This years walk at Cook forest were split between shelters 1 and 2 with walk leaders Richard Jacob and Adam Haritan respectively and a roughly equal number of participants. Unfortunately due to the short notice that participants received not everyone could make it. We will look at changing sign up to first come first served so that people receive plenty of notification in the future. Despite the lower number of participants than expected both groups found plenty of mushrooms. As per other locations where we have walked this year we may not have found a lot of anyone species we did find plenty of variety.

Richard Jacob writes at shelter 1 we found very few Amanita and Cortinarius species. We did found a number of bolete species including Boletus edulis which made up for it. Many of us found a colony of Cordyceps militaris during the walk resulting in a hunt for the bodies. The other common cordeceps at the location Tolypocladium ophioglossoides (Goldenthread cordyceps) was also found further in the the walk on a slope. There were quite a few Lycoperdon perlatum (Gem-studded Puffball) around too.

From Shelter 2 Adam reported that despite the relatively dry conditions, a decent number of species were found within the 2-hour walk. The most prolific species were False Chanterelles (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) and Dotted-Stalk Suillus (Suillus granulatus/weaverae). Surprisingly, no honey mushrooms were found on our walk, and the usual diversity of Cortinarius was lacking as well. Still, most of the major groups of fungi were represented at the identification table and the Club has a few new species to add to the clubs life list.

Other interesting species of note were Melanophyllum haematospermum and Stereum gausapatum (Bleeding Oak Crust), both of which had been found at Hartwood Acres but not many other locations. A fun find is Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (Cats tounge) a transparent toothy jelly mushroom. Finally Ischnoderma benzoinum was identified which according to Gary Lincoff Cook Forest was the only know East coast location for this typical west species.

A few of us explored the Firetower region with its oak forest. We found a few more species of mushrooms but conditions were very dry and we did not see many of the species we typically find in the area.

Species list entered by Adam Haritan and Richard Jacob. Species identified by Cara Barkley Coulter, Adam Haritan Richard Jacob, Judy Mackenroth, Tom McCoy (from Mycological Association of Washington), La Monte Yaroll and others.

List of species found on the walk at Cook Forest State Park (combined list):
Agaricus leptocaulis (),
Agrocybe acericola (Maple Agrocybe),
Amanita amerifulva (American Orange-Brown Ringless Amanita),
Amanita flavoconia (Yellow Patches),
Amanita muscaria var. guessowii (Fly Agaric),
Armillaria mellea (Honey mushroom),
Austroboletus gracilis (Graceful Bolete),
Boletus edulis (King Bolete; Porcini; Cepe; Steinpilz),
Boletus subvelutipes (Red-Mouth Bolete),
Calocera cornea (Yellow tuning fork),
Cantharellus tubaeformis (),
Cerioporus leptocephalus (Elegant Polypore),
Chlorociboria aeruginascens (Blue-green Stain),
Cladonia squamosa (),
Clitocybe clavipes (Fat-footed Clitocybe),
Clitocybe odora (Anise Scented Clitocybe),
Coprinus lagopus (Wooly Stalked Coprinus),
Cordyceps militaris (Trooping Cordyceps),
Cortinarius harrisonii (),
Crepidotus applanatus (Flat Crep),
Dacrymyces capitatus (),
Daedaleopsis confragosa (Thin maze polypore),
Elaphomyces verruculosus (Deer truffle, False truffle),
Entoloma vernum (Spring entoloma),
Entoloma strictius (),
Fomitopsis ochracea (),
Fomitopsis pinicola (Red Bealted Polypore),
Ganoderma applanatum (),
Ganoderma lobatum (Soft Artist’s Conk),
Ganoderma tsugae (Hemlock Varnish-shelf),
Gloeoporus dichrous (),
Gymnopus dryophilus (Oak-loving Collybia),
Gymnopus subnudus (),
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (False Chanterelle),
Hymenopellis furfuracea (),
Hypocrea pulvinata (Polypore hypocrea),
Inosperma calamistratum (), (Inocybe calimistrata)
Isaria tenuipes (),
Ischnoderma benzoinum (),
Laccaria amethystina (Amethyst Tallow-gill or Amethyst Deceiver),
Laccaria bicolor (),
Laccaria ochropurpurea (Purple-gilled Laccaria),
Lactarius deceptivus (),
Lactarius deterrimus (Orange-latex Milky),
Lactarius griseus (),
Lactarius hibbardiae (),
Lactarius lignyotus (),
Lactarius uvidus (),
Laetiporus huroniensis (Chicken of the Woods on conifer),
Laetiporus sulphureus (hicken of the woods),
Lanmaoa pseudosensibilis (),
Leccinum snellii (),
Lepiota clypeolaria (AKA Lepiota magnispora),
Lycoperdon perlatum (Gem-studded Puffball),
Lycoperdon pyriforme ( Pear-shaped Puffball ),
Marasmius opacus (),
Melanophyllum haematospermum (),
Mycena epipterygia (Yellow-stalked Fairy-helmet),
Mycena leaiana (Orange Mycena),
Mycena sanguinolenta (),
Neofavolus alveolaris (Hexagonal-pored Polypore),
Nolanea verna (),
Panellus stipticus (Luminescent Panellus, bitter oyster),
Paxillus involutus (),
Peziza phyllogena (),
Phaeohelotium epiphyllum (),
Phaeolus schweinitzii (Dyer’s pollypore or velvet-top fungus),
Phaeotremella frondosa (Jelly Leaf),
Pholiota aurivella (),
Pholiota squarrosoides (),
Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore),
Pleurotus pulmonarius (Summer Oyster),
Pluteus cervinus (Deer mushroom),
Postia ptychogaster (),
Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (),
Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Cinnabar Red Polypore),
Radulomyces copelandii (Asian beauty),
Ramaria formosa (beautiful clavaria, handsome clavaria, yellow-tipped- or pink coral fungus),
Ramaria stricta (),
Retiboletus ornatipes (),
Rickenella fibula (Orange Moss Agaric),
Russula aeruginea (),
Russula brevipes (),
Russula compacta (Firm Russula),
Russula mariae (Purple-bloom Russula),
Russula virescens (),
Scleroderma cepa (),
Scleroderma citrinum (Pigskin Poison Puffball),
Stereum complicatum (Crowded Parchment),
Stereum gausapatum (Bleeding Oak Crust),
Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail),
Stereum sanguinolentum (),
Suillus americanus (American Slippery Jack; Chicken Fat Suillus),
Suillus granulatus (Dotted-stalk Suillus; Granulated Slippery Jack),
Suillus placidus (),
Sutorius eximius (Lilac-Brown Bolete),
Tolypocladium ophioglossoides (Goldenthread cordyceps),
Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail),
Tremella mesenterica (Witches’ Butter),
Trichaptum biforme (Violet Toothed-Polypore),
Trichoderma harzianum (),
Tricholomopsis decora (Decorated Mop),
Tyromyces chioneus (White Cheese Polypore),
Xerocomellus chrysenteron (Red-Cracked Bolete),
Xeromphalina campanella (Fuzzy-foot),
Xerula furfuracea (Rooted Collybia),
Xerula rubrobrunnescens ()

Species not currently on clubs life list:
Agaricus leptocaulis (),
Inocybe calamistrata (),
Lactarius hibbardiae (),
Leccinum snellii (),
Postia ptychogaster (Powderpuff bracket),
Stereum sanguinolentum (Bleeding Conifer Crust),
Trichoderma harzianum (),

Lichen
Cladonia squamosa (),

Antrodia sp.
Copvinus sp.
Evernia sp.
Gymnopdius sp.
Incoybe sp.
Nolenea sp.
Russula sp.
Scutellina sp.

Photos by Cara Barkley Coulter and Richard Jacob

Eight people joined Julie Travaglini from ALT and Cara Coulter from WPMC for a walk at Linbrook Woodlands
Species identified and list entered by Cara Coulter.

List of species found on the walk at Linbrook Woodlands (Sewickley) with Allegheny Land Trust:
Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (Coral Slime),
Dacrymyces palmatus (AKA Dacrymyces chrysospermus),
Exidia crenata (Brown jelly roll),
Fomitopsis spraguei (Green Cheese Polypore),
Ganoderma lobatum (Soft Artist’s Conk),
Gerronema strombodes (The Golden-gilled Gerronema),
Hypholoma fasciculare (),
Ischnoderma resinosum (Resinous Polypore),
Meripilus sumstinei (Black-staining Polypore),
Resupinatus applicatus (Black Jelly Oyster),
Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail),
Trametes gibbosa (Lumpy bracket),
Tricholomopsis rutilans (Plums-and-custard),
Tyromyces chioneus (White Cheese Polypore)

Species not currently on clubs life list:
Xylaria sp.,

Lichens:
Cladonia squamosa
Cladonia coniocraea

Pictures by Cara Coulter.

A group of Friends of Murrysville Parks and club members joined us for a walk at Townsend park. It was a sunny day and a great time to be in the park. After the recent dry spell the rain has come back to Pittsburgh and we are starting to see a few more terrestrial mushrooms although no amanitas and only one bolete and russula species on this walk. There were a number of interesting mushrooms including an unknown Trametes that bruised a pink orange on picking, the psilocybin containing Pluteus americanus showing blue bruising on the stem and the delicate Elder Whitewash crust mushroom Lyomyces sambuci that Judy identified and is new to the clubs life list. We would like to thank everyone for being conscientious by wearing masks and social distancing which makes these walks possible.

Species list entered by Richard Jacob. Species identified by Judy Mackenroth and Richard Jacob.

List of species found on the walk at Townsend park:
Agaricus campestris (Meadow Mushroom / Field Mushroom),
Armillaria gallica (Honey Mushroom),
Armillaria mellea (Honey Mushroom),
Artomyces pyxidatus (Crown-tipped Coral Fungus),
Bisporella citrina (Yellow Fairy Cups),
Boletinellus merulioides (Ash-tree Bolete),
Conocybe tenera (Brown Dunce Cap),
Crepidotus applanatus (Flat Crep),
Ductifera pululahuana (White jelly fungus),
Fomitopsis spraguei (Green Cheese Polypore),
Ganoderma lobatum (Soft Artist’s Conk),
Gymnopus dryophilus (Oak-loving Collybia),
Irpex lacteus (Milk-white Toothed-Polypore),
Laetiporus sulphureus (Chicken Mushroom; Sulphur Shelf),
Lepiota cristata (Malodorous Lepiota),
Leucoagaricus americanus (Reddening Lepiota),
Panellus stipticus (Luminescent Panellus, bitter oyster),
Perenniporia robiniophila (Locust polypore),
Pleurotus pulmonarius (Summer Oyster),
Pluteus americanus (),
Polyporus badius (Black-footed Polypore),
Poronidulus conchifer (),
Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Cinnabar Red Polypore),
Radulomyces copelandii (Asian beauty),
Rickenella fibula (Orange Moss Agaric),
Schizophyllum commune (Split Gill),
Simocybe centunculus (Dingy Twiglet),
Stereum complicatum (Crowded Parchment),
Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail),
Tetrapyrgos nigripes (Black-footed Marasmus),
Trametes hirsuta (),
Trametes pubescens (),
Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail),
Trichaptum biforme (Violet Toothed-Polypore),
Xylobolus frustulatus (Ceramic Parchment)

Species not currently on clubs life list:
Lepiota sp
Incoybe sp.
Red Russula species

Lyomyces sambuci (Elder whitewash),
Leucocoprinus birnbaumii (),

Pictures by Richard Jacob

This is the first “secret walk” that we held in order to comply with a limit of 25 people in the group and maintaining social distancing etc. It was also the first walk of the year! A June walk at Deer Lakes park is named in memory of Dorothy Fornof, one of the clubs founders, a keen naturalist and accomplished mycologist. Normally by the end of June the mushrooms are popping and we find a wide range of species. Amanitas, Boletes and Russulas all make an appearance. We typically find the first of the seasons black trumpets and chanterelles too. We did find a few of everything, except black trumpets, but only one or two specimens of one or two species of each genus so the resulting list is shorter than normal. The top part of the walk was dry and unproductive apart from last years remains of true and false turkey tail etc. Down by the lake and along the creek was damper and we found more variety there including a number of slime molds.

Species list identified and entered by Richard Jacob.

List of species found on the walk at Secret walk at Deer Lakes – Dorothy Fornof foray:
Allodus podophylli (Mayapple Rust),
Amanita amerifulva (American Orange-Brown Ringless Amanita),
Amanita flavoconia (Yellow Patches),
Aureoboletus innixus (Clustered Brown Bolete),
Boletus subvelutipes (Red-Mouth Bolete),
Cantharellus flavolateritius (),
Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (Coral Slime),
Cerioporus squamosus (Dryad’s Saddle, Pheasant Polypore),
Conocybe lactea (White Dunce Cap),
Crepidotus applanatus (Flat Crep),
Crepidotus mollis (Jelly Crep/Soft Stumpfoot),
Diatrype stigma (Common Tarcrust Fungus),
Fuligo septica (Scrambled-egg Slime; Dog Vomit Slime),
Hemitrichia calyculata (),
Hypomyces chrysospermus (Bolete Mold),
Inonotus dryadeus (Oak Bracket),
Irpex lacteus (Milk-white Toothed-Polypore),
Lacrymaria velutina (Weeping widow),
Marasmius rotula (Pinwheel Marasmius),
Megacollybia rodmanii (Platterful Mushroom),
Neofavolus alveolaris (Hexagonal-pored Polypore),
Orbilia xanthostigma (),
Polyporus arcularius (Spring Polypore),
Polyporus varius (),
Psathyrella candolleana (),
Rickenella fibula (Orange Moss Agaric),
Russula vinacea (),
Schizophyllum commune (Split Gill),
Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail),
Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail),
Trichaptum biforme (Violet Toothed-Polypore),
Tubifera ferruginosa (Raspberry slime mold)

Species not currently on clubs life list:
Honey mushroom rhizomorph
Scutellinia sp. – will be ID’ed by microscope.
Old Laetiporus sulphureus
Russula sp.
Dried up Hydnellum sp.

As part of the Phipps BioBlitz Fluff Berger and Richard Jacob recorded their finds from the area around the conservatory. In past years we have found more species in part because we have people walking with us that means more eyes and in part because of the weather. It’s been quite dry and that seems to be slowing down some of the early summer mushrooms. The second Scutellinia specimen we found in the video was identified by microscopy as Scutellinia olivascens.

Species list entered by Richard Jacob. Species identified by Fluff Berger and Richard Jacob

List of species found on the walk at Phipps Bioblitz:
Chlorociboria aeruginascens (Blue-green Stain),
Diatrype stigma (),
Inonotus dryadeus (Oak Bracket),
Lyophyllum decastes (Fried Chicken Mushroom),
Pluteus cervinus (Deer mushroom),
Schizophyllum commune (Split Gill),
Scutellinia olivascens (),
Stereum complicatum (Crowded Parchment),
Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail),
Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail),
Xylaria polymorpha (Dead Man’s Fingers)

Species not currently on clubs life list:
Stemonitis species (Chocolate Tube Slime),

See the video highlights from the walk here: