V OMPHALINISSN 1925-1858 Vol. II, No 4 Newsletter of May 7, 2011 OMPHALINA OMPHALINA is the lackadaisical newsletter of Foray Newfoundland & Labrador. There is no schedule of publications, no promise to appear again. Its primary purpose is to serve as a conduit of information to registrants of the upcoming foray and secondarily as a communications tool with members. is an amateur, volunteer-run, community, The content is neither discussed nor approved not-for-profi t organization with a mission to by the Board of Directors. Therefore, opinions organize enjoyable and informative amateur expressed do not represent the views of the Board, mushroom forays in Newfoundland and the Corporation, the partners, the sponsors, or the Labrador and disseminate the knowledge members. Opinions are solely those of the authors and uncredited opinions solely those of the Editor. gained. Please address comments, complaints and contribu- Webpage: www.nlmushrooms.ca tions to Andrus Voitk, self-appointed Editor: foray AT nlmushrooms DOT ca, ADDRESS Foray Newfoundland & Labrador 21 Pond Rd. … who eagerly invites contributions to OMPHALINA, deal- Rocky Harbour NL ing with any aspect even remotely related to mushrooms. A0K 4N0 Authors are guaranteed instant fame—fortune to follow. Authors retain copyright to published material, and submis- CANADA sion indicates permission to publish, subject to the usual E-mail: info AT nlmushrooms DOT ca editorial decisions. Issues are freely available to the public on the FNL website. Because content is protected by authors’ BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSULTANTS copyright, editors of other publications wishing to use any material, should ask fi rst. MYCOLOGICAL COVER Michael Burzynski Dave Malloch PRESIDENT NB MUSEUM “Mulched garden” morels in a municipal fl ower bed Geoff Thurlow in Pasadena (NL, not California), found by Henry AUDITOR TREASURER Mann. A huge crop apperared the year after the Rick Squire Faye Murrin fl ower beds were put in, an ephemeral phenomenon SQUIRE & HYNES SECRETARY not expected to be repeated in subsequent years—see “distress fruiting”, discussed in the lead article. Randy Batten LEGAL COUNSEL Sean Dolter Andrew May Genetic studies by Kuo and others have identifi ed BROTHERS & BURDEN Jamie Graham at least 16 genetic morel species in North America. Only four of these have readily discernible macro- Jeri Graham RISK MANAGEMENT scopic differences. The others split into groupings Anne Marceau Sue Sullivan of indistinguishably similar species that may or may SULLIVAN RISK Andrus Voitk not be related. If morels follow the experience with CONSULTING Maria Voitk other mushrooms, then it is unlikely that there are Nathan Wareham WEB CONSULTANT more than four species in Newfoundland and Lab- Marian Wissink Jim Parsons rador. Our distress fruiters are more plentiful and THOUGHT NEST larger than our wild black morels. A genetic study is CONSULTING required to see what we have and whether they differ. OMPHALINA V Vol. II, No 4 OMPHALIN ISSN 1925-1858 May 7, 2011 CONTENT Editorial ................................................... 2 Foray Matters .......................................... 3 Distress fruiting Andrus Voitk ................................... 4 Mushroom caviar Britt Bunyard ................................... 7 Alder Tongues Tony Wright ..................................... 8 Of alders and tongues Henry Mann ..................................... 10 Alder competition .................................. 12 Newfoundland chanterelles Cassia Vilneff & Greg Thorn ............... 13 Our alders Andrus Voitk ..................................... 18 Partners ......................... inside back cover Foray Notice .......................... back cover This issue and all previous issues available for download from the Foray Newfoundland & Labrador website <nlmushrooms.ca>. OMPHALINA MMessageessage ffromrom tthehe EEditorditor The objective of this issue is to alert you that morel sia’s study by Ralph Jarvis, manager of Salmonier season is upon us. Here in Newfoundland and Labra- Nature Park. Not only did Ralph make available the dor we do not really have enough morels to speak of Park’s resources of food and housing for Cassia’s a “morel season”, but 2010 was an exception, so that investigations, pick her up and deliver her to the we may hope for 2011. Even here occasional bursts airport, host her in his home during transit, but also of “distress fruiting”, as discussed in the lead article, for the greater good of Science, he offered up his are noted. We have seen two such episodes in 10 sea- personal and very secret chanterelle patches to her sons, each reported to us by somebody else. Because investigation. The help of Ralph and Salmonier is an of the hype surrounding morels elsewhere and be- example of the best use of public resources to learn cause of the long hiatus from picking mushrooms, it more about our natural heritage. These partners can is at least nice to look for this spring delicacy. Begin be justifi ably proud of the report published here. looking by the end of March, until June, just do not Our forays are a pleasant experience thanks to the let me catch you looking in my patch! generous support of our partners, most returning year The beauty of Mushroom Caviar, submitted by Britt after year. While participants pay most of the direct Bunyard for the Empty Skillet, is that with even a foray costs, most costs of our Faculty Foray, Recep- few morels a small amount of caviar can be made. tion and “scientifi c efforts” are borne by our partners. Without them we would not have much to show after Most heartening for an editor is to learn that some- a pleasant weekend, and studies such as Cassia’s body actually reads the publication. Therefore, it was would not be possible. In fact, it is but one of several a manyfold delight to receive from Tony Wright an research project in which we cooperate. This issue is unsolicited contribution, sparked by material printed dedicated to our partners, whom we list on the inside in a previous issue. Through a felicitous coincidence, back cover. Henry Mann had prepared an article about the same organism for this issue. These have now become complementary companion pieces, Tony’s deal- Happy mushrooming! ing with the taxonomy of alder tongue gall fungus, and Henry’s discussing its biology. It is great, when andrus something goes well, albeit through no planning or effort of one’s own. Henry’s article is part of a series, “The plant galls of Newfoundland and Labrador”, that he has undertaken together with Wade Bowers. Most of them have been designed for the Osprey, but since this was a mycological matter, Henry decided to offer this one to OMPHALINA. The fi nal article deserves especial mention. This is the fi rst research paper offered to OMPHALINA, done on our Newfoundland chanterelles. We gratefully note the contribution offered to Cas- 2 OMPHALINA Foray matters… This newsletter began as a tool to Nova Park in May. Imagine what cellatum, as well as the equally rare communicate with participants about mushrooms that mossy understory Degelia plumbea; both are listed as the upcoming foray. This page will will produce by September! And Species of Special Concern in New- be a regular feature immediately according to Mac Pitcher, this lichen foundland and Labrador by COSE- after the editorial, until foray time. friendly habitat is ideal for the rare WIC (the Committee on the Status of The banner photo comes from Terra boreal felt lichen Epiderma pedi- Endangered Wildlife in Canada). Registration fee In addition we have an excellent Mushroom Dye- The Registration Form is confusing some members ing workshop planned. For details, see notice in the OMPHALINA. about the FUNGI deduction. If you are a member Foray issue of now and get FUNGI as part of your membership fee, Fungal Arts you are not eligible for the deduction at registration. Please do not forget about our Tell and Sell Arts and Your 2010-2011 membership lapses at the beginning Crafts display. See the Foray issue of OMPHALINA for of the foray, and when you register, you also renew it details. Think about showing your mushroom art or for 2011-2012. Part of your fee covers your subscrip- craft product to the rest of us. Contact Urve Manuel tion to FUNGI. <[email protected]> if you would like to The deduction is for those registrants, who have an share anything with us (or sell us something). existing personal subscription to FUNGI, indepen- Contest dent of FNL or the Foray. Of course, if they wish a second copy, this is possible by paying the full fee PLEASE NOTE THE ALDER GALL COMPETITION, p 12 of without claiming the FUNGI deduction. this issue. Registrations As we go to press, there are over one dozen regis- trants for the upcoming foray. The exact number is unclear at the moment, as with the extra cash fl ow our Registrar/Treasurer has gone off on a holiday. Hmmm… Workshops Unfortunately we shall not be able to offer a Me- dicinal Mushrooms workshop this time, as we had planned. Perhaps in the future. However, in addition to our regular workshops, we do have a Mushroom Cooking workshop. Details and notice in a future issue, once our master chef is back from holidays. OMPHALINA 3 Ɵ ng Distress Frui Ɵ ng paƩ ern of Morchella —the desperate frui Andrus Voitk One May while visiting our plant associates. If morels grandchildren in Ontario, have discovered a place our eight-year old grand- where these are satisfi ed, daughter, Triina, proudly they may fruit year after showed us a spot by two year for a long time, varying pine stumps near her back only as conditions vary. And, yard, where she had picked like most other mushrooms, a small bagful of morels. In- DNA soil testing reveals that deed, we found a few more. they live quietly in many This fi nd prompted a discus- other places without ever sion with the grandchildren. disturbing the terrestrial Yes, they had looked and no, mycophile with the spectre they had not found any mo- of their sporocarps.