BULLETIN OF THE PUGET SOUND MYCOLOGICALSOCIETY
Number 339, February 1998
Electronic Edition is published monthly, September through Juneby the
Puget Sound Mycological Society
Center for Urban Horticulture, Box 354115
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
(206) 522-6031
Agnes A. Sieger, Editor
Dick Sieger, HTML Editor
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, February 10th, at 7:30 PM at the Center for UrbanHorticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle.
Our guest speaker for February is Dr. Cathy Cripps of MontanaState University. The title of her talk is “Mushrooms of RockyMountain Aspen Forests.”
The vast aspen forests covering thousands of acres in the RockyMountains support a unique mycoflora of larger fleshy fungi,including litter decomposers, wood rotters, mycorrhizal fungi, andchoice edibles! You’ll hear about them all in this slidepresentation, which reveals how the ecologies of mushrooms and
Cathy is an adjunct assistant professor at Montana StateUniversity in Bozeman, where she teaches mycology and a summercourse on the identification of Rocky Mountain mushrooms. Shecompleted her Ph.D. at Virginia Polytechnic Institute withwell-known mycologist Orson K. Miller, Jr. Her research interestsfocus on the biodiversity of montane mushrooms, in particular,mycorrhizal fungi of aspen stands, the genus Inocybe,mycorrhizal fungi for reclamation, and alpine mushrooms.
If your last name begins with the letters L–P, please bringa plate of refreshments for the social hour.
CALENDAR
Feb. 10 Membership meeting, 7:30 PM, CUH
Feb. 13–16 NAMA foray, Pacific Grove, California
Feb. 16 Board Meeting, 7:30 PM, CUH Board Room
Feb. 20 Spore Prints deadline
Mar. 3 Banquet registration deadline
Mar. 13 Survivors’ Banquet and annual meeting, 6:30 PM(dinner 7:30–9:00 PM), Lake City Elks Club
BOARD NEWS Agnes Sieger
PSMS assets at the end of 1997 were about the same as at the end1996. A motion was carried to add $3600 to the Building FundInvestment for 1997 and henceforth put in $200 per month. Flowerand Garden Show Chair Lynne Elwell suggested a video showing at thebooth. Membership Chair Bernice Velategui is still signing up newand renewal memberships. We now have 720 active members. The MarchSpore Prints will not be sent to lapsed members. PatriceBenson is finishing up the membership roster. The dinner selectionwill be chicken, fish, or vegetarian. The spring and fall fieldtrips have been planned. However, hosts are needed for alltrips.
The 1998 Survivors’ Banquet will be March 13 at the LakeCity Elks Club. Instead of a speaker, we will have an horsd’oeuvre table before the dinner. The cost is $25.00 perperson. There will be a $100 door prize.
DISTURBING RUMORS DENIED ABOUT THE 1998 SURVIVORS’BANQUET D.V. Corey
There are rumors circulating that publicity for TheWorld’s Greatest Annual Mushroom Society Banquet isstooping to new lows. These accusations are completely withoutfoundation!
The PSMS annual banquet, the most famous on the WestCoast, will be held at the Lake City Elks Club on Friday,March 13. There will be hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, andconversation from 6:30 to 7:30 PM with Madonna and David Arora autographing free copies of theirlatest books in the lobby. During dinner the 1998 GoldenMushroom recipient will be honored, and the results of the Februaryelections will be announced. An after dinner speech will begiven by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger onmyco-politics.
If you are a new member and have doubts about coming to a dinneror a stuffy old member, just pull up your socks and make areservation at the February members meeting or by calling BerniceVelategui. Do not wait for the March 3rd deadline. It would betoo sad to think you missed shaking hands with Lou Whittaker,especially when the ticket price was reduced from $72 to $25through a generous grant by Paul Allen, an avid mushroomer. YouOwe It to Yourself To Come!
There is a meat, fish, or vegetarian choice when you buy yourticket. Water and tea are provided. Bring your own libation. Thesocial hour starts at 6:30 PM. Several excellent door prizes willbe awarded at 7:00 PM. Dinner is 7:30–9:00 PM. The Banquetreplaces the March membership meeting. If you have dried or frozenmushrooms to donate, please bring them to Corey at the Februarymeeting.
MEET SCOTT AND KATHLEEN CHASE Inga Wilcox
What do you do when you see lots of mushrooms and don’tknow what they are? You join PSMS, of course. That is just whatScott and Kathleen did when they noticed many fungi on their CamanoIsland property. At the 1990 exhibit they signed up and promptlytook basic and intermediate classes presented by Dr. Benjamin. Nowthey participate in forays and, armed with David Arora’sMushrooms Demystified tome, progress in their studies.Related studies of trees, grasses, and flowers are on theirlist.
On one foray Scott got turned around while Kathleen returned tothe car, blowing her whistle diligently. Scott was sure the shotshe heard were not from fellow mushroomers and did get back to thecar. Another time they kept their eyes truly focused on the groundwhen eventually they looked up to find themselves in acres andacres and big, luscious blueberries.
Both Scott and Kathleen enjoy cooking. One of their favoritedishes is English pasties done with fresh chanterelles. They dryboletes for the more intense flavor. Their property yields Oystermushrooms, Agaricus augustus, lots of puffballs and jellymushrooms in the grass. They like Wandering & Feasting: AWashington Cookbook by M. H. Caditz for mushroom recipes andregional cuisine.
Both are natives of Seattle and engaged in the real estatebusiness. Kathleen served in the Navy: 3 years on active duty and21 years in the reserves. She retired as Lt. Commander. She servedin Virginia and in Vancouver and Victoria as Liaison Officer to theCanadian Navy. Scott enjoys refinishing and rebuilding and is nowbusy finishing the house they are building on Camano. Timepermitting, they enjoy the beach, boating, crabbing, and clamming.Whenever they travel they keep an eye out for fungi.
ELECTION
This year we are voting for a President, Treasurer, and fiveTrustees. Please read the following profiles carefully and markyour choices on the ballot enclosed in your printed edition of thenewsletter. Return your ballot to “PSMS Election,” 1916North 49th Street, Seattle, WA 98103. A ballot box will also beavailable at the February meting. Each family membership isentitled to two votes, and each individual membership to onevote.
Doug Ward, President
As your president, I would work to continue and to enhance thegains made in the past while working on the retention of first-timemembers, increasing active member participation in the variousprograms, and searching for ways for PSMS to become active in newcommunity activities.
Lynn Phillips, Treasurer
A PSMS member since 1986, I am particularly interested in ecologyand legislation, cultivation, and mycophagy. I have previouslyserved on the Board of Trustees and as Field Trip Chair, AnnualExhibit Co-Chair, and Vice President. I look forward to continuingto serve PSMS as your new Treasurer.
Jim Berlstein, Trustee
I am a big fan of poisonous and hallucinogenic mushrooms.Washington is home to a veritable fungal pharmacy, with powerfulchemicals lurking in the woods to ambush the unwary. As a mushroomsociety, it is up to us to arm people with as extensive a knowledgeof mushroom toxicology as possible.
Steven Bell, Trustee
I see this as the next step in my continuing involvement in PSMS.My main interests are the PSMS web site, which I am currentlymaintaining, education, and helping new members.
Lynne Elwell, Trustee
I was introduced to Northwest mushrooms with a dinner ofchanterelles while camping several years ago. Since joining PSMS, Ihave gained knowledge, enjoyed the camaraderie on field trips, madefriends, and just had fun. I’d like to know that fungi and thenatural world will be there for the next generation to enjoy.
Ron Pyeatt, Trustee
Since joining PSMS in 1996, I have been less involved than desired.Society resources, members, and activities are unmatched. I feelthat basic education, identification, and participationopportunities for newer members should be enhanced, leading to moreactive and involved members. I welcome the opportunity toserve.
D.V. Corey, Trustee
I have enjoyed being the Trustee alternate this past year andhelping on several projects, including the mushroom show and thefall foray. I will continue to look for new ways to boost interest,incorporate new members, and lower property taxes.
Dan Tanabe, Trustee
A PSMS member since 1991, when I retired after 36 years at Boeing,I enjoy tennis, salmon fishing, regular workouts at the BellevueAthletic Club, and ballroom dancing,. As the outgoing PSMSTreasurer, I look forward to continuing to serve PSMS on the Boardof Trustees.
Dave Cole, Trustee
CHANTERELLE STUDY AWARD Ron Post
In 1994–1995 volunteers from PSMS participated in the USDAForest Service’s “Man in the Biosphere” chanterellestudy on the Olympic Peninsula. In February, David Pilz of theForestry Sciences laboratory at Oregon State University inCorvallis will attend the membership meeting to present acertificate of appreciation to PSMS and talk about the study.
MUSHROOM OF THE MONTH Joanne Young
Kudos to Sara Clark for presenting the first “Mushroom ofthe Month” talk at the January meeting. The inaugural mushroomwas Pseudohydnum gelatinosum. Sara will present a secondmushroom in February, and after that it’s up to you!“Mushroom of the Month” can be a five-minute presentationon a single species of mushroom or a comparison between two look alikes. There are still thousands of species to choose from, butdon’t wait! To present your favorite mushroom at a futuremeeting, call Joanne.
MUSHROOMS NEEDED FOR THE BANQUET
We need as many mushrooms for the banquet as you are willingto contribute. Morels, chanterelles, Boletus edulis, and shiitakeare welcome. Please bring dried or frozen mushrooms to Corey at theFebruary meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND SPECIAL THANKS Brandon Matheny
This past year the following people have dutifully andenthusiastically conducted mushroom identification classes offeredat PSMS. This means evenings after work and away from family (or achance to get away from the family?) to donate their expertise andtime. In alphabetical order they are Dennis Benjamin, PartriceBenson, Sara Clark, Coleman Leuthy, and Dick Sieger.
PSMS is fortunate to have such a core group of local experiencedenthusiasts.
VIDEOGRAPHER NEEDED
PSMS needs one or more persons to videotape the programs at themembership meetings. Call Joanne Young.
FAIRY RINGS Spores Illustrated,Connecticut/Westchester Mycological Society, August 1997, viaMycelium, Newsletter of the Mycological Society ofToronto
The name fairy ring comes from an old folktale. People oncebelieved that mushrooms growing in a circle followed the path madeby fairies dancing in a ring. Fairy rings are found in open grassyplaces and in forests.
In grass, the best known fairy ring fungus is Marasmius oreades. The body of thisfungus, its mycelium, is underground. It grows outward in a circle.As it grows, the mycelium uses up all the nutrients in the soil,starving the grass. This is the reason a fairy ring has dead grassover the growing edge of the mycelium. Umbrella-shaped fruitingbodies, called mushrooms, spring up from just behind the outer edgeof the mycelium.
Large rings are created when the older mycelium in the centerfinally exhausts the soil nutrients and dies. On the death of thecentral mycelium, the nutrients are returned to the soil and grasscan grow again.
The living edge of the mycelium continues to grow outward. As itgrows, it secretes chemicals into the ground ahead. These chemicalsbreak down the organic matter, releasing nutrients so that themycelium will have food when it reaches this area. For a brieftime, the grass at the outer edge of the ring also benefits. Theextra nutrients make the grass darker green, taller, and thickerthan the rest of the lawn or pasture. This lush grass dies when themycelium grows under it and steals the nutrients.
Fairy rings made by fungi like Marasmius oreades arecalled “free” rings. They will continue to grow outwarduntil a barrier is reached. Sometimes the barrier is another fairyring! Rings can grow into each other’s territory and die aseach reaches the other’s “dead zone.”
If there are no barriers, free rings can grow outward up to 8inches per year. They can reach a diameter of over 30 feet. Onering formed in France by the fungus Clitocybe geotropa isalmost a half mile in diameter. This ring is thought to be 700years old.
Mycorrhizalfungi, which live in symbiotic partnership with trees, alsoform fairy rings. Their rings are called “tethered”rings. A tether is like a leash. The fungus and its mycorrhizalpartner tree need each other to survive. The mycelium of thesefungi always remain joined to the tree’s roots. Roots are the“tether” that keeps the fairy rings of mycorrhizal fungifrom growing too far from their tree.
ENDANGERED SPECIES STAMPS
Six stamps featuring European endangered species were issued byRoyal Mail in Britain. Presentation pack #284 is sold by postoffices and the British Philatelic Bureau for £2.25. Thespecies shown are the Common Dormouse (20p), Lady’s SlipperOrchid (26p), Song Thrush (31p), Shining Ram’s-Horn Snail(37p), Mole Cricket (41p), and a mushroom, the Devil’s Bolete(63p). The Devil’s Bolete, Boletus satanas, hasbecome rare because of the loss of beech trees.
MUSHROOM MEAT LOAF PSMS Cookbook
2 C sliced mushrooms (chanterelles, boletes, best:Sparassis)
1 C chopped onion
4 Tbsp butter
1 C bread crumbs
1-1/2 C milk
2 lb ground beef
2 eggs
1 C mashed potatoes
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp sage or basil or 1 TBs fresh basil
Sauté mushrooms and onions in butter on medium heat untilliquid evaporates. Cool. Soak bread crumbs in milk. Mix everythingtogether and put into a buttered loaf pan. Bake 1 hour at350°F.
Have you sent in your recipes for the new PSMS cookbook?If not, mail your contributions to The Elstons, P.O. Box 886, FallCity, WA 98024 while you’re thinking about it! Everything iswelcome, no matter how simple.
MUSHROOM ASTROLOGY Bob Lehman, LAMS
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): You enjoy hunting mushroomsif for no other reason than to bask in the beauty of nature, whichyou feel a kinship with. You enjoy club activities, at which youlike to socialize and share your knowledge and ideas. You encouragethe club to foray in new places and learn new things. You areconcerned with the ecological role of mushrooms and about societalregulation of mushroom hunting. You are interested in ediblemushrooms for their potential as a food source for others.