Agnes A. Sieger, Editor
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, September 12, at 7:30 PM at the Center forUrban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle.
Ben Woo will reminisce with slides about pastexhibits. Rare and unusual mushrooms brought by our members to theshow, some seen for the first time in the Pacific Northwest andsome seen once and never again, will be part of his talk. Ron Postand committee chairs will recruit volunteers —“Be thebest that you can be.” A “How to Collect” chat byRuss Kurtz will coach first-timers on the best ways to dig and keepmushrooms in showroom condition. Posters will be distributed.
Dick Sieger and Patrice Benson are hostingmushrooms, wine, and cheese to put you in the mood for wildvolunteering. How can you miss this meeting?
CALENDAR
Sept. 12 Membership meeting, 7:30 PM, CUH
Sept. 15 Spore Prints deadline (early)
Sept. 16 Field Trip
Sept. 18 Board meeting, 7:30 PM, CUH Board Room
Sept. 23 Field Trip
Sept. 30 Field Trip
Oct. 7 Field Trip
Oct. 14–15 Annual Exhibit, Sand Point Brig
2000 ANNUAL EXHIBIT Ben Woo & Ron Post
This year’s Annual Exhibit will be our 37th.To celebrate this antiquity, we are exhuming the first chairman ofthe show, Ben Woo, to join with Ron Post in running the exhibit.Brandon Matheny is the technical consultant. All of you arecorrespondents. We will be in a new location, Sand Point, in asecure environment, the former Navy brig, from which few mushroomscan escape. The co-chairs promise a fresh look to the show. Thepanels that serve as partitions and backdrops are from the originalshow; their burlap covering is over 20 years old. They will berepaired and given new treatment. Signs and posters are beingreviewed and renewed by expert graphic artists. Committee chairshave been enthusiastically stepping forward. Thanks to all.
The annual exhibit relies on an annual outpouringof volunteers. Many members come out year after year to contributetheir hours and skills. Some have served all 36 years. This is notrocket science. You may be a new member and still find reward infun and friendship as well as learning more about mushrooms. Signup for one or more of the committees. Come to the September meetingand speak to Ben or Ron.
Join the teams collecting in widespread habitatsfor specimens for the display. Russ Kurtz will tell you how at themeeting, and there will be sign-up sheets.
Exhibit posters will also be distributed at themeeting. Paper your neighborhood with them. Grocery stores,restaurants, bookstores, and community centers are prime locationsto publicize the show. Only a paltry 500 are available.
As in past years, members will fan out Thursday andFriday to gather specimens for the show. Moss and greenery willalso be collected. Keep collections cool and damp for deliveryFriday evening. The construction crews will meet Thursday afternoonor evening to repair and remodel the panels and to erectpartitions. Tables will be arranged and displays put up on Friday.Friday evening we will receive and pre-sort mushroom collections.Saturday early morning (7:00 AM) will commence the crunch work ofarranging trays of pre-sorted collections, identification, andlabeling. This will go on all morning to meet the opening deadlineof 12:00 noon. Then it’s Miller time and on with the show.
You can contact Ben Woo at (206) 722-6109, benruwoo@msn.com, and Ron Post at(206) 783-1244, ronp46@hotmail.com.
NAMA 2000 FORAY, BEAUMONT, TEXAS BrandonMatheny
The Gulf States MycologicalSociety, led by Pat and David Lewis, organized and managed topull off a fabulous gathering of hobbyist and professionalmycologists, mushrooms and other fungi, great food, andentertainment alike in Beaumont, Texas, this past early June. Thesite, about 50 miles from the Gulf Coast and near the border of SWLouisiana, held quite an array of trees and plants, including anodd mingling of Beech and Yucca. Field trip locations tended to bedominated by trees quite unlike those of the Pacific Northwest.These included ectomycorrhizal associates Beech, Oaks, and Longleafand Loblolly Pines. Magnolias, Cypress, Sweet Gums, and Hickorywere also present at many sites.
Nearly 260 collections of mushrooms, boletes,polypores, chanterelles, coral-like fungi, teeth-fungi, and slimemolds were vouchered as part of NAMA’s ongoing documentationof North American fungal diversity led in large part by PatLeacock, now at the Field Museum. How many of the fungi documentedin the Gulf Coast region occur in the Pacific Northwest? Aboutzilcho!
Both Denis Benjamin and I were simply amazed (andoverwhelmed) by the tremendous number of species not recognized byus, though we could recognize the genera to which they belonged.Amanita, Lactarius, Russula and the boletes (Austroboletus,Boletellus, Tylopilus, Suillus, Pulveroboletus, Boletus, Leccinum,Gyroporus, Strobilomyces, Porphyrellus and Xanthoconium) dominatedthe mushroom flora (mycota). Amanita farinosa is a small, slenderspecies compared to our stout, larger variety in the Puget Soundregion, which may not be A. farinosa after all according to RodTulloss.
Tom Volkdiscussed how the true L. sulphureus actually is limited to oakcausing a butt rot. In addition, Scott Redheadpresented recent research findings that indicate the Shaggy Mane(Coprinus comatus) is, in fact, not a Coprinus at all but rather adeliquescent relative of Agaricus and Lepiota sensu lato.Furthermore, he also discussed that certain puffballs, for example,Lycoperdon, are derived descendants of the same ancestors that gaverise to Agaricus, and not other Gasteromycetes.
Among other bizarre fungi, we witnessed a number ofinteresting chanterelles: a cinnabar red chanterelle, the smoothchanterelle, and one chanterelle named after a local watering hole,Cantharellus tabernensis. Cheers to the Alamo.
A number of other interesting talks geared forhobbyists were delivered that touched various topics like cooking,the enigmatic William Alphonso Murrill, Lactarius of the GulfCoast, an introduction to molecular biology, diversity of tropicaland subtropical fungi, fungi of Taiwan, and the natural history ofthe Big Thicket, a muchvalued landscape located just north of Beaumont and managed by theNature Conservancy.
Finally, I’d like to make a plug for theInocybes in the region. Now Dan Stuntz actually collected manyInocybes while visiting Walker, Louisiana, ostensibly home of arelative or two. None of these have been formally described.However, using Stuntz’ unpublished manuscript and havingaccess to his notes and drawings, I was able to identify at leasttwo collections to which Stuntz assigned provisional names. So, Ijust didn’t spend the entire time snarfing pickled Sparassis,chugging Texas beers, and two-stepping with older women from NewYork.
For additional tales, tall and true, see alsoAlissa Allen and Colin Meyer, who made the trip as part of theirvacation plans. I’d like to thank PSMS and the StuntzFoundation for financial assistance; otherwise I would just havebeen at home in the Cascades trying to steal Patrice Benson’sboletes.
BOARD NEWS Agnes Sieger
Most of the meeting was taken up with discussion ofthe upcoming Annual Exhibit with Co-Chairs Ron Post and Ben Woo.The treasurer reported that membership dues are down considerablycompared to this time last year. Extra expenses were incurred thisyear as a result of publishing the roster and moving the annualexhibit to a new location. Frances Ikeda and Karin Mendell reporteda relatively small turnout for the summer picnic, great weather,good food, and lots of fun, but some parking problems due to heavyuse of the park by other large groups. Education Chair Colin Meyeris offering beginning and intermediate classes this fall. KarinMendell submitted a tentative agenda for the Fall Foray at LakeQuinault November 11–13.
FALL IDENTIFICATION CLASSES Colin Meyer
Basic ID: The Basic ID class will be held on sixconsecutive Wednesday evenings, from 7 to 9 PM, at the Center forUrban Horticulture (CUH), from September 27 through November 1. Thefocus will be on recognizing some of the common edible andpoisonous mushrooms as well as an introduction to the use ofdichotomous keys. The required text will be Mushrooms Demystified,2nd ed., by David Arora. The New Savory Wild Mushroom byMcKenny/Stuntz/Ammirati is highly recommended.
Intermediate ID: The Intermediate class will beheld on Thursdays, from 7 to 9 PM, at the Center for UrbanHorticulture (CUH), from September 28 through November 2 formembers who are somewhat familiar with mushrooms. The focus of thisclass will be using dichotomous keys to identify mushrooms.Required texts will be Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd ed., by DavidArora and How to Identify Mushrooms to Genus, I: MacroscopicFeatures, by David Largent.
Text books will be available at the membershipmeetings and the first day of class for purchase at a discountprice.
Each class costs $35 and is limited to 20participants.
To register, please mail a check (made out to PSMS)to:
Colin Meyer
10729 57 AVE S.
Seattle, WA 98178-2233
For more information, e-mail cmeyer@helvella.org or phone (206)722-6687.
FALL FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE Mike Lovelady
To start off the fall field trip season, we will begoing to two new field trip sites.
Hosts are needed for almost all field trips. Pleasecheck the following schedule and volunteer to host a field trip ofyour choice. You do not need to know anything about mushrooms, andit’s a great way to meet other PSMS members and find out thelatest hot hunting spots. Hosts are especially needed for theDeception Pass field trip, which follows the exhibit and will beattended by many new members.
See the Members' Calendar forfield trip listings.LAKE QUINAULT FALL FORAY
Set aside the weekend of November 11–12 nowfor the PSMS Fall Foray. Once again, the foray will be held at KampKiwanis on the shores of Lake Quinault in the heart of the OlympicMountains at the edge of Olympic National Park. Foray activitiesinclude mushroom collecting, identification, slide presentations,nature walks, and good food. There are sure to be a mushroomtasting and some social activities as well.
SOME CREEK FIELD TRIP REPORT Karin Mendell
This is a late report on the last field trip of thespring 2000 season, held June 3 and 4 at Some Creek, nearWashington. The foray was well attended, with 30–35 personspresent throughout the day and around eight folks spending thenight in the group camping sites. The mix of new and seasonedmembers was especially good.
This was one of the first of the many 70° dayswe’ve enjoyed this summer, with bright beautiful sunshine andthe vibrant sounds of The Creek boiling over the boulders rightbeside the campsite. Brenda Fong and Karin Mendell hosted, and(except for the fact that the coffee arrived a little late!) theydid a wonderful job.
Brian Luther was the identifier andmycologist-in-residence for the day. He guided us throughidentification and made suggestions as to where folks might findthe last elusive morels, plentiful boletes, and slippery jacks. Heintrigued us all with mushroom lore, and we kept him busy with twopicnic tables full of specimens to identify.
Michael Lovelady guided many of our new andexperienced members to hidden pockets of Boletus edulis. He alsoshared his Boletus bounty with us at the potluck, in a pasta andstir-fried veggie and bolete dish. The potluck and fellowship ofmembers visiting throughout the day was especially warm andwelcoming. The food was excellent, as usual (we sure know how tocook and eat good in this group), and the company was great!
POSSIBLE CARPOOLING D.V. Corey
PSMS is conducting a test to see whether there areenough people wanting company or who need a lift to field tripsthat we can sustain a regular carpool program. The Master of theHounds is new member Roy Washington. Call him as early as possible, stating which field trip, whether you want to drive or passenger,and your telephone number. Each car will split the cost for gas.Happy hunting.
MUSHROOM-RELATED EVENTS
Sept. 22–24 Spokane Mushroom Club annualPriest Lake Foray, Hill’s Resort, Priest Lake, Idaho (509)838-1151
Oct. 7 Joint VancouverMycological Society / South Vancouver Island MycologicalSociety Fall Foray, Masachie Lake, Vancouver Island,(250) 655-5051
Oct. 13–15: Oregon Mycological Society FallForay, (503) 762-0469
Oct. 22: Fall Mushroom Show, Snohomish CountyMycological Society, (425) 317-9411
Oct. 22: Fall Mushroom Show, Oregon MycologicalSociety
Oct. 26–29: Breitenbush Foray, “WildMushrooms ’00,” $235. Information andregistration: Breitenbush (502) 854-3314.
Oct. 27–29: Mushroom Classes, “NorthwestMushroom Ecology,” Dr. Fred Rhoades, Chinook Learning Centeron Whidbey Island, $185, one credit, 15 hours. For more informationcontact the North Cascades Institute at (360) 856-5700 ext. 209 ore-mail nci@ncascades.org
Six-Week Mushroom Pre-season Mental & PhysicalTraining Regimen D.V. Corey
Six weeks before start:
- talk about mushrooming with everyone you see
- program your mind not to remember the pain(freak’n’ hills)
- start your physical training by thinking aboutbeing in shape
Five weeks:
- begin practicing the art of bending over
- tie your shoes 3–4 times a day
- lip sink the words “Got some overhere!”
- focus your mind on where you’ve foundmushrooms before
- practice climbing over your neighbor’sfence
Four weeks:
- prepare your equipment
- walk around the block once to get the heart beatgoing
- increase the shoe tying to 5–6 times aday
Three weeks
- begin nightly dreaming stage associated withmushrooming
- walk to the grocery and buy butter, eggs, andbrown bags
- let your dog out and watch him/her run;
imagine keeping that pace for about 8 hours
Two weeks:
- increase walk to three times around block
- begin yelling out loud “Got some overhere!!”
- have your mate hide sponges in the yard and gofind them
One week:
- rest up after following the stringent regimentabove, sit back, and wait for those babies to start popping up!
CULTIVATION CORNER
The September cultivation meeting will featuresterilization and preparation of agar media. For information, callCultivation Chair Ron Holdridge.
OBITUARIES
Helen M. Wasson, 84, hunter, identifier, andlecturer of mushrooms, died June 13, 2000, in Bellevue of pulmonaryfibrosis. A once-active member of PSMS, Helen will be remembered bymany old-timers.
Dr. Harry D. Thiers, 81, world-renowned mycologicaleducator, researcher, and innovator. Recognized worldwide as theleading authority on boletes and an innovator in the research onsecotioid fungi, Dr. Thiers published over 150 new species offungi. Fourteen different taxa are named in his honor, includingthe genus Thiersia. Although Dr. Thiers’ main interests werein the taxonomy and evolution of fleshy fungi, his influencethrough the training of young mycologists is felt in allsubdisciplines of mycology