Playing with Toadstools

If the branch, off the Tree of Life, known as Fungi, had picked a mascot, definitely that mascot (for us Humans at least) would be Amanita Muscaria (aka Soma or Toadstools)

They grow prolifically around Vancouver, much of the west coast, and in parts of Europe, too. They completely delight people, and when first spotted, someone always exclaims that they didn't think they were real, because they look so, um, plastic. I've even seen this mushroom, growing on the side of a road, stop traffic. 

So, imagine how excited I got, once I heard, that if you pick them while in the pin head form, you can bring them home and watch them grow. Cool. And its true:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

What you see, is the mushroom sporulating, Day 1 and 2 it is unfurling it's cap, Day 3 it breaks it's veil, Day 4 and 5 it releases it's spores and in Day 6 you see it beginning to rot, the spores and it's purpose, gone.  

So does this mean that I will be able to grow Amanita Muscaria with the spores? Its a long shot. This mushroom is a Mycorrhizae, which means it is a type of mushroom that forms a relationship with trees. Even if I did spread the spores, or even better, the mycelium into the roots of some tree, it still might take 20 years before a mushroom blooms. I'm still going to try it, I just may never see the results.

Anyhow, this was a fun project.

As an aside, check out this amazing flush of Amanita's I found on Ontario St.  Vancouver, at the base of a mid age (10yrs?) Rhododendron bush of all things...

Mushroom Season!

 Mushrooms can and do exist in any season, but Autumn is hands down their most prolific season here on the west coast of North America.
Mushrooms can be described as the fruit of Mycelium, as they contain the spores, the means for reproduction. Mycelium is a fine, often stringy network of cells that exist year round in the soil, or other medium. The Mycelium is an essential component to our eco-systems, especially forest eco-systems. It breaks apart hard compounds such as lignin and cellulose, which help cycle the nutrients from dead trees and plants to new trees and plants. In this way,  Fungi becomes part of the cycle from death to regeneration. An essential part, as they digest these compounds much faster than bacteria alone, and the fruit bodies become ideal food for other decomposers, like bacteria and insects, attracting and sustaining these populations as well.

Without Fungi, our forest communities would quickly lose the ability to sustain themselves.

Yesterday at the Lynn Valley Headwaters Park we were treated to an amazing display of mushrooms.  Above is a picture of one of the many creeks we passed, and some of the mushrooms on it banks. I wish I could identify even one of these species, but not yet. I'm only starting to familiarize myself with the genus' of mushrooms, and exact species identification could be years away. An estimated twenty five (some say fifty) percent of mushrooms in North America have yet to be identified, which makes it very exciting, and frustrating to be a mycologist in North America.
These are a few of the species we spotted yesterday. If you can identify any, please let me know.

I think this is of the genus Amanita, a genus containing some of the most deadly poisonous mushrooms around.

Could be the genus Cortinarius but it could also be Thricholoma. A very pretty mushroom anyhow.

These definitely are Polypores, and are very common in the forests, and even on the trees in my neighbourhood. What is their species name?

I like how this one looks. Have no idea what genus?

A type of Hydnum perhaps?

This one reminds me of Reishi, or Gonoderma lucidum. Either way, it is a Polypore.

Maybe Hygrophorus? Mmmmmmm, of all the ones I saw, this one looked the most edible. But obviously I am not even close to being able to positively identify a mushroom to eat.

Hopefully one, day. The path to this skill involves not a book, but a teacher, another mycologist that will hike with you, and help you out. To meet these people, I've joined the Vancouver Mycological Society http://www.vanmyco.com/, first meeting is in one week.

As we were tramping around off the path yesterday, we discovered this collection someone else had left. I think they were also trying to crack the mushroom code.

...Its like in Supermario World!

Amanita Muscaria! also called Fly Agaric

It looks unreal, like its made out of plastic, but its real, and it crops up all over lawns in Vancouver starting in mid September. However, it isn't really edible, well some types are (although probably not tasty) but others types are DEADLY. So look, love, but don't taste.