Spring Agaricus

 Posted by Joe M,

When looking for morels in the woods at 6,000 feet, I found a white mushroom. When I picked it,  I was surprised to see that it had a ring and pink-brown gills that I recognized on sight as Agaricus. It had a big skirt, and some yellow spots on the top. By the time I got home the annulus was damaged, so I had trouble identifying the species. A made a point a few days later to try to find more, I went up and I was lucky. I took some pictures immediately:

I believe that they are Agaricus albolutenscens.  

They arrive a few weeks after the snow has melted, they stain amber permanently, unlike A. Xanthoderma that fades to brown) They have a thick large skirt annulus, stocky stature, solid semi-bulbous stem, that separates them from A. silvicola, and they smell sweet like anise. Most authors list them as choice edible with caution.

A different Bird nest than last ..

Posted by Joe M.

Yesterday, some member (sorry I don't know who) brought a stick with about 25 "Bird nest fungus" on it to our monthly meeting . I ended up taking the stick home for identification. The nests have only a couple of eggs left on them, with no trace of gelatin, and their hairs are old and only clearly visible with magnification anymore; but...

I believe that due to their small size 5 mm wide x 6 mm high, their mug shape with the flared top, smooth interior with white and gold tones, and white and tomentosum exterior, we must be looking to :  

Nidula niveotomentosa.   (niveo is snow, and tomentus is wool of hair)

These Bird nest fungus don't look like much, but magnifying the pictures a little, they become really interesting.

I have been posting often on the new SIMA facebook site, but I see that most of our members are not on there. I thought I would post an update here as well for those still using this blog.

With the recent moisture, I've started seeing various fungus fruiting. The first is a picture of Coprinellus micaceus. I finally found a group fruiting off a stump with spreading roots. I've always wanted to try this edible, but they are usually going inky by the time I find them, even if they have popped up during the previous 24 hours. On this stump, however, I was able to follow the roots and find fresh clumps that had barely broken the surface. After sorting and cleaning, they provided a very tasty bowlful of fungus to add to our scrambled eggs and asparagus. I will definitely be trying harder to collect this one in the future!

Next is the almost ubiquitous Coprinus comatus, or shaggymane. Just a few in a reliable lawn berm. I decided last year once and for all that I don't like the mushy texture, but I do like the taste and, especially, how plentiful they often are when nothing else seems to be growing. So, I make mine into soup or sometimes duxelles to freeze for later.

I found a lot of oyster mushrooms last year and really came to love them - especially their fragrance when fresh. I'd been out looking for them for more than a month this year with very little luck until last week. I chose a picture of one that looks like it's mooning passers-by. It was very easy to see from the greenbelt. =)

Finally, one I haven't identified yet, but Genille and Bob are thinking perhaps it is a young Spogiporus leucospongia. It feels like proofed bread dough. Slightly squishy, but leathery on the outside. I have to go back and see if I can identify any pores.

Happy hunting! Please let us all know when the morels start popping. I have been following some Oregon and Washington sites and it looks like they are showing up close to, if not at, our elevation now. I hope to see them here soon!

Krista W.

Bird nest mushroom

I think that the mushroom that Krista brought to Monday's meeting  could be Crucibulum parvulum.  It means very small. The nest looks like an inverted ice cream cone. (The whole picture is smaller than 1/2 inch).
In retrospect I should have taken more pictures; they were other interesting mushrooms.
Joe,

Crucibulum parvulum