallel in the mushroom “Blacks”, it’s easy enough to clean mushrooms are very dirty. Gently world. Certainly, there are other them, more often than not without the towel-dry as best as possible. Now types of chanterelles, but nothing use of water at all – just a superficial for the fun stuff. that compares with black trumpets brushing, or it you want to be really Black trumpets cry for butter (or (a/k/a horn of plenty, a/k/a trumpet thorough, opening each one to be a butter substitute), as do chanterelles of death). sure there are no spiders, , or in general. You can certainly cook From most of the reports we’ve other surprises hiding inside – but them in a neutral-flavored oil if you received, 2018 was a banner year for when you have any real quantity of have the mind to, but we can assure these, surpassing most mycophile’s these, this is simply impractical. The you that they’re “better in butter”. wildest dreams – and definitely the first decision that needs to be made is Do you need anything else? No, but best we’ve seen in 30 years or more. whether to dehydrate, cook & freeze, some minced fresh garlic (added In the northeast, climatic conditions or do some of both. halfway through cooking) is highly seemed to have created the “perfect For drying, we recommend recommended. storm”, and people were finding cleaning first, since dehydrated dirt Cooking time for these can be a them in places where they had never or insects are not any more appealing bit tricky. Conventional wisdom says seen them before. We’re sure that than they are in a “natural” form. that you should sauté chanterelles unofficial records were set for both The method of choice for cleaning for 2-3 minutes, which is fine if you size and quantity – never mind the is a (deep) water bath, employing the only have a few in your pan, but diversification of locations! use of the largest bowl or pot you can any quantity at all requires a longer So you’re meandering happily lay your hands on. Fill your bowl, and cooking time, and under-cooking through the woods, and suddenly dump in your chanterelles (which these results in a leathery texture “...what, to my wondering eyes hopefully, you have remembered and a decidedly “under-cooked” should appear, but a....” (Hint: it’s to cut the bottoms off of when flavor. As a rule of thumb, you want not a miniature sleigh and eight tiny you were harvesting), then agitate to cook them long enough to have

24 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal at least most of the released liquid evaporate, keeping them stirred every so often. A little salt is OK, but not necessary. “That’s it??” Yes, it’s that simple. From there, you are limited only by your imagination. Black trumpets have an affinity for dairy. Once cooked, they may be combined with scrambled eggs, or incorporated into a sauce. Use them as a topping. Chop them well, and mix them into softened cream cheese for a cracker spread that’s super easy, and sure to please every time. Dried, re-hydrated Black trumpets are also good, but we find that dehydration sacrifices something in both texture and flavor – although there are differences of opinion as to whether the flavor actually becomes muted or intensified as the result of drying. When dried and ground, these may be used as a seasoning in certain applications. 1 tsp chopped dill 3 Tbsp. tomato sauce For preservation, we much prefer 1/2 cup chopped parsley 2 Tbsp. milk – low OK (or milk cooking and freezing. When properly 1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella alternative) frozen (air removed as best as possible), (or cheese alternative) Salt & fresh ground pepper to taste these will keep for at least two 1/4 cup shredded Manchego cheese chopped parsley or cilantro for years, while retaining much of their (or cheese alternative) garnish original flavor. Always remember 1/8 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or Shredded Parmesan cheese (or to date-mark your containers, and cheese alternative) cheese alternative) use in chronological . (For most applications, we recommend Mix filling ingredients. Roll Cook ravioli according to package chopping them up a little before into chard leaves. Grease casserole directions. Meanwhile, soften cream adding them into a recipe.) dish, stacking rolls tightly, seam side cheese in microwave, 30 seconds. down. Mix in tomato sauce and milk. Black Trumpet Stuffed Swiss Oil top surface, cover tightly Add salt & pepper to taste. Lay Chard (aluminum foil). Bake for 30 minutes out cooked raviolis on serving dish, 20 fresh chard leaves, stems at 350 degrees. spoon cream cheese & warmed removed tomato sauce mixture over top, Black Trumpets with Ravioli Filling: distribute black trumpets over 1 package filled ravioli, your choice 2 cups cooked yellow rice everything. Garnish lightly with (not mushroom filled!) 1/2 cup cooked black trumpets chopped parsley or cilantro, serve 3/4 cup chopped cooked Black (sauteed in butter & garlic) with shredded Parmesan cheese on trumpets (cooked in butter with 1 onion, chopped fine & sauteed the side. garlic) 1/8 cup oil 1/2 package low fat (Neufchatel) 1 egg, beaten (or egg substitute) cream cheese (or low fat cream 1/2 cup toasted nuts, lightly cheese alternative) chopped

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 25 Seeing the Songs

a review of David Haskell’s The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees, by Ron Tracy

The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in pages of David Haskell’s The Forest The chapters in The Forest Unseen Nature Unseen and find that he was using a consist of short detailed entries with David George Haskell similar approach. descriptive titles such as “January Penguin Books: 2012 Haskell is a biology professor 30th – Winter Plants” and “March 170 pages at the University of the South in 13th – Snails.” The very first chapter, Tennessee. He begins his preface “January 1st – Partnerships,” The Songs of Trees: Stories From Nature’s with an explanation of Tibetan immediately captured this reader’s Great Connectors mandalas, which he describes as “a interest for it deals with lichens, the David George Haskell re-creation of the path of life, the partnerships between fungi and algae Viking Press: 2017 cosmos, and the enlightenment of or cyanobacteria which covered all 292 pages Buddha. The whole universe is seen the rocks in Haskell’s mandala. Some years ago I attempted to through this small circle of sand.” He writes that on their own, pursue my mycological interests He then tells how a group of ecology lichen-forming fungi, algae and with a closer focus. For my first students made their own instant bacteria don’t do well and are severely attempt in that venture I selected a mandalas by throwing plastic hoops restricted, but by “stripping off the pile of logs and other woody debris I on the forest floor and spending bonds of individuality the lichens had dumped along the drive on our an entire afternoon just examining have produced a world-conquering northern Wisconsin lake property. what is inside each of their individual union” that covers nearly 10% of All summer I monitored the pile plastic circles. That provides the the land’s surface. The chapter and photographed any signs of structure for the book in which includes a well-written explanation fungal activity, which turned out to Haskell examines the life of a one- of lichen relationships and how they be considerable. A highlight of that square meter patch of old-growth function, the origins of lichen colors experience was my first view ofPezizas Tennessee forest for one year and and then goes beyond the science puffing out a cloud of spores. uses that patch – which he refers to as to discuss the claim that “the fungi his mandala – to ruminate on almost are exploiters, ensnaring their algal My second close focus experiment all aspects of the natural world. He victims,” a claim Haskell disputes. was to mark off a square of two ranges beyond his mandala to refer to The chapter includes a section on yards on a side in the woods and overhanging trees and other features the mating strategies of horsehair attempt to pay attention to any visible that pass through or surround the worms, an entirely different realm of fungal activity in the square. It was square. He becomes a sort of square- partnerships and an example how the less successful than my experience meter Thoreauvian who sees the author includes very different realms with the wood pile, yielding only a world, indeed the universe, through and strategies in short chapters. This couple of . In light of those Russulas his little square. The insights he is not a science book as such; it is a somewhat feeble efforts it was a presents are not little; they are grand series of insights and speculations pleasant surprise to read the first and beautifully presented. based on science, on what is observed

26 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal in the square mandala and they make below freezing weather that the in the mandala which into a compelling reading. forest creatures have to deal with. detailed introduction to the mysteries The second chapter, “January His personal experiment lasts for one of fungal reproduction. The science 17th – Kepler’s Gift.” Is a good minute but leads into his discussion is well-explained at an introductory example of how the book starts of the chickadees and their survival level but Haskell writes that “The with science and then goes into or non-survival under such extreme reproductive life of sac fungi and more subjective considerations. On conditions. mushrooms is without parallel in that day the mandala is covered The following chapter is a the living world. They stretch the with snow. Haskell examines some similarly detailed exposition on the meaning of ‘sex’ beyond anything snowflakes, explains how they are techniques employed by plants to animals have achieved even in our formed, and refers back to the survive freezing temperatures – most innovative moments.” Several 17th century astronomer Kepler’s clear, factual biology for the general pages are devoted to hyphal fusions attempts to explain their shapes reader along with phrasing that keeps and the role of mitochondria making without any knowledge of atoms and one engaged: “Plants survive in the the entire subject “a refreshing atomic structures. After this straight- same way that a sword swallower counterpart to the rather uniform forward scientific and historical survives – with careful preparation adherence to the roles of male and discussion Haskell concludes: and meticulous attention to sharp female in animals and plants.” I examine again the glassy stars edges.” “December 3rd – Litter” is also on my fingertip. Thanks to Another example of what I term largely devoted to fungi and includes Kepler and those who followed his engaging writing style is the an explanation of mycorrhizal him, I see not just snowflakes first two lines of “March 13th – relationships and how they are but sculptures of atoms. Snails”: “The mandala is a molluskan vital to almost all plant life. Other Nowhere else in the mandala Serengeti. Herds of coiled grazers mycological references are spread is the relationship between the move across the open of infinitesimally small atomic lichens and .” world and the larger realm of my Describing the early spring Host your website senses so simple. Other surfaces flowers he terms ephemerals Haskell here – rocks, bark, my skin writes: “Once the ephemerals have with Mushroom the and clothes – are made from unfurled their leaves, they reap Journal! complicated tangles of many sunlight and carbon dioxide at a molecules, so my view of them furious rate. The breathing holes in Mushroom the Journal hosts the tells me nothing straightforward their leaves, the stomata, are thrown websites of the Connecticut- about their minute structure. wide open. Leaves are stuffed with Westchester Mycological But the form of the six-sided ready to convert nutritious Association, the North ice crystals gives a direct view molecules out of air. These plants American Mycoflora Project. of what should be invisible, the are the fast-food junkies of the geometry of atoms. I let them and the Bay Area Mycological forest: they eat rapidly, rushing to Society. fall from my hand, and they get through the meal before the trees return to the oblivion of massed block out the light.” It is not scientific We can host yours! white. writing in a strict academic sense Small websites are $20/year, At nine pages “January 21st – The but it is delightful writing based on large ones are $50/year. Both Experiment” is one of the book’s science and a deep appreciation of the require a one-time $35 setup longer chapters. Its subject is the wonders of ordinary, everyday nature fee. For more details, see http:// physiology and behavior of Carolina in North America. www.mushroomthejournal. chickadees as they relate to the bird’s The mycological information winter survival. The experiment com/hosting.html, or contact in The Forest Unseen is presented me, Leon Shernoff, at leon@ referred to in the chapter title is that as part of the larger web of life. mushroomthejournal.com or Haskell goes to the mandala and “July 2nd – Fungi” begins with the (312) 320-2190. strips to face the twenty degrees appearances of cup fungi on twigs

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 27 through the book in relation to other a chapter on vultures includes fungi have been dealing with the concept subjects. For instance, in “December in a digression on the disposers and of fungal mycelia as the first internet 6th – Underground Bestiary” Haskell decomposers in nature. for many years now. Other threads writes that springtails are some of There is a wealth of scientific detail of concern running throughout the most abundant inhabitants of the in The Forest Unseen but at the end of the book include climate change, forest floor and that there is some the book Haskell reiterates his more sounds related to trees and human evidence that “springtails seem to subjective approach: “This year I have interactions and impacts on trees. enhance the mycorrhizal association tried to put down scientific tools and The Songs of Trees has an interesting between fungi and plant . They to listen: to come to nature without a structure in which ten trees around graze on fungal strands and thereby hypothesis, without a scheme for data the world (two more are included in stimulate some fungi and suppress extraction, without a lesson plan to Interludes) are repeatedly visited by others. Springtails are like cows on convey answers to students, without the author and discussed biologically a pasture, regulating the growth of machines and probes.” Furthermore, and then more subjectively in terms their food by continuous clipping and he writes, “there is a danger in an of relationships with the human by fertilizing the ground with their exclusive scientific way of thinking. environment. Thus we learn that the droppings.” The forest is turned into a diagram; ceibo tree of Amazonian Ecuador A chapter on explains that animals become mere mechanisms; and Peru sacrifices wood strength for the common rattlesnake depends nature’s workings become clever speed of growth so it can quickly tower on a fungus for food for several years graphs.” Overall the book contains above other trees in its rainforest. after germination of the spores. A considerable scientific information Haskell discusses the considerable chapter focused on deer explains and some interesting speculations plant and animal life that inhabits fungi as an important component of about what it all means, presented the ceibo’s branches and leaves and, the ecosystem in a deer’s rumen and in a lively and personable format, after suffering a bad insect bite and pleasurable reading for outdoor worrying about a possible infection, enthusiasts. notes that “for a the treetops are examples of primate blood, joined by Listen to Leon’s Music! Haskell’s most recent book, The Songs of Trees, is a far more mosquito rivulets,” an example of the Over the years, when they philosophical approach, a treatise on author’s gift for phrasing. find out that I’m a composer, the inter-connectiveness of all living He explains that many tropical quite a few people have asked things rather than the romp through plants have to invest much of their about my music. Well, now that natural history presented in The Forest energy and leaf weight to chemical one of the messy parts of my Unseen. Terms such as “network,” defenses against attacks by the wide life has cleared up a bit, I’ve “connections” and “relationship” variety of predators abounding found the wherewithal to do occur frequently in the book reaching in the tropical environment. The what every 16-year-old in the their apogee in a passage near the terrible sting of a bullet ant leads to country has already done: make end of the book that states “human a description of the Ophiocordyceps up a CD of my stuff and offer it lives and tree lives are made, always, fungus that attacks ant brains and, up for sale. Those of you with from relationship. For many trees it is later, to the fungal farming activities a burning curiosity about my nonhuman species – bacteria, fungi, of leaf-cutter ants. The leaf-cutter musical output can satisfy it by insects, birds – that are primary relationships has been described sending $10 to constituents of the network. Olive many times but it was new to this Leon Shernoff and bonsai trees bring humans to the reviewer to read how Pseudonocardia, 1006 E 62nd St, Unit C center, giving us direct experiences “a genus of bacteria that live among Chicago, IL 60637 of the importance of sustained the ant’s body hairs, keeps the connection.” fungus healthy by oozing chemicals Includes a nice cover graphic that suppress interloper fungus and notes discussing the In other words, this is a book species.” Then Haskell continues pieces. This is modern classical with an agenda but not necessarily an on to his underlying theme: “The instrumental stuff, not songs or unusual agenda to those with some ant/fungus/bacteria convergence pop. Just so you know... level of mycological expertise who of lives has produced an entity

28 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal whose essence is relationship. Any chapter includes several pages on The first four trees in the book simple part of this entity falls out Carolina chickadees and needle- are trees that, to some extent (it is not of existence without interplay with eating caterpillars in a broader entirely convincing) live apart from the ‘others.’” Continuing on with perspective of the ’s ecological humans in relatively remote areas. another of the book’s underlying relationships, a pattern followed in The second part of the book takes themes, the discussion of the ceibo most of the book’s chapters. The a historical approach dealing with ends with the possible results of underlying themes of the book come archaeological remains and fossils. encroaching oil exploration on the forth again in the ending of the The trees in this second section are tree’s future, referring to one of the balsam fir section which includes the European hazel (Scotland) and book’s underlying themes. discussion of genetic engineering ponderosa pine (). Analysis There is much more biological and the significance of the boreal of charcoal remains reveal that the information in the Ceibo chapter forest as a carbon reserve in relation hazel was the dominant tree species than can be summarized in this to climate change. in for thousands of review. One aspect of this chapter The last two trees included in years, a staple food for hunters and that exemplifies a difference between the first part of The Songs of Trees are gatherers. Many uses of the hazel are The Songs of Trees and The Forest Unseen a sabal palm in and a green discussed and includes an interesting is the use of tools and technology. ash in Tennessee. They include the note on mining. Hazel was used for A magnifying lens was the only usual mixture of biology and other supports in mines for many years and tool utilized for observations in considerations. The palm grows on miners told how they could depend the mandala in The Forest Unseen but a Georgia island that is being slowly on those wood supports as an early climbing harnesses and ladders were eroded away by changing ocean levels used to examine life on the ceibo and polluted by ocean-borne plastic. tree and in later chapters different The green ash is a fallen tree and a BACK ISSUES electronic devices were used to year’s worth of monthly records of record sounds, water pressure and life on and around the fallen trunk of movement within trees, vibrations is given. It is explained, for example, MUSHROOM THE and other aspects of the trees’ lives. how the fallen tree made an opening JOURNAL Mycorrhizal relationships get a in the forest which provided a basking Are Available! full description in relation to a balsam area for wildlife such as rattlesnakes. This is used to inform the reader that fir in Ontario. Haskell states that Articles on Making Fire with while a lot of attention was given “nearly 90 percent of all plant species Fungi, of the US, to fungus infected amphibians the form belowground unions with In-depth Myco-biographies, and past few years, little was noted about fungi…. For many trees, especially Recent Discoveries of new and the fungal problems of rattlesnakes. those like the balsam fir that grow EDIBLE species in cold, acidic soils, the fungus/ Haskell writes that “in the last five years, fungal communities on the root relationship is particularly well illustrated in skins of rattlesnakes across the developed, comprising a sheath of FULL COLOR fungal tissue around every root. eastern and Midwestern United Working together, both fungus and States have changed. One fungus species has overwhelmed the others, $8.95 each postpaid, four or more plant can thrive in the challenging at $7.95 apiece. physical environment of boreal forest sickening or killing the snakes. The soils.” cause of this change is, for now, obscure. Warmer winters may make A Set of Ten of our Above ground, balsam fir needles one fungus dominate the others, or MOST POPULAR ISSUES are host to endophytic (leaf-dwelling) trade in foreign pet snakes may have is available for $49.99 fungi and the book claims that there imported a new, more aggressive might be as many as one million fungal strain.” He continues on SEND CHECK TO: species of such fungi “making them to wonder if fewer snakes could Mushroom the Journal one of the world’s most diverse mean more rodents and possibly, for 1006 E 62nd St, Unit C groups of living creatures.” The humans, more disease. Chicago, IL 60637

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 29 warning system, knowing when the wires attached to the tree attracted creaking and groaning sounds of some interesting attention). He Publisher’s the wood signaled an impending explains how vibrations such as cars, collapse. That led some miners to trucks, subways and pedestrians protest when was brought in to can impact a tree’s growth. The statement for replace the wood supports. vibrations stimulate more and stiffer The ponderosa pine chapter root growth. “Tree trunks respond was to this reader one of the most to movement by thickening girth. post office interesting in the book. It includes a Inside, the cells that compose wood discussion of the redwood tree fossils grow more densely, with stouter U.S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership, found in ponderosa areas tying it walls.” The conclusion is that “a city Management and Circulation, Form 3256: loosely together with the historical tree therefore clings more tightly Title of Publication: Mushroom, the Journal hazel chapter. The ponderosa chapter to the earth than its countryside of Wild Mushrooming; Publication No. 74-0850; cousins.” date of filing, November 29, 2018; frequency of includes considerable information issue, quarterly; No. of issues published annually, about water supply problems After reading both of Haskell’s 4; annual subscription price, $32. for mountain trees and how the books this reviewer’s first impression Complete mailing address of known office of mycorrhizal relationship helps the was that The Forest Unseen was the publication, 1006 E. 62nd St, Unit C, Chicago, IL trees to overcome those problems. more enjoyable and informative book; 60637; complete mailing address of the headquarters There is an interesting discussion it just seemed to be a more traditional of general business offices of the publisher, 1006 E. 62nd St, Unit C, Chicago, IL 60637. of the sound of moving water in the natural history with the insightful trees which is often interrupted by bent of the mandala concept. The Publisher, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming, 1006 E. 62nd St, Unit C, Chicago, air pockets: “Water pipes in trees are short chapter vignettes help move the IL 60637; editor, Leon Shernoff, 1006 E. 62nd therefore like those in old houses, reader along. Yet, going back through St, Unit C, Chicago, IL 60637; managing editor, knocking and groaning as water my notes I found myself surprised Leon Shernoff, 1006 E. 62nd St, Unit C, Chicago, moves…” at the amount of new information I IL 60637; owner, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild had acquired from The Songs of Trees. Mushrooming, NFP, address as above; known The final section of the book bondholders, mortgagees and other security deals with trees with close human Yes, it almost gets preachy or mystical holders owning or holding 1 percent or more relationships such as in olive at times with all the references to of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities, none. cultivation and bonsai production. relationships and networks but I have Cottonwoods, Japanese white pine to admit it is a message many people Extent and nature of circulation, with each have yet to acknowledge; nature is not set of figures including first the average number and the Callery pear complete the of copies each issue during the preceding 12 chapter. This city-dwelling reviewer something “out there” but right here wherever we are; we humans are part months and second the actual number of copies enjoyed the chapter on a Callery of the single issue published nearest to the filing pear tree in Manhattan growing in of the natural world ,we are nature, date: Total number of copies, 1100 and 1100; its own little square plot of soil (its nature is us. Perhaps in mycological paid/requested outside county mail subscriptions, 547 and 588; paid in-county subscriptions, 8 mandala?) surrounded by cement and terms an alien viewer might see the entire Earth as one big mycorrhizal and 10; sales through dealers and carriers, street people. City trees do not generally vendors, counter sales, and other non-USPS paid get a second glance from most relationship. distribution, 6 and 4; other classes mailed through people but they might after more The Forest Unseen and The Songs USPS, 62 and 120; total paid and/or requested circulation, 632 and 722. people read this chapter. One might of Trees are both good reads and think about things such as the city give some different and interesting Free distribution outside county 84 and 85; free tree’s water supply and the effects of perspectives on the natural world distribution inside county 45 and 4; free distribution other classes mailed through USPS 3 and 3; free pollution such as road salt and dogs, we enjoy as we engage in our various distribution outside the mail 7 and 14; total free but Haskell introduces the vibratory mycological pursuits. The Forest Unseen distribution 139 and 92; total distribution 762 and world of the tree as being a key might be the more accessible of the 814; copies not distributed 338 and 286; total 1100 influence. two books but The Songs of Trees is also and 1100; percent paid and/or requested circulation 82% and 89% The vibrations are measured using full of information and ecological insight. I certify that the statements made by me above technical devices attached to the tree’s are correct and complete, signed on November 29, limbs and trunk (his earphones and 2018, Leon Shernoff, editor.

30 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal A Visual Feast, but Hungry for More

Review of The Magic of Mushrooms, by Sarah Prentice

This BBC documentary takes a broad, if not especially deep, view of how fungi shape the world, with dramatic images compensating for a lack of scientific heft.

Note: we ran the wrong version of this review last issue, and are here correcting that mistake by bringing you the correct one.

The Magic of Mushrooms, a 2014 of the ubiquitous button mushroom. and dispersal), Life (fungal trophic BBC documentary, experienced He fills his cart with familiar fungal modes), and Death (toxic and a recent surge in viewership and foods like cheese, bread, soy sauce, entomopathogenic fungi). The film interest after its addition to Netflix in mycoprotein-based Quorn, and is visually striking throughout, November 2017. “Not merely a pizza wine. His shopping trip extends to with liberal use of time-lapse and topping,” reads the Netflix summary, unexpected fungal products such as slow-motion video. Colorful fungal “mushrooms play a vital role in the the in pet foods, red color of montages also are a favored creative world, which is revealed in this nature salmon, and in soft drinks element. The film’s soundtrack program hosted by professor Richard and detergent. Next stop is the forest, skews toward atmospheric art Fortey.” where Dr. Fortey, basket in hand, rock, including music by Chvrches, From veteran TV documentary highlights diverse macromorphology Radiohead, and Sigur Rόs. producer Russell Leven, “The as he encounters , jelly, and Visual highlights include Magic of Mushrooms” is a mixed bracket fungi. microscopic footage of oyster bag best suited for the curious Dr. Fortey, a regular voice in mushroom hyphae trapping and layperson or casual hobbyist. The British science documentaries, is consuming nematodes; the geyser- easy-to-watch film touches upon an amiable, Cambridge-educated like spore dispersal of the orange varied and substantive topics in paleontologist. He is the picture peel fungus slowed down 600 times; mycology during its 50 minutes: of a gentleman scientist with his and time-lapse footage of parasitic plant pathology, toxicology, and tweed coat, charming accent, and Cordyceps overtaking its insect hosts. reproductive biology, as well as contagious enthusiasm. While not At a Scottish mushroom farm, a laser culinary, industrial, and medical uses. a professional mycologist, he self- beam in the dark reveals waves of However, the film contains a bit of identifies as a decades-long fungi spores wafting through the air – one erroneous material that detracts from enthusiast whose favorite pastime is of the film’s most stunning scenes. its overall quality. . The movie maintains an engaging From the very beginning, the Sights to Behold pace by switching between outdoor film ventures more widely across walks, lessons in the lab, animated Kingdom Fungi than its title The documentary is split into segments, and interviews with expert suggests. The host, Dr. Fortey, is an introduction followed by three guests. During lab segments, Dr. introduced at a grocery store display chapters: Birth (spore production Fortey is joined by mycologist Patrick

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 31 Hickey for a variety of experiments poison pie. Kew Gardens mycologist Mystic Pizza Topping and demonstrations. Dr. Hickey Bryn Dentinger describes symbiotic I question the film’s effort to illustrates the significance of spore relationships between fungi and make mushrooms seem unnecessarily color in identification with two plant roots at length without uttering esoteric, with its claims of “unlocking seemingly similar white mushroom “mycorrhiza” at all. A handful of the secrets” of organisms variously caps: One produces a white spore other terms – spores on the sterigmata described as hidden, secretive, print, the other brown. Separately, of basidia, hyphae, mycelium, mysterious, “so strange it seems a time lapse of kitchen scraps saprotrophy – mark the extent of the almost alien,” and, of course, magical. decomposing in a large glass tube film’s infrequent uses of scientific Despite the tendency to ascribe shows the crucial role of fungi in language. near-mystical properties, the film breaking down waste. Drs. Fortey Trivia buffs will appreciate omits any discussion of psychoactive and Hickey later challenge the notion the film’s fungal superlatives: the fungi. There are legitimate topics on that mushroom exist to deter fastest (the hat-thrower fungus, the subject, from the use of Amanita predators with an experiment: A with ballistospore dispersal reaching muscaria in Siberian shamanism to is given the choice of five different 40 mph) as well as the largest (a ergot poisoning as explanation for mushrooms, ultimately feasting on fungus in Oregon, whose historical accusations of bewitchment, poisonous fasciculare. mycelium spans nearly 2,400 acres) – but the film remains conspicuously The film reviews several new and of the genera Pilobolus and silent. exciting applications of fungi. Eben respectively, although the film again Overall, the film takes an Bayer, of New York-based biomaterials hews to common names. The Pilobolus anthropocentric approach to maker Ecovative, uses mycelium to sequence is punctuated by the sound mycology, centered on fungi’s bind shredded corn stalks in molds, of champagne pops, an amusing but relevance to humans. The narrator creating an eco-friendly packaging distracting touch. provides numerous comparisons to alternative to Styrofoam. Medical During one of the animated both plants and animals, but states researcher Dr. Cornelia De Moor segments, we encounter the fungi are “neither plant nor animal,” studies cordycepin, produced by the documentary’s most egregious while evolutionarily “more animal entomopathogenic Cordyceps fungus. mistake: an illustration labeled “a than plant.” Spores are compared to This compound shows promise for typical ascomycete,” with a diagram seeds and mycelium to roots, and the creating a new class of drugs to treat depicting basidia! In mushroom fungal digestive process likened to cancer and inflammatory diseases. biology, fungal phyla are defined by that of humans. Yet Kingdom Fungi Several important figures in their sexual spores. The is never formally defined, perhaps to the history of British mycology produce inside a sac called spare the viewer a tedious biology are featured, including Alexander an , while the lesson. Fleming, whose contaminated petri develop atop club- The Magic of Mushrooms, despite its dishes led to the development of like structures known as basidia. occasional shortcomings, manages to penicillin; Beatrix Potter, well known Representing an ascomycete with cover an impressively broad amount as a children’s author-illustrator but basidia is the mycological equivalent of material in less than an hour. Fun, less known for her contributions to of saying dogs lay eggs. fast-paced, and visually rich, it offers mycology; and A.H. Reginald Buller, Lesser offenses involve a few an intriguing introduction for the discoverer of the spore-dispersal questionable choices in the film’s myco-curious and will be appreciated mechanism known as Buller’s drop. many montages. The film opens by lovers of nature documentaries. Short on Science with a series of fungi that dubiously Even mushroom aficionados should includes a non-fungal myxomycete, take away something new or novel The sparsity of technical terms or slime mold, resembling Physarum from the film. It is worth your may frustrate the more advanced polycephalum. Later, chanterelles are time on an afternoon too rainy for viewer. During his woodland tours, interspersed in a display of poisonous mushroom hunting. Dr. Fortey avoids scientific binomials fungi. in favor of common names: fly , penny bun, sulphur tuft,

32 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal A Life Full of Mushrooming

Chuck Barrows speaks with Mushroom the Journal Some of you may have heard of (or known) Chuck Barrows, one of our old, bold mushroom hunters. A tireless forager (and a sampler of everything) he would be best known to most readers as the namesake of barrowsii. Barrows, born in 1903, wrote this piece for Mushroom the Journal in 1987, two years before he died. It is fascinating to see how much has changed – and stayed the same – about the field: foragaing, cooking techniques, and of course names.

Many are beautiful, many are taste of a species of mushroom can Another beautiful and edible delicious, and some are both beautiful differ when growing on a different mushroom is Hypomyces lactifluorum, and delicious. I became interested tree.2 which is a mushroom parasite on in mushrooms when I was an art But to get back to my days in New and on some Lactarii. student living in Greenwich Village. York City: I also found the oyster It is lobster red and looks like an I collected many species in Central mushroom and the little aborted mushroom. Most people like Park and ate some of each. (Lycoperdon pyriforme), and Coprinus it better than the original mushroom, The first one I found was the micaceus. The puffball is good in but it’s still not a great treat. well known “chicken mushroom,” and casseroles, and the Coprinus We in and Laetiporus sulphureus.1 It really does micaceus fried in butter goes great had been eating a large white bolete have the consistency of the breast with your eggs for breakfast. They for many years, thinking of it as of chicken. It generally grows in complement each other. Fry some a variety of . I sent a clusters from a wound in a tree, most onions and celery in butter until collection of it to Dr. Alexander frequently an tree. One day as I golden, chop up some C. comatus, add Smith at the University of Michigan, was walking through the park, I came all to some chicken broth, butter and and he recognized it as a new upon the most beautiful specimen I fine herbs, and stew a few minutes. It species and named it – what else? have ever laid eyes on. It was growing makes a great stew or . – . It is found in the out of the black earth of the path, The oyster mushroom is best whole southwest wherever there is undoubtedly from buried wood. dipped in egg batter, cracker crumbs Ponderosa pine. David Arora finds It was a round cluster of eight and fried in butter. These are great it with oak in California. or more banded vermillion caps for a light lunch. Beer goes well with One day I was slicing up some of overlapping like the petals of a flower, oyster mushrooms. it to dry. It was lunchtime and I had but more beautiful than any flower I The puffballs must be used at nothing prepared so I fried some of have ever seen. I left it where I found once or they will go on maturing and the mushrooms in butter, put a lot it. It would have been a sacrilege to end up a slimy mess. This is true of of them on a slice of bread topped have disturbed it. all puffballs. Puffballs cannot be air with mayonnaise and another slice of I have also collected it in Arizona dried in a humid climate, but in our bread, and presto, a new sandwich! It and Mexico. In California it grows in arid southwest they may be cut like was surprisingly good. quantity on eucalyptus trees but it is shoestring potatoes and dried on Beauty in a mushroom is not, of not as good to eat as those which grow screens in the sun. Dried, they will course, evidence of edibility. There on oak, and they even make some keep for years. Puffballs, particularly, are some beautiful poisonous ones. people sick. I ate some, however, as well as many other mushrooms, One that comes to mind is Boletus without harm. It is interesting that the have better flavor when dried. pulcherrimus, in Latin “most beautiful

1 Chuck calls this Polyporus sulphureus. I’ve updated this name and a couple of others, but left the controversies that he reports unchanged, because I’d just be marking things up all over the place. 2 These have actually turned out to be different species, which is currently considered more of a component of their different toxicity than the tree host.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 33 bolete.” It is a bolete that was first named B. eastwoodii, but later another mycologist discovered that the type specimen was B. satanus and so “eastwoodii” had to be discarded as a name. It is a large bolete with a cap up to ten inches in diameter. The cap is tan with pink blushes on the margin. The tubes are yellow, turning blue when cut; the pores are a deep red; the flesh is yellow and turns blue when cut. I have two friends who ate a half of one between them and were very ill all night with vomiting and pain in the belly. Another beautiful but disappointing one is Leucopaxillus amarus. It looks like a cookie just out of the oven. It just begs to be eaten. I tasted it, and it was the bitterest thing I have ever tasted. Still I taste it every time I find it, hoping that someday I will find one that is not bitter. That is not as ridiculous as it might seem. is a very bitter mushroom that I have tasted many times. When one day I found a log covered with this pretty little mushroom, I tasted it as usual and was both surprised and delighted to find it was not at all bitter. I sent a collection of it to Dr. Smith and he said it was H. fasciculare all right, and that variation in taste like that sometimes happens. H. capnoides, however, is an . I have tasted many species of Cortinarii. Most of them taste like rotten wood. However I once found a group with tannish yellow caps and sulphur yellow gills that had We each had a dish and Jim and I got the idea of trying a pleasant taste. I never saw them again, so I never had a some of the little A. semotus on our ice cream. So chopped chance to try them for edibility. some up and scattered it over our ice cream, and believe The worst mushroom of all that I have tasted is our it or not it was great. A new taste sensation! Bill did not western Russula foetens. It is worse than the eastern one. try it, but he got a big kick out of our waitress, who was I tasted it as I always do by taking a small bit (about watching us in astonishment. the size of a pea) and then spitting it out. It was the We have a lot of in our mountains, most remarkable experience I have ever had in tasting and also a few L. insigne, but once in the Jemez Mountains mushrooms. As I bit down on it, before I could get a I found a group of three with caps of a beautiful taste, I became so nauseated that I almost vomited before pink. I sent them all to Dr. Smith. It was a new species. I could get it off my tongue. I don’t think anybody could I have never seen it again. Dr. Smith named it Leccinum possibly eat enough to get sick. I can’t tell you what it barrowsii. tasted like, for I never had a chance to taste it. Another feature of mushrooms that intrigues me is But let me get back to a pleasanter experience. There is fragrance. One such mushroom is Hydnum suaveolens. It’s a small Agaricus that grows in our conifer forest: Agaricus not very beautiful; it has a white cap with a very purple semotus. It is between one and two inches in diameter, with stem. Its fragrance is unlike anything else that I have pinkish brown gills and the most delightful sweet anise ever smelled, like an exotic French perfume. Each year flavor, almost like candy. On one occasion I was collecting I find a few of them and take them home with me and with Bill Isaacs and Jim Gilbert, another friend. We had leave them around on the coffee table. They retain the found a good collection of it, and on the way home we fragrance until next year, so I always have some around had stopped to have some ice cream. just for their fragrance.

34 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal There are mushrooms with the mushrooms put together. It has are many varieties of this species, but like almost any you are familiar been eaten in most of the countries they all smell like . with. Several smell like garlic, for of Europe for many years after being We have a lot of one of them here in instance, and , and carrion. treated in some way or other. In many New Mexico that has no yellow on the Phallus impucidus grows from an of these countries all mushrooms cap but the base of the stem is bright underground pink egg. The egg were boiled before cooking or were yellow inside when cut. This is the is edible, according to the great soaked in salt water for twenty sure sign that it is A. xanthodermus. It mycophagist Charles McIlvaine. I minutes to drive out worms. This also has a strong smell of creosote, and have not heard of anyone else who would also destroy some of the acrid does not taste very good. It gives some has tried it. I will have to try it sooner flavor and some lesser poisons. people gastrointestinal disturbance. I or later. About the turn of the century Ford have eaten five or six of them several In running down the origins of and Clark claimed, after laboratory times, without harm, but the flavor is the names of colors I came upon a experiments, that soaking A. muscaria not good enough to bother with them most interesting story. The name ten minutes in salt water and then when there are so many better ones I was looking up was . It ten minutes in vinegar removed to be had. was named after a popular queen of all the poisons. I also did some With the help of Dr. Smith and all Spain, three or four hundred years experimenting with A. muscaria after the forays I have participated in all over ago, whose name was Isabelle. Her I read that the Siberians soaked them the country and along the Amazon beloved husband was riding away in the juice of the whortleberry and River and in Peru, I have learned to to the wars, and she vowed to not then drank the juice. This indicated identify maybe two or three hundred change her underwear until he to me that whatever caused the species, and am learning some new returned. It turned out to be a rather psychedelic effect was soluble in the ones each year. Bill Isaacs and I have long war. The color isabelline is a juice of the whortleberry. been teaching a class in mushroom dingy yellow. One of the best genera for eating identification for ten years in Santa Fe Most of the eight mushrooms is the genus Agaricus. A. bitorquis is and are still getting good attendance. that Dr. Smith named after me were a very common mushroom in New The North American Mycological very rare and I have never seen them Mexico. It likes hard-packed earth Association is doing a great job nationally again. Lactarius barrowsii I’ve found along sidewalks and paths. I have in getting more and more people in several locations and I generally found it frequently on the Plaza in interested in mycology. Mushroom see some of it every year. Its most Santa Fe, but just out of town about clubs are being formed in many states. remarkable feature is that bright a mile there is an old landfill where Pat Brannen of Albuquerque initiated Paris green which it becomes when it grows in great quantity, both in the the first club in New Mexico a couple it is broken; but it rapidly fades to a spring and in the fall if it rains. I can of years ago. If you want to get more duller color. pick five pounds in an hour or so. fun out of mushrooming, that’s the way The Pholiota barrowsii is very close However, the very best of the to go: join a club! to P. squarrosa. There are also a pure Agaricus is A. campestris. It grows The great value of a club is that white Amanita barrowsii, a Psathyrella, only in pastures. It is dependent on with more people collecting, and and a white Hebeloma. dung for it sustenance. It has a really displaying their ollections, you have the The Siberians have been eating the delicious flavor. It has been cultivated opportunity to see more mushrooms Amanita muscaria for its psychedelic in France, but it is too fragile to than you could possibly find yourself. effects for hundreds of years. In parts pack and ship, so other varieties are And many of them will be known to of Siberia where it did not grow they produced for the market. Taste is somebody in the group, so you will were so fond of it that they would sacrificed for firmness, so very few learn to identify many more. trade a reindeer for one mushroom. people other than mycologists have ever tasted A. campestris. It’s a great hobby and becomes Incidentally, it is said that reindeer ate more exciting all the time. Go to it – it and also became intoxicated. There are three or four species good collecting! A. muscaria has intrigued me for of Agaricus that are called poisonous. many years. It has probably had more One is A. xanthodermus; xanthodermus written about it than all the rest of in Latin means “yellow skin.” There

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 35 Old and Bold

by Kevin Wald

What distinguishes the old and the bold is, of course, the letter B. Once the grid is filled, one third of its 30 shaded squares will contain a B; from each, you must make a short foray to another square. Specifically, numbering these squares 1-10 in usual reading order (left to right, top to bottom) you must go (1) two south, (2) one southeast, (3) one southwest, (4) one south, (5) two east, (6) two north, (7) one west, (8) two southwest, (9) two south, and (10) one northwest. Read the letters you get to, in the order (10)(1)(2)(3)(9)(4)(6)(7)(8)(5), to see how you might indicate these journeys on the grid. Then read the 20 other shaded squares to see where you can find the exciting sequel to this.

Across 48. Supplicate 89. To what end 10. “And ____ will 37. Pelvis 1. Vichy water 51. Diarist Anais 90. Prez on the fin demonstrate . . .” 38. Contempt 4. City in the Book 52. Flavored with a 93. Oxidized (Beatles lyric; 2 wds., 39. Ogle of Esther leek relative 95. Annoyance abbr.) 41. Use smoke to 8. Mail-order 54. Sister city of 99. Wood- 11. “. . . speak a perfume company in Champaign, IL inhabiting puffball prophecy ____ go 42. “The Greatest” cartoons 56. Harry’s First (2 wds.) . . .” (King Lear; 2 43. Arafat’s org. 12. Black-and-white Lady 104. Bossy genus of wds.) (abbr.) seabirds 58. Angie Tribeca mushroom? 12. Cockeyed 44. A Bobbsey twin 16. Bolete with network (abbr.) 105. Genus for 32 13. Highway 46. Steal from scabers 59. Einstein’s Across paralleled by I-95 48. Rice variety 18. Named after birthplace 106. Norms (abbr.) (hyph., abbr.) 49. Ltr. container Chuck 61. Request on an 107. Badger burrow 14. Robe with an (abbr.) 20. The most invitation (abbr.) 108. Actor Morales obi 50. Discontinuity beautiful pored 62. James Cameron of Ozark 15. Meter or 53. Joshua tree or mushroom (2 wds.) film with blue 109. Slugger Mel kilogram, e.g. (2 its kin 23. Very picky people wds., abbr.) 55. Thanos Down 24. Owned item 64. Lure 17. Animator’s sheet portrayer Josh 1. Isle in a 25. Freezing cold 68. Actor Hanks 19. Tolkien villain 56. Reddish-brown palindrome 26. United 69. As of this time 21. Employ horse containing 11 27. Vase 70. Bossy remark? 22. Bristly body 57. The first lady Down 29. Idle of Monty 72. Poisonous part 58. Prefix for 2. Ten myriad Python species of 76 Across 27. Beehive State “sphere” or “pause” myriad years 31. Piqued state 76. Black-spored resident 60. Garland on 3. Coll. near 32. Shaggy genus 28. Well-ordered Oahu Tinseltown (abbr.) (mushroom) 78. ____ dictum 30. ____ Sharkey 63. ____ nitrite 4. Employ a chair 36. Genus that is (judge’s incidental (Don Rickles (inhalational drug) 5. Palindromic often yellow and opinion) sitcom; abbr.) 65. Gridiron org. Burmese statesman slimy 79. Poison Pie genus 31. Female sib (abbr.) (2 wds.) 40. Unconcerned 82. Genus for flies 32. Visored 66. The Way 6. Lazy ____ with ethics and flying headgear 67. Doctrine (turntables) 41. Edible species of 83. Siouan tribe 33. Some mantras 68. Heavy metal 7. Stereo 76 Across 84. “Behold this 34. Laments instruments components 45. Genus known remarkable feat!” because of (2 wds.) 71. 15 Down 8. Less inept for being fragile (hyph.) 35. Brush user, measuring 9. Spiny plants 47. Tartish dessert 88. “Mayday!” perhaps resistance

36 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 73. Singer Perry for a 68 Across (2 91. Arthur on The 98. Exam 74. Out of the rat wds.) Golden Girls 100. Condition of race, perh. (abbr.) 82. Texan diamond 92. Blunders Monk on Monk 75. Period workers 94. Widespread (abbr.) 76. Giggly syllable 85. Approximately ATM network (2 101. Spotted cube 77. Morsel for a 56 86. Kirsten of Bring wds.) 102. Hoppy beer Down It On 95. Food with roots style (abbr.) 79. Wail wolfishly 87. Dadaist Jean or in Hawaii 103. Day named for

80. CH3CH2- Hans 96. Cube designer groups 90. What UK flats Rubik a fem. deity (abbr.) 81. Childish term are (abbr.) 97. Parasitic fungus

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 37 From Long Island to North Carolina

an interview with Rytas Vylgalys

Leon: So… I don’t remember if it I did an independent study with was you who told me or not, but…. him on the mushrooms of Livingston Why don’t you tell me how you County, up in upstate New York. got started in mycology. John was also the person who gave Rytas: (laughs) Well, I probably me a piece of paper and said, “You got started when I was a little kid, need to join the Mycological Society because my grandmother and other of America. It’s only five bucks.” Lithuanian relatives were pretty avid (Leon laughs) Yeah. [It turns out that mushroom pickers. For the extended a student membership is currently summers, we’d do a lot of hunting $50 a year] And it was great. So I around our summer place up in the actually started getting the journal Laurentian mountains in Canada. [Mycologia] while I was still in college And so a lot of the immigrants, and I came to appreciate what was Lithuanian immigrants were pretty being published back then. fond of mushrooms, but I didn’t take That was a very good introduction, Rytas in younger years a mushroom class until I was in high because when I applied to grad school. I took a course with Marge schools, I ended up at Virginia Tech Morris – you might remember her. and worked with Orson Miller.

Leon: Yes! So that’s how I got interested in good mycology. And that was my Rytas: from the COMA club [this fungi. introduction; she was my first person is the club where Leon got his start Leon: So you grew up in New to really learn from. I didn’t even in mushrooming] and Marge was also York? have a good sense of what true wilderness was, because we lived on a member of the original New York Rytas: I grew up in Great Neck, Long Island; but she was good: she Mycological Society. New York. So that’s how I came to suggested places to go hunting for She taught an adult ed course, an know Marge: because also was from mushrooms, and pretty soon I was introduction to mushrooming, using Great Neck. She of course spent most the same. You know, you start out Orson Miller’s field guide, which she of her active mycology years with collecting in public cemeteries and was a big fan of. the COMA club. But Marge was a parks, and you start to learn what wonderful person, and we remained So that was how I was first might be out there. introduced to mushroom systematics. friends with her for many years after I didn’t have anybody to teach me Later in college I actually had a that. in college. John, my advisor, wasn’t a mycologist for my advisor! That Leon: Yeah… I remember her mushroom expert. But he was very was at Geneseo – SUNY Geneseo. as… very helpful, but also sort of a helpful. And of course Orson was His name was John Clouse, and he humorously grumpy person? the person who really drummed in a had been a student of John Couch Rytas: Maybe so! I don’t really very strong foundation of systematic at UNC; he was my microbiology remember her personality-wise mycology into me –for all of his professor. other than she appreciated really… students.

38 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Leon: and when you spoke of the ecology of the species. And I still I actually went and visited Roy – for using his book, was that that BIG teach his basic system of learning several summers, Orson sent me up hardcover book?1 the mushroom families; I’m sure we to New England and he said “Talk Rytas: It was a big hardcover all do. to Howard Bigelow.” I met Howard book, but it had just come out in a We really learned our ecology; I and the Bigelows, and I met Roy plastic cover – Mushrooms of North think ecology became a big part of Halling and Tim Baroni. And Roy America? learning the taxonomy of different very kindly gave me a copy of his mushroom families. thesis, even before it was published, Leon: Yeah, that’s the one I was and showed me how to recognize the thinking of. (Rytas laughs) That Leon: Neat! So what sort of work micromorphology of these fungi. was one of the first ones I ever saw, did you do with Orson? also. That was very helpful, because Rytas: Well, I did both a masters after I learned that I started collecting Rytas: That was, back then, and PhD with Orson. You know, more. I actually had a lot of people already recognized as a ground- back then I couldn’t believe that you helping me get spore prints for breaking field guide for mushrooms: it could actually get paid to study fungi. growing. Orson of course would go had color photographs, it had natural It was just amazing. off in various places out west and I worked on the Gymnopus overseas, and he would collect some dryophilus . Back of these common species complexes then it was called the Collybia dryophila like the Collybia dryophila group, and group. he would save genetic material – in the form of spore prints at the time Anyway, these were a very – and then later I would germinate common group of litter-decomposing them and do the crosses. He also set , and I worked on mating me up with a network of European compatibility. I was already interested collaborators who provided material in genetics, and so we started doing for my PhD which was basically single-spore – single crossing the European and North – isolates, working out the mating American counterparts of the group. compatibility systems, and using So I got the benefit of many excellent crossing studies to define biological mycologists who all were familiar species. At that time, that was the with the species complex. big thing. Leon: So you say “species Leon: Is this the sort of thing complex.” Did it get resolved into a that later Roy Halling did with bunch of different species? Rhodocollybia and the rest of the collybioid species? Rytas: Exactly. So back then, the Orson Miller’s big field guide Collybia dryophila group I identified Rytas: What’s amazing is that… four intersterility groups from North well, the concept of what Collybia was America; and there turned out to be at the time was not clear. But Roy was four in Europe as well; and three pairs habitat backgrounds that would just finishing his dissertation, which of those were mutually compatible. If provide you with clues about where was a monograph of Collybia in the I recall, none of them were cross- these mushrooms were growing. northeast. So he had developed a very compatible. But what was striking And although Orson… I wouldn’t clear idea of what the characters were back then was that each of these eight say he was a great photographer, but for… what became Gymnopus, and for groups also formed a morpho-group he had a great eye for photographs Marasmius, and for other collybioids. – that is, once you knew what to look that showed you something about And so when I started grad school,

1 @ “big”: it was large-format. It usually printed its color photos three to a page, and each of them was a bit larger than an entire page of the Audubon guide.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 39 for, you could distinguish them via dryophila with yellow gills; but it tend to drift apart genetically first and physical features – but the groups turns out the gills can be yellow or only later end up looking different. in Europe did not necessarily have white. And the same thing: Fries had Rytas: Yeah, I think… the fungal the same morphological features as recognized a yellow-gilled form of species complexes where you can do their biologically compatible North the dryophila group from Europe, the crosses are especially valuable, American counterpart. and sure enough that one was also because there you can actually assess Leon: So you’re saying that there polymorphic – it could have yellow different criteria for speciation were three European biological gills or white gills. And it was a genetics. So for example in the case species that were each compatible different biological species group of fungi, I could actually do all the with one of the North American from the one in North America. crosses in all combinations, in the ones. So this work required a laboratory. You can do it in vitro, Rytas: Correct. reassessment of the morph-taxonomy. and that’s something you can’t do Now of course this was all based on with animals – you know, even if you Leon: But they didn’t necessarily the mating types, but DNA came on have a huge zoo, you can’t cross every look alike. the scene then as well, so we could animal with every other animal. It’s Rytas: They were not necessarily also identify which of these mating just impossible. the same morpho-species. groups were closely related or not. So I think those studies at that the compatible pairs from Europe It was sort of mutual illumination: time were the first insight that and North America did end up being you do the crosses and then you the fungal kingdom is really full each other’s closest relatives, but go back and look at the specimens of cryptic sibling species – that they were genetically distinct even some more, and what we found was almost every morpho-group that back then. that sure enough you could develop we were recognizing as a species at a set of criteria for recognizing each Leon: So is this part of the the time… we knew that there were species within its native range, but motivation that got you deeper into cryptic species within those groups, you couldn’t map those same sets of DNA? but the study of the intersterility characters to the same species on the Rytas: Yeah. I think what got me barriers really drove home the idea other continent. I think that people back then, and what still is really that, first of all, that once they’ve were already realizing that, and exciting about species complexes is speciated, they really usually don’t nowadays we know almost always it’s that those are the groups of fungi go back; and it also demonstrated the because there’s no gene flow between where you can get insight into the importance of geographic isolation as these continents, so you end up with factors that drive speciation in a factor in eventually leading to those very different species groups. fungi. The evidence of genetic local intersterility barriers to evolve. So in North America we found adaptation, the evidence for mating But you know, intersterility is a that there’s a variety of dryophila compatibility, and especially mating funny trait to measure because there’s with yellow lamellae, that had been compatibility – and the associated a process of reinforcement. Once described from Europe; and sure intersterility – as a reinforcement that species diverge – or populations enough, there’s a group in North maintains species differences. diverge – there’s subsequent America that had yellow lamellae, Leon: So I’m wondering, “What that reinforces the genetic differences, but not always. It’s one of the key kinds of insights does this give us?” and that’s what we see as an absolute characters that’s been used in that My understanding is that for animals intersterility in mushrooms. That’s group – there have been many there’s geographic separation, and why it’s a really useful technique. varieties and subspecies that have you end up with groups that look You know Ron Petersen made a been described over the years – but different, and then after that they whole career – his later career – out it’s a polymorphic trait. So we sorted end up becoming intersterile because of studying those interactions. And that out and we found that that had they use visual cues to signal mating those still require the fungi: you have previously described from North compatibility – looking different to grow them, you have to be able to America as Collybia subsulphurea. Peck erects another barrier to gene flow. let them do their thing and tell you had described it as a form of Collybia But mushrooms don’t use looks in what the patterns are. Nowadays, we choosing a mating partner, so they use DNA sequencing and population

40 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal genetics to infer the same things – the that in the very early spring – it’s one Leon: I see. This is all very cool. same processes, but the advantage of our first mushrooms. So what have you been working on of being able to work with cultures Rytas: That’s right. lately? like this is you can still study these Leon: So is this separation Rytas (laughs): Unfortunately, processes at the level of the fungi I don’t get to work on speciation themselves. something that happens seasonally as well as geographically? and genetics much anymore. But Leon: Do you get any insights into what we’ve been doing… I’d say for what’s driving the divergence? – what Rytas: Absolutely. I think especially the last twenty years, we’ve done a these microadaptations are that start in the Gymnopus dryophilus group, there lot of work on the fungal Tree of them off on their different paths? are some early season fruiters, so Life, and elucidating that – so the here in North America subsulphurea big-picture phylogeny of the fungal Rytas: Well, that’s something we is early in the spring, early summer, think about all the time. It seems kingdom. But in the course of that, and then by late summer Gymnopus I’ve become more interested in the that the evidence is that fungi are dryophilus takes over, and that has a capable – all fungi seem to be capable use of these molecular techniques to darker cap and it doesn’t have the study fungi in their native habitats – to some extent – of long-distance pinkish rhizomorphs of subsulphurea; dispersal. And in the face of that – in in the environment – and particularly it has white rhizomorphs. So there looking at different ways which fungi spite of that – what we see is more are some ways to recognize these. and more overwhelming evidence interact with each other and also with that there have been long periods There’s also – I don’t know if plants. So for the last twenty years or of local adaptation which results you’ve ever picked it – Gymnopus so, we’ve been working increasingly in these morphologically distinct – earleae, which Murrill also described. on how forest fungi interact with sometimes very subtly distinctive That’s also one that fruits very early their forest tree species, either as – local populations and species in the spring – around here you’ll mycorrhizae or as . groups of different fungi. It doesn’t find it in March and April – and Currently I’m working on genetics 2 mean that they don’t occasionally it’s fruiting on bare soil. So it’s an of host compatibility between Suillus mate with their cross-continental, or early season member of that species and different species of Pinaceae. As cross-oceanic partners. But I think complex. you know, different – white it suggests that primary unit is this And there must be quite a bit pines, yellow pines, two-needle, sort of local geographic population – of seasonal variation – seasonal three-needle, five-needle pines – all meta-populations, people sometimes differences as phonological difference these different groups and the , call them – that show a strong – in Europe as well. I know they have doug fir… these are all members of signature of genetic identity where at least – I’m trying to remember the the Pinaceae and they all have very they occur. name now – gosh, it was so long ago strong patterns of host specificity Of course, nowadays you can – but there’s another member of that with different groups of Suillus. also find evidence of the opposite. I group that fruits in areas where the We’ve been working on that quite think we’ve gone further now, right? snow has just disappeared. a bit for the last ten years, getting We can actually find evidence now I think a lot of these litter genomes of different species of that fungi actually are hybridizing. decomposers probably do split up Suillus, so we can understand what Karen Hughes has done some really the season, and that probably does genes they use to interact with their beautiful work showing evidence provide some manner of isolation, different hosts. of rare – but sometimes not so rare although the subsulphurea and the Leon: So to do the census, you’re – hybridization events that occur common dryophilus form that we sampling root tips? between closely related mushroom see later in the year – those two species. are rigorously intersterile. They don’t Rytas: We do. We sample root tips, but one reason we’re working Leon: That’s really cool. Now cross. So even if… you can find them fruiting at the same time; but they’re with Suillus is because first of all, we besides geography… you mentioned can collect the actual mushrooms in subsulphurea and around here we get not interbreeding.

2 It also often has a cap with a really dark brown center, rusty orange rhizomorphs, and this is one that can have yellow gills.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 41 the field. We can collect them as root So that’s the new frontier… useful framework for understanding tips as well. Suillus is one of the groups it’s almost the holy grail, but it’s not them and there’s been tremendous of fungi that we’ve looked at using quite there yet. It’s this idea that progress in understanding how sort of environmental metagenomic fungi and plants… fungi sense their pathogens interact with their hosts types of approaches where we look environment and they interact with it. at the molecular level. at the whole community of fungi In the case of a symbiotic interaction, Our lab has always been field- associated with a particular host. it’s at least two partners involved, oriented, so we’re trying to take it But the other reason we work with and they actually do communicate all outside more and so the focus Suillus is because we can take it into with each other, and they actually has been on meta-genomics: can the greenhouse and the laboratory. use that communication to go to you understand these community Using cultures and spore prints, the next level which might either be interactions as a whole, more than we can experimentally inoculate synthesizing , or trying species by species – although we different Suillus species onto different to make a connection with the host. do species by species interactions Pinaceous hosts, and by doing that we Suillus absolutely requires as well. can (again) experimentally validate mycorrhizae to survive. They can Leon: Now, you speak of whether or not a given strain is live as spores for a long time, but I identifying the genes that are compatible with one pine host, or think at one point or another their activated for these interactions, and does it have a preference for white spores are going to try to establish you’ve spoke of trying to figure out pines or larches and so forth. an interaction with the host. So right what the language is; so I’m thinking We can confirm the patterns that now we’re really excited about using that the genes are kind of like the have been reported based on field genomic approaches to identify what transmitters, but what is the actual taxonomy, and go further. We can are the suites of genes involved in host language? recognition, and then subsequently – actually begin to look at the genetic Rytas: Yes! There’s an entire huge systems that these fungi use to once the mycorrhizas are established, what is the role of these different field that has developed focused on recognize their hosts. How do they how plants interact with microbes: communicate with different pine mycorrhiza types in the nutrition of the host and the fungus. plant-fungal interactions, plant- trees? And what is the language? – bacterial interactions… and we know the alphabet, as it were. That’s what we’ve been working that plants in some ways are like Nowadays, I think mycology has on more lately: a community-drive animals: they have an immune system become a genomic science. We can do approach to understanding how – they have a way of preventing an awful lot with just sequencing the Suillus and other fungi interact with infection by unwanted microbes – genomes. But we can do even more different tree hosts. That seems to be and it turns out that the mutualistic, with some of these fungi, like Suillus a very nice system for looking at how mycorrhizal fungi utilize the same – we can actually do experimental fungi are functioning in the forest. mechanisms to gain entry into a plant work, and use the genomics to really And of course you’ve got your host as the pathogenic fungi do. The get some insight. saprophytes as well. They’re doing main difference is that the mutualists So let’s see: three years ago we similar things, except they’re can’t kill their host! They actually published a paper describing the interacting with all of their different help their host; so they establish these metatranscriptome – using RNA substrates that they grow in. long-term, stable interactions that we as the sequencing technique – we Leon: But presumably they don’t call mycorrhizas. were actually able to identify which need to establish the same kind of There’s different types of genes are used by different Suillus connection. mycorrhizal interactions. The species to recognize their pine host. Rytas: They don’t, but… symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizae utilize And conversely we can also – since interact ions are one t y pe of interact ion; similar mechanisms; some of them we’re working with mycorrhizae in but you also have… not surprisingly, are maybe even identical. But they the laboratory – we can also identify the symbiotic fungi are using a lot also perform different functions and which pine genes are also activated of the same sort of interactions that provide different services to their in response to either a compatible or the plant pathogens use. So that’s a hosts. We’re trying to use the same incompatible mycorrhizal partner. approaches to also study what they

42 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Rytas: No. I don’t see horizontal gene transfer being as important or prevalent in these fungal systems as it is in bacteria. But you have to qualify that – we probably don’t even know just how much a role horizontal gene transfer has had on the fungal kingdom. We know that some kinds of genes – especially genes that are involved in secondary metabolism – and of course certain other types of genes that (for instance) confer resistance (that’s more in bacteria) but I think the fungal ability to produce a lot of metabolites is almost certainly the result of them acquiring those genes from bacteria, because certain gene families are exactly the same. We often know – now, through genomics – that fungi actually harbor their own endosymbiotic bacteria, and it’s probably both a historical and an active process, whereby fungi take up certain bacteria that eventually A more contemporary photo of Rytas in action become symbiotic with the fungal mycelium. I don’t know if you’ve picked up do. Nowadays that’s all incredibly based studies, and people who study any of the reports on that, but the inter-disciplinary, and it’s not just biogeochemistry – somebody looking very first fungal genome that our DNA and RNA – it’s also the ability with sensors from space might be able lab sequenced (through the Joint for people to study the that to tell you exactly how this fungal Genome Institute) the first report are involved, to study the metabolites community is affecting changes in came back with “We’ve got the – metabolomics-based approaches soil and soil respiration et cetera. genome, but there’s also a bacterium – it’s really integrating all of these And at the same time, there are these living inside your fungus. We’ve that has really become a very hot… general ecological insights coming reconstructed the fungal genome of hotbed of research in many labs, from all the other metagenomics Mortierella.3 actually. work that people are doing – looking “But there’s also a fully assembled Leon: So these services that the at how fungal communities vary bacterial chromosome present,” and fungi provide: are you seeing how in space and time, especially in the sure enough, we were able to confirm these get modulated and changed forest environments. that there was a fungal endosymbiont depending on what other organisms It’s not just mushrooms living inside the cells of the fungus. are in the system? anymore! I think it’s these kinds of Rytas: Yes. And of course ecology Leon: Going back a moment to situations that are the for horizontal – and ecological theory – provides speciation and smaller-scale issues: gene transfer to contribute. We additional context for interpreting do you see evidence for the sort of know that a lot of fungi have these all of these kinds of findings. I think speciation we were talking about secondary metabolite gene clusters. that there’s huge potential right now being driven by horizontal gene Not all fungi have them! A lot of for synthesis between molecular- transfer? ascomycetes are loaded with them;

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 43 there are a few that have that has come through the analysis Rytas: There’s always more there very unique sets of those – probably of fungal genomes more so than than you thought. That’s almost almost all acquired from some sort through observation. axiomatic. of bacterial endosymbiosis. You’re familiar with grasses Leon: So where do you think this Leon: Cool! So they have them, and grass endophytes, right? – the is all going? Where would you like to but you don’t see it as a big driver of fact that all of our common turf see people… attack the field? speciation. grasses that we value and that we Rytas: Where’s the field going? Rytas: I don’t see it as a driver use for forage and so forth – those Gosh. This sort of work is going are all colonized by ascomycetes, of speciation as much as… it’s 4 in many good directions. From the definitely a factor in the evolution of clavicepitaceous fungi that are hybrids standpoint of fungal systematics certain groups. But what really drives in the genus Epichloe. Essentially, and mushrooms and mushroom speciation, based on what we know these are asexual fungi that have a diversity, I think we are entering a… about it, you have opportunities or hybrid ancestry. They evolved from two thoughts come to mind. One is scenarios by which populations can the hybridization of pathogenic fungi that we’re clearly in a molecular era. rapidly diverge, and I think from on grasses; but the hybrids are sterile, Molecular systematics and genomics my thesis work and since then, it’s and they produce loads of secondary have caught up with what we do. So always been very clear that allopatry metabolites that are beneficial to the we’re starting to get that next level of is a major driver. Even widespread grasses and which hopefully don’t understanding of not just what the species of fungi, like Schizophyllum harm the sheep and cattle that graze species groups are, but we also have commune, or Trametes versicolor, almost on them – sometimes they do! the ability to identify them… sort all of these ubiquitous fungi, if you Nowadays we manage the of in any kind of context and also look at their genomic variation, what communities so that understand on a genetic level what you find is that they still form very they’re good for animal foraging. different groups of fungi might be genetically distinct populations in Karen Hughes and her crew have doing. I think that’s really exciting. different parts of the world. Together done some very detailed work on the And it’s also, I think, because with evidence of periodic gene flow fungi of the Smokies, and she’s got of the focus on DNA barcoding, between the continents, which some great examples of potential this is sort of the next level that’s suggests that there’s something hybrids and examples where some accessible to the average person. else – that there’s an ecology that of the agarics have probably gone When I first started doing DNA helps reinforce that process of local hybridization as well. But I, we don’t work, there was a lot of resistance to adaptation that gives rise to these know how common that is. molecular techniques as a solution; geographic variants. Leon: It’s not a broadly sampled and I think there’s been a change: So we know that geography is an thing? we’ve overcome that initial resistance. important driver. At the same time, A lot of mushroom clubs and a lot there’s always been controversy about Rytas: It’s not broadly sampled, of individuals – especially the new whether species can evolve in situ – but… it’s probably much more generation of field mycologists who in the same area – like on different common than we thought. And are coming along – have a lot more… hosts or something – and I think especially now since we kind of have facility with using that ITS barcoding there’s evidence in fungi that that the genetic tools to figure it out. or whatever to get a handle on fungal also occurs. Pretty much everything Leon: Was it her and Ron who did diversity. Right now we’re a little that occurs in plants and animals the work on Flammulina? behind, but we’re actually sequencing also occurs in fungi. (Leon laughs) lots of field-collected mushrooms for Rytas: Yes, that was one of the We find evidence of local adaptation different club groups as part of that first examples. leading to rapid speciation; you can MycoFlora project that Bill Sheehan also find evidence more and more Leon (laughing): And we found and others have been promoting. out that there’s more there than we nowadays of hybrid origins of certain It’s wonderful! It’s great. As a groups of fungi. And again, a lot of thought.

3 a common soil Zygomycete fungus 4 your ergots and so on

44 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal molecular mycologist, I still get Artificial intelligence is not the stand up and yell at me that if we can’t excited when I look at the list of solution, right? But it’s a good way to eat them then why was I talking about sequenced types and what species get people interested in some of these them. That’s not happening anymore. they represent, because that really questions. We don’t have a Google There’s just a lot more… respect and is… empowering a lot of amateur app that identifies mushrooms yet. interest for the scientific questions mycologists to get into that , and But the only way we’re gonna get – and that includes sequencing and of course they’re finding new things there is by people doing that sort of finding out what we really have. all the time. interfacing and making these sort of I think there was this real trauma Leon: You spoke about molecular tools work better and better. I think when sequencing first came on the work being more accepted, and with molecular systematics, mycology scene, and it was “Agh! Everything’s actually what I hear a bit nowadays has definitely made quantum leaps getting shaken up and what do I do is… from people in clubs, is sometimes in the last… generation. For sure! now? I thought I knew things and you’ll get graduate students who have And I think that now, there’s just so now I know I don’t.” never seen a fruiting body. many directions left to go, and I think students – new students – they’re not Rytas: Well, that’s something Rytas: That’s right! And yet they intimidated by… a lot of the things we all learn as we get older, isn’t it? probably know everything there is that might have intimidated us in the Everything you learned in life is to be known about the phylogeny past: the challenges of molecular work wrong! I certainly feel that way. On of a group! (Leon laughs) Certainly, or integrating fields – taxonomy with some level, everything I learned in in every generation, we lose a whatever’s the next thing – anyway, grad school is wrong. But you end tremendous amount of first-hand who knows? The future looks pretty up with a perspective that’s much knowledge of fungi – and the natural promising, as long as there’s support broader. You can explain… you world in general. It’s unavoidable. for mycologists to do what they wish. know, we had a lot of really crazy But my feeling is that there’s plenty To do what we do. ideas in fungal biology twenty or of people coming along who are out thirty years ago. A lot of them just there collecting mushrooms, and What is your thought? I think wouldn’t die at first: questions about I think amateur mycologists – field mushroom clubs and… amateur the origins of fungi, things like that mycologists, let’s say – are greatly mycology in the broad sense is – the Floridian Hypothesis of the empowered nowadays because they actually kind of renaissancing right red algal ancestry of certain fungal have all these additional ways of now. There’s a lot of young folks groups. There was just any number of integrating what they see. out there! those, and of course taxonomic ideas But of course, yeah! Everybody’s Leon: I’m seeing… you know, I do were just all over the place. got a list of fungi that they’ve never these interviews, and every time I do So I think that a huge amount found: that they’ve read about, an interview I find out all these new of consensus has emerged, and of or they’ve studied… that they’ve things about where the field is going. course it’s just so much more complex only seen in the laboratory or on a So I don’t… have that perspective than we had imagined. myself. I was just at NAMA, and I computer. I don’t think it lessens the Leon: And it’s made it less joy of discovering something that remember late at night Tom Bruns and Joey Spatafora saying “Yeah… personal. The DNA is something you haven’t seen before – it might you can refer to rather than personal just increase the value. But yeah, we’ve just gotta train people to work better with data.” (Rytas laughs) judgment, with people getting mad you’re absolutely right, and it’s not at each other and stuff. just our field: there are people who I do see a lot more of the clubs, study Drosophila and yeast who have like you said, getting on board with Rytas: Yeah, well people still do never seen them out in the wild. I the sequencing, and that just being that anyway! (both laugh) think that there have been in the past a legit area of operation for clubs There is another photo of Rytas inside some people who didn’t have enough nowadays. I mean, I remember when the back cover. training in basic field mycology; I first came to Chicago, trying to but that’s sort of where we live. We explain at a club meeting different are moving more and more into kinds of blackening Russulas that we bioinformatic approaches. had in the area, and I had one guy

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 45 Collecting fungi in the Amazonian Cerro de la Neblina, Venezuela

by Amy Y. Rossman1 and Roy Halling2

Introduction After years of discussion the Smithsonian Institution and the government of Venezuela obtained funding to explore the biological diversity of one of the most remote places in South America – Cerro de la Neblina, located in southern Venezuela where it intersects with Colombia and Brazil (Figure 1). Translated as Mountain of the Mist, this mountain is one of several, steep-sided, flat-topped tepuis3 that are the remains of the ancient Guayana Highland and function as biological islands. Visited previously by a group of botanists led by Bassett Maguire in 1953, we were invited to participate in the third (and last) trip of this project, which took place from January to February 1985. Other trips had taken place in April and November-December 1984 Figure 1 and included several of our colleagues, mycologist Gary Location of Cerro de la Neblina: the extreme south of Ven- Samuels (April), Venezuelan mycologist Teresa Iturriaga, ezuela, at the star. Mountain heights are given in meters. and lichenologist Lois Brako (Nov-Dec). Although plans were made for another trip after ours, this did not take Halling (the co-authors of this article); entomologists place and to our knowledge no scientists have visited Paul and Phyllis Spangler and their student Warren Cerro de la Neblina since we left, except for a mountain- Steiner; ornithologists David Willard and John O’Neill; climbing expedition in 1999 that looked for carnivorous herpetologists Roy McDiarmid, Rex Cocroft and plants. Venezuelan Alfredo Paolillo; mammologist Al Gardner; Our Venezuelan leader was Dr. Charles Brewer- botanists Brian Boom, Anna Weitzman, Mike Nee and Carías, an ex-dentist and minister of youth, who facilitated Susanne Renner; bryologist Bill Buck; pteridologist Joe the complicated logistics of getting to the high elevations Beitel; ecologists David Benzing and Tom Givnish; and on Cerro de la Neblina. Charles was a knowledgeable journalist Adele Conover. Early on two Smithsonian amateur naturalist who was dedicated to the success of writers and a photographer joined us but left after only a this project. Many kinds of systematists were invited few days. This trip was written up in Smithsonian Magazine covering most groups of organisms. Participants in (May 1985) and Natural History Science (July-August our trip included mycologists Amy Rossman and Roy 1985).

1 Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97330, USA 2 Institute of Systematic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458, USA 3 Tepuis are mesas, known by the local word “tepui,” which means “house of the gods” in the language of the Pemon indigenous people.

46 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Getting to Base Camp We arrived in Caracas a day or two before leaving for Neblina with a brief stay at a hotel and local collecting. Amy found her first fungus on the plants in the window boxes outside the hotel—a rust on Plumeria (sometimes called frangipani), ubiquitous throughout the tropics, and some ascomycetes in the mountains known as L’Avila behind the city. From Caracas we flew on a commercial airplane to Puerto Ayacucho, the capital and only city in the territory of Amazonas, located on the banks of the Orinoco Figure 2 The formerly grand hotel River, which traverses most of Venezuela and finally empties into pet river otter (Figure 4) as well as the Caribbean. We stayed at a used- penned tapirs and pigs. We gathered to-be-grand hotel (Figure 2) with an that evening for instructions from unfilled swimming pool and delicious leaders Charles Brewer and Roy hot ant sauce (Figure 3, back cover – McDiarmid, although we truly had it looks so much better in color!) to no idea what lay ahead for us. liven up the bland morning arepas (the iconic Venezuelan corn cake). The next morning we were guided into either motorized dugout canoes For the next leg of the trip, we to travel downstream in the R ío Negro helped to fill the cavernous hind end that eventually joins the Amazon of a large military transport plane – River in Brazil, or a helicopter for probably a C-27 Spartan, a smaller travel to our next stop. Sadly, Amy version of Lockheed’s Hercules. went by helicopter instead of canoe to Into this we pushed at least a dozen the small military outpost guarding 50-gallon steel drums of helicopter the border with Colombia. The view fuel, quite a few pallets of beer, and was spectacular as we cruised over other essentials such as our baggage. the flat, almost featureless Amazon Finally loaded, we strapped in to the jungle with meandering rivers and optional side seats for the two-hour widely spaced flowering trees. Much ride to the village of San Carlos on Figure 4 of the beer was consumed at the Just a boy and his otter the banks of the Río Negro, a river military base during this very early that flows south eventually into the stage in the trip. Amazon River. made agave liquor, named after the Roy demonstrates the ability of region. Roy did not actually stay over Eager for excitement, the villagers mycologists to remember essential at Cucui, however. Instead he flew greeted us when we landed on the red information many years later by via a Bell-Jet helicopter directly to soil airstrip. We stayed overnight recalling that the small border Neblina base camp from San Carlos; in their small houses – each with outpost was named “either Cucui a half hour direct flight. That same a television and announcements or Cocuy”. Cucui is indeed the helicopter also had a cargo hook blasting over the town loud speakers. name of the border town (and the (and net) underneath – that’s how Here we did some last-minute district in Brazil on the other side the barrels of fuel and some baggage shopping for chocolate and became of the border); cocuy is the locally- got transported from San Carlos to acquainted with little Alfredo and his Base Camp.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 47 Conditions at Base Camp At last we were helicoptered to our base camp that workers had built for the previous trips in 1984. A couple of months had passed since the last group was at the base camp, and it appeared to be untouched, suggesting that no humans lived in this part of the world. However, the tin roofing initially flown in to make the base camp had disappeared, indicating that people at least passed through this area occasionally. All the necessary structures there were made primarily from a local small tree. The open-air sleeping quarters had low sides and a roof from which to hang our hammocks. (Figure 5) They were Figure 5 easy to clean by simply sweeping extra Field accommodations debris through the gaps between the Figure 6 logs in the floor. The open wash room The large-scale topography of Cerro de la Neblina included a large sink (not local) with flowing cold water and a moderately enclosed shower although some of us preferred the river for bathing until a large electric eel and anaconda were sampled from it (The river and showers are among the color photos on p. 53; a photogenic anaconda is shown on p. 50). Food was basic and mostly starch, i.e., arepas for breakfast, rice or spaghetti for lunch and the same for dinner – no sauce (except catsup). The clever one, Bill Buck, who had been on a previous trip, brought curry powder which he often shared. This trip was proof that you do not need fruits and vegetables to survive. product.4 Or maybe it was just the The scientific laboratory was a On one occasion we had meat circumstances. Other meats included basic structure made of small logs that had been procured locally by guan (a group of ground foraging with roof, floor, tables and benches. the workers and was incredibly birds in the Cracidae) and wild Electricity was generated for a few scrumptious. Paca is a large rodent peccary. We also sometimes had hours every evening so it was possible that tasted deliciously like ham. -like fruit juice made from to work at night. We had brought a Someone should go into commercial a local species of Inga. propane stove for drying fungi but production of that most delectable

4 Actually, wikipedia reports that “The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama has studied the possibilities of developing the paca as a viable high-priced food supply for the tropics,” and cites a publication by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Sadly, that publication cites the old scientific name of the animal (Agouti paca) instead of its new genus name of Cuniculus. This doesn’t only happen in mycology! – LS

48 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal mostly the weather was sunny and we laid the paper bags with microfungal specimens out to dry in the air. Because some specimens are relatively small, the essentials for collecting are a hand lens, a good sheath knife, kraft paper bags for individual specimens, and a large plastic bag for the day’s haul. Amy also kept insect repellent in her belt pouch to ward off those primary competitors – ants. Trips to High Camps Although Cerro de la Neblina is a tepui, it is greatly eroded with a central canyon surrounded by flattened areas (Figure 6 here and 6a on the back cover). Travelling via helicopter we visited three high camps. Initially the helicopters were commercial ones contracted for this expedition. However, after a few trips the commercial helicopter pilots were frightened by the narrow valleys and steep slopes and were replaced by larger military helicopters (see photo next page). In spite of her fear of flying on commercial airplanes, Amy was never afraid in the helicopter because the views were always so amazing. Figure 7 The first trip was to Camp 3 located at the highest, Al Gardner with specimen wettest elevation ca. 3045 m (9000 ft) and in fact we may have been in Brazil. The soil was more than soggy and yielded almost no fungi perhaps because of the anaerobic conditions but we did encounter the largest earthworms we have ever seen—about 20 cm long and three cm in diameter! After one day there, we were ready to move on and did. Returning to base camp, we had to wait a few days but then went to the fungus-rich but ill-fated Camp 7. We landed on the flattened and recently cleared top of the mountain. The camp was established down the hill near a stream where we set up our small tents not far from the laboratory tent and cooking area. The fungi were fantastic with diverse tropical vegetation and plenty of debris. Figure 8 The tents of the high camp However, after about four days, we found out that the helicopter had run out the outside world by radio and knew that they would come back eventually, of fuel and could not come back to pick this was alarming because we had no food left – only coffee – to feed about us up. By that time, we had limited food, ten field scientists. We tried cutting down the palm trees for their hearts and would have to just wait an unknown but it was difficult with only a machete. We wasted energy not knowing number of days while the helicopter which palm species would yield edible hearts and, even then, palm hearts returned to the Maracaibo military base have few . We tried roasting the small birds that we could catch in to fill up. Although we were in touch with the ornithologists’ mist nets. That too proved unsatisfactory as the birds

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 49 were very small with not much left after skinning and cooking them. It was easiest to just quietly starve and laugh about our situation. We called it the Neblina Quick Weight Loss Diet and it worked although left some feeling crazy. Amy lost about ten pounds in five days and dreamed of chocolate almost every night, regretting every dessert she had ever passed up. This experience did leave one with the ability to design an ideal meal anytime. One incident during this time involved from true Vaccinium bushes that were fairly abundant. That seemed like a partial answer to our food scarcity The military helicopters that came to replace the Bell-Jets were Bell UH-1 (af- fectionately called “Hueys”) helicopters, which established a reputation for being except for one problem – those who ate reliable modes of transport during the Vietnam conflict. Here is one of them, the blueberries went unconscious with a landed on a field of shattered vegetation. very slow pulse about 30 minutes after ingesting them. The blueberries did not off after about three hours but for “heliport”, every evening we would taste good to Amy and thus she did not a while we were all very frightened. climb to the top and watch the sun go eat more than a few so was left to care After five days the blessed helicopter down at the end of the grand canyon, for those who went under. This was a dropped off some food and we all then descend in the dusk down the frightening half-day especially when survived. adventureland-like trail with a rope the very tall mammologist Al Gardner Staying at this camp was heavenly, ladder on the slippery rock wall and (Figure 7) started to faint and staggered with plenty of amazing fungi, so traverse through the grove toward his hammock. Fortunately he we just kept collecting in spite of back to our camp. made it on his own, as none of us could the lack of food. Because the camp The last trip was to Camp 11 have carried him there. The effect wore was located down the hill from the (Figure 8) and it truly was the last high camp. To get there, a place to land had to be hacked out on the flattened part of the mountain that was covered with a a member of the Theaceae, Neblinaria celiae (see photo back cover). Several workers were literally dropped off from the hovering helicopter. Once there was evidence of flat ground, the helicopter landed and let the scientists and their supplies off. We put up tents and a shelter in which to work and cook – by now we knew the routine. Collecting was great at this camp with varied vegetation in both wet and dry areas. We had plenty of food including one rare commodity – a large bar of chocolate, which was divided into 17 equal pieces! Everyone did their thing collecting all kinds of organisms for about One of the local anacondas that made bathing in the stream a more exciting experi- four days. ence.

50 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Early one afternoon the word came down that we had to leave right away meaning we had to pack up immediately. This was quite a surprise and shock as this had come with no warning. Given the circumstances, we did what we were told and soon we were all loaded into a helicopter and transported back to base camp. After we arrived and settled in, Bill Buck told us why we had to leave so suddenly. Apparently one of the blades on the helicopter was cracked and, although they had mended it with epoxy glue, it was unclear how long that would last. Wow, what a surprise! Events at Base Camp Back at base camp collecting fungi was good, yielding an unusual species, Entonaema pallida, in the Xylariaceae. These appear on large dead woody trunks as rounded balls filled with gelatinous material but having a whitish surface in which Figure 9 black perithecia are immersed (Figure Paul Spangler and Mike Nee holding a bromeliad in the genus Brocchinia cut 10, next page). down to make the “heliport”

The weeks at base camp provided almost invisible, and thus they must the opportunity to see how other be found by their call made only scientists did their work. The at night. Given their shy nature, Get a Stack of ornithologists were dedicated to one must sit quietly until the frogs their mist nets, checking them often thought you were not there and Magazines for for unusual birds (see color photos, started calling. Then with his musical p. 53). The herpetologists worked training, Rex Cocroft responded Cheap! day and night to sample the caiman appropriately until the small frogs Is your club running a in the river and snakes wherever they were found. public event? Mushroom the were found. One major incident in base camp Journal will send you a box Although we were expected to was the overnight loss of Adele collect other scientists’ organisms, Conover. Personally we thought she of magazines to give out, when a snake came toward Amy was a goner, but no, Adele lived to tell for $2.00 apiece. one afternoon, she did not respond her story and can even laugh about it appropriately. We had been instructed now. Adele was recording bird songs Contact: to grab the snake behind its head and when she stepped off the narrow, leon@mushroomthejournal. whip it between our legs. Being in recently made-with-machete path com base camp, she simply yelled for and could not find her way back. Mushroom the Journal a herpetologist to come quickly. In general, the Amazon jungle 1006 E 62nd St, Unit C Collecting frogs required great appears completely homogeneous Chicago, IL 60637 patience because they are very small, and it is easy to get lost because

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 51 everywhere looks alike. As evening approached in camp, word went out that Adele was not back – yikes, this was serious. A few folks went out looking that evening but mostly there was nothing to do until daylight the next morning. Then we formed search lines so as not to lose anyone else and combed the area near camp with the understanding that a gunshot would signal that she was found.

After about three hours, a shot Figure 10 was heard – she had been located. The Entonaema pallida. The black, gelatinous interior and black perithecia embedded workers walked through the jungle in the outer surface are most visible in the specimen to the right. hooting and Adele, surprisingly, realized that she had to hoot back in order to be Back in the big city of Caracas we at least one species of Sphagnum is heard. She had spent the night huddled had some of the best food we had known only from tepuis (W. Buck, on a log waiting, terrified by the night ever tasted. Incidentally, no one at her pers. comm.). sounds. To save her voice she had home base ever asked where Amy had In Conclusion cleverly recorded herself yelling for help been all those extra weeks. using the same tape recorder she used for This trip was a biologists’ paradise Our Findings bird calls. What a relief! After that we because the landscape and vegetation carried a compass so at least we could During our six weeks in Venezuela are totally undisturbed representing walk in a straight line. we collected about 1200 fungal nature as it has evolved on its own. specimens. Amy collected primarily In addition to collecting amazing Return to Civilization hypocrealean and xylariaceous fungi, we could appreciate how Although Amy’s government work microfungi as well as discomycetes, other organismal biologists sample papers said she should return some while Roy concentrated on macrofungi their specimens – some with great weeks before, she stayed at Neblina as including mushrooms and polypores. effort and patience, and others long as possible. But eventually everyone We tried to collect all the fungi we with danger such as floating in the had to leave. saw. These were sent to mycologists stream observing and then grabbing throughout the world and are still caiman or electric eels. In 1999 some As with the trip out, there was a being described, most recently a explorers climbed Pico da Neblina divergence of route. This time, Roy spent Xylaria by Jack Rogers and colleagues looking for carnivorous plants, but the night at Cocui, along with Dave (Ju, YM, JD Rogers, HM Hsieh. otherwise no sceientists seem to Willard, Alfredo Paolillo, and some 2018. “Xylaria species associated with have returned to Cerro de la Neblina. others, then went by outboard powered fallen fruit and seeds”. Mycologia 110: Although rumors exist that is dugout to San Carlos. 726–749). to be found there, hopefully this Amy returned “directly” to San Many additional new species will never happen and its precious Carlos. But this part of the world had of fungi have been described from biological diversity will be preserved not been mapped and the pilots did Neblina in the thirty years since forever. not seem to know where they were in we were there. But, were the fungi Acknowledgements: Many the vast Amazon basin flat with few unique to Neblina or the tepuis? For thanks to Bill Buck, New York landmarks. At one point they looked at at least one species of macrofungus, Botanical Garden, for his helpful the empty map, then looked back at us Xeromphalina nubium, this may be the comments and to Carolyn Peterson, as if to say did any of us know the way? case as this species is known from two Corvallis, Oregon, for scanning the We shrugged, having no idea. Eventually tepuis. In microfungi it is difficult to original Kodachrome slides. we found the Río Negro and flew upriver determine if they are endemic to back to San Carlos, then to a military Neblina because microfungi are so base at Maracay and finally Caracas. poorly collected. However, in mosses

52 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Cora pavonia, a Stereum-like lichenized (basidiomycetes) fungus

The river in which baths were taken

Accommodations at Neblina: would you rather bathe in the river along with the electric eels and anacondas, or in the log showers with the red buckets as a water supply?

Dave Willard with oilbird

53 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Winter-Spring 2011, Mushroom the Journal 53 Fungal colors

Fungal photography by Walt Sturgeon

Walt Sturgeon, eminent mycologist and former president of the Ohio Mushroom Society, has shared some of his photos with us.

Top left: Cortinarius iodes Right: Hygrocybe cuspidata Below: Russula parvovirescens

continued on pp. 56-7

54

54 Spring-SummerWinter-Spring 2011, 2018, Mushroom Mushroom the the Journal Journal Mushroom stationery and playing cards from Mushroom the Journal!

Each package of stationery contains seven designs drawn from the Stationery: ___ x $4.50 = ______watercolors of Mrs. T. J. Hussey’s Illustrations of British Mycolog y (1855). The bolete, and Russula images at the top shown at actual Cards: ___ x $5.50 = ______size; the other four are ca. half-size. Each sheet is 5½ x 8½” (half the size of a regular sheet of paper). Envelopes are not included, but Shipping & Handling: $2.00_ if you’re like me you have plenty from other stationery. Printed by Total: ______Mushroom the Journal. The playing cards, from the Heritage Playing Card Company, Send payment to: Mushroom the Journal are a full deck suitable for actual play, with a different watercolor 1006 E 62nd St, Unit C mushroom on each card. Again, the parasol is illustrated almost at Chicago, IL 60637 full size, and the two below as miniatures. 56 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Opposite page, top: Flammulina velutipes

Opposite page, bot- tom: alboater (the black velvet bolete)

Above: Hydnellum caeruleum

Left: Russula ochro- leucoides

(continued from p. 54)

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 57 Mushrooms and Microhabitats

by Jack Waytz

Slide 1: Jack’s initial impression of Washington state

This talk is about discovering The first slide is what I first saw was foraging for, would enable me to engrammatic1 and habitual markers for when I saw when I first arrived in develop a framework so that I could specific habitats for the mushrooms western Washington from – it find my own spots for chanterelles you look for. The examples are taken just was striking how big the country and other mushrooms. from mushrooms in my area, which was. Everyone asks “Where do you When I first got to western is northwest Washington – and will find chanterelles?” and then you Washington from Texas, we moved also include both sides of the north step out into the forest and see this to a place outside of Bellingham Cascades spine and some shots of just miles and miles of expanse. So proper, a little into the foothills. morels from the Leeward Islands. But it dawned on me very early that the There was forest all around, and you should be able to apply the basic devil would be in the details – that we saw interesting mushrooms principles throughout the temperate as many markers that I could learn everywhere we looked. One day, . about for a specific mushroom that I walking my dogs up the Galbraith

1 An engram is a characteristic of defining feature or component of a specific memory. For example, the smell of traditional foods cooking could be engrammatic for one’s memory of home.

58 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Mountain right outside my door, I discovered a four-inch piece of wood that was about two inches wide and one inch thick, and on this piece of wood was growing a fascinating -colored slime mold. I took a couple of pictures of it and called Buck McAdoo – who was my mentor for learning about the mushrooms of the northwest – and he came by and identified the mushroom and photographed it. And how does this pertain to my talk? Well, I scoured the entire Galbraith Mountain looking for another piece of wood that would have this mushroom on it and this was 2003 and I’ve never seen it before or since… and there are lots of pieces of wood that look exactly like it! So there were some specific habitat markers that were hidden to me (and still are!). Today I’m trying to share my template for organizing my mental framework of habitat markers for each of the mushrooms that I forage for. Sometimes it works, and sometimes things remain a mystery. The second slide (see color photos, p. 61) is a shot, as you can see, of somebody’s back yard – of five beefy Boletus edulis var. grandedulis. These were almost a pound and a half apiece, and they were growing in a habitat that as far as I knew was not associated with or conducive to Boletus edulis at all. This was just in somebody’s grass lawn and the only trees in the yard were a couple of paper . What the mycorrhizal partner might have been has remained a mystery to me. I stop by this yard in Mount Vernon, WA every year since, and have never seen this mushroom again. The next several slides cover the habitat on the San Juan Islands out here in northwest Washington. In the spring there is a fruiting of a particular blond morel which naturally captivates all of us. There’s also a picture of this dainty little calypso orchid (again, see color photos p. 61), and this is a habitat marker for these morel mushrooms. These morels are mycorrhizal with the older Pacific madrone ( menziesii), and those trees are in the range of 75 to 100 years old. The oldest trees are where the morels mostly grow, and as you can see from some of the shots they grow right out of the rocky outcroppings, and just growing out of the Arbutus duff. There’s one shot standing right near that tree. It’s about 20 feet around, that tree. It’s huge! It’s probably at least 150 years old.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 59 Top: Leccinum arctostaphylos, growing with kinnikinnick. Below: Amanita muscaria, growing with european .

60 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Top left: Boletus edulis var. grandedulis, growing in a suburban lawn. Top right: A variety of Boletus edulis, usually found at high eleva- tions, here growing much lower on Mount Baker due to landsclide displacement. Above left: Calypso bulbosa (Calypso orchid) and a troupe of Cla- variadelphus truncatus Above right: A white Boletus barrowsii lookalike Right: formosus, in its favorite flat-leafed Below: Cantharellus cascadensis, on the Galbraith mountain

All photos by Jack Waytz except for the Calypso orchid, which is by Jeremy D. Wade.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 61 The other engrammatic mark for with certain types of burned wood, the habitat of these morels is that and there’s some disagreement even they were all, without exception, on among the experts as to how this southwest-facing slopes, so wherever works. Another important note the land was conducive to them, we about the burn morel habitat is that could have ignored all the rest of the generally speaking only the first year markers in favor of the southwest- after a burn will produce the morels. facing slopes. There are some exceptions to that, This is one of the points of the especially if there’s a really poor first talk: the major factor in virtually year for the burn morels. all of these habitats is weather: There are two factors that they temperature, precipitation, ambient need in the habitat in order to have and so forth… weather these really audacious fruitings. is one of the chief concerns in Number one: soil temperature the microhabitats of each of these contrast. The soil temperature has mushrooms. to come up drastically after the snow The next three slides are pictures melts on some of these areas. And the that I myself took in the Sears Creek other factor is moisture. The more fire from 2012 and the spring of rainfall that hits these areas in the 2013 of three different species of early spring, the more extravagant burn morels. the fruitings will be. In years where there isn’t enough of a contrast in This was a really fascinating habitat the temperature – in other words, if to forage in. There are times that you cold temperatures prevail late into actually have to collect horizontally, the spring – or there’s no moisture because if you’re vertically walking up to accompany the snow melt – a lot a draw, you’re stomping on all these of times what’ll happen is the winds mushrooms – there’s literally a carpet of morel mushrooms. And this is the most fascinating habitat, because apparently the morels are primary fixers after these fires – they start to normalize the pH within the soil of these places and get them ready for the return of plant life. Another interesting factor to note is that although these morels grow in forests that are known to have “natural” morels2 growing in them, DNA sequencing has recently revealed that none of the burn morels are the same species as that “natural” morels that occur in the same area. And that opens up a variety of questions about microhabitat of the burnt forest. I’ve further observed certain types of morels growing specifically

2Natural morels are the ones that come up pretty much each year in the same spot, rainfall permitting (like regular mushrooms), as opposed to the burn morels which fruit only when there’s a forest fire (and then they fruit massively).

62 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal will take away the snow, and it’ll Leccinum is mycorrhizal with this plant, evaporate quickly, robbing the area of which is exceedingly unusual – usually a lot of moisture, and then the morel Leccinums are associated with trees. Because fruitings will be very poor. If there’s of this association, this mushroom is a year like this, there is sometimes otherwise only known from Alaska. So it’s a secondary fruiting the second quite a notable mycological experience to year after a burn, and you can look find it by a concrete airstrip in Washington. for them there; but they’re never as It’s the only sighting of this mushroom in dense as the first year fruiting when the 48 contiguous states. conditions are correct. The trick is that the airstrip is loaded The next two slides… the first slide with kinnikinnick for about 50-75 yards is a club fungus called Clavariadelphus on either side of it as ground cover. This truncatus (see color photos, p. 61). This and beefy white . In my Leccinum is quite common in Alaska with is on a particularly interesting part opinion, for the kitchen this is the kinnikinnick, and this airstrip has had of the north Cascades spine. The very best of the group – at least for big fruitings of it, along with several next slide is multiplex, the the Washington chanterelles. other mycorrhizal mushrooms – it’s We find these on the west side a very interesting site. Because of the of the Cascades, but they’re much kinnikinnick, it has many mushrooms rarer than on the eastern side. The found nowhere else in the state. habitat is more conducive on the The slide is of a mushroom that we were east side and the fruiting bodies in thinking was going to be new to science, general are much bigger – I’ve found but has since been determined to be a form a couple up to three pounds. These of Amanita constricta. It’s extremely rare, but are mycorrhizal with pacific silver not a new species as we had thought. It’s fir and ponderosa pine –both trees only found out here in one little area that in the area – and they share a habitat I’ve ever discovered, in the lowland forests with white mushrooms. of western Washington. It’s associated You generally find them growing with old-growth forest, rather than older “blue chanterelle.” These are both adjacent to one another in this second-growth – which explains its rarity mycorrhizal with , and there particular habitat. as most of the old-growth forest has not are two kinds of spruce that grow Another important factor in all of survived to 2019, sadly. in Washington – the coastal range these habitats is elevation: these are Its shape and coloration make it very grows Sitka spruce, which is the same mountain mushrooms on the east distinctive, although it’s just an example one that’s seen in Alaska, and this side of Washington, generally found of a different morphology from the usual one is Engelmann spruce, which is at about 3500-5000 feet. They’re Amanita constrica. very limited to this area of the north found growing in the duff, and their Cascades spine. It’s right at the apex growth patterns are different from of most of these mountains. This the golden chanterelles of our area: photo was taken near Washington they push up from underneath the Pass, which is the highest pass in ground, so they’re generally covered Washington state. with dirt, similar to the growth habit These two mushrooms are of Russula brevipes. mycorrhizal with the spruce, and The next slide (top half of p. 60) they are found nowhere else in the is that orange Leccinum. This is one western part of Washington, so of the more strange and fascinating the habitat marker is of course the habitats that I’ve found over the years. Engelmann spruce. This is Leccinum arctostaphylos and that The next slide is a picture of plant you see in the foreground is Cantharellus subalbidus, the very tasty Arctostaphylos, or kinnikinnick. This

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 63 This (top right, p. 61) is another not yet been described by science. It Jumping tracks a little from the very fascinating habitat. It is on the grows mycorrhizally with the pacific alpine, this slide (bottom half of southeast face of Mt. Baker. It is the silver fir, so there’s nothing different p. 60) is in an urban setting – the site of the last big lahar3 eruption, about that from the regular Boletus Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle, about 6500 years ago. edulis but it is definitely a different Washington. As you can see, there’s a A lot of the material that was on mushroom. It is now being sequenced rather boisterous fruiting of Amanita the mountain was brought down the by David Arora to determine where muscaria. This is in the cultivated area mountainside. Among the things that it belongs. on the side of a major road, and the survived this lahar were some seeds This one doesn’t occur every tree is an English beech tree. I’ve of silver pacific fir, which managed year – again, the microhabitat is found a bunch of different Amanita to germinate at about 3500 feet below very weather-driven: it needs a lot of mushrooms at different times under their normal elevation. Generations moisture at the point where there’s these trees, and as you can see of these went by and there was still a lot of ambient sun. This one it’s a forest-like microhabitat right ongoing volcanic activity. Many comes out only at this one particular there, against that beech tree. No of the silver firs didn’t survive but spot if there’s a lot of rainfall in the matter what the larger setting is, I’ve there were always a few that did, second half of August. It’ll come out found that mycorrhizal partners can and eventually these pacific silver in September, if there isn’t a frost and come up around their favorite trees firs took hold and some of them the rainy conditions persist. Some virtually anywhere that the tree is. grew old. boletes are a bit resistant to frost; The ground, the exposure to the sun, and of course the mycorrhizal This variation of Boletus edulis but this one, as soon as you see frost, you’ve seen the last of that group. partner – the beech tree – all play a only officially occurs at 5000 feet, role in this habitat. but here we are at 1200 feet and here are these mushrooms and a lot of the associated botany from the alpine zone here in this place right near Sulphur Creek. It isn’t found this low anywhere on the mountain except this specific spot. You’ve got a whole microcosm of that alpine setting here, fitting together perfectly, about 3500 feet below its normal elevation. It’s a fascinating site. The next slide (underneath the previous one, on p. 61) is not overexposed; it’s a shockingly snow- white bolete. We originally called this one Boletus barrowsii – with the of “white king” and you can see why – but the problem with that identification is that this is well up the Scott Paul trail on the northwest face of Mount Baker, at at least 4500 feet. But all the Boletus barrowsii out here occur at or about sea level, so there’s a suspicion that this mushroom is a species that has

3Lahar is a volcano-triggered mudslide. They often happen when volcanoes melt existing snow or glacial ice, or when the tremors of volcanic activity shake a layer of mud off the mountainside.

64 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Jumping around a little bit, here but they are very seldom found on Next slide is also found on the is another morel. The common the east side of the crest. And again, Galbraith mountain, but in years name of morels that fruit like this is attributable to a microhabitat. where the weather is a bit different. this is “landscape morels.” Their There is a specific type of moss – a You have a good kickoff of soaking relationship with ground disturbance flat-leafed moss that is pictured with rains in September or even October can’t be overstated. The following this group of chanterelles – which and then it gets dry again, a lot of spring – and only the following (although they’re not associated with times the spring, similar to burn morels – you the mushrooms in a mycorrhizal will get a green mold on them. But get these boisterous fruitings of relationship) the ground cover seems the upside is that this mushroom, morels, and then you won’t see them to have a big role in these fruitings, Cantharellus cascadensis, is often again. though the mushrooms themselves found in those same dry periods. There are two species of landscape are mycorrhizal with . It’s a very unusual configuration morels in the United States: the one It can be found at many different of weather for out here – usually in the south is Morchella rufobrunnea; elevations, but the habitat is always once the rains come in September and this one, in the north, is Morchella around secondary-growth Douglas fir or October it stays wet through importuna. trees – even more than old-growth, November; but if it’s dry for two which is interesting. The wheelhouse weeks or so, there’s a possibility this These were unusually large – mushroom will turn up. about eight inches long. They were age for the Douglas fir trees would found in someone’s backyard where be between 60 and 80 years, so late And again, the main microhabitat they had dredged out a rain garden4 secondary growth; the forest floor marker for this mushroom is a little and put new soil in and topped it off is relatively free from a lot of plants, bit of a dry period, so it’s weather- with wood chips. although Oregon grapes are often driven once again. featured with them and sword ferns What’s notable if you’re as well; and of course this particular foraging for the table is that this is kind of moss. the quintessential sheep in wolf’s clothing: although they sure look delicious, they’re virtually flavorless. Unless you’re a master with seasonings this is a big disappointment once it hits the table. But it is a pretty interesting mushroom.This is an unknown Mycena which is just growing out of a pile of twigs that was left there by birds. The mushrooms are very opportunistic and they’ll make a habitat out of what seems to be nothing on the forest floor, as evidenced by this group: they seem to be quite happy with that little microhabitat. The next slide is the classic golden chanterelle for NW Washington, Cantharellus formosus. This is the predominant chanterelle found on the western side of the cascades,

4A rain garden is a planting designed to catch rainwater runoff, especially runoff that has been increased by manmade impervious surfaces like roads and sidewalks. Rain gardens are often sunken somewhat to aid in water capture.

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 65 Toxic Substances in the Fly Agaric What About Organometallic Compounds?

by Beowulf Glutzenbaum

I read with interest the article by of rubidium (Rb), (Se), dry matter, a concentration close to that Kevin Feeney and Tjakko Stijve on chlorine (Cl), (Cd) and of ! the possible contribution of minor even of zirconium (Zr). If the Even more puzzling is the fly agaric’s concentrations in cases levels of chlorine, rubidium and affinity for zirconium (Petrini et al., of fly agaric poisoning (Mushroom the selenium are relatively harmless, a 2009). So far, no biological role for Journal, issue 106, pp 32 – 36). It has toxicologist would frown upon the this metal has been discovered. Most now generally been accepted that the other metals present at unusually land plants do not even have detectable principal toxic compounds in Amanita high concentrations. muscaria are the isoxazole derivatives amounts of zirconium, and those that Cadmium is a well-known chronic ibotenic acid and . To some do have as little as 0.005 mg/kg. Many toxicant that is stored in the kidneys, extent, muscarine could play a role in mushrooms have 5 – 10 times more, but there are many edible mushrooms, the poisonings, but what is puzzling and according to the fingerprint a 2000 such as boletes and Agaricus species me is that, in this context, other times higher concentration was found containing much more. ingredients are never mentioned. in the fly agaric. Indeed, the results of The outliers and my own analyses for Zr in European Indeed, if we confine ourselves zirconium are far more disturbing. material fluctuate between 10 and 70 to the chemical elements reported The chemical form in which mg/kg dry weight. The chemical form in this beautiful mushroom, we have vanadium is stored in the fly agaric of this tetravalent metal in the fly agaric already quite a field of investigation. is an eight-coordinate complex is still unknown, but it is not unthinkable The colorful fingerprint after Cocchi, called amavadine, which was first that Zr forms a complex similar to the Vescovi and Petrini (2006) presented isolated and identified by Kneifel and above-mentioned amavadine. here shows that the fly agaric is loaded Bayer (1972). Amavadine was soon with at least 8 chemical elements of Come to think of it, according to recognised as a vanadium compound which several are far from harmless. our chemistry books, zirconium is having unusual chemical properties. For a better comprehension of this always accompanied by small amounts For example, it was applied as a fingerprint, it should be borne in of hafnium, another tetravalent metal, highly efficient catalyst in organic mind that the zero line represents the but much more rare. A literature search syntheses. In the last 40 years it has median value of the elements as found revealed that the Czech scientist Randa been so thoroughly studied that, in non-accumulating mushrooms. For (2002) found 0,052 – 0,31 mg/kg when googling for amavadine, you’ll example, the median concentration dw in fly agarics. Considering the find about 8000 results! of the metal vanadium (V) in a non- rarity of hafnium, this concentration accumulating species is about 0.10 The biological role of this range is really enormous. Consequently, mg/kg on dry matter. The fingerprint compound is still unknown, but it Amanita muscaria could well contain the indicates that the fly agaric contains has been suggested that it serves amavadine analogues amazirconine and 2000 times more, i.e. 2000 x 0,10 = as a for the protection of the amahafnine. Whether these compounds about 200 mg/kg! mushroom (Garner et al.; 2000). would induce copious vomiting remains Although its mammalian toxicity has open to question. Although it has Besides vanadium, the fly agaric not yet been investigated, the amount repeatedly been stated that consuming contains considerable amounts present may be as high as 0.15 % on fly agarics is rather harmless (Rubel

66 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal The elemental “fingerprint” taken from Cocchi, Vescovi and Petrini (2006). Since the key is illegible at this scale, your editor has enlarged the symbols of the ele- ments of interest. and Arora, 2008), the average in mushrooms: their potential consumer’s stomach may not be equal taxonomic significance”. Mycological to the amounts of organometallics Progress. Published online: 10 March ingested! 2009. DOI 10.1007/s11557-009- 0589-1

Beowulf Glutzenbaum is a sometime Garner, C.D.; Armstrong, pen name of Tjakko Stijve. E.M.; , R.E.; Beddoes, R.L.; Collison,D.;Cooney, J.J.A.; Ertok, References S.N.; Helliwell, M. “Investigations Cocchi, L., Vescovi, L. & Petrini, of Amavadin”. Journal of Inorganic O. “Il « fungo di referimento » : Biochemistry. 80 (1-2): 17-20 (2000) un nuovo strumento nella ricerca Randa, Z. “Multi-elements in micologia”. Pagine di Micologia. Nov. 120 samples of 28 mushrooms”. 2006, N° 25 : 51 – 66 Mycologiký Sbornik LXXIX (3 – 4): Kneifel, R and Bayer, E. “Isolation 115 – 124 (2002) of Amavadine, a vanadiumcomplex Rubel, W. and Arora, D. “A occurring in Amanita muscaria”. Study of Cultural Bias in Field Zeitschrift für Naturforschung 27B, 207- Guide Determinations of Mushroom 208 (1972) Edibility Using the Iconic Mushroom, Petrini, O.; Cocchi, L.; Vescovi, Amanita muscaria, as an Example”. L. and Petrini, L. “Chemical elements Economic Botany 62(3): 223 – 243 (2008)

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 67 An Unusual Poison Control Call

by Bill Bakaitis

Well, there are two unusual an easily accessible embarrassment He would not give me his real name, factors here: First, it wasn’t exactly of riches. Anyone, it seems, with a but we spoke for a half hour or so. a call from the Poison Control scintilla of interest in searching out Filtered from the wandering and Network but instead one of those an ID from field characteristics can evasive narrative, this is what I calls self-reported from someone do a quite god job with a few well- believe was the actual chronology who suspected a self-induced toxic placed clicks of the mouse. of his crisis: ingestion; and who (second factor) Which brings us to the second following ingestion found my name Sometime earlier in the year, factor, the case here in point. online and called for help at five in perhaps in May, he had picked a large the morning. It was towards the end of June, number of mushrooms he thought a few days past the new moon. The were Panaeolus subbalteatus from dung Take the first factor first: For a tides in Maine where I summer were and old hay in his horse pasture. variety of reasons calls previously running twelve feet or more. Shrimp I think he obtained his ID from received from Hospitals and Doctors and silversides were flushing in and internet sources. He described drying –Veterinary Medicine excepted – out of the salt ponds and estuaries, the mushrooms well, picking out all have tapered off to nearly zero. Info drawing with them large schools of of the debris (manure?) and storing from friends and contacts within the gamefish, conditions which kept me them in clean, moisture free packs, medical community suggest that a on the water until well past midnight. perhaps in the fridge or freezer, a prime reason for this has to do with I didn’t bed down ‘till after three. process he learned from an online HIPPA confidentiality standards website. He was keeping them for a Waking at nine or so, I checked which are now widely applied in a special event. fairly narrow fashion. This often my cell phone and listened to the leads to a hesitancy to call in a barely coherent message…. “Poison That event appeared to come on th volunteer consultant, particularly if Control…Mushroom… help…” was June 26 when he made and drank a an in-house professional is available. what I thought I could decipher. I tea prepared from a half cup of dried Add to this the dictum that one treats called back and received an even more mushrooms and ‘dust’. He said there the symptoms, not the mushroom, incoherent and garbled response. was some aspect of light from fireflies along with the easy availability of Nothing made any sense. The static which he wished to investigate, diagnostic and treatment protocol and quality of the audio convinced something about the light at night available online, and the hesitancy me this was the result of a bad when there was no moon. The way to call in a mycological consultant connection, so I pleaded with the he described the event seemed to becomes even more pronounced. garble to call me back. Twice. Three suggest that he might be a visual times. Finally an ‘OK’. artist. It turned out he drank the tea Within this context, there are about the same time I was turning An hour and half later the call also widely available online resources in – a little after three in the morning. came in and I spoke with a relatively – chat rooms, web sites, credible I asked him if the mushroom tea coherent “James” who was calling images and fine grained search worked and he stated emphatically from a field behind his house where engines, all of which result in what that it did, although the effect was amounts to a buyer’s market with the reception seemed to be better.

68 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal “subtle”. Unfortunately it also gave sure bet that he would not be arrested Set of the drug taker, and (social) him a terrible stomachache and he and that public/institutional funds Setting of the experience, with the wondered if he had made a mistake are usually available to help those drugs themselves usually magnifying and somehow poisoned himself. without health insurance. I braced elements already in play. In this case Even though he was high he myself for what I thought might be a social isolation, unexpected physical clearly was able to go to his computer, long, calm, and rational reiteration of symptoms, and fear of an incorrect search the web and come up with a prudent medical course of action. identification of a collection of dung- my telephone number, presumably Judging from his tone of voice inhabiting fungi were what was on from the NAMA website or a similar and the fact that he seemed to be his mind and took control of the one. My cell phone recorded the acting alone, one could easily assume experience he sought. call as coming in at 5:24 am, the him to be an impoverished young I recalled the advice of Tim Leary, timing of which indicates that both artist/ college student living alone psychedelic godfather of the ‘60s. the visual and the somatic effects in a rural location, or a teen- age/ Raised Catholic, he framed the drug (stomachache) happened within the young adult still living with parents. experience as religious, the drug as first hour – during which his cognitive In either case his plight was easy to a ‘holy sacrament’ and accordingly functioning nevertheless allowed for identify with. proscribed rituals necessary for a a logical computer search. Rather than pressing him into good trip, most importantly entering He asked for advice as to his a more strenuous defense of the the experience in a state of grace medical condition. I told him that all advice previously suggested, I offered having first made both a good we could do was attempt to ID the instead a moment of telephonic confession and act of contrition mushrooms from a photo, habitat silence. Supportive understandings, appropriate to the sins involved. Not information, symptoms, and things Hmm’s and deep breaths followed, bad advice, it seems, even for secular like that. He persisted in wanting to and then in a sudden reversal of his atheists. know if he had made a mistake and previous refusals, he thanked me The more pointed lesson poisoned himself. The fact that I and said he would seek (unspecified) however might be, “those who knew nothing about the mushroom medical advice if he did not feel live by the internet, may well die he thought he had collected and better by the late afternoon. I asked by the internet”, suggesting that ingested caused him great anxiety. I him to call back if there was any those sweet baby Jameses among explained that toxic gastric effects are change in his symptoms or condition. us might just as well ‘fess up to that usually self-limiting, that the more He said he would. sobering fact before concocting some serious/deadly effects of , Was his sudden change insightful experimental version of tea gleaned which might be present in a few self-revelation, fear driven rigid from a website and served up at three non-descript little brown mushrooms refusal, or a calculated cost-benefit in the morning. (which are sometimes mistaken for rational decision? Dunno. My contact information may be the psychoactive ones) take days posted, and the emergency room to fully manifest. I told him that He never called back, which is not that unusual; but it did leave may be open 24/7, but as for me, Amanita did not grow on dung and/ when I hit the hay, my phone gets or hay, and suggested that if he was me wondering as to his physical, social, and mental conditions, and turned off, the better to keep my concerned about the conditions he own demons snug in their dream was experiencing, he should see his of the effects of the mushrooms consumed which themselves seemed states where they belong. At three in doctor or go to the emergency room the morning dreams have a way of of a hospital. to contribute to the volatility punctuating his life that night-into- becoming nightmares. So, mix your He fought that suggestion, morning. with the coconut, drink ‘em all implying he had no doctor or medical up, but call me in the morning. insurance, and that he was afraid of The take-away which fell into being arrested. At this point he grew my lap was a reflection of the advice quite agitated. He was unaccepting from the psychedelic drug-taking of the usual set of suggestions and ‘60’s: That the general effect of such reassurances that it was pretty much a drugs are framed by the (mental)

Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal 69 Solution to last issue’s crossword puzzle

The squares along the path, except for the initial X and the final Y, spell out YOU’RE STRANGE, SIR. The shaded squares not on the path spell out TWO ANSWERS CROSSING IT; the answers crossing the final Y square are OH BOY and GROOVY.

70 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Rytas Vilgalys, doing something he does even better than fungal genetics research. The photographer, Francis Mar- tin says that they were “collecting porcini in the Donon forest in the Vosges range, NE France. There was a profu- sion of mushrooms on this day of October 2017.” I don’t know about you, but this is how I want to look if I ever get to collect mushrooms in the Donon forest.

For the interview with Rytas, see p. 38.

71 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal Winter-Spring 2011, Mushroom the Journal 71 Hot ant sauce in Venezuela, Figure 3 from “Collecting fungi in the Amazonian Cerro de la Neblina,” p. 46.

The genus Nebilinaria is named after its location: the Cerro de la Neblina. See article p. 46.

72 Spring-Summer 2018, Mushroom the Journal