BULLETIN OF THE PUGET SOUND MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY Monroe Center, 1810 N.W. 65th St., Seattle, WA 98117

March 1986 Number 220

BRZ L IKY S HOUBAMI Marie Rosicky [Bohemian-American Cook Book, 1925)

Soak sweetbreads in salted tepid water one hour, then boil them two minutes, and then put them into cold water. Trim and interlard with bacon. Blend butter and flour until a light brown, thin with beef or chicken soup. When smooth, add a wineglass of wine, put the sweetbreads in the sauce and stew. When about done, add mushrooms that have been stewed in wine, and when all has simmered together two or three minutes, arrange the sweetbreads in a dish, pour the gravy over them and garnish with the mushrooms.

AR MI LLARIA ME L LEA The Spore Print [Los Angeles Mycological Society, October, 1985T

Mycologists have recently discovered that what mush­ roomers have long called the Honey Mushroom, Armil- 1 aria mellea, is actually ten different biological 22nd ANNU AL SURV IVORS' BANQUET Brian Re ad species in North America and five different species in Europe! (Biological species cannot interbreed.) Final preparations are under way for the 22nd Annual In interbreeding experiments, three fertile pairings Survivors' Banquet. This year's banquet is at were found between American and European species, Quinn's at Shilshole on Friday, March 14th. Festivi­ while one European species would not interbreed with ties will commence at 6:30 p.m. with the president's any American species. At this point, there were a reception. Dinner will be at 7: 30 p.m. possible 12 species total between the two continents.

So far, ticket sales have lagged behind previous But then came the fly in the ointment. The remaining years. I hope that many more of you will be able to European species interbred with two different Ameri­ attend this traditional Society event, which combines can species (though, by definition, they would not the March meeting with an excellent meal and an interbreed with one another). So how many species of enjoyable social evening. Tickets will be available Honey Mushroom are there?? until March 11th by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope and a check for $16.00 per ticket to

Brian Read 12827 1st Ave. N.E. MUS HRO OM TOUR OF SOUT HEAST AS IA Seattle, WA 98125

A mushroom study tour of Thailand, tv1alaysian Borneo, Entertainment for the evening will be by the local Singapore, and Burma is being organized by Gary blue grass group "Sage Grass." Other events of note Lincoff, President of the North American Mycological will be the election results and introduction of the Association, Andrew Weil, M.D., of the University of new Officers and Trustees. Arizona, and Emanuel Salzman, M.D., Telluride Mush­ room Conference. The tour begins on September 29, Come on down, and experience first hand a fun evening 1986, and lasts 19 days . (The 8 day segment of the with fellow members. tour to Burma is an optional extension.) For infor­ mation, write or phone Dr. Emanuel Salzman, c/o Fungophile, P.O. Box 5503, Denver, CO 80217 (Telephone 303 296-9359)

We lcome to the following new membe rs:

Judy Gustafson 522-3862 Noel Howes 784-5008 Stephen Lori & Linda Leeward 783-2877 Thomas Mcinerney 632-3670 Ruby Miller 382-1985 Mary Patterson 367-6212 Michael Sheridan and Candy Meyer 441-6791 PRESIDENT' S MES SAGE Margaret Dilly

As I sit down to compose a message this month, 1 do. so with some pondermen t. These last two years have zipped by very rapidly, and now it's time to hand the presidency over to someone else. It has been a real learning experience for me and mostly pleasurable. Serving with an idea oriented Board has been chal­ lenging and rewarding.

The workings of the Society require a great deal of time and dedication from Board members, committee heads, and news editors. I am grateful that those I served with were enthusiastic and willing workers. They all deserve a great deal of praise. However, I would like to single out one person who seldom receives recognition, but holds probably the most important position in our club. That is our trea­ surer, Ferris Anderson. He is quiet and unassuming but always available. Keeping the checks and bal­ ances of our complex organization with its many com­ mittees is no easy task, but he operates with the efficiency of a bank manager (which he is) . Aside from his four years service in this capacity, he also is very visible on meeting nights, helping with the mechanics of setting up and taking down. A frequent field trip participant, always willing to assist where needed, he is a great asset to the Society, and I take my hat off to him.

In closing, I would like to thank not only the Board but the membership for your support and cooperation in making this organization one we can all be proud of. Thank you all for the time, effort, and friend­ ship that have made it fun.

ED UCAT IONAL ACT IVIT IES Co leman Le uthy

Spring is nigh. Even the groundhogs say so. This is only the eighth time in ninety-nine years that groundhogs have predicted an early spring. They say they've never been wrong.

May I encourage members of the fall beginners' clas­ ses to join the learning field trip on March 29th and to attend our scheduled field trips this spring. Calendar The field is where you really learn mushrooms.

Members of the intermediate classes, take your keys 2/25/86 CEPS Meeting, Tacoma, 7:30 p.m. Call and help identify on field trips as well as helping Lori Knox (325-9758) or Margaret Dilly on the spring learning field trip for new members. (782-8511) for directions. Bring your collections to the membership meetings and help arrange our monthly mini-displays. Should a 3/1 4/86 Survivors' Banquet, Quinn's at Shilshole group of you also wish to gather a few evenings this (no membership meeting is held in March) spring in the library and key out new finds, we need an organizer and then we should be able to find Key 3/17/86 PSMS board meeting, 7: 30 p.m., Library Council members to help with keying.

3/26/86 �ad! ine for Spore Prints material To one and all, enjoy our northwestern spring.

3/29/86 Saturday, learning field trip to Mac­ Donald Park near Carnation BO OK SALES Judi Boa 4/5-6/86 Field trip to Steelhead County Park in Rockport The recently published A Field Guide to Southern Mushrooms may be ordered from us. Member's price is $15.00. This is the third book in Nancy Smith Weber The Boston Mycological Club reports that a gourmet and Alexander H Smith's "tall" series. It includes specialty shop in Belmont Centre is selling dried enough of our local mushrooms to make it a worthwhile chanterelles and morels at $160 per pound and addition to your library. We also sell the two boletes, which are separated into "procini" and earlier books, The Mushroom Hunters' --Field Guide --- and "cepes," at $160 and $180 per pound. � Field Guide to Western Mushrooms. page 2 LEA RNING FI ELD TRIP, MARDI 29th WH AT EA TS THE NE TTLES ? Dick Sieger

When you read this issue, the weather may not yet be Monte Hendrickson won't promise that you will find "right" for hunting mushrooms. But we try to sched­ Verpa bohemica on the Carnation field trip, but I ule this learning (one-day) field trip at the ear­ will promise that anyone can find Leptosphaeria liest date possible, so that you may enjoy a long acuta. L. acuta is a tiny fungus that snacks on spring mushroom season. OldStinging nettles. Just above the she! ter at MacDonald County Park is a rich damp field in which Rain or shine, mushrooms or no mushrooms, this first grows Urtica dioica, stinging nettle. Young nettles, field trip will be held. There is no potluck dinner a few inches high, will be growing at the base of for this event, but bring your lunch. last year's canes. If you look at the canes carefully, you will see some black pimples shaped Come to MacDonald Park on the Tait River in Carnation like chocolate kisses. These are the pseudothecia of on Saturday morning, March 29. This park is located L. acuta. The pseudothecia are hard black fruiting a half mile south of Carnation in King County. Enter bodies that contain numerous asci, the spore bearing the park via N.E. 40th Street from Highway #203 to structures of the class of fungi called Ascomycetes. get to the parking lot for the day-use area of the The asci are microscopic tubes with double walls, park. Cross the suspension bridge (over the Snoqual­ inside which are eight spores. When the fungus is mie River) to get to the shelter (which is on the mature, one ascus at a time pokes out of a hole west side of the river). (ostiole) in the tip of the pseudothecium. Once the ascus is in place, pressure from fluid inside causes Arrive by 9: 30 a.m. There will be a lecture by Monte the tip of the ascus to break, and spores explode Hendrickson on how to recognize cottonwood trees, out like bullets from a gun. It takes five seconds under -which the early- morels (Verpa bohemica) grow. for the eight spores to discharge. As each spore After the lecture, Monte will lead the hunt. Be sure leaves, the ascus shrinks a little, and when all the to bring rain gear, a basket, and wear sturdy foot­ spores are gone, it slumps down out of the ostiole wear. PSMS provides coffee and cookies. and another ascus takes its place.

I can't give you a recipe for Leptosphaeria acuta but you can cook what it eats. Wearing gloves, gather ROCK POR T FI ELD TR IP April 5 & 6, 1986 young leaves from the tips of the nettles. You don't want any of the stems. Nettle stems are so tough This is a regular spring field trip. You may camp in they have been used in rope making. Take only a few this beautiful campground located on the Skagit leaves from each plant so it can flourish. Put the River. There are full hookups, if desired, for the chopped leaves on a rack above boiling water. If you customary fee. On Saturday, there will be a potluck were lucky enough to find Verpa bohemica, chop them dinner in the shelter. Every party brings one dish up and put them in the water. Cover and steam the (hot dish, salad, or dessert) to feed the number of nettles for five minutes. Be sure they're limp and persons in their party. PSMS furnishes coffee. A bright green. Strain the water from the mushrooms, host will be at the shelter all day to welcome our and add them to the nettles along with butter, salt members, give them encouragement, send them out to and pepper. Stung by a nettle? Bite one back! collecting sites, keep them warm with coffee, and sustain them with cookies. New members should try to arrive by 9: 00 a.m. so they can be taken along by an experienced member. An expert identifier will iden­ ELECTION! ELECTION! ELECTION! tify your finds. This month's Spore Prints is coming to you one week There are two possible routes, both lined with cot­ early in order to present the candidates up for tonwoods, so you can look for Verpa bohemica on the election to PSMS offices in 1986. This year, we are way. Either take the Arlington exit #208 from 1-5 voting for a president, a treasurer, and five trus­ and drive through Darrington, or take the Burlington tees. Please read the following profiles carefully exit #230 to Rockport. Steelhead Park is on the and mark your choices on the enclosed ballots. Don't river bank. Bring your binoculars, because if we forget to return your ballot in the self-addressed are lucky we may see some bald eagles. enve lope.

CANDID ATES FO R ELEC TED OFFI CERS FO R PSMS 1 9 8 6

Election Information: Each family membership is entitled to two votes; each individual membership is entitled to one vote (PSMS Bylaws, Article IV, Section 3).

Fo r President I joined PSMS in 1981 and con­ Fo r President Educational chairman of PSMS, currently began the (for me) member of NAMA and the Pacific slow but endlessly enjoyable Northwest Key Council. B.S. examination of the fungi of our from the U.W. in Botany under state. I feel this is a ter­ Dr. Stunz, with graduate stud­ rific avocation and that PSMS ies in Mycology at the U.W.- and makes it all possible. I will the University of Michigan un­ continue to try to make a con­ der A.H. Smith, Public school tribution to our Society as teacher of biology and chemis­ long as my fascination contin­ try for 28 years. Retired in ues for the hills, the out-of­ '85. Taught mushroom and wild­ doors, and the mushrooms and flower classes since the early other flora of the Northwest. '60's. I will emphasize educa­ Gilbert F. Austin Coleman Le uthy tion and leadership. page 3 For Treasurer A member of PSMS since 181. For Tr ustee A PSMS exhibit ten years ago have worked at all exhibits stimulated my interest (some since 301n1ng. Other activi­ say obsession) with mushrooms. ties include banquet chairman As a pathologist and currently in '84, banquet ticket sales in Director of Laboratories at '85, alternate trustee and Childrens Orthopedic Hospital, trustee in '83-84. My work I have had a long-standing experience includes employment interest in mycology. I'm ded­ as an industrial chemist and icated to enhancing the edu­ college teacher. My principal cational, scientific, gastro­ hobby is mushroom hunting, but nomic, and social activities of I also enjoy camping, garden­ mushrooming to the benefit and ing, woodworking, clock re­ enjoyment of all our members. pairing and Oriental cooking. Edith M. Godar Denis R. Benjamin

am currently a Trustee and For Tr ustee In 1981, I attended a four day For Trustee PSMS Librarian. I want to mushroom conference in Tellu­ continue to contribute to the ride, Colorado. I was hooked. Society by serving as a Trus­ Since then, my wife, Nancy, and tee. A high school science I have attended one or more teacher, I have over 20 years conferences each year. Former experience in the field of edu­ members of the Colorado Myco­ cation. Hobbies include pho­ logical Society, we moved to tography, collecting antique Seattle a year ago. I'm inter­ cameras, growing roses and mak­ ested in identifying, growing, ing jewelry. and eating mushrooms. I want to serve PSMS in any way I can. I earn my living as a salesman Ed Bush for Beecham Laboratories. Bill Guinn

For Tr ustee Among my most satisfying plea­ For Trustee I have been a long time sub­ sures is partaking of the en­ sistence mushroomer as a young chanting recreational oppor­ girl in Austria. Although this tunities of the Northwest - and is only my second year as a that includes the pursuit of member of PSlvlS, I believe that mycology and helping to pre­ I have fully integrated into serve our natural heritage for all the major activities. If present enjoyment and to main­ elected to the Board of Trus­ tain it for oncoming genera­ tees I will endeavor to be tions. The friendship and com­ enthusiastic and creative in pany of the members of PSMS is helping direct the future of

meaningful and rewarding. • .I our Society Marian Harris Ludmilla H. Kleinman

have had an avid interest in For Trustee My role on the Board would be For Tr ustee mushrooms since childhood and to carry out the policies es­ now that I've become a member tablished by the Board, includ­ of PSMS I have learned to rec­ ing enlightening the public on ognize many new species and the role of fungi in our ecol­ lost my fear of these "foreign" ogy, educating members in my­ fungi. I feel I owe the Soci­ cology, and working with regu­ ety my support and would like latory and legislative bodies to do my part to keep it going to protect this valuable re­ strong. source from harm involving un­ restrained commercial picking. Public lands should not be exploited indiscriminately for Ingeborg McGuire private gain. Frank Occhinto

For Tru stee As a member since 1984 I've For Tr ustee The exhibit of 1981 brought me found the Society to be a fine to PSMS. A public school sci­ source of mycological informa­ ence teacher for 25 years, I tion, sylvan exploration and have taught biology and ecology discovery and new friends. I with some delvings into drama, especially enjoyed participat­ speech, and language. Fly ing in the annual exhibit. If tying, fishing, bird watching, feel as a trustee I could guide organic gardening, cross coun­ my energies and ideas in a try skiing and people are other direction to forward and de­ interests. The last two years, velop the. club's goals in our I have worked on Receiving and cann.mity. other projects at the exhibit. I look on this position as a Gary Smith chance to serve and learn. page 4