Volume 48:3 May ⁄ June 2007 www.namyco.org
More Details Revealed on NAMA ‘07 Foray the sometimes confusing family of the Strophariaceae. to Pipestem State Park, West Virginia Our Institutional Trustee, Walt Sundberg, will again cover We’re ready to tell you more about our Beginner’s Program for the the upcoming Orson Miller Educational Committee. For those Memorial Foray to be held at who are not beginners Walt Pipestem August 16–19! always has excellent insights into Hope Miller is coming. Bill ways of approaching the higher Roody truly knows the hot foray fungi. spots, and the park personnel could Of course, our Photography not be more supportive. and Mycophagy Committees will Several of Orson’s doctoral be holding forth (don’t forget to students have agreed to be pre- share excess fungi for Ursula’s senters and to reflect on their days pots). The Toxicology Committee as students in this very locale. We may have some interesting new will enjoy an update on their careers data. We also have a few surprise since those days. presenters, some of whom did Among them are Rytas Vilgalys, their tour under Orson, so we who has been on the cutting edge of expect some unusual topics to pop fungal DNA and has made Duke up as they enrich our program. University a global facility for these We’re planning to hold an studies. We look forward to his author’s get-together, since Hope enlightenment on exactly what and Bill will be signing their those secretive helixes have done to books. Hope and Orson’s 2006 us from a taxonomic standpoint. Pipestem—Bluestone River North American Mushrooms and from Creek Lodge. It’s been awhile since we’ve had Bill’s Mushrooms of West Virginia a Myxomycete program, and who John Walker will tackle the use of and the Central Appalachians will better than Steve Stephenson to chemicals in identifying fungi, and definitely be here. We expect involve us in an understanding of, Omar Isikhuemhen will lead us Syracuse University Press’s new and current approach to, these through his cultivation experiences. book on Southeastern Fungi will beauties? Coleman McCleneghan will tackle Continued on page 9 Exotic Foray: NAMA Heads for La Belle France be posted on our website as soon as possible. Please contact
1The Mycophile, May/June 2007 Moving? F R O M T H E E D I T O R Please send your new address, two weeks before you move, to Dearest NAMA Members: Ann Bornstein NAMA Membership Secretary Once again I am compelled to write to the readers with my sincerest 336 Lenox Avenue apologies for yet another issue of the newsletter being delivered late. (As I Oakland, CA 94610-4675 write this, my copy still has not arrived—more than one month after the
The Mycophile, May/June 2007 2 FORAYS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mushrooming in Tibet NEMF—NorthEast Mycological July 21–Aug 8, 2007 Federation Foray Fifth International Workshop August 9–12, 2007 on Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushroom hunting in East Tibet is Mushrooms certain to be a once-in-a-lifetime The 30th annual foray and 13th August 26–29, 2007 fungal, botanical, and cultural expe- annual Sam Ristich Foray will be Chuxiong, Yunnan, China rience. Tibet is endowed with some held at the University of Maine’s of the most stunning landscapes on Orono campus. Your host will be the Original announcement was in the the planet and an incomparably rich, Maine Mycological Association. Mar/Apr issue of The Mycophile. ancient spiritual culture. Tibetans The spruce, pine, and deciduous For information see the Web site or have a long tradition in collecting forests with streams, rivers, and bogs contact Wang Yun, Chairman of the (for medicinal purposes), eating, and around Orono provide diverse habi- Organizing Committee
3The Mycophile, May/June 2007 F U N G I I N T H E N E W S
Global warming+wild mushrooms increased mycelial activity and importance. The genes for these = fruitings twice per year! possibly greater decay rates in enzymes were inserted into common In a study published just this week ecosystems. In the graph reproduced yeast cells and grown up in the lab. (as I write this) in the research below (by permission of the author) The recombinant enzymes were journal Science (316[5821]: 71), bars represent the proportion of reported (Proceedings of the National British researchers have found that species in each habitat group that, Academy of Sciences 103[30]: 11417– wild mushrooms are reproducing before 1975, were not recorded as 11422) to be very effective in twice per year instead of the usual fruiting in spring, but after this time research to unravel the makeup of once in the UK—perhaps the most did so in at least one year. Nineteen plant cell walls and may one day striking example of how global seventy-five was the first year in lead to a way to turn the entire corn warming is turning up the heat on which spring fruiting of any species plant (not just the fruit) into ethanol. the world’s wildlife. This is the first occurred. Realistically, it is only then that time climate change has been corn-based ethanol will become a reported to affect the life cycle of Fungi as a biofuel tool . . . With the viable source of fuel for this country. any organism in this way. (A few recent interest in green plants as a studies have shown that flowering source of renewable energy, one . . . and as a cure for sick fowl plants are flowering earlier than team of researchers from Stanford Wide use of a mushroom extract to ever before.) and Oklahoma State University is protect poultry against a major The study, conducted by Alan looking into using fungal enzymes parasitic disease is now closer, Gange and colleagues, surveyed 315 to study plant cell walls. Why? thanks to a USDA–Agricultural species of fungi—from 52,000 Plant cell wall polysaccharides Research Service (ARS) scientist and records—and found that over a 56- are some of the most abundant her South Korean colleagues. The year time period, many species have organic compounds on earth and researchers developed a technique doubled the length of their breeding have become the focus of recent for controlling coccidiosis, which season from 33 days on average to interest in “biofuels,” such as costs the world’s poultry industry 74. Species now form sporocarps ethanol, synthesized through the billions of dollars in losses annually. twice per year, fruiting once in the processing of the polysaccharide The new method is the subject British spring and again in the cellulose. Studying the structure of of a patent application. It introduces autumn, something unheard of such polysaccharides is difficult mushroom lectins extracted from the before temperatures began to climb because they are large molecules mushroom Fomitella fraxinea (a in the mid-1970s. Gange believes that are frequently branched in wood-rotting mushroom seen mostly that the fungi used to be kept in irregular ways. However, fungi can on black locust tree stumps) to birds check by sharp frosts earlier in the naturally degrade the cell wall via injection into developing em- year. As temperatures have climbed, sugars with a large variety of bryos, or through drinking water. and the frosts disappeared, there is enzymes that can cut the polysac- Once administered, the lectins spur nothing forcing the fungi to remain charides at specific locations. a protective reaction against the dormant in the soil. Stefan Bauer et al. searched disease in the gut. Fruiting of mycorrhizal species recently completed genomic DNA Coccidiosis is caused by para- that associate with both deciduous sequences of three fungi (Aspergillus sites of the genus Eimeria that infect and coniferous trees is delayed in nidulans, A. fumigatus, and Neuro- the intestinal tract and are transmit- deciduous—but not coniferous— spora crassa) for genes encoding ted between birds through infected forests. That many species are now various types of enzymes and have feces. Often most severe in young fruiting twice per year may indicate determined 74 fungal enzymes of birds or those whose disease immu- nity has been weakened by other 50 - infections, the disease can cause all 40 - sorts of severe symptoms as well as death. 30 - Lectins are carbohydrate-binding 20 - proteins found in animals and 10 - plants. They stimulate disease- fighting cells by binding to their Coniferous Deciduous Grassland Deciduous Coniferous Wood sugar residues, inducing the release mycorrhizas mycorrhizas saprotrophs litter litter decayers of potent immune-system proteins saprotrophs saprotrophs called cytokines. The report was
The Mycophile, May/June 2007 4 published in the journal Poultry annual White Truffle Gala and February 28, 2007, as well as several Science (85: 446–51). Auction. As May’s courier arrived at other news publications.) JFK, a Homeland Security beagle The truffles from Chuckey are Truffle Kerfuffle . . . times 3! sniffed something alarming. The not the first American-grown Freelance writer Amy Cortese seems courier was whisked into a back Périgord truffles, of course. They to have a nose for truffles. Begin- room where the pricey truffles, are, however, the first American- ning last fall, I noticed her name on along with some rare red mush- grown black truffles to be produced several articles having to do with the rooms, were spilled out onto a table. in large enough quantities to be pricey subterranean sporocarps. She Asked their value, the courier, considered a commercial crop. covered everything from the big fall worried that if he said the actual (Several other truffle farms are in truffle harvest in Europe to their amount they were worth he’d various states of operation around arrival—and problems, therein—in arouse real suspicion, replied “Three the U.S., from the huge—albeit now the U.S., and managed to take time hundred dollars.” The Customs defunct—farm in Texas, to farms in out from her sampling (she de- officer was unimpressed. “You paid North Carolina, California, and scribed eating truffles at several $300 for that?” he said of the stinky elsewhere on the West Coast. By restaurants—lucky so-and-so!) to load, and let him go. It is under- some counts there are around 300 offer some handy tips for the less standable why Mr. May was so serious farms trying to produce fortunate consumer. nervous: a single one of those truffles commercially). Nearly all, One tip is that, unlike the black truffles (200 grams) sold at auction however, generate most, if not all, truffle, the white truffle (“tartufo for $1,300! of their sales from inoculated bianco”) should never be cooked but seedling trees that you can try only eaten raw, usually thinly The price of truffles is certainly growing at your own home. Readers shaved or grated. Another tip is to prohibitive for me use. But if one of The Mycophile may remember avoid grocery-store truffle oils as man in Tennessee has his way, the my interview with Charles Lefevre, they are usually artificially flavored. price may be about to take a the owner of New World Truffieres Ms. Cortese wrote in Business nosedive (wouldn’t that be terrific!). in Eugene, Oregon, from a year or Week (11/20/06, p. 104) that in truffle Tom Michaels, a 59-year-old plant two ago. Incidentally, Lefevre sold season many big-city restaurant pathologist with years of research on 13,000 inoculated seedlings in 2006. menus will suggest dishes to which truffle fungi under his belt, has set truffles can be added for a supple- up a farm near Chuckey, TN, When is a root symbiosis mycor- mental fee, typically $6–$10 a gram. sprouted a bunch of hazelnut trees rhizal? The mycorrhizal basidi- Beware: ordering enough to cover from seeds, and inoculated their omycetes are known to have mul- the food—a modest five- or six-gram roots with Tuber melanosporum, the tiple, independent evolutionary serving—can quickly add up! Périgord truffle. He planted them origins from saprotrophic ancestors. Still, that’s cheaper than pur- seven years ago . . . and sat back to To date, a number of studies have chasing an entire truffle. One good- wait for something to happen. Dr. revealed functional resemblances of sized truffle—golf-ball-size or Michaels was, of course, well aware mycorrhizal fungi to free-living larger—can fetch a small fortune. of previous failed attempts to culti- saprotrophs, but information on the Prices, this season (Oct. ’06–Jan. vate truffles in the U.S. No doubt he ability of saprotrophic fungi to ’07), were as much as $2,500 a tried to remain very cautiously perform as mycorrhizal symbionts is pound, and last year a rare 2.6- optimistic for the next seven years. scarce. pound white truffle commanded a Then, on the morning of Jan. 3, he An investigation published in record 95,000 €, or $121,000, at a noticed patches of the tawny Tennes- the latest issue of the journal New charity auction in Italy (as dutifully see soil bubbling up like blistered Phytologist (174: 441–46) was under- reported here in The Mycophile). asphalt in his orchard. It was then taken with the objective to investi- But what happens when one (or that Dr. Michaels lost his circum- gate the ability of three wood-decay a sack full) of these precious tubers spection. It has been reported that fungi—Hypholoma fasciculare, goes missing—or gets confiscated at the cries of “Eureka!” could be heard Phlebiopsis gigantean, and Phlebia the border? Ms. Cortese covered the for miles on that fateful morn. And centrifuga—to colonize fine roots of story in the pages of New York that was before he saw the size of conifer seedlings. For each fungus, magazine (39[43]: 14). It seems a the bulbs, before he felt them and mycorrhizal syntheses were at- certain Mr. Tony May, owner of smelled them and tasted them. Only tempted with Picea abies and Pinus midtown Manhattan’s haute-cuisine then did Dr. Michaels realize that up sylvestris. After 24 weeks, isolation Italian wallet-buster San Domenico, to 150 pounds of world class truffles of fungi and direct sequencing of was at the airport, nervously await- could be ripening in the ground fungal DNA were carried out from ing hand-delivery of a sack of behind feet and that he could be on healthy-looking, surface-sterilized truffles (thousands of dollars’ worth) to something really big! (News of that were to be the stars of his this story ran in The New York Times Continued on page 6
5The Mycophile, May/June 2007 Fungi in the News, continued types), this group includes several networks of thread-like hyphae, from page 5 household names (especially if you which secrete enzymes to break have children prone to scrapes and down complex nutrients, such as root tips that yielded both pure sore throats) such as cephalosporins, wood and plant material. These cultures and DNA sequences of each clavams, carbapenens or mono- organisms are extremely similar in inoculated strain. Microscopic bactams. While β-lactam compounds both appearance and lifestyle to examination showed the presence of were discovered in filamentous fungi (and until recently were intercellular hyphae inside the tree fungi, actinomycetes and certain grouped with the true fungi) and seedling roots. bacteria also are known to produce include some of the most economi- The results of this study provide different types of these compounds. cally important plant pathogens. (For evidence of the ability of certain So the big question has always plant pathogenic Oomycetes, think wood-decay fungi to colonize fine been “How is it that such evolution- late blight disease of potatoes and roots of tree seedlings and without arily disparate groups of microbes— sudden oak death, among others.) causing any harm to the host. Fur- from bacteria to fungi—have the However, the morphological thermore, the researchers provide same complex sets of genes and similarity of fungi and Oomycetes is evidence that suggests mycorrhizal enzymes to make nearly identical misleading because they represent associations may have their evolu- antimicrobial compounds?” (In fact, some of the most distantly related tionary origins with fungi that inter- I’ve been asked this many times Eukaryote evolutionary groupings, mittently formed associations with while teaching microbiology courses and their shared growth habit is plant roots, without being patho- and never had a good answer until interpreted as being the result of genic. (Thanks to Else for the tip!) now!) convergent evolution. The fungi Researchers Paloma Liras and branch with the animals, whereas More from the research journals: Juan F. Martin of the University of the Oomycetes branch with photo- One article published in the latest Leon, Spain, have analyzed tons of synthetic algae. In their report, the issue of the British Mycological data on the biosynthetic pathways, researchers provide strong phyloge- Research (111[1]: 3–49) that I found enzymes involved, and DNA se- netic evidence that multiple horizon- especially noteworthy was a review quences of the genes responsible tal gene transfers (HGT) have paper on “geomycology,” that is, the and have come up with findings that occurred from filamentous asco- importance of fungi to the cycling of strongly support the origin of the β- mycete fungi to the distantly related nutrients on the planet, mineral and lactams to reside with the bacteria. Oomycetes. soil formation, rock degradation, etc. The gene systems were then trans- They also present evidence that This exceptionally lengthy paper ferred horizontally to fungi. Horizon- a subset of the associated gene (almost 50 pages) focuses on the tal gene transfer (HGT) refers to families was initially the product of importance of mycorrhizal and genes being moved from one prokaryote-to-fungi HGT. The lichen symbioses. organism to another that is not the predicted functions of the gene offspring of the first. In this case, products associated with fungi-to- From the Spanish journal Interna- the organisms involved are vastly Oomycete HGT suggest that this tional Microbiology comes a report unrelated as we’re talking about process has played a significant role discussing the evolutionary origins Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. HGT in the evolution of the filamentous of the microbial genes that produce has been a very hot topic in micro- lifestyle on two separate branches of many of our most important anti- bial evolutionary circles of late, is the Eukaryote evolutionary tree. biotics. We’ve all likely heard the well supported by data (for Prokary- story about how Alexander Fleming otes, anyway), and answers many It had to happen eventually: Fungi discovered penicillin. The story goes long-standing questions about are growing on your computer that he observed a particular strain microbial evolution. It has only screen . . . thanks to You Tube! of the asexual Penicillium fungus recently gotten attention as a mode Although 99% of the stuff on the growing on a petri plate in the lab of evolution for Eukaryotes. wildly popular Web site You Tube and, more importantly, noticed that ranges from stupid pet tricks to wherever the mold grew, bacteria Along those same lines: A team of stupider human tricks, I do find could not. Thus anti-biotics were researchers led by Nicholas J. Talbot some worthwhile postings there discovered, and no longer would report in Current Biology (16[18]: from time to time. (For example, humans have to die from common 1857–64) the results of a recent while planning an upcoming Disney bacterial infections. study showing some microbial World trip, I checked out some home Penicillin is just one of a large eukaryotes have exchanged meta- videos shot at some of the shows and important class of antibiotics bolic genes, which might explain there and could quickly determine known as β-lactams. All antimicrobi- some of their phenotypic similari- ones of interest.) I must say that als in this group share the same ties. Filamentous fungi and basic molecular structure. Besides Oomycetes are eukaryotic micro- Continued on page 9 penicillins (of which there are many organisms that grow by producing The Mycophile, May/June 2007 6 B O O K R E V I E W S
Shroom: A Cultural History of the mushrooms that we have all heard book has been in his head since the Magic Mushroom, by Andy Letcher. over the years. His writing style on 1980s. During the two years he New York: Ecco (HarperCollins), the topic is refreshingly academic spent researching the book, Andy 2007. ISBN 978-0-06-082828-8; 360 pp. (and still quite entertaining—but interviewed a number of “experi- don’t be thrown off by his British enced” ’shroom advocates, attended The first thing that caught my sense of humour [sic] or spelling the Telluride Festival, and visited a attention about this book was the [e.g. “gaol” for prison]) and, most number of hallucinogenic mush- commentary about the author on the importantly, fact-based (sorely room wholesalers in Amsterdam (try inside flap of the dust jacket. It lacking in most previous books on explaining THAT at tax time!). describes Andy Letcher as being “a the topic). Revealed: There was no Andy weaves a terrific story that freelance writer, lecturer and ancient mushroom cult that started climaxes with an intimate look into musician living in Oxford, UK,” as all religions on the planet. Carlos the life of a New York City banker well as a former eco-protestor who Castaneda likely “made up the entire (R. Gordon Wasson) who ultimately once lived in a treehouse and who story [of Don Juan] in the library at helped kick-start the psychedelic ’60s sings and plays the mandolin and UCLA.” The legend of Santa Claus (and was infiltrated by a CIA spy!) English bagpipes in an acid folk could not, in fact, have anything to with a Life magazine article about band. Oh, and he has two PhDs: one do with mushrooms, and much Mexican mushrooms. Forget every- in ecology from Oxford University, more. thing you’ve ever read about what the other in religious and cultural The overriding theme of the came next! Cultural icons like studies. Who better to write (possi- book centers on man’s fascination Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, bly a first for the topic) a level- with Amanita muscaria, above and Carlos Castaneda, Terence headed, academic account of the beyond all other mushrooms. It has McKenna, Aldous Huxley, Robert use of psychotropic wild mushrooms long been THE symbol of mush- Graves (author of I, Claudius), in different cultures from around rooms, hallucinogenic or otherwise. mycologist Rolf Singer, and even our the world? Which has always seemed strange beloved Charles McIlvaine are all If you are looking for yet to me, as—while it is without stars in this epic saga. another “myconautical” rant on the question a beautiful mushroom—it’s While I’m confident that Shroom mystical powers of hallucinogenic not especially psychotropic (or not at will not change the bemushroomed mushrooms and how they were all, according to many published minds of those proselytizers of the used by our proto-human ances- accounts), it’s toxic but certainly Word of McKenna or Wasson, I tors—and the space aliens who gave nowhere near one of the most toxic strongly recommend it for educated them to us—ultimately leading to mushrooms, nor does it naturally mycophiles and mycologists.—Britt the foundation of all the world’s occur in the Middle East—the religions, then this book will disap- epicenter of Western religions (for The Fungal Pharmacy: Medicinal point. which it has long been reported to Mushrooms of Western Canada, by Thankfully, Shroom is not that. have played a crucial role). Robert Dale Rogers. Edmonton, The author comes across in no way This book blows away the veil Alberta: Prairie Deva Press, 2006. as advocating the use of psychodelic (smokescreen?) that has long per- ISBN 0-9781358-1-4; 232 pp. mushrooms—or any illicit drugs— petuated many myths surrounding but does not shun those who do. this enigmatic mushroom. The I first met Robert Dale Rogers at the Instead, he takes a nonbiased, author should be lionized for his NAMA Foray in Hinton, Alberta, and journalistic approach of finding the careful sifting through countless became intrigued with his book after facts and reporting them. Mr. published records and a “small hearing his talk on topics taken Letcher has exhaustively researched mountain” of letters and documents directly from The Fungal Pharmacy. the historical use of magic mush- from the Wasson archives at He describes himself as a student of rooms, concluding that (contrary to Harvard University and the Bodleian herbal medicines for over 30 years the writings of Wasson, McKenna, Library at Oxford. One of the and has had a clinical practice for 16 and a whole gaggle of “bemush- strengths of a book like this, for me, years. Along with having an ency- roomed” followers) the use of is the extensive references, foot- clopedic knowledge of the historical, psychodelic mushrooms is a fairly noted in each chapter and compiled cultural, and pharmacopoeial uses of recent phenomenon and has no at the end of the book. fungi, he is an accomplished herbal- connection to long-lost cultures or The author told me that he has ist, having published several books religions. Andy debunks a whole long been intrigued by magic host of myths surrounding magic mushrooms, and the idea for this Continued on page 8
7The Mycophile, May/June 2007 Book Reviews, continued clearly no semblance of editing that “Flower essences are not from page 7 performed before it was sent to the essential oils. They have no scent— printers. There are numerous typo- except brandy. They are made from on the subject. Robert and his wife, graphical errors throughout (I’m not the vibrational energy of the plant, Laurie Szott-Rogers, are owners of talking one or two, but dozens), and unlike essential oils are taken Self Heal Distributing, Scents of many resulting in my confusion at internally to alter emotional states Wonder essential oils, and Prairie the very least, but sometimes and soul patterns.”) Deva College. rendering entire sentences incoher- Additionally, Robert and Laurie The Fungal Pharmacy covers the ent. The author frequently cites offer a number of educational medicinal constituents, homeopathy, published references—few of which courses through Prairie Deva Col- personality traits, essential oils, and are listed anywhere for the reader to lege, which they own and operate. myths/legends for numerous com- look up—and many contain typo- Robert and Laurie also teach at mon wild mushrooms that occur graphical errors that would hinder Northern Star College of Mystical throughout North America (not just any further investigation. Some of Studies. The college’s Web site western Canada, as the title states). the many spectacular claims are not boasts that “Laurie Szott-Rogers has One of the strengths of this book is referenced at all, for example: worked with aromatherapy for over in its layout of fungal genera in a decade, creating products and alphabetical order, which can be This fungus species [of concocting blends. She has a strong quickly navigated as a ready refer- Dictyophora which grows on background in metaphysics and ence guide. I also like how the hot, rocky lava flows [sic] of social science research, and teaches author lists some of the older names Hawai’i] produces a com- classes in Aromatherapy, Flower for many of the fungi (we all know pound that is identical to or Essences, and Dreamtime.”—Britt how confusing the naming of fungi very closely mimics a has become in recent times), along compound in females with the many common names used during the sexual arousal Forays & Announcements, for a given species. Cultural myths stage . . . and when a continuted from page 3 and legends are described for most woman smells this odour, a of the species covered and all are spontaneous, intense Contact Gundi Jeffrey and Erik interesting, albeit unbelievable at orgasm frequently occurs. Purre, founders of Myco Aficionados times or recently debunked (see More research is presently of Mexico; Tel/fax (from El Norte): review of Shroom in this issue) by being carried out, as the 011-52 (246) 461-8829 or e-mail more scientific approaches. market potential is huge.
Fungi in the News, continued from page 6 And last . . . we bid a sad farewell to Mycologist. there are a few really interesting videos showing time- Volume 20:4 of the British Mycological Society’s My- lapse footage of fungi growing and developing. One cologist will be the last issue ever for that wonderful video in particular is outstanding. (The narration in is journal geared towards amateurs and professionals in Japanese, but it really needs no words.) Simply go to alike. With the passing of Mycologist I hope authors the You Tube site and search for “Fungi in the Jungle.” who previously would have sent manuscripts to that You’ll watch as slime molds pulse and course over their journal will now send them to NAMA’s renewed and substrates, Cordyceps develop fruitbodies from the warmly received journal McIlvainea. —Britt exoskeletons of insects, and entomophthoras do their business. It’s some truly fabulous filmwork!
9The Mycophile, May/June 2007 NAMA Mushroom Teaching Kits B. Books NAMA has prepared two Mushroom Teaching Kits, 1. Mushrooms for Color (Rice) which are available for rental. The Kits provide materi- 2. Mushrooms of the World Coloring Book (Arora, als about fungi for teachers, naturalists, mushroom Bowers) clubs, nature organizations, libraries and science 3. Mushrooms for Paper (Rice) museums, as well as for displays at mushroom and garden fairs. 4. A Young Person’s Guide to the Fungi (Kendrick) The Eastern Mushroom Teaching Kit contains 5. A New Home for “L’il Gnome” (Parker) material suitable for the United States east of the 6. Katya’s Book of Mushrooms (Arnold, Swope) Mississippi and eastern Canada. The Western Mush- 7. North American Mushroom Photo Postcards room Teaching Kit contains material suitable for the (Johnson) western States and the western part of Canada. The contents of the Kits are similar, with a geographical 8. Fungi (Watling) variation in the photos, dried fungal samples and spore 9. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North prints, and some instructional materials. American Mushrooms (Lincoff) 10. The Fungus That Ate My School (Dorros) The Kits provide: A. The basic information necessary to teach grades K–8 C. Instructional Materials about fungi. The information is divided into grades 1. Illustrations of fungi on 4" x 5" poster board K–3 and 4–8. A 45-minute lesson plan is provided 2. “North Carolina Notebook,” 2 laminated sheets for the classroom teacher, including handouts of (Wildlife in North Carolina, Nov. 2000) questions and answers for both K–3 and 4–8 students, which can be copied. Handouts for further 3. Lesson ideas and activities relating to fungi for activities, both indoors and outdoors, can be copied grades K–12 (NAMA Web site) as well. Most of the material can also be used 4. 9 overhead transparencies illustrating How successfully in high school classes and in college Mushrooms Grow, the Variety of Shapes and entry-level courses in mycology and ecology. Spore Bearing Surfaces, and Fungal Ecology B. Media, books and instructional materials (Louise Freedman) C. Hands-on classroom aids 5. 3 posters on careers in mycology (Mycological Society of America) D. Activity ideas which include scientific, artistic, and cultural approaches 4. Poster on Mushroom Poisonings and Their Medical Treatment (Scates) Contents of Eastern Mushroom Training Kit 5. 26 slides, or same photos on CD, as requested 6. Fungi teaching materials (Sundberg) (See also “Instructional Materials”) A. Media 7. “Easy Key to Common Mushrooms” (Scates) 1. DVDs: “The Mushroom Identification Trilogy” ◆ and “Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi” (Taylor Lockwood) Contents of the Western Mushroom Teaching Kit 2. CD: “MykoCD” (Mike Wood) 3. Videocassette: “Slime Molds” and Teachers A. Media (See also “Instructional Materials”) Guide (Iowa State Univ.) 1. Audiotape cassette & script: “Latin Pronuncia- 4. 18 laminated spore prints tion of Mushroom Names” 5. 25 plastic hand lenses 2. DVD: “The Mushroom Identification Trilogy” 6. 13 dried fungi samples (Taylor F. Lockwood 7. Foam blocks and skewers to mount fresh speci- 3. CD: “MykoCD” (Mike Wood) mens in the classroom 4. Videocassette: “Slime Molds” and Teachers 8. “Foldable magnifier” (110 diameter, 2x magnifi- Guide (Univ. of Iowa) cation) 5. Box & Folder: “The Polypore Box” and Polypore 9. Mushroom Dye Chart, Little Wool Gnome and Descriptions Skeins to Illustrate Dyeing with Mushrooms 6. Folder: “Dye Mushrooms”—three display cards (Sue Hopkins) 7. CD cases: Three mushroom spore prints in CD cases
The Mycophile, May/June 2007 10 8. CD Cases (2 empty), skewers, Field Identifica- 2. Notebook: NAMA Educational Programs from tion Slips, Spore Print (b/w) paper the NAMA Website: 32 plastic folders of 9. Hand lenses—25 magnifying lenses in plastic Teachers’ Instructional Materials (see Table of cases Contents for list in second plastic folder) Articles: “Fine Paper from Mushrooms” (Rice) 10. Box: “Foldable Magnifier” (110 dia., 2x magnifi- cation) 3. Instructional units: Mold Control and Environ- mental Health” (EHSC Community Outreach & 11. Microscope + CD + Instruction Booklet “Intel Education Program, Oregon State University, Cx3 Computer Microscope Corvallis) ◆ B. Books 1. All That the Rain Promises, and More (Arora) So you’d like to rent a NAMA Mushroom Teaching Kit: 2. The Romance of the Fungus World (Rolfe & Rolfe) The rental fee for borrowing either of these programs: 3. Guide to Western Mushrooms (Underhill) for NAMA members: $40.00; for non-members: $50.00. Return postage and insurance for $150.00, ground 4. Mushrooms for Color (Rice) service, signature required, UPS, FedEx, or USPS, will 5. Fungi (Watling) be paid by the renter. 6. Mushrooms and Other Fungi of Land Between A request* for renting the program for 7–10 days, the Lakes (TVA) together with a check or money order made out to 7. Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming North American Mycological Association, can be sent to: (Issue 37, Fall 2005) 8. Mushrooms of the World Coloring Book (Arora, Eastern Mushroom Teaching Kit Bowers) Carol Dreiling 380 Curtis Parker Road 9. A Young Person’s Guide to the Fungi (Kendrick) Alexander, NC 28701-9667 10. Katya’s Book of Mushrooms (Arnold & Swope) [email protected] 11. The Mushroom That Ate My School (Dorros) (828) 683-8678
C. Instructional Materials Western Mushroom Teaching Kit 1. Notebook: “Ideas for Class Activities Related to Maggie Rogers Mushrooms,” containing: 1943 S.E. Locust Avenue Portland, OR 9721404826 Posters: “What Can You Do with Training in [email protected] Mycology?” (2) (MSA) (503) 239-4321 Slides & List of Fungus Names, 3 folders: 1. Gilled & Fleshy Pored Basidiomycetes *Requests should include a description of the targeted 2. Non-gilled Basidiomycetes audience and geographic area so appropriate material 3. Ascomycetes can be sent in the Kit. 40 Slides, or same photos on CD, as requested If you have materials you think would be useful to List: “A Few Websites – Can You Add More?” teachers and would like us to consider adding them to Article and colored prints: “Mushroom Spore the Kits, please contact Carol Dreiling, caroldrei@ Printing” aol.com, Maggie Rogers, [email protected], or Sandy Transparencies: “Some Edible Mushrooms” Sheine, [email protected], and plan to send a sample of (2 transparencies) your materials. Transparencies with Teachers’ Guide Sheets: For more information on NAMA Education programs, “How Mushrooms Grow” (9 each; Dr. Walt check the NAMA Web site: www.namyco.org. Sundberg) Journal articles: “A Few Mycorrhizal Factoids” Acknowledgments and “Mycorrhizas, the Source of All That Is Many thanks to the NAMA members who have contrib- Good?” (Dr. Steve Trudell) uted to the contents of the Kits: Dean Abel, Carol Transparencies: “Herb & Tree Associates for Dreiling, Louise and Bill Freedman, Catharine Many Fungi” (4) Gunderson, Susan Hopkins, Emily Johnson, Jean-Paul Transparencies: “How Mushrooms Grow” (9; Latil, Taylor Lockwood, Theresa Oursler, Nancy Parker, Louise Freedman) Samuel Ristich, Maggie Rogers, Sandy Sheine, Allein Miscellaneous additional instructional study Stanley, Caryl Widderson, Walt Sundberg, Mike Wood. sheets and guides
11 The Mycophile, May/June 2007 North American Mycological Association 336 Lenox Avenue NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Oakland, CA 94610-4675 PAID PERMIT NO. 1260 Address Service Requested CHAS. WV 25301
Mushroom of the Month
What IS the identity of this rarely seen fungus, found fruiting recently by members of the Prairie State club? All will be revealed inside this issue (see page 9). Photo courtesy of Jim Frink.
The Mycophile, May/June 2007 12