This year we managed both a spring and an autumn survey of Sycamore island. A mix of about 35 people from WPMC or the Allegheny Land Trust were ferried over to Sycamore island by the ALT’s pontoon. We explored the island looking for mushrooms while finding the remains of swimming pools, a barge and other structures. Our luck held and apart for two short showers we mostly stayed dry. The Sycamore island is still growing while its sister island on the other side of the river, 9 mile island, is reported to be shrinking. The island has mature silver Maple and Oak trees on it among other tree and plant species. Many of the species found were saproxylic or wood eating fungi but there were also a few a few mycorrhizal species such as Xerocomellus chrysenteron (Red-Cracked Bolete). Find of the day however was the Calvatia rubroflava (Yellow Puffball). This is a species that we had not previously observed in the region and we took a sample for DNA analysis.

There are a few pictures of the event on the ALT FaceBook page including a 360 degree image from the center of the island and a lot more pictures of mushrooms below.

Species list entered by Richard Jacob. Species identified by La Monte Yarroll, Josh Carvin and Richard Jacob.

List of species found on the walk at Sycamore island:
[icon style=”camera”] Albatrellus ovinus (Sheep Polypore),
[icon style=”camera”] Arcyria cinerea (White Carnival Candy Slime),
[icon style=”camera”] Arcyria denudata (Pink Carnival Candy Slime),
[icon style=”camera”] Artomyces pyxidatus (Crown-tipped Coral Fungus),
[icon style=”camera”] Calvatia rubroflava (Yellow Puffball),
[icon style=”camera”] Calocera viscosa (Yellow Tuning Fork),
[icon style=”camera”] Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (Coral Slime),
[icon style=”camera”] Clitocybe suaveolens (),
[icon style=”camera”] Coprinellus micaceus (Mica Cap),
[icon style=”camera”] Crepidotus applanatus (Flat Crep),
[icon style=”camera”] Daedaleopsis confragosa (Thin-maze Flat Polypore),
[icon style=”camera”] Daldinia concentrica (Carbon Balls),
[icon style=”camera”] Ganoderma applanatum (Artist’s Conk),
[icon style=”camera”] Geastrum triplex (Collared Earthstar),
[icon style=”camera”] Lentinellus ursinus (),
[icon style=”camera”] Lenzites betulina (Multicolor Gill Polypore),
[icon style=”camera”] Leucoagaricus americanus (Reddening Lepiota),
[icon style=”camera”] Lycoperdon perlatum (Gem-studded Puffball),
[icon style=”camera”] Marasmius siccus (),
[icon style=”camera”] Megacollybia rodmani (Platterful Mushroom),
[icon style=”camera”] Mycena galericulata (Common Mycena; Rosy-gill Fairy-helmet),
[icon style=”camera”] Mycena haematopus (Bleeding Mycena),
[icon style=”camera”] Mycena leaiana (Orange Mycena),
[icon style=”camera”] Mycena subcaerulea (Blue Mycena),
[icon style=”camera”] Panellus stipticus (Luminescent Panellus, bitter oyster),
[icon style=”camera”] Phellinus gilvus (Mustard Yellow polypore),
[icon style=”camera”] Pholiota limonella (),
[icon style=”camera”] Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushroom),
[icon style=”camera”] Pluteus cervinus (Deer mushroom),
[icon style=”camera”] Polyporus elegans (Elegant Polypore),
[icon style=”camera”] Polyporus squamosus (Dryad’s Saddle, Pheasant Polypore),
[icon style=”camera”] Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (),
[icon style=”camera”] Scutellinia scutellata (Reddish Eyelash Cup),
[icon style=”camera”] Stemonitis axifera (),
[icon style=”camera”] Stereum complicatum (Crowded Parchment),
[icon style=”camera”] Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail),
[icon style=”camera”] Trametes gibbosa (Lumpy bracket),
[icon style=”camera”] Trametes hirsuta (),
[icon style=”camera”] Trametes pubescens (),
[icon style=”camera”] Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail),
[icon style=”camera”] Tyromyces chioneus (White Cheese Polypore),
[icon style=”camera”] Xerocomellus chrysenteron (Red-Cracked Bolete),
[icon style=”camera”] Xylaria polymorpha (Dead Man’s Fingers)

Species not currently on clubs life list:
A Bisporella citrina like species

Photos by Richard Jacob