Species list from Forbes State Forest on 08/20/2017

A mixture of first time mushroom hunters and club members attended this joint program with walk leaders Rachael Mahony from the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry and Richard Jacob from WPMC. Before the walk we talked about different ways to classify mushroom species, one of which was their food sources. We were fortunate to find example species from all three food sources: Mycorrhizal (On the ground associated with tree roots); Saprophytic (Litter and Wood Decay, On wood or On the ground); and Pathogenic/Parasitic. The range of parasitic species was particularly impressive. We found less Mycorrhizal species that we would normally expect in part because we did not walk along the road side where we have found many Amanitas and Boletes in the past. Of the parasitic species that we found Akanthomyces aculeatus, a moth fungus, was of particular note. We have only found it once or twice in our area in the history of the club but we found three infected moths during the walk, one of which was stuck to a picnic table top that we later used as an identification table. The other big find of the day was multiple fruiting’s of Chicken of the woods. Even better it was in perfect condition for eating. Blaine Sanner spotted some of downed trees up the slope above the trail we were following. We then spotted some more a bit further down the trail. Everyone who wanted to try some took a few pieces home. I made Buffalo Chicken of the woods with my share. We also found a number of species new to the club, or at least not previously recorded. We had a great afternoon and thank Rachael Mahony and PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry for organizing the walk.

Species list entered by Richard Jacob. Species identified by Richard Jacob, John Plischke III and Blaine Sanner.

List of species found on the walk at Forbes State Forest:
Akanthomyces aculeatus (),
Amanita vaginata var. vaginata (Grisette),
Artomyces pyxidatus (Crown-tipped Coral Fungus),
Bjerkandera adusta (Smoky Polypore),
Cantharellus minor (Small Chanterelle),
Cerrena unicolor (Mossy Maze Polypore),
Clavaria vermicularis (White Worm Coral Fungus),
Clavulinopsis aurantiocinnabarina (Spindle Shaped Orange Coral),
Climacodon septentrionale (Northern Tooth Fungus),
Coprinus atramentarius (Alcohol inky),
Cordyceps militaris (Trooping Cordyceps),
Daedaleopsis confragosa (Thin-maze Flat Polypore),
Daldinia concentrica (Carbon Balls),
Ganoderma applanatum (Artist’s Conk),
Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Mushroom),
Hericium erinaceus (Bearded Tooth),
Hypocrea americana (),
Hypomyces chrysospermus (Bolete Mold),
Hypoxylon fragiforme (Red Cushion Fungi),
Inocybe rimosa (Straw-colored Fiber-head),
Laccaria laccata (Common Laccaria; Deceiver Laccaria),
Lacrymaria velutina (Weeping widow),
Lactarius mucidus (),
Leotia lubrica (Yellow Jelly Babies),
Laetiporus sulphureus (),
Marasmius rotula (Pinwheel Marasmius),
Marasmius strictipes (Orange-yellow Marasmius),
Megacollybia rodmani (Platterful Mushroom),
Morganella pyriformis (Pear-shaped Puffball),
Mycena haematopus (Bleeding Mycena),
Mycena leaiana (Orange Mycena),
Naematoloma fasciculare (Sulfur Tuft),
Orbilia delicatula (),
Pleurotus pulmonarius (Summer Oyster),
Polyporus varius (),
Pseudoboletus parasiticus (Parasitic Bolete),
Ramaria stricta (),
Russula earlei (),
Russula mariae (Purple-bloom Russula),
Scleroderma citrinum (Pigskin Poison Puffball),
Scutellinia scutellata (Reddish Eyelash Cup),
Trametes elegans (),
Tyromyces chioneus (White Cheese Polypore),
Xeromphalina campanella (Fuzzy-foot),
Xeromphalina kauffmanii (),
Xerula furfuracea (Rooted Collybia),
Xylobolus frustulatus (Ceramic Parchment)