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Featured MushroomsThis page contains a record of the mushrooms which were formerly featured on the front page of the website. What's up in August?
Omphalotus illudens, commonly known as the Jack o'Lantern mushroom, is an orange- to yellow-gill mushroom that to an untrained eye appears similar to some chanterelles, and is most notable for its bioluminescent properties. Unlike the chanterelle, the Jack o'Lantern mushroom is poisonous. While not lethal, consuming this mushroom leads to very severe cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Complicating its toxicity is the fact that it smells and looks very appealing, to the extent that there are reports of repeat poisonings from individuals who were tempted to try them a second time. Its bioluminescence is only observable in low light conditions when the eye becomes dark-adapted. The whole mushroom doesn't glow — only the gills do so. This is due to an enzyme, called luciferase, acting upon a compound called luciferin, leading to the emission of light much as fireflies do when glowing. Unlike the chanterelle, the Jack o'Lantern has true, sharp, non-forking gills; this is possibly the simplest trait for distinguishing between the two. There is some debate about whether this mushroom and its western companion Omphalotus olivascens are simply North American forms of the European Jack O'Lantern, Omphalotus olearius. Further Online Information:
Omphalotus olearius at Tom Volk's Fungi What's up in July?
Cantharellus lateritius, commonly known as the smooth chanterelle, is a species of edible fungus in the Cantharellaceae family of mushrooms. Their fruit bodies are brightly colored yellow to orange, and usually highly conspicuous against the soil in which they are found. At maturity, the mushroom resembles a filled funnel with the spore-bearing surface along the sloping outer sides. The fertile undersurface (hymenium) of the caps is a distinguishing feature as unlike the golden variety these are nearly smooth. This species is found in North America, Africa, Malayia, and India. The specific name lateritius means "bricklike", and refers to the smooth hymenium. What's up in May?
Morchella esculenta, (commonly known as morel, yellow morel, common morel, true morel, morel mushroom, and sponge morel) is a species of fungus in the Morchellaceae family of the Ascomycota. It is one of the most readily recognized of all the edible mushrooms and highly sought after. Each fruit body begins as a tightly compressed, grayish sponge with lighter ridges, and expands to form a large yellowish sponge with large pits and ridges raised on a large white stem. The pitted yellow-brown caps measure 2–7 cm (0.8–2.8 in) broad by 2–10 cm (0.8–3.9 in) tall, and are fused to the stem at its lower margin, forming a continuous hollow. The pits are rounded and irregularly arranged. The hollow stem is typically 2–9 cm (0.8–3.5 in) long by 2–5 cm (0.8–2.0 in) thick, and white to yellow. The fungus fruits under hardwoods during a short period in the spring, depending on the weather, but it is also associated with old orchards, woods, disturbed grounds and burnt areas. Habitat and ecology of morels: Recent studies indicate that morels are sometimes mycorrhizal with elm and apple trees. Trees commonly associated with morels include ash, sycamore, tulip tree, dead and dying elms, cottonwoods and old apple trees (remnants of orchards). Yellow morels (Morchella esculenta) are more commonly found under deciduous trees rather than conifers, and black morels (Morchella elata) can be found in deciduous forests, oak and poplar. Morels in western North America are often found in coniferous forests, including trees in the genera Pinus, Abies, Larix, and Pseudotsuga, as well as in cottonwood riparian forests.
What's up in April?
Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushrooms closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them. These ascocarps are prized by gourmet cooks, particularly for French cuisine. Commercial value aside, morels are hunted by thousands of people every year simply for their taste and the joy of the hunt. The American state of Minnesota has adopted the morel as its state mushroom. The Mushroom Expert website describes Morchella angusticeps is a rare morphological species with the stature of a black morel and the colors of a yellow morel, not documented since Peck's collection (Bulletin of the New York State Museum (1882; 2: 19)). The site also features a section on Classic Black Morels, and another name for black morels is Morchella elata. Habitat and ecology of morels: Recent studies indicate that morels are sometimes mycorrhizal with elm and apple trees. Trees commonly associated with morels include ash, sycamore, tulip tree, dead and dying elms, cottonwoods and old apple trees (remnants of orchards). Yellow morels (Morchella esculenta) are more commonly found under deciduous trees rather than conifers, and black morels (Morchella elata) can be found in deciduous forests, oak and poplar. Morels in western North America are often found in coniferous forests, including trees in the genera Pinus, Abies, Larix, and Pseudotsuga, as well as in cottonwood riparian forests.
What's up in March?
Sarcoscypha austriaca is the eastern cousin of Sarcoscypha coccinea. Macroscopically they appear to be the same, but microscopically they are distinct. The fruiting body consists of a cup with a smooth scarlet red upper surface which fades with age and a whitish underside with tiny hairs that can be observed with a hand lens. The cup is broad shaped and can range from 2-5cm in diameter. The specimen may have a rudimentary stem up to 3cm in length, or it may be absent. Sarcoscypha austriaca is present in hardwood forests east of the Rocky Mountains whereas Sarcoscypha coccinea is found in the Pacific Northwest. These saprobic fungi grow on decaying branches in damp spots on forests floor, and their fruit bodies are usually found during cooler months like winter and early spring.
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