About 20 people attended an early spring mushroom walk at Todd Nature Reserve on Saturday, March 24th. While the temperatures were mild, a few inches of heavily compacted snow remained on several of the trails. Despite the semi-wintry conditions, several fungi species were still collected and identified. A few interesting discoveries collected by walk participant Vanessa included two Ascomycete fungi. One tiny Ascomycete fungi resembled an eyelash cup fungus, and its identity may be Scutellinia scutellata var. leucothecia. The other fungus may be a species of Tapesia, though microscopy will be necessary in order to determine the correct IDs.

Species list entered by Adam Haritan.  Species identified by John Plischke III, Judy Mackenroth, and Adam Haritan.

List of species found on the walk at Todd Nature Reserve:

Apiosporina morbosa (Black Knot of Cherry),
Daedaleopsis confragosa (Thin-maze Flat Polypore),
Daldinia concentrica (Carbon Balls),
Exidia recisa (Brown jelly roll),
Hemitrichia serpula (),
Hydnochaete olivaceus (),
Hymenochaete tabacina (Northern Brown Crust),
Irpex lacteus (Milk-white Toothed-Polypore),
Lenzites betulina (Multicolor Gill Polypore),
Lycogala epidendrum (Wolf’s Milk Slime),
Phellinus gilvus (Mustard Yellow polypore),
Phlebia radiata (),
Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore),
Schizophyllum commune (Split Gill),
Stereum complicatum (Crowded Parchment),
Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail),
Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail),
Trichaptum abietinum (Conifer Polypore),
Trichaptum biforme (Violet Toothed-Polypore),
Xylobolus frustulatus (Ceramic Parchment)

Species not currently on club’s life list:
Peniophora cinerea

Please note that the WPMC had special permission to collect mushrooms for identification purposes only at Todd Nature Reserve on Saturday, March 24th. All ASWP properties are private property, but made available for public use. Users are expected to adhere to the policy that collection of mushrooms (or anything found living or growing on the reserves) is prohibited at all other times.