Walk leader John Stuart. The conditions were dry, dry for the North Park walk on Aug. 8, 2015 but 8 people attended and we saw the usual turkey tails false and true as well as a very unusual spider and some interesting plants. We found Laetiporus cincinnatus, Panellus stipticus, Strobilomyces confusus and floccopus, Russula compacta, Craterellus fallax, Boletus bicolor, Xylobolus frustulatus, and Xanthoconium purpureum, identified by Valerie Baker and John Stuart. We also spotted a bright orange amorphous mass about 1.5 cm by .5 cm in some leaves. After extensive examination of the various folds and texture we concluded it was someone’s discarded gum. Club member Bob Machesney gave a very good suggestion for cooking chicken of the woods, he starts off with olive oil/butter to sauté then at the end adds 2 tablespoons of wine, covers and cooks for another 2 minutes or so and it really makes a tasty treat.

As many of you will already know some mushrooms are bioluminescent. Locally we have Panellus stipticus (Luminescent Panellus), Omphalotus illudens (Jack o’lantern) and some Mycena species.  Brian Johanson returned to the North park at night to see if he could capture the bioluminesce on camera.  As you can see he was able to do so. The younger  mushrooms glowed the post and you can only see the outline of the older caps.

Panellus stipticus. Bioluminescence. Brian Johanson

 

Species list entered by John Stuart.

List of species found on the walk at North Park:

[icon style=”camera”] Boletus bicolor (Red-and-yellow Bolete; Bicolor Bolete),
[icon style=”camera”] Craterellus fallax (Black Trumpet),
[icon style=”camera”] Laetiporus cincinnatus (),
[icon style=”camera”] Panellus stipticus (Luminescent Panellus),
[icon style=”camera”] Russula compacta (Firm Russula),
[icon style=”camera”] Strobilomyces confusus (Old Man-of-the-woods),
[icon style=”camera”] Strobilomyces floccopus (Old Man-of-the-woods),
[icon style=”camera”] Xanthoconium purpureum (),
[icon style=”camera”] Xylobolus frustulatus (Ceramic Parchment)

Comments:
Very dry conditions.