BULLETIN OF THE PUGET SOUND MYCOLOGICALSOCIETY
Number 357, December 1999
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
CALENDAR
Dec. 14 Membership meeting, art show, and annual"cookie bash," 7:30 PM, CUH
Dec. 17 Spore Prints deadline
Dec. 20 Board meeting, 7:30 PM, CUH boardroom
Jan. 11 Membership meeting, 7:30 PM, CUH
FALL FIELD TRIP REPORTS
Crystal Springs Brian Luther
We had no host September 25 at Crystal Springs,but I brought two big carafes from home with freshly brewed coffee.Eighteen people put their names on the sign-up sheet (I'm prettysure that we had more people, but that's how many saw the sheet andsigned). The weather was mild, but it did rain lightly at mid-dayfor a short time.
More than 60 species of fungi were identified,along with a substantial accumulation of unidentifiedRussula species. Quite a few Red-Capped Boletes, a fewmatsutake, and some small collections of chanterelles were found.The most peculiar species collected was Thaxterogasterpingue, a gastroid gilled mushroom.
Six people stayed for a modest, but completelysatisfying potluck, which included seasoned chicken thighs that Ihad cooked over the campfire.
Twanoh State Park Brian Luther
I was at the shelter by 6:30 AM Saturdaymorning, October 2, and was getting things set up when John Flobergand Lisa Bellefond showed up around 7:15 with all the hostingsupplies. I set up a microscope, but was kept so busy all day justhelping people with what they had found that I never got the chanceto look at anything microscopically. A nice fire was kept going allday, and even though the mushroom hunting wasn't great (most peoplefound just a few collections of this and that), everybody seemed tohave a good time.
Forty species were identified and displayed onthe tables, with many more that we didn't have time to work on.Probably the most interesting fungus species found was Hydnellumcaeruleum, a toothed fungus with a beautifulsteel-blue-margined cap. However, the prize for the most peculiarorganism collected goes to Steve McIntyre, who found a very largegreen and strikingly beautiful moth larva/grub of the PolyphemusMoth. Maybe 10 or 12 people stayed for a nice potluck.
Squire Creek Park DV Corey
The field trip to Squire Creek Park on the Mt.Loop Highway October 23 was awash with new members, mushrooms, andspawning salmon.
President Doug Ward organized this additionalfield trip for our new members after the Fall Foray was canceled.Doug, his wife, Theresa, and their two hounds took their trailer upearlier in the week to scout the area and set up the shelteroverlooking a stream with spawning salmon for the 39 people whoarrived Saturday.
After Doug led a brief "tray tour" of the park,the new members went off on their own or joined groups led by JohnGold-berg, John Thomas, and D.V. Corey and Russ Kurtz, fanning outon Highway 530 and FR 23 to forage. They brought back approximately50 species, which were ably classified by master identifier SarahClark. Luck was with the new hunters. Most found several yellowchanterelles. Several half-baskets and two full baskets returned inthe afternoon, for an estimated 26 pounds of chanterelles, animpressive total for a group of beginners!
THE LONELY MUSHROOMER
Why No One Calls You for Mushrooming
The Late Comer
"Oh, I've overslept, but you don't mind if we'reonly a hour late, huh?
The Sponge
Never, never take your own car. After all, youdon't want to get it dirty.
The Tightwad
When your host drives up to the gas pump, justpretend you're asleep. Better yet, go to the toilet and stay thereuntil your host calls you.
The Lone Wolf
Go off by yourself when you get there. No needto tell your party where you're going. They'll eventually find you."Oh, you're looking for me?"
The Trail Blazer
Don't bother with compass and whistle. You knowthat sun always rises from the west or was it the east??? Besides,it's raining.
The Claim Jumper
As soon as someone in your party finds a spot,go breathing down their neck and pick as fast as you can. Afterall, it's a God given gift—especially to you. Amen.
The Grumbler
When your host stops at the most likely place tofind mushrooms, just grumble, "I don't like this place." Of course,you know all the right places.
The Spoiler
Don't tell you party until you get there, "Oh, Iforgot to tell you. I have to return soon." You'll have a long walkhome.
The Great Promiser
Promise your host that you'll take him to yourgreat secret place. You can promise someone else the followingseason, and someone else again the next season.
The Goldbricker
We all know who the "goldbricker" is. Noneed to help on field trips or the annual exhibit. They have lotsof helpers. Besides, they don't have anything you want to eat backin the kitchen."
In spite of all your faults, we love you andswear that we won't leave in the forest—maybe.
Anonymous, or they'll hang me from thetallest matsutake
Mushroom Stock Gregg Shiosaki
(as prepared at the November PSMS meeting)
3 lb mushroom trimmings
(portobella, shiitake, or button mushrooms work well)
1 lb yellow onions, 1-in. dice
12 ea. crushed garlic cloves
2 cups dry sherry or dry white wine
1-1/2 gallons water
2 ea. bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
Procedure: Sweat mushrooms, onions, and garlicin a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir frequently untilvegetables sweat and release their moisture. Cook for about 15minutes until moisture reduces and vegetables thoroughly cook. Addsherry and reduce for another 5 minutes. Add water, bay leaves, andcinnamon and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 45 minutes.Do not boil. Strain stock through cheese cloth or a fine meshstrainer.
Stock may be refrigerated for up to one week orfrozen in Tupperware for up to 2 months. It can also be condensedto make mushroom syrup.
Mushroom Syrup Gregg Shiosaki
1 gallon mushroom stock
Salt to taste
Sugar to taste
Procedure: Place stock in a large stockpot andbring to a simmer. With a skimmer or small ladle remove scum thatfloats to the top. Continue to simmer until stock reduces to lessthan 2 cups. (You should change to a progressively smaller pot asthe stock reduces. Try to keep the liquid at least one inch indepth.) Taste stock and adjust flavor with salt and sugar. Itshould have developed a syrup consistency at this point. Continueto reduce to the intensity and thickness you prefer.
This recipe was very popular at the PSMSmeeting.
MUSHROOM MISSIONARIES
Patrice Benson gave a talk on mushroompreservation to the Snohomish County Mycological Society onNovember 10, 1999.
Check your address label. If you see"1999" in the upper right corner,
your membership expires in December.
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, December 14, 1999, at the Center forUrban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle
"Cookie Bash," Slide Show, and Exhibition. Onceagain it's time for our annual holiday gathering and "cookie bash."There's no program this month, just eating, socializing, sharingslides, and artistic creations! Please bring your favorite holidaytreat to share—a plate of cookies, appetizers, fruit andcheese, etc. (Please use a disposable plate or mark the utensilclearly with your name.)
Slide Show. Bring a few slides (10maximum) to show the interesting times you've been having thisyear. They may be mushroom-related or not. Give the slides to JimBerlstein before the start of the meeting.
Calling All Artists and Dabblers. Time todisplay your mushroom-inspired artistry! Go ahead, bring thatmushroom sand candle you've been dying to show off! Entries may beof any medium: cooking, drawing, painting, photography, ceramics,candle making, sewing, sculpture. The only rule is that entriesmust have a mycological theme!
Yes, there will be prizes! Entries will beappreciated by all, and "judged" by popular election. Please comeby at 7:15 to have your entry numbered and displayed.
Any questions? Call Joanne at (206)633-0752.
The Relevance of Fungi to Christmas
Tom Volk, Dept. of Microbiology, La Crosse
via Mt. Mazama Mycographia (Nov. 1999)
Christmas Tree: Trees and 90% of allplants are mycorrhizal. It is estimated that the traditional firChristmas tree would grow to less than three feet in ten yearswithout mycorrhizal association.
Christmas Cards and Gift WrappingPaper: As noted above, nearly all plants benefit frommycorrhizal association. Many of our paper products are derivedfrom wood. An efficient white-rot fungus, Phanerochaetechrysosporium, is being investigated as a possible biobleachingand biopulping agent in the paper making process.
Nuts and Chocolate: All nut trees aremycorrhizal. Coca beans are processed by a fermentation ofCandida krusei and Geotrichum to make the beansusable for chocolate making.
Breads and Cookies: Saccharomycescerevisiae (baker's yeast) is used in a wide variety of bakedgoods.
Edible Mushrooms: You can't have aChristmas dinner without mushrooms!
Spirits of Christmas: Saccharomycescerevisiae is necessary for making wine, champagne, beer, andother spirits.
Cheese: Cheeses such as blue, Camembert,and Brie are ripened through the action of fungi. Blue cheese isripened by Penicillium roquefortii, whose sporescause the blue color. The white crust on Brie and Camembert is frommycelium of Penicillium camembertii.
Cola Drinks: The citric acid in colas isproduced by large-scale vat fermentation of Aspergillusniger.
Things go better with fungi!
We regret to announce that Angeline Knaack, aPSMS
member since 1970, died on October 22, 1999. Condolences toher family.
FOR SALE TO COMPUTER BUFFS DVCorey
The society has two new/old computer items froma previous project for sale to the highest bidder: a Connors 500 MBhard drive and a Connors 800 MB tape backup unit with one blanktape. The units are old in that they are 1995 technology, but
the tape unit has never been used and the HDonly has a couple hours on it to test it recently. There is also a14-in. 1998-technology color monitor that is still in its originalbox.
If any of these sound interesting, leave amessage on the Society voice mail (206 522-6031) with your name,telephone number, and best offer or e-mail Corey atcoreydv@aol.com.
EXPOSED: COMFORT ITEMS Jean Johnson
Fungifama, South Vancouver Island Myco. Soc., Oct. 1999
A confidential survey of some "comforts of home"brought to a recent SVIMS mushroom foray at a forestry researchstation revealed:
An espresso coffee maker (honest)
A personal pillow (one person brought three)
A broom handle (or third leg)
Three golf club handles (ditto)
A brass key ring in the shape of mushrooms
A white noise fan (for the neighboring snorers)
A sleeping mask
Ballroom dancing shoes (don't ask)
A Quillo (a quilt that folds into a pillow)
Binoculars and a bird book (in case it rainedincessantly)
A set of pots and pans
Eight spare keys for my car
BOARD NEWS Agnes Sieger
A suggestion to have a microscope out at themonthly meetings was received with enthusiasm. There is now a videosetup for microscopy on permanent loan from Dr. Ammirati. So far,217 members have renewed their membership. We need a field tripchair for 2000. Potential candidates were discussed for theFebruary election. The Board voted to buy one VCR for duping videotapes (not to exceed $150). Because of increased interest incultivation, the Board voted to let PSMS member Paul Stamets sendmembers a copy of his mushroom cultivation catalog on a one-timebasis. Next year's Survivors' Banquet will be March 18 at EdmondsCommunity College. Final results are still not in, but it lookslike we made a small amount on the Annual Exhibit in October.
May All Your Dreams Come True