Sam's Corner
First Quarter of 2002
Topics
Maine Mycological Association Foray
Fungi seen at Turner Center 8/11/01
Fungi seen at Ellen Greer's foray - 9/8/01
Field Trip, Raymond, ME - September 29, 01
Leo's Shangri-La - 10/13/00
Thank you wonderful people in MMA!
Maine Mycological Association Foray
Massabesic Environmental Forest June 30, 2001
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Ascomycetes:
Chlorosplenium aeruginosum
Hypocrea rufa: a parasite on birch polypore
Hypomyces on Suillus pictus
Hypomyces hyalinus on Amanita rubescens
Sepedonium brunneum
Basidiomycetes:
Amanita cecilae
Amanita flavoconia
Amanita fulva complex
Bjerkandera adusta
Boletes:
Austroboletus gracilis
Boletus badius
Boletus edulis
Boletus subluridellus (or b. subvelutipes?)
Tylopilus felleus
Tylopilus ferrugineus
Suillus spraguei
Cantharellus cibarius
Clavaria pyxidata
Collybia dryophila complex
Coltricia cinnamomea
Coltricia perennis
Entoloma spp. perhaps Nolanea lutea
Fomes fomentarius
Ganoderma applanatum
Ganoderma tsugae
Hapalopilus nidulans
Hygrophorus spp.
Inonotus radiatus on birch
Irpex lacteus
Lentinus lepideus
Lycoperdon pyriforme
Megacollybia platyphylla (Collybia platyphylla)
Phaeolus schweinitzii
Piptoporus betulinus
Pluteus cervinus
Russula - 3 spp. Collected; one is probably R. mariae
Scleroderma citrinum
Stropharia spp.
Trametes versicolor
Trichaptum biformis
Tyromyces lacteus
Xeromphalina campanella
Myxomycetes:
Arcyria denudata
Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa
Fuligo spp.
Stemonitis spp. (is it axifera, fusca, splendens? You can guess also)
Back to Gary Marshall's Favorite Habitat - The 4,000 acres in Sanford called the Massabesic Environmental Forest is an area with diverse habitats and magnificent gigantic white pine, hemlock and red oak.
The "pickings" were slim but we found some interesting species. The prizes for me included Hypocrea rufa, Sepedonium brunneum, Austroboletus gracilis, Boletus badius, Coltricia perennis, Hapalopilus nidulans, Inonotus radiatus, Lentinus lepideus, Phaeolus schweinitzii, and Xeromphalina campanella.
Let me share some interesting details about these species. Hypocrea rufa is an unusual ascomycete that inhabits older specimens of the birch polypore. This find was a remarkable coincidence since Cheryl discovered it during the taping of Sam's video - which rated a joyful "Holy Cow!!" on tape. When Cheryl found it, it looked like a large wrinkled yellow blister. There is a photo in the Swiss volume on ascomycetes.
Sepedonium brunneum is the resting=imperfect=chlamydospore stage of Hypomyces completus. It covers the pores of Suillus pictus with a brown powdery film and is rare. I am offering $2 for a sample.
Astroboletus gracilis has been in three other genera viz. Tylopilus. It has pinkish tan spores that are pitted, as are other species in the genus. I call it the graceful (gracilis) bolete.
Boletus badius (badius = bad) It made five people sick five years ago. It is one of the few boletes that grow on rotted wood. It has a brownish cap and stem and pale pores that turn green when scratched.
Coltricia perennis is one of the few thin stipitate poroids found on soil along well traveled logging roads. Its first cousin is C. cinnamomea, which has a pileus with a velvety sheen.
Hapalopilus nidulans is a small soft, orange brown dimidiate poroid. Hosts are red maple, birch and beech. Its flesh turns lavender in KOH and makes a rich lavender dye.
Inonotus radiatus is frequently missed. Grows in small, numerous shelves that are brown with concentric radiations on pileus. Hosts are alder, birch and willow.
Lentinus lepideus is called the train wreck fungus since it decays railroad ties. But it is also common on freshly cut white pine stumps. Whitish pileus with brown scales, serrated gills, slightly decurrent.
Phaeolus schweinitzii. Everyone should learn this unique polypore because of its dramatic changes from day 1 to day 33. Dorothy Spaulding described at the annual meeting.* It is a good dye source. It grows large on wounds in living white pines, on dead white pine and on the roots like a huge brown pancake with a stipe.
Xeromphalina campanella is a beautiful tiny gilled fungus with dimpled tan pileus, tan decurrent gills and thin fuzzy dark brown stipe. It grows in large numbers (200-400) on hemlock stumps. *see the following issues for details: Oct. 93, 98, 00, 7/99 and 1/00
Fungi seen at Turner Center 8/11/01
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Slimes: Fuligo septica, Stemonitis splendens
Ascomycetes: Daldinia concentrica, Hypomyces hyalinus, Hypoxylon fragiforme, Powdery mildew - microsphaera spp., Ustulina deusta
Basidiomycetes: Daedaleopsis confragosa, Entoloma sp., Leptonia spp., Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis cajanderi, Fomitopsis pinicola, Ganoderma tsugae, Hapalopilus nidulans (=H. rutilans), Inonotus obliquus, Lactarius vellereus - very bitter and dry, Lenzites betulinus, Lycoperdon pyriforme - dry, sporulated Marasmius rotula, Oxyporus populinus, Phellinus igniarius, Piptoporus betulinus, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Scleroderma citrinum, Trametes versicolor, Tremellodendron sp.?, Tylopilus felleus
Brought from home by Cheryl and a few others: Amanita fulva complex, Cantharellus tubaeformis, Clavaria sp., Hypomyces lactifluorum, Lactarius igniarius group, Lenzites betulinus, Lepiota sp., Entoloma murraii (=Nolanea murraii), Scleroderma citrinum, Tylopilus ferrugineus (or indecisus)
Turner Center was a fascinating geological place which we must visit during less xerophytic conditions. I will comment on the following: Hypomyces embalms amanitas particularly A. rubescens. The embalmed transformation is whitish or purple in its perfect sporulating stage. It takes a phallic shape. Powdery mildews resemble white fuzz on leaves in the imperfect stage. The perfect stage resemble black buckshot called cleistothecia=enclosed fruiting. When broken open they contain 1-8 asci. The outside of the cleistothecia have diagnostic decorations. Check several books.
Ustulina deusta: This charcoal ascomycete is a 4th cousin of "dead lady’s fingers", Xylaria. It is common on dead wood. It comes in two colors and morphological forms. In is imperfect (anamorph) stage it is flat and white. As it begins to transform to the perfect (teliomorph) stage it becomes gray and then black as the black ascospores mature. Find some and cut one open. See my photograph in the Audubon guide.
Hapalopilus nidulans is a small soft tawny polypore resembling a colored Tyromyces. It grows on birch and red maple. Its diagnostic field character is the pileus and pores turning lavender in KOH. It produces a lavender dye and is a prize sought by dyers.
Marasmius rotula. Everyone should look at this exquisitely designed tiny entity that resembles a white parachute with a thin black stipe and free gills. They colonize twigs and persist for months when dried.
Fungi seen at Ellen Greer's foray - 9/8/01
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Ascomycetes: Leotia viscosa, **Pachyella sp. either babingtonii or clypeata?, Peziza sp.
Basidiomycetes : Agaricus brunnescens, Amanita ceciliae, Amanita fulva complex, Boletus subglabripes, **Chalciporus piperatus, Cantharellus cibarius, Cantharellus ignicolor, Cantharellus tubaeformis, Cantharellus xanthopus, Clitopilus prunulus, Crepidotus mollis - C. fulvotomentosus, **Crepidotus nyssicola (brought by Cheryl from home), Daedaleopsis confragosa, Entoloma murraii, Entoloma salmoneum, Favolus alveolaris, Fomitopsis subrosea, Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, Hygrophorus cantharellus, Hygrophorus marginatus, Hygrophorus puniceus, Hypholoma sublateritium, Lactarius aquifluus, **Lactarius chrysorheus, Lactarius lignyotus, Leccinum holopus, Leccinum scabrum, Lenzites betulina, Mycena epipterygia var. lignicola, **Omphalia lilacifolia, Paxillus involutus, **Pholiota aurivella, Pholiota squarrosa, **Pluteus salicinus, **Pluteus seticeps, Poria spp., Trametes versicolor, **Tricholoma flavovirens (T. equestre)
Myxomycetes: **Arcyria stipata, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa
** denotes "special"
Despite the very dry summer we found over 50 species. Here are some notes on the interesting finds. Pachyella species - this is an interesting brownish peziza-like entity. It is "pancake-like" instead of saucer-like and has a stiff wrinkled surface. Conceptually it does not fit the common cup or saucer shaped Peziza ascomycetes. Amateurs do not associate it with a Peziza.
Chalciporus piperatus - chalci = copper. At one time it belonged in the self respecting genus Boletus. It has 3 distinguishing field characteristics, i.e. pores are "copper red", has a yellow base and its species name indicates it is peppery. It is also one of the smallest boletes. Its look alike is rubinellus without the yellow base.
Crepidotus mollis once had a very diagnostic name - fulvotomentosus, which says it has a brown scaly pileus. Why did the "eggheads" change it to the nondescript mollis!! Woe is me!
Lactarius chrysorheus is one of the species in the genus where the milk changes color when the gills or cap is cut; in this case, yellow, and the milk is very hot. Its look alike is vinaceorufescens. Check in Audubon.
Pluteus salicinus is a small species with a bluish stem, and sometimes a bluish pileus. And if it is a Pluteus, the gills should be free and the spore print pink.
But the very special find was the very rare Omphalia lilacifolia. It resembles a mycena with a yellow green umbilicate cap and decurrent violet gills and stem. In Audubon it might fit in the genus Omphalina or Rickenella.
P.S. Cheryl also brought the very rare Crepidotus nyssicola. We now have 4 locations in Maine for this species that was originally from Florida. Its species name tells us it was first found on black gum, which is in the genus Nyssa.
Field Trip, Raymond, ME - September 29, 01
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Ascomycetes: **Hypoxylon fragiforme (growing with Nectria)
Basidiomycetes: Agaricus brunnescens, Agaricus campestris, **Antrodia spp., Cantharellula umbonata, Crucibulum laeve, Flammulina velutipes, Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, **Laxitextum bicolor, Lepiota naucina, Lepiota procura, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon pyriforme, Merulius tremellosus, Mycena alcalina, Naematoloma capnoides, Naematoloma sublateritium, Panellus stipticus, Pluteus cervinus, **Resupinatus applicatus, **Steccherinum ochraceum, Stereum gausapatum, Suillus americanus, **Volvariella bombycina
** denotes "special"
The Raymond Egypt Road foray was a combination of foray and feast!! After the foray Marcia Howell, Ann Rugh and special cooks prepared a special treat of delectable food.
Nectria is a genus of ascomycetes that is parasitic on many plants. It is the cause of wound canker in maple, beech and sassafras. It has an imperfect stage called Tubercularia, which resembles reddish brown pimples on many twigs. It also parasitizes other fungi such as Hypoxylon fragiforme. We were very lucky to find it.
Antrodia is a poroid fungus that may resemble the "toothed" Irpex. Look for it.
Laxitextum bicolor is a soft species of Stereum. Soft because it does not have the "stiff" hyphae in the context. When you find a Stereum-like fungus with a white hymenium (under surface) and a banded upper pileus - feel it. It should be pliable.
We found a large log covered by hundreds of the tiny dark gray Pleurotus applicatus, which is now in the genus Resupinatus. Under the hand lens it was very beautiful. I am not sure why it belongs in the genus Resupinatus.
Steccherinum ochraceum is a beautiful orange (= ochraceum) tooth fungus that was in the genus Hydnum. It grows in long sheets with a short pileus, on deciduous species.
Volvariella bombycina is a spectacular pink spored entity with free gills and a very large volva - like Amanita caesarea.. It is related to species of Amanita in the section vaginatae. Ask Michaeline to show this trophy species.
Leo's Shangri-La - 10/13/00
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Thirty people convened at Leo's retreat including seven children, one an infant transported by its mother papoose style. Despite the drought, the seekers returned with a plethora of mycological wonderments totaling 75.
The jewels included big clusters of Stropharia hornemannii and S. rugosoannulata. Also Polyporus brumalis, pale blue Cortinarius, ten clusters of Hydnum (Hericium) coralloides, Aleuria aurantia, Armillaria mellea, Armillaria ostoyae, Cerrena unicolor, Clavaria pyxidata, Lepista nuda, Collybia butyracea, Cortinarius semi sanguineus, cinnamomeus, croceofolius, Lycoperdon pyriforme, Mycena leaiana, Naematoloma capnoides, Oxyporus populinus (giant specimen), Lactarius hibbardae, Lactarius tormenosus, Lepiota naucina, Stropharia hornemannii, Trichaptum biformis, Tricholoma aurantium, Tricholomopsis decora, Tyromyces caesius, Sepedonium brunneum, Metatrichia vesparium and Scorias spongiosum.
Let me tell a story of some of the listed entities that reflect some interesting anatomical, cytological, habitat, or life history aspect. Stropharia hornemannii Belongs to a genus with purplish spores such as N. sublateritium. Spores are thick walled, have an apical pore and the gills have chrysocystidia. What are chrysocystidia you ask? We found an unusually large number of Polyporus brumalis. Its favorite hosts are alder, birch and maple and it is one of the few small poroid fungi with a central stipe that grows on wood. Its beautiful velvety pileus makes interesting trinkets when dried - find it young. Aleuria aurantia: the orange peel "peziza" that has beautifully embossed spores and is found in very large numbers in peculiar habitats i.e. logging roads, outwash deltas and under old houses that have been removed. Read the tall tales in previous Sam's Corners.
Lepista nuda = Clitocybe nuda. This large beautiful blue entity has pinkish buff spores, can be mistaken for a Cortinarius viz. alboviolaceus, aggregatus, that have brown spores and an arachnoid veil. Habitat: compost piles in the fall. Good edible.
Lepiota naucina is a fall lawn pedigree that mimics species of Agaricus viz. Free gills that begin white and turn pink. The spores, however, are white and dextrinoid in melzers. A good field character: stipe turns blackish when handled.
Tyromyces caesius (bluish) is the only poroid with blue allantoid spores. Look up description and hosts.
Sepedonium brunneum is the "resting" imperfect stage (anamorph) of Hypomyces. Its favorite host is Suillus pictus, as its descriptive trivial name states, it covers the pores with brown spores.
Scorias spongiosum. Scorias is a remarkable fungus. It is associated with the fascinating woolly aphid on alder and beech. It is in the genus Prociphilus. These aphids secrete "woolly" wax oxidates that coat the colony so they are constantly shimmering. Since they feed with hypodermic like mouth parts they excrete the extra liquid as "honeydew" = sweet sap from the host. The fungus in its imperfect sage uses the honeydew as a food medium. It forms a spongy pink substrate. The black sooty hocus-pocus transforms into Scorias - the perfect ascomycetous stage that eventually embalms the aphids into a charcoal mass. Remarkable black magic. I have seen one infestation on beech that formed charcoal masses on the trunk and many of the branches. Houdini and Blackstone appear like amateurs. As Grey said, "Not all that tempts the listless hearts and wandering eyes is lawful prize. Nor all that glistens gold." Our last entity is a remarkable slime mold Metatrichia vesparium. This is one of my favorites because of its unusual geometry, burgundy colored spores and the beautifully decorated capillitia. It is called the multi-goblet slime. Four to six saltcellar peridia are tied at the apex and have a circumscissle lid which "lifts" to release the spores - plus elastic capillitia. For another reason it is a monotypic genus.
Thank you wonderful people in MMA!
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You not only brought gifts in many forms but you also shared some of your mycological wonderments and 13 of you came to the annual Sam Ristich Foray in Amherst, MA. With your gifts of the remarkable Swiss volumes, I now have the full set. These are remarkable for several reasons - (1) the photographs are excellent (2) the microscopic drawings are very good.
The annual foray was one of the best in many years, i.e., (1) over 300 spp. were collected (2) 55 were not recorded before (3) the workshops were very helpful. Those who came could see an enormous number in only three days.
Despite the most xerophytic summer and fall in 20 years some people found mycological gems - Cheryl found another site for the very rare Crepidotus nyssicola. I found a remarkable number of the orange peel ascomycete Aleuria aurantia. There were 200 specimens on a logging road. The same area had a strange LBM Tubaria furfuracea. There were hundreds.
You have brought me considerable happiness. I am grateful.
Happy Sam!