Specimen #11: Shelf Fungus

Figure 1: Shelf fungus growing on log at West Woods, much smaller than specimen found at South Chagrin Reservation

Name: Ganoderma applanatum, Artist's Fungus
Family: Polyporaceae
Collection Date: October 4, 2011, September 12, 2011
Habitat: On fallen log/tree
Location: West Woods and South Chagrin Reservation
Description: Hard, grows very large on wood, pores on underside instead of gills
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.

Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)
Fruiting body shelflike usually on wood...Polypores and Bracket Fungi...p.549


Key to Polyporaceae and Allies:
1. Spore bearing surface not composed of tubes; fruiting body woody...2
2. Fruiting body shelflike, stalk absent...4
4. Pore surface exposed...5
5. Pore surface not separable and elastic-gelatinous...6
6. Fruiting body with a cap...7
7. Spore bearing surface composed of a true tube layer which forms minute pores...8
8. Spore bearing surface with tubes (pores)...10
10. Very common...11

11. Fruiting body hard and woody even when fresh, medium sized to very large and often thick...Ganoderma, Fomitopsis, Phellinus, and Allies, p. 574

Key to Ganoderma, Fomitopsis, Phellinus, and Allies:

1. Pore surface not rosy...2

2. Varnished surface cap absent, stalk absent...6

6. Flesh not bright...7

7. Flesh bright yellow-brown to rusty-brown, brown, or dark brown when fresh...8

8. Pore surface white when fresh but turning brown when scratched or in old age; cap with a hard surface crust; very common...Ganoderma applanatum, p. 582

Links:

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/ganoderma_applanatum.html

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/march99.html

http://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wood/poroid%20fungi/species%20pages/Ganoderma%20applanatum.htm

http://morelmushroomhunting.com/ganoderma_applanatum.htm

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5941.asp

Specimen #10: Reddish Capped Mushroom

Figure 1: Pink, striated cap

Figure 2: extremely white gills

Figure 3: Cap fading in color

Figure 4: specimen at South Chagrin Reservation, a darker red than the others

Name: Russula paludosa, Graying Russula
Family: Russulaceae
Collection Date: September 10, 2011, September 12, 2011
Habitat: In a yard near trees, on leaf litter
Location: Warren, OH and South Chagrin Reservation
Description: Somewhat small, caps very delicate and soft.  Darkening in the middle with age, underside of plieus very white.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.
Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)...Basidiomycotina, P.57


Key to Basidiomycetes:
1. Basidia and spores borne externally...2
2. Fruiting body not at first egglike with gelatinous interior, no slime covering fruiting body...Hymenomycetes, below

Key to Hymenomycetes:
1. No pores or tube mouths on underside of cap...3
3. Underside of cap radiating blades (gills)...Agaricales, below

Key to the Agaricales:
1. Spore frocibly discharged, hence a spore print obtainable...2

2. Spore print white to buff...3
3. No volva or warts present...4
4. Veil absent, or if present then gills normally attached to stalk...6
6. Gills platelike or bladelike...7
7. Gills not exuding a latex...8
8. Cap plane to depressed at maturity...Russulaceae, p. 63


Key to Russulaceae:
1. Latex absent...Russula, p. 83


Key to Russula:
1. Fruiting body not very large or hard, cap somewhat brightly colored...10
10. Fruiting body not firm...11
11. Cap not yellow-brown to straw color...12
12. Cap not typically with a blackish center...13
13. Flesh and stalk surface staining gray to ashy or black...14
14. Cap orange to red...16
16. Cap red to orange or coppery brown; flesh bruising gray...Russula decolorans group, p. 91
Russula Paludosa described as having a reddish cap


Links:
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/russula_decolorans.html
http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6047~gid~~source~gallerydefault.asp
http://www.mushroomthejournal.com/greatlakesdata/Taxa/Russupalud961.html
http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/russula-paludosa.php

Specimen #9: Purple Basidiomycete

Figure 1: immature basidiocarp with purple gills

Figure 2: Immature basidiocarp upright

Name: Laccaria ochropurpurea
Family: Tricholomataceae
Collection Date: September 11, 2011
Habitat: Under tree in a yard
Location: Warren, OH
Description: purple-gilled basidiocarp, appearing to not be fully matured.  Lightly lavender pileus and stipe.  Approximately 3 inches long, but shrunk considerably when dried.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.
Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)...Basidiomycotina, P.57


Key to Basidiomycetes:
1. Basidia and spores borne externally...2
2. Fruiting body not at first egglike with gelatinous interior, no slime covering fruiting body...Hymenomycetes, below

Key to Hymenomycetes:
1. No pores or tube mouths on underside of cap...3
3. Underside of cap radiating blades (gills)...Agaricales, below

Key to the Agaricales:
1. Spore frocibly discharged, hence a spore print obtainable...2
2. Spore print lilac tinged...3
3. No volva or warts...4
4. Veil absent...6
6. Gills usually platelike or bladelike...7
7. Gills not exuding a latex when broken...8
8. Fruiting body not rigid...9
9. Gills not normally waxy...Tricholomataceae, p. 129
Key to Tricholomataceae:
1. Not growing on other mushrooms...2
2. Fruiting body not pinkish...3
3. Stalk present and well-developed...6
6. Stalk not arising from underground "tuber"...7
7. Veil absent...8
8. Veil absent...9
9. Gills and stalk not bruising dark gray to black...10
10. Stalk fleshy, usually at least 5mm thick...11
11. Fruiting bottle partially or completely purple...12
12. Gills thickish and fairly well-spaced; stalk fibrous and/or fibrillose; spore print white or lilac tinged...Laccaria, p.171


Key to Laccaria:

1. Gills purple to lilac when fresh...2

2. Not growing in sand...3

3. Fruiting body medium to large, stalk usually less than 1cm thick...Laccaria ochropurpurea

Links:

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/laccaria_ochropurpurea.html

http://www.pamushrooms.org/hydnangiaceae-laccaria.php

http://www.indianamushrooms.com/laccaria_ochropurpurea.html

http://morelmushroomhunting.com/laccaria_ochropurpurea.htm

Specimen #8: Large, Brown Mushroom

Figure 1: Large, irregularly textured cap

Figure 2: Visible annulus and large volva

Name: Lepoita rachodes, Shaggy Parasol
Family: Lepoitaceae
Collection Date: September 10, 2011
Habitat: In yard, near tree
Location: Warren, Ohio
Description: Large brown, scaly cap, slightly orange gills. Annulus present as well as indistinct volva. Cap is split. Appears to be a very mature specimen, as younger samples seem to be lighter and more smooth.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.

Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)...Basidiomycotina, p. 57


Key to Basidiomycetes:
1. Basidia and spore borneexternally...2
2. Fruiting body not at first egglike with a gelatinous interior, spore not contained in slime...Hymenomycetes, below


Key to Hymenomycetes:
1. No pores or tube mouths on underside of cap...3
3. Underside of cap radiating blades (gills)...Agaricales, below

Key to the Agaricales:
1. Spore frocibly discharged, hence a spore print obtainable...2
2. Spore print white to buff...3
3. Universal veil enveloping young specimens and forming a volva at base of stalk when it ruptures and/or leaving warts on cap...Amanitaceae, p. 262


Key to Amanitaceae:

1. Volva present at base of stalk...2

2. Cap usually with warts...Amanita, below

Key to Amanita:

1. Volva indistinct...15

15. Universal veil remnants not yellow...22

22. Cape not pale yellow-green...23

23. Flesh not staining reddish brown...24

24. Cap not brightly colored...26

26. Partial veil absent, cap margin not striate...31

31. Cap entirely brown when young, breaking up into large brown scales in age; flesh in stalk staining orange...Lepoita rachodes, p. 297

Links:

http://www.rrich.com/mslepracho.html

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/chlorophyllum_rhacodes.html

http://www.acanadianfoodie.com/2011/07/29/shaggy-parasol-mushroom/

http://www.bayareamushrooms.org/mushroommonth/shaggy_parasol.html

Specimen #7: Young, Scaled Mushroom

Figure 1: Pileus showing scales

Figure 2: Full length of basidiocarp, showing large volva

Figure 3: veil not yet released from pileus to expose gills

Name: Amanita daucipes, Pine Cone Amanita
Family: Amanitaceae
Collection Date: September 10, 2011
Habitat: In a yard under trees
Location: Warren, OH
Description: Somewhat large, young basidiocarp with large volva.  Pileus is scaled, with scales darker than the pileus.  Veil still covers gills.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.


Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)...Basidiomycotina, P.57


Key to Basidiomycetes:
1. Basidia and spores borne externally...2
2. Fruiting body not at first egglike with gelatinous interior, no slime covering fruiting body...Hymenomycetes, below

Key to Hymenomycetes:
1. No pores or tube mouths on underside of cap...3
3. Underside of cap radiating blades (gills)...Agaricales, below


Key to the Agaricales:
1. Spore frocibly discharged, hence a spore print obtainable...2
2. Spore print white to buff...3
3. Universal veil enveloping young specimens and forming a volva at base of stalk when it ruptures and/or leaving warts on cap...Amanitaceae, p. 262


Key to Amanitaceae:

1. Volva present at base of stalk...2

2. Cap usually with warts...Amanita, below

Key to Amanita:
1. Volva collar-like, cap with remnants of universal veil...15
15. Universal veil remnants not yellow, cap whitish...22
22. Cap not yellow to pale green...23
23. Cap not brown...24
24. Cap not brightly colored...26
26. Partial veil present...31
31. Cap not entirely brown when young...32
32. No warts on stalk...33
33. No reddish stains on fruiting body...34
34. Fruiting body white or whitish...35
35. Stalk terminating in bulb...36

36. Spores amyloid...38

38. Cap not soft ans cottony...39

39. Not known only from California...40

40. Cap usually with distinct, well-developed warts...41
41. Cap covered with large warts...A. magniverrucata, p.274
Description of A. magniverrucata indicates this species as the eastern counterpart.


Links:
http://mushroomobserver.org/name/show_name?_js=on&_new=true&id=1415
http://www.pamushrooms.org/amanitaceae.php
http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Amanita+daucipes
http://www.indianamushrooms.com/amanita_daucipes.html

Specimen #6: Large Brown-Capped Gilled Mushroom

Figure 1: large brown pileus

Figure 2: Gills tinted pink with spores

Figure 3: No annulus visible

Name: Pluteus cervinus, the deer mushroom 
Family: Pluteaceae
Collection Date: September 10, 2011
Habitat: Under tree, shaded
Location: Vienna, Ohio
Description: Large brown cap, slightly pink gills. No veil or annulus.Cap was nicely rounded but changed shape when transported in a container.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.

Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)...Basidiomycotina, p. 57


Key to Basidiomycetes:
1. Basidia and spore borneexternally...2
2. Fruiting body not at first egglike with a gelatinous interior, spore not contained in slime...Hymenomycetes, below


Key to Hymenomycetes:
1. No pores or tube mouths on underside of cap...3
3. Underside of cap radiating blades (gills)...Agaricales, below


Key to the Agaricales:
1. Spore frocibly discharged, hence a spore print obtainable...2

2. Spore print pinkish, salmon, yellow-brown, brown, rusty-orange, etc...10

10. Spore print pinkish to flesh-colored, salmon, pinkish-cinnamon, or sordid reddish...11
11. Volva typically absent...12
12. Gills typically free at maturity...Pluteaceae, P. 253


Key to Pluteaceae:
1. Universal veil and volva absent...2
2. Veil and annulus absent...Pluteus, p. 254


Key to Pluteus:
1. Cap not red to orange, fading to yellow...2
2. Stalk not yellow...5
5. Cap not white...6
6. Gills edges same color as gills...7

7. Base of stalk not blue- or greenish-stain in age or when bruised...8

8. Cap not velvety or granulose...9
9. Cap 3-12cm broad or more, not striate; stail 4mm thick or more...10

10. Cap dark brown to pale brown, grayish-brown, etc...P. cervinus & others, p.255

Links:

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/pluteus_cervinus.html

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/june98.html

http://morelmushroomhunting.com/pluteus_cervinus.htm

http://www.burkemuseum.org/herbarium/FF/pluteus