Fungus Friends: Newsletter of the Illinois Mycological Association
October, 2001

Terrorist Attack
Upcoming Forays
Schiller Woods Foray
McCrone Research Institute Meeting Directions
Bachelor Grove Foray
Moraine Hills Foray
Moraine Hills State Park
Moraine Hills State Park: History
Moraine Hills State Park: Geological History
Moraine Hills State Park: Natural Features
Moraine Hills State Park: Boating and Fishing
Moraine Hills State Park: Biking, Hiking, Skiing
IMA Potluck Cook Off October 13th - New Date!
Bemis Woods Foray Report
Deer Grove West Foray Report
Deer Grove Species: ASCOMYCOTA (6)
Deer Grove Species: BASIDIOMYCOTA - - Gilled mushrooms and boletes (54)
Deer Grove Species: BASIDIOMYCOTA - - Polypores, teeth fungi, and crust fungi (33)
Chanterelles and Coral fungi (1)
Puffballs and other gasteromycetes (8)
Jelly fungi (2)
ZYGOMYCOTA (1)
Joint Meeting with the Illinois Microscopic Society — October 13th — 9 AM to Noon
Escape via mushrooms
IMA End of the Season Dinner



     

Next IMA Meeting


     

Monday, March 4th, 2002 7:30 PM


Our inaugural meeting of the year will feature a NAMA slide show "Mushrooms: Macro to Micro". Not your usual "pretty pictures of mushrooms" show, this show concentrates on the things that are bigger than the individual mushroom - - the relation of fungi to their environment - - and smaller - - "the inner workings of fungi and slime molds"

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Photo of Morchella esculenta by John Denk
Morchella esculenta
To get us in the right spirit for the Spring season, the board will be serving up bowls of hot cream-of-morel soup, using the pound of (dried) morels that president Catherine Lambrecht bought online a little while ago.

The program will be at the North Park Village Nature Center (directions inside).
     

IMA April Meeting


     

Monday, April 1st, 2002 7:30 PM


And that's no joke!
Our April meeting will be our annual morel meeting, and the speaker will be Michael Kuo, of Charleston, IL. Mike runs one of the largest morel bulletin boards online, and has a new feature of maps of morel reports by week, so you can watch the season move north. Check out his site: Identifying Morels and False Morels

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Meeting Location: North Park Village Nature Center 5801 N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL





The North Park Village Nature Center is located just off the Edens Expressway (I-94). You will exit at Peterson and travel east to Pulaski. Go south (right turn) on Pulaski until you reach the North Park Village complex which will be on the east (left) side of the street. Once you have entered the complex, go all the way to the back (North Park Village is a large complex of buildings, with the Nature Center way in the interior of the block) to reach the meeting site.

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Club News:


     

New Officers


You may have noticed the names of three new people on the masthead: Therese Yee, Dann Wilke, and Pai-pai Cheng. These three people are jointly holding the offices of foray chair and secretary. They are new to both positions (Therese and Pai-pai only joined the club last year, in fact) and get full kudos for their courage in service of the club. You'll start to see their efforts here next month, when we announce the first forays of the year.

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Annual Morel Meeting


You may have noticed that we're having our annual morel meeting in April this year, instead of May. There are two reasons for this: one is that we had such an early season last year that by the time we had our morel meeting, most of the morels had come and gone. With this year's warm winter, we anticipate another early season, and we want to get the jump on the morels (rather than the other way around). The other, and even more important, reason is that our speaker, Michael Kuo, could only make it in April. In May, he's going to be on a mushroom trip to Michigan and Pennsylvania, the lucky dog.

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Those of you with access to the internet should check out Michael's morel site, Identifying Morels and False Morels. It contains a very active bulletin board with a nice FAQ at the bottom, pages showing the difference between morels and false morels and (as they say on late-night television) much much more.

He's also started a new site, mushroomexpert.com which has identification help and texts about mushrooming in general.

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Your Name Here


Yes, you (I'm talking to you) could be the editor of this wonderful newsletter. It's blindingly easy: people from all over the club send you tons of material that you simply paste into a document on your home computer. Sure, sometimes there isn't enough material; but then you just make stuff up! Sound too good to be true? But wait: there's more - - win the adulation of your friends, family, and the entire mushroom club for performing this essential service. To volunteer, email me or Catherine Lambrecht at our email addresses on the masthead (first page).

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Sound Bites


     

Morels in California


Dann Wilke (our new officer) passes along an emailed tip that morels are now out in Southern California. "Does anyone want to go to Southern Cal with me?" he asks.
     

Win a Truffle!


Marché aux Delices, a gourmet ingredients business based in New York City, has contributed several delicious recipes to this newsletter. Time will be a little tight by the time you receive this notice, but if you act fast, you can still send in several of your friends' emails in an attempt to win their (annual? hint, hint) truffle lottery. Their official announcement follows:

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Have you ever tasted a truffle…
      Baked in a bladder
            Folded into a frittata
                  Tucked into a ‘tater ?

Follow Marché aux Delices to the source of all that is fungus - - France. From the lowly button to the mighty truffle, we move mushrooms from field to table. To celebrate our guest appearance on this national food show (and to get you to talk it up among your friends), we’d like to send YOU on a fantastical fungus voyage. We’ll leave the truffle-sniffing pig on the farm, and send the winner a fresh, wildly aromatic black winter truffle.

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To win this chance at palate-seducing flavor, just send us the names and e-mail addresses of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who would like to receive our free monthly newsletter, M.A.D. About Mushrooms. [For those of you who are pun-impaired, I will point out that M.A.D. probably stands for Marché aux Delices. I do this in an attempt to foster a sense of outrage in my readers that will lead to someone else taking over this job. - - your guest editor] For every valid name and email address we receive (send to: staff@auxdelices.com), you get 2 entries in our truffle drawing. Place an order for $75 or more between now and February 25, and we’ll double the number of chances you get to win.

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The winner (chosen at random) gets a fresh winter black truffle, delivered to your door (no charges whatsoever).
1 GRAND PRIZE : a fresh, black winter truffle, nestled in its own basket with a recipe booklet.
1 WE-TRY-HARDER PRIZE: autographed copy of The Mushroom Lover’s Mushroom Cookbook and Primer, by Amy Farges. [Amy is the principal at M.A.D.]
1 MAYBE-NEXT-TIME PRIZE: love potion in a bottle, black truffle oil to drizzle over nuggets of lamb, swirl into sauces, dab behind the ears…

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The Details: Entries for the contest must be received by email by 10pm, eastern standard time, Monday, February 25. For every name we receive to be added to our monthly e-newsletter, the recipient will receive 2 entries into the drawing. The winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, February 26, and will be contacted by email from Marché aux Delices.

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Send all entries to: staff@auxdelices.com. No telephone responses, please!
To order, visit our website at http://www.auxdelices.com or call us at 888-547-5471.
     

Italian Mushroom Club



Image of Abbé Giacomo Bresadola from Curtis Gates Lloyd (1898 - 1925) Mycological Notes
Abbé Giacomo Bresadola
I recently got in contact (accidentally) with the Gruppo micologico G. Bresadola di Trento. I emailed Dominic, asking him whether the program online for their annual foray was for this year or last year. His reply to me went to them by accident, and in response they sent me a full-size color calendar featuring gorgeous photos of mushrooms, and a copy of their Bolettino, which is a color glossy magazine on the interesting fungi of the Trento region. Apparently, you get the calendar free when you join the club! Shows what you can do when you have over 1200 members. We'll bring the calendar to the March meeting, so you can all check it out. And check out the photo of their "patron saint", Giacomo Bresadola, on your membership renewal form! (last page) Bresadola was one of the important mycologists for the first few decades of the 20th century. He didn't name too many new things (see? you're liking him already), but he did a lot of good work on making the definitions of existing species correct and consistent. We could use several of him today...

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Foray News


None of our regular forays are set for the year (yet), but some of the biggies are:
     

The Botanic Gardens


Our annual show at the Botanic Gardens is already set for Sunday, September 8th. That means that our Deer Grove foray will be the day before, on Saturday the 7th (are you reading this, Harriet? Want to lead the foray again?). This foray and show is (are?) one of our major annual events, both in terms of exposure to the public and income.
Cathy reminds me that your membership in the IMA can also be leveraged if you want to become a member of the Botanic Gardens:

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When applying for membership at the Botanic Gardens, referring to yourselves as members of the Illinois Mycological Association allows you a $10 discount. If you are already a member, then remember this privilege the next time you renew your membership. Membership in the Botanic Gardens gets you free parking, discounts at their shops, and a 20% discount on School of the Botanic Garden classes.

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NAMA Annual Foray


The annual continent-wide foray of the North American Mycological Association is set for October 10-13th in Diamond Lake, Oregon. I know that not many of you are active in NAMA, but this looks to be a very edible-intensive foray: they are advertising the area, "beautiful Southern Oregon, near Crater Lake", as the "Land of the Matsutake and the Giant Golden Chanterelle". Now, that sounds downright appealing. Not much seems to be set yet besides the location, but if you have questions, you can email Planning Coordinator Lee Yamada at
yamacole@cruzio.com

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The resort's site is
http://www.diamondlake.net/
NAMA's page for the foray is
http://www.namyco.org/events/foray2002.html
I imagine that it will have more frequent updates on the foray than this newsletter will.

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More forays!


Other speakers for club meetings this Spring include John Shane (those of you who attended the joint meeting with the microscopic society heard him speak on his work with airborne mold spores) and Andy Methven from southern IL. We are also in the process of setting up a foray/lecture with Tom Volk for the fall. This may end up being a Friday + Saturday foray experience with Tom, who is one of the more interesting and knowledgeable mycologists around. Check out his famous website at one of the following URLs:http://www.wisc.edu/botany/fungi/volkmyco.html or
http://www.tomvolkfungi.net
Tom's long-awaited book will be out this Fall: over a thousand species, in color, with a CD-ROM with 5000 additional pictures. Now there's the modern approach to a field guide!

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More news as it breaks...
     

Book Review


by Ron Tracy

The winter months can be a difficult time for amateur mycologists who are often reduced to flipping through guidebooks, collecting mushroom stamps, or watching mold grow on refrigerator leftovers. A good book can provide a stimulating and pleasant alternative. In previous newsletters I have recommended In the Company of Mushrooms by Elio Schaechter (Harvard University Press, 1997) and Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds by George Hudler (Princeton University Press, 1998). They are still available and still good reads. Another very interesting book I can recommend is Morel Tales: The Culture of Mushrooming by Gary Fine (Harvard University Press, 1998). Fine is a member of the IMA but his book is largely based on his experiences with and study of the Minnesota Mycological Society in the 1990s. Morel Tales is different from the first two books mentioned above in that they are personal, anecdotal books for the general public. Morel Tales is a scholarly study of the interactions of people and nature that uses mushroomers as its main examples. General readers might find some of the more theoretical parts of the book a bit formidable but the fact remains this is a well-written book about people and how they interact with mushrooms and with each other and that makes it entirely different from any other mushroom book. Here are some examples from a book full of similar material.

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A chapter on "Meaningful Mushrooms" points out how mushrooming gives a focus to one's experience in nature and then goes on to a rather interesting account of mushroom morality! Anybody who has ever been on a foray will enjoy this section as mushroomers use factors such as edibility, rarity, and color to classify mushrooms as good or bad. The mycenas are tagged as "wood garbage" not worth the time to try to identify on most forays. Russulas and polypores also get the short end compared, for instance, to amanitas which are seen as bright, cheerful, stately and deadly. Fine mentions that the Minnesota group had a guy referred to as "the polypore man" because that was real focus of his and he was the only person in the group who had a serious interest in them. (Reminds one of Rael Bassan, the IMA's "slime mold man.") This same chapter deals with the taste of wild mushrooms. Are they really that good to eat or do they taste like anything else fried in butter? Fine concludes that the taste of wild mushrooms derives in part--a large part--from their "gatheredness," the actual hunting and gathering experience. One Minnesota M.S. member is quoted as saying "You can barbecue cardboard, if you put enough sauce on it."

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Photo of Russula compacta by Leon Shernoff
Russula compacta
The chapter on "Meaningful Mushrooms" is typical in that it presents a theoretical framework which is reinforced with numerous quotes, quips, and stories from mushroomers, which means there is a lot of humor in the book. For example, in a section dealing with mushroom identification as a shared activity at a foray Fine writes: "At tables that sometimes resemble altars and at other times, checkout counters, the faithful line up and the chanting begins: Russula brevipes, Pseudocolus schellenbergiae...etc. The laying on of names is an old and complex ritual uttered in Latin and administered by those who descend from an ancient apostolic tradition."

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I hope that I'm managing to convey the impression that mushroomers can find a lot to enjoy, identify with, and think about in Morel Tales. There are interesting discussions on the hierarchy of identifiers in mushroom groups, the use of storytelling to contribute to group identify, the purposes of leisure organizations such as amateur mushroom groups and how those purposes are fulfilled (such as the "mycorrhizal" relationship between amateurs and professionals as they pursue their different goals), and the significance of secrecy in groups : "One should describe the find for the enjoyment of one's colleagues, but provide little information as to its location. Novices must learn not to share too much." Fine has a long and insightful account on the naming of mushrooms. Whereas birders have a set of common names to work with and don't have to stumble over all the Latin, most mushrooms don't have common names and what common names there are vary by region and country. The scientific identification process is rather torturous and Fine presents an interesting example of the identification of a new species and the differences between scientists who want to lump more mushrooms into fewer categories versus those who think mushrooms should be split into more categories. "I ask [mycologist Kent McKnight] how many species of morels there are. 'That's difficult to answser,' he says. 'In France, fifty. Here, maybe five or six.' 'More morels in France?' I wonder. 'No,' he answers, 'more mycologists working on them.' "

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Morel Tales is a serious sociological study and the first few pages of theory in the introduction might leave the social studies novice wondering whether this is really a book for him/her. The fact is most of the book consists of a thorough look at the world of mushrooming as experienced by members of the Minnesota Mycological Society. Members of the IMA will readily identify with and smile over many of the situations and problems described. The book uses the information Fine acquired from the Minnesota group to support an analysis of how people in groups relate to nature and each other, a process Fine terms "naturework." This is a book about naturework as experienced by a lively group of mushroomers and I found it to be very enjoyable and thought-provoking reading. Morel Tales is available from Amazon.com or have your favorite bookseller order it. (Amazon does have some cheaper used copies available).

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Recipe of the Month:


Beef and Portobello Stew

Whenever you think of mushroom cookery in connection with our club, you of course think of Dennis Bukala. Denny, who thrills all of us by appearing at club meetings in his tall white chef's hat, has contributed many recipes to the newsletter over the years, and I'm happy to announce that the board has finally let me publish one of them. He sums up the recipe with "Beef and full-flavored mushrooms were made for each other."

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Pot Roast With Wild Mushrooms

Serves 4
3 pounds Chuck roast, boneless
1/2 cup Flour
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons Olive oil
1 medium Onion, sliced
1 teaspoon Garlic, minced
4 ounces Mushrooms (Portobello, shitake or oyster) sliced
6 ounces Beef broth

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Heat the oil in a heavy Dutch-type oven (that has a lid). Season the beef, dredge in the flour and brown well on both sides. Add the onion, garlic and mushrooms. Pour on the broth and stir well. Cover and place in a 325 oven. Simmer until very tender (about 2 1/2 hours). Serve warm.

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More recipes?


In fact, we have quite an archive (backlog?) of recipes here at the-office-that-everyone-who-has-edited-the-newsletter-in-the-past-five-year-has-sent-all-their-leftover-material-to. Maybe we'll do a special culinary issue of the newsletter next month (in honor of morel season). It's not enough that you'll all have cabin fever from being cooped up all winter: we'll flood the newsletter with recipes that drive you wild with culinary longing and send you raving through the woods! If you would like to contribute to this statewide disaster, send your favorite recipes to me, at the email on the front page, so that I can send them all in a huge pile to the next person to take over this job. Bon appetit!

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THE ILLINOIS MYCOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM



Image of Abbé Giacomo Bresadola from Curtis Gates Lloyd (1898 - 1925) Mycological Notes
Abbé Giacomo Bresadola
Give Mr. G. Bresadola something to SMILE about: RENEW today!
Annual dues of $20. for individual and $25. for family membership payable January 1 entitle you to receive the IMA Newsletter - published nine times a year - and to participate in all IMA activities. IMA meets at 7:30 p.m. in the North Park Village Nature Center on the first Monday of each month except January, February and July. Please refer to your newsletter or phone for dates of the September meeting.

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Name(s):______________________________________ Telephone:________________


Address:________________________________________________________________


_________________________________________________________________


E-Mail: _________________________________________________________________

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Please check one: __ New __ Changed __ Unchanged. Please mail your check payable to the Illinois Mycological Association with this form to Jim Lamb, 20W075 98 Street, Lemont, IL 60439

IMA members may join the North American Mycological Association at a discount. To join or renew NAMA, enclose a separate check for $32 payable to NAMA.

IMA members also receive a $10 discount on Chicago Botanic Garden memberships. On your membership application or renewal form, simply mention you’re a member of the Illinois Mycological Association to qualify.

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Terrorist Attack


…..On Wednesday, September 12, 2001, just barely hours following the terrorist attack on our country, John Komosa shared these messages that he received. John tells us, “I just want to share with you words of caring from two mushroom friends that I have established via Internet—two people who I don’t even know that, while on another continent, took time out to encourage us and express solidarity in these hard times. I’m sending the texts in their original “English”. (Each message is followed by John’s comments).

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“Hello, I would like to express to You and to Your country my deepest solidarity after the terrible attacks. I hope, You personally or Your family were not injured by the attacks.
With best regards       Anton Janecko”

Anton is a (mushroom) photographer from Slovakia.

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Dear Friend,
Sadness, sadness is everywhere here. Big tragedy was happened in U.S. We could not belief that this was happened in Your country. We are very, very sorry for thousands victims.
Anyway, those who are responsible for this, have to be punished and the end of the terorism must be put. Please deliver our sorrow for this tragedy to your frineds in U.S.

SincerelyYours

Lasko from Macedonia

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Lasko is a mushroom grower from Macedonia (former republic in Yugoslavia) who have their own hands full of war and suffering.
     

Upcoming Forays



Sunday, Sept. 30 at 10:00 AM Kettle Moraine South (Wisconsin) - joint foray IMA & WMS. See directions in the last issue. Central Wisconsin got a lot of moisture lately!
Friday, Oct. 12 at 12:00 noonSchiller Woods (Directions & map below) Collecting for next days microscopic class.
Saturday, Oct. 27 at 9:00 AMBachelor Grove (see page 3 for directions and map)
Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10:00 AMMoraine Hills State Park (see page 3 for directions and map) Help us check out this new location! The far north and westside IMAers deserve one foray in “their-neck-of-the-woods”, no??!


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Schiller Woods Foray




Schiller Woods is located on Irving Park Road (4000 north) between Des Plaines River Road and Cumberland Road just east of O’Hare Field. We will meet at Schiller Woods South.




Directions: (note that North is to the left on this map)

From the south—Exit I-294 at O’Hare Field onto I-90 going towards Chicago, exit onto Des Plaines River Road south to Irving Park Road (2 miles) and turn left onto Irving Park Road. The Schiller Woods entrance is on the right just past the river.

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From the north—Exit I-294 at Irving Park Road and go east on Irving Park Road to the Schiller Woods entrance just east of Des Plaines River Road and the river. The entrance is on the right (south) side.

From Cumberland Avenue, north or south -
Proceed to Irving Park Road. Take Irving Park Road west to the Schiller Woods entrance.
     

McCrone Research Institute Meeting Directions




The McCrone Research Institute is at 2820 South Michigan Ave., telephone (312) 842-7100.
Take an expressway to downtown, and just drive down Michigan Ave.



Please note that the building is set back from the street. It is a low building with vines growing on it. The driveway is on the north side of the complex.
The meeting will last from 9am to noon.
     

Bachelor Grove Foray




Directions to Bachelor Grove (part of Tinley Creek Woods)
----------------------------
Take Harlem Ave. (Rt.43) south to 143rd St. Make a left turn (east)
and go a few blocks to 1st park entrance on left hand (north) side.
     

Moraine Hills Foray





Directions to Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry, IL

From Chicagoland area take Il Rt. 12 or 59 northwest.
Then at Waucanda, take Rt. 176 west.
Before the town of Holiday Hills, take River Rd. north into the State Park.
Take a right at the 1st park entrance.

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Moraine Hills State Park


From angling to hiking, from viewing rare plants to observing migratory waterfowl, Moraine Hills State Park offers you a recreational bounty. Located in the northeast corner of Illinois, the park is 3 miles south of McHenry. McHenry Dam, on the Fox River, is on the park's western border. Roughly half of the park's 1,690 acres is composed of wetlands and lakes.

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Moraine Hills State Park: History


Artifacts found on the park property indicate man's presence in the area within 1,000 years of the Wisconsin glacier's retreat. Seasonal habitation of the park area extends back to approximately 4,000 B.C. Native American tribes that occupied or passed through the area include the Potawatomi, Sauk, Fox and possibly the Miami and Winnebago. The Sauk and Fox tribes, originally from what is now Canada, claimed ownership of the land at the time of white settlement.

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Horace Long was the first known settler in the park area and occupied a portion on what is now the southeast corner of the park. Part of the stone foundation from his cabin still stands along the main park road.

In 1907, the original McHenry dam was built and a hand operated lock was constructed. The facilities were donated to the people of Illinois in 1924 and construction of a new concrete block dam began in 1934. In the early 1960's, a portion of the park property on the west bank of the Fox River was provided for the locks and managed by the Division of Water Resources.

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In 1939, the State of Illinois made the initial land acquisition of 15 acres for the McHenry Dam State Park, located on the east bank of the Fox River. Major acquisition of the Lake Defiance area began in 1971, and construction of park facilities took place in the spring of 1975. The present Moraine Hills opened in October 1976.

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Moraine Hills State Park: Geological History


Moraine Hills derives its name from a geologic formation known as a moraine, which is an accumulation of boulders, stones and other debris deposited by a glacier. As glacial ice melted here following the Wisconsin glaciation period, it left gravel-rich deposits called kames that make up the park's wooded hills and ridges.

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Moraine Hills State Park: Natural Features


A 48-acre lake near the center of the park was formed when a large portion of ice broke away from the main glacier and melted. Lake Defiance is gradually filling in with peat from its unstable shoreline. The lake is one of the few glacial lakes in Illinois that has remained largely undeveloped, maintaining a near-natural condition.

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Pike Marsh, a 115-acre area in the southeast corner of the park, is home to many rare plants. Its outer fen area (a very rare marsh wetland) includes Ohio goldenrod, Kalm's lobelia, dwarf birch, and hoary willow, while cattails and bulrushes grow in its interior. Pike Marsh also supports one of the state's largest known colonies of pitcher plants, which attract, trap, and digest insects.

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The 120-acre region known as Leatherleaf Bog is an excellent example of kettle-moraine topography. In geological terms, a kettle is a depression formed when an isolated block of glacial ice melts. The bog consists of a floating mat of sphagnum moss and leatherleaf surrounded by a moat of water. Marsh fern, marsh marigold, St. John's wort, and several species of willow put down roots here. Because both Pike Marsh and Leatherleaf Bog are dedicated nature preserves, they are protected by law.

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Moraine Hills offers three examples of wetland enhancements. Yellow-head, Black Tern, and Opossum Run marshes are samples of what can be accomplished with a little help from man.
     

Moraine Hills State Park: Boating and Fishing


Fishing is available on both Lake Defiance and on the Fox River. Regulations are posted at both sites. To help preserve the natural state of Lake Defiance, and because of the dangerous peat shoreline, bank fishing is prohibited except from designated piers along the boardwalk. Private watercraft are not allowed, but rental boats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and electric trolling motors may be used.

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The McHenry Dam area provides access to the Fox River, and a fishing pier accessible to disabled visitors is available. While trailers are prohibited in the park, private boats may be brought in by car top for use on the river.
     

Moraine Hills State Park: Biking, Hiking, Skiing


More than 10 miles of trails make Moraine Hills popular for hikers, skiers and cyclists, and provide one of the park's main recreation features. Three trails, surfaced with crushed limestone, wind their way through the park and offer you exceptional scenic and wildlife viewing opportunities. Enjoy the 2-mile Fox River Trail, the 3.2-mile Leatherleaf Bog Trail, and the 3.7-mile Lake Defiance Trail. To keep you on track, trails are color coded and one way.

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IMA Potluck Cook Off October 13th - New Date!




Last year 19 lucky IMA members joined together to eat Puffball Soup a la Yarroll, Sweet & Sour Cabbage, Pickled Puffball plus Rye Bread & Butter by Bill Lahvic; Sautéed Shiitake finished with Sherry by Larry Bailey; Pickled Mushrooms, Breaded Puffball, and Czech Dumplings, Eggs & Mushrooms by Tony and Carmella Jandacek, Mushroom Risotto with Puffball Croutons by Leon Shernoff, Blueberry Cake and Shiitake Mushrooms in Brown Sauce by Catherine Lambrecht, and Tiramisu brought by Dominic Saettonne. Now it is your chance to join the fun!

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Where: United Moravian Societies, 2140 Wesley, Berwyn (just off 22nd Street).
When: October 13th - You can bring a dish prepared at home, or you may come as early as 4 pm to get your wild mushrooms double-checked by our experts and prepare them in the on-site kitchen.
Dinner will be at 6 pm.

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Bemis Woods Foray Report


Foray Report for Bemis Woods, Sept. 1, 2001
Submitted by Eileen Schutte & Leon Shernoff

The following species were identified at a very enjoyable foray held at Bemis Woods. Although Leon was not able to attend he examined as many saved specimens as possible and noted that “All in all, a very good percentage of correct identifications by the crew at the foray”. He also noted that “most of the things that they couldn’t identify are either things that I also can’t identify (without a lot of work) or things that I’m seeing for the first time. Special thanks to Harriet Yarroll for pointing out the blue staining reaction that allowed the identification of Tyromyces caesius.” Leon adds that several people also collected a “cup thingy that we get on oak leaves that’s shaped and colored like blueberry flowers but a little smaller. This is the third time we’ve gotten it, and the second collection that I have. I’m calling it a thingy because there’s some doubt as to whether it’s a fungus or not. Any input?”

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Photo of Amanita flavorubescens by John Denk
Amanita flavorubescens
Abortiporus biennis
Agaricus sp.
Amanita flavorubescens
Amanita muscaria formosa
Amanita rubescens
Amanita vaginata

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Photo of Boletus campestris by John Denk
Boletus campestris
Ascocoryne sp.
Auricularia auricula
Boletus campestris
Boletus subfraternus


Photo of Calvatia gigantea by John Denk
Calvatia gigantea
Calvatia gigantea
Cantharellus cibarius
Cortinarius violaceus
Crepidotus mollis
Entoloma sp.

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Photo of Ganoderma lucidum by John Denk
Ganoderma lucidum
Favolus alveolaris
Ganoderma applanatum
Ganoderma lucidum
Gyrodon merulioides
Gyroporus castaneus

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Image of Helvella lacunosa from Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck (1816 - 1817) Das System der Pilze und Schwämme
Helvella lacunosa

Helvella lacunosa
Hericium coralloides Hypomyces chrysospermus
Hypomyces hyalinus


Photo of Laccaria ochropurpurea by Leon Shernoff
Laccaria ochropurpurea
Laccaria ochropurpurea
Lactarius piperatus
Lactarius sp.
Laetiporus sulphureus
Lepiota acutesquamosa

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Photo of Lycoperdon echinatum by John Denk
Lycoperdon echinatum

Lepiota cristata
Lepiota rubrotincta
Leptonia sp.
Leucopaxillus albissimus
Lycoperdon echinatum

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Photo of Phellinus gilvus by John Denk
Phellinus gilvus

Lycoperdon perlatum
Mutinus elegans
Mycena haematopus
Nolanea
Peziza Phellinus gilvus

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Image of Russula virescens from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Russula virescens

Polyporus radicatus
Polyporus squamosus
Polyporus varius
Psathyrella candolleana
Psathyrella velutina
Russula virescens

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Image of Scleroderma citrinum from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Scleroderma citrinum
Sarcoscypha occidentalis
Scleroderma areolatum
Scleroderma cepa
Scleroderma citrinum

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Photo of Thelephora palmata by John Denk
Thelephora palmata

Spinellus fusiger (on Mycena haematopus)
Stereum complicatum
Stereum ostrea
Tarzetta cupularis
Thelephora palmata

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Photo of Trametes versicolor by John Denk
Trametes versicolor
Trametes conchifer
Trametes hirsuta
Trametes versicolor
Tremella mesenterica
Tremellodendron pallidum
Tyromyces caesius

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Deer Grove West Foray Report


Submitted by La Monte H. P. Yarroll
With additions & corrections by Dr. Patrick Leacock

Our annual foray at Deer Grove in preparation for our show at the Chicago Botanic Garden went nicely. We found over 105 species including some nice eye-catchers like Laetiporus cincinnatus (a sulphur-shelf look-alike), Omphalotus olearius (Jack-O-Lantern) and a couple very pretty examples of the unfamiliar phylum Zygomycota. In celebration of her birthday, Harriet Yarroll led this foray (with a little help from her Dad and Eileen Schutte). Leon Shernoff collected a small shopping-bag full of Entoloma abortivum for his evening snack. We had 16 people gathering specimens for the show. If anybody finds the attendance list in their collection baskets, Harriet's Dad would like his notebook back :-). Leon Shernoff kept a small army of label writers busy with identifications.

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A few of us then went to the East end of Deer Grove West looking for more Calvatia gigantea. We found a very mature 3 foot C. gigantea (sorry, no cameras in the group), a nice fruiting of Boletus campestris, a stark white viscid Hygrophorus sp. (like H. eburneus? but the stalk was not viscid), and some unidentified earthstars. La Monte took a few of the unknown specimens which did not make the cut for the Botanic Garden's show and identified six additional species. Leon, Eileen, and others brought the identified and unidentified fungi to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Pat Leacock met them there and made additional identifications.

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Here is the total list for Deer Grove - More than 105 species found.
     

Deer Grove Species: ASCOMYCOTA (6)



Photo of Aleuria aurantia by John Denk
Aleuria aurantia

Aleuria aurantia
Bisporella citrina
Hypomyces hyalinus
Peziza sp.
Xylaria longipes (These are huge--easily 10cm long!)
Unknown Hypocreales parasite on unknown fungus on wood

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Deer Grove Species: BASIDIOMYCOTA - - Gilled mushrooms and boletes (54)



Photo of Amanita abrupta by John Denk
Amanita abrupta

Agaricus cf. placomyces
Amanita abrupta
Amanita flavorubescens
Amanita GN274
Amanita virginiana
Amanita bisporigera

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Photo of Armillaria mellea by John Denk
Armillaria mellea
Armillaria mellea
Boletus campestris
Coprinus sp.
Cortinarius aff. alboviolaceus
Cortinarius about 3 spp.

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Photo of Cortinarius JD1 by John Denk
Cortinarius JD1
Crepidotus applanatus
Crepidotus crocophyllus
Entoloma abortivum on Armillaria mellea
Entoloma sp. (large)
Gymnopilus penetrans
Gymnopilus sapineus

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Image of Inocybe pyriodora from Jean Louis Émile Boudier (1904 - 1909) Icones mycologicae ou iconographie des champignons de France, principalement Discomycètes
Inocybe pyriodora
Gyrodon merulioides
Hygrocybe cf. acutoconica
Hygrophorus sp.
Inocybe caesariata
Inocybe pyriodora
Inocybe rimosa (= Inocybe fastigiata)

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Image of Lactarius glaucescens from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Lactarius glaucescens
Laccaria ochropurpurea
Laccaria cf. ohiensis
Lactarius glaucescens
Lactarius hygrophoroides
Lactarius luteolus
Lactarius maculatus
Lactarius cf. mutabilis

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Photo of Lactarius psammicola by John Denk
Lactarius psammicola

Lactarius psammicola
Lactarius quietus
Lactarius subvellereus var. subdistans
Lepiota americana
Lepiota procera

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Image of Mycena galericulata from Gotthold Hahn (1883) Der Pilz-Sammler oder Anleitung zur Kenntnis der wichtigsten Pilze Deutschlands und der angrenzenden Laender
Mycena galericulata
Mycena galericulata / Mycena inclinata
Mycena haematopus
Mycena sp. (Chlorine odor)
Omphalotus olearius Paragyrodon sphaerosporus

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Photo of Pholiota albocrenulata by John Denk
Pholiota albocrenulata
Pholiota albocrenulata
Pluteus cervinus
Psathyrella candolleana
Psathyrella velutina
Russula crustosa
Russula cyanoxantha

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Image of Russula foetentula from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Russula foetentula
Russula densifolia
Russula foetentula
Russula pectinatoides
Russula variata
Russula many unknown species

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Image of Strobilomyces floccopus from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Strobilomyces floccopus
Strobilomyces floccopus Tricholoma sp. (grey, with pinkish purple mycelium)
     

Deer Grove Species: BASIDIOMYCOTA - - Polypores, teeth fungi, and crust fungi (33)



Photo of Ganoderma lucidum by John Denk
Ganoderma lucidum
Abortiporus biennis (= Heteroporus biennis)
Gloeoporus dichrous
Climacodon septentrionale
Daedaleopsis confragosa (Thin-Walled Maze Polypore)
Ganoderma applanatum (Artist's conk)
Ganoderma lucidum (Lingh Chi)
Grifola frondosa (alien)

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Photo of Laetiporus cincinnatus by John Denk
Laetiporus cincinnatus
Hapalopilus nidulans
Hydnum repandum (Sweet Tooth) (alien)
Irpex lacteus (Milk-tooth polypore)
Laetiporus cincinnatus (Sulphur Shelf look-alike)

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Photo of Laetiporus sulphureus by John Denk
Laetiporus sulphureus
Laetiporus sulphureus (Sulphur Shelf) Phellinus gilvus(Oak Conk)
Phellinus sp. Phlebia tremellosa
Favolus alveolaris (= Polyporus alveolaris)
Polyporus elegans
Polyporus radicatus

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Photo of Stereum ostrea by John Denk
Stereum ostrea

Polyporus squamosus (Dryad's saddle)
Porodisculus pendulus
Schizophyllum commune
Stereum complicatum(orange)
Stereum ostrea (=S. fasciatum, =S. lobatum)
Thelephora palmata
Trametes conchifer

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Photo of Trametes versicolor by John Denk
Trametes versicolor
Trametes hirsuta (Hairy Turkey-tail)
Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail)
Trichaptum biforme
Tyromyces caesius (Blue-staining Cheese Polypore)
Tyromyces chioneus (Common Cheese Polypore)
Tyromyces fragilis (Rusty Cheese Polypore)
Sebacina incrustans

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Chanterelles and Coral fungi (1)



Image of Ramaria from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Ramaria
Ramaria sp. (Yellow)
     

Puffballs and other gasteromycetes (8)



Photo of Lycoperdon echinatum by John Denk
Lycoperdon echinatum

Calvatia gigantea
Cyathus striatus
Lycoperdon echinatum
Lycoperdon perlatum (Common Puffball)
Lycoperdon pyriforme (Pear-shaped Puffball) Scleroderma areolatum
Scleroderma cepa Scleroderma citrinum (Common Earthball)

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Jelly fungi (2)



Photo of Tremellodendron pallidum by John Denk
Tremellodendron pallidum
Tremella reticulata
Tremellodendron pallidum
     

ZYGOMYCOTA (1)



Photo of Spinellus fusiger by John Denk
Spinellus fusiger

Spinellus fusiger on Mycena haematopus

[Spinellus fusiger is one of a group of fungi parasitic on other mushrooms, whose fruiting bodies consist of long hairs with a tiny dark glob of spores at the end. You can see both the hairs (they're silvery here; different colored in other genera) and the globs, but it's hard to see them connected. - L. S.]

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Joint Meeting with the Illinois Microscopic Society — October 13th — 9 AM to Noon



Image of Inocybe from Jean Louis Émile Boudier (1904 - 1909) Icones mycologicae ou iconographie des champignons de France, principalement Discomycètes
Inocybe

IMA members love their fungi, the Microscopic Society loves their microscopes. Together we can share our enthusiasm and knowledge for our specialized interests.
Greg Mueller and Patrick Leacock will present, with the Microscopic Society’s Bill Mikuska, basic microscopic techniques for identifying fungi. Chemical tests will be made on fungi to reveal various characteristics which simplify identification in fungi difficult to distinguish visually.

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Image of Agaricaceae from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Agaricaceae

We expect this meeting to be a first-of rather than a one-of and hope you will bring fresh specimens collected in your favorite location before the meeting. There will be no IMA organized foray before this event, though we hope you will bring fresh specimens as well as dried. We would be especially pleased to see Agaricus, Amanita, Boletaceae, Lactarius, Lepiota and Russula -- and a spore print would be very nice addition ... though any fresh material will be appreciated.

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Where: McCrone Research Institute, 2820 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Tel: 312-842-7100 --- Please note this building is set back from the street. It is a low building with vines growing on it. The driveway is on the north side of the complex.
When: October 13th, 9 am to Noon

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Escape via mushrooms


Thanks to John Komosa for passing along this wonderful tale related by one of his Internet “friends”, Violet


Image of Leccinum aurantiacum from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Leccinum aurantiacum

Mushroom hunting has been a pastime in my family for generations. I remember, as a little girl, it being a wonderful time that the whole family spent together, traipsing slowly through the woods with baskets, sharing stories, picking berries and just plain being a family....not to mention the great exercise we all got. I was about 3-4 then....and my brother would slowly maneuver me to an area he had already spotted a leccinum or edulis in and let me "discover" it for myself. It taught me to look for specific kinds of woods and landscape for individual species. Often times the REAL treat at dinner was the mushroom and onion sauce from the day's foray....not the fresh chicken or sausage.

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Now, I'm gonna try to tell this story as best as I remember....it's a long one.

My grandfather told me the story of when my great grandfather and the entire family were prisoners of war in the gold mines of Siberia, Russia during WWII.

Life was grim. They lived in a 10 X 10 hole dug in the ground and were given a slice of bread per day to eat. During the summer they foraged for berries, greens and mushrooms as a source of food...those who knew how that is. Those from upper-class families did not know how to survive off of the earth. My family watched their friends and neighbors slowly dying around them...sometimes entire families.... from sickness, fatigue and starvation.

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In their 6th year, my great-grandfather decided to escape in early spring with the entire family... better to die trying than not try at all...he said. They traveled for 4 weeks through the Siberian tundra. In the middle of their journey, heavy snow fell and covered any and all means of sustenance. Starvation was on everyone's mind as they only had food for 2 or 3 more days...the cold weather would require more food. Grandpa told me how they could hear wolves in the background at night as if they were just
waiting for them to perish.

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Image of Boletus edulis from Eugen Gramberg (1913) Pilze unserer Heimat
Boletus edulis

As they huddled together under a makeshift branch tent, my grandmother took out a bag of dried mushrooms and herbs she'd been secretly gathering in the hems of her clothing and made them a pot (helmet) of warm mushroom soup which they dined on until they were able to travel again. She said they were "prawdziwki"...which are boletus edulis. She had gathered them on the way to and from the mines during the summer and fall so she had quite a big batch. She also dried some berries, which were a great source of much needed vitamins for them. They survived solely on the dried mushrooms, fruits and herbs.

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Everyone made it across the border....5 adults and 9 children.... one of them being my father.

It was the most wonderful story of survival I had ever heard....most importantly, those mushrooms may have had a lot to do with my very existence.

My grandmother passed away last year at 91 and my grandfather is still alive today...at 91... and still goes on forays with us whenever we visit.
     

IMA End of the Season Dinner


at the Bohemian Crystal
November 18th Noon to 4 PM

Bread Dumplings, Roast Duck, Pork Tenderloin, Mushroom Soup, Sweet Sauerkraut, Regular Sauerkraut and much more. Hmmmm, the mouth must be watering awaiting our annual feast. Mark your calendars and put aside interesting mushroom collectibles which you may want to donate for our raffle. Last year, someone brought an apple pie! We will have a raffle and party favors for everyone attending.
Time: Noon - Cash Bar, 1 PM: Lunch
Where: Bohemiam Crystal Restaurant, Cost: $16. per person paid by check.
Get your reservation in early!

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