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:

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