Morels in the Upper Country

Yes, that is not a misprint! May 1! We were out for our annual break-through-the-snow trek to get some gyromitra for the first mushroom meal of the year. Bryan, with his uncanny ability to spot morels while road hunting, stops the car, and comes back with about a half dozen morels! There were plenty of gyromitra and verpas available also. So I can say spring has sprung on the east facing slopes.

Before you get too excited, we did have to hike, because there is plenty of snow that is unpassable. We are just getting further up the road every week! Sue

This year's Train Wrecker at work - Neolentinus lepudeus

Krista Willmorth called this afternoon with a question about Oyster mushrooms with a light anise odor. She brought them by for a look-see and they turned out to be very young Neolentinus lepideus, old genus Lentinus. This fungus causes brown rot in conifers and hardwoods. This is the reason for the name change. White rot fungus were kept in the genus Lentinus. We went back to her site to take pictures and make sure they were not Oysters.

This is one of two logs full of these mushrooms. This log appears to be cottonwood. Their odor is fragrant, anise-like. They are somewhat edible when young and cooked for a long time to tenderize them. Some people find the taste disagreeable. I would say don't eat it. Oysters are so much better. These will fruit in the spring and fall following cool wet weather so it is easy to confuse them with the Oyster mushroom. These mushrooms were young enough that the scales on the cap and the serrated gill edges were just starting to develop. Since Krista did not have her camera with her, I took the picture and posted it for her. Great find Krista! Genny S.

News from the Upper Country

I went up the road from my house in a part of the controlled burn area. While no morels were showing, there is fungal life showing! I found a variety of cup fungi, some gyromitra, and lots of peziza or pig ears! My students are reporting large quantities of brains, and some claim to have found morels.....I told them to prove it, because it has been cold. I suspect some verpa have been showing, so it shouldn't be too long! Best wishes hunting next weekend...I will be with students in Washington DC Sue

Lentinus lepideus

Don't get too excited, this is a photo from a few years ago. But while Miss Genny and I are going through photos for the poster displays, she thought you might like to see this one from Paul.