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Timberdoodler
illustrator


Registered: 07/20/06
Posts: 122
Loc: Pennsylvania
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum
#5908774 - 07/28/06 12:09 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Found at the base of a hemlock tree, deep within a hollow in central Pennsylvania I stumbled upon a mushroom that I'd never seen. I was doing some research, and I think I identified it properly on my own as Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum.

Now on to the details:
HABITAT - The base of an Eastern Hemlock, central Pennsylvania.
CAP - no warts or growths, smooth, wrinkles radiate from it's center. Six inches in diameter. Brown.
GILLS - White, free-gilled. (I'm assuming free-gilled means that you can remove the stem without damaging the gills.) There was a slight stain on a few of the gills, but I think it was caused by something foreign.
SPORE PRINT - White, on a paper plate. When I first examined, it looked as though the paper plate had "lifted" to conform to the gill shape.
STEM - Stringy, like string cheese. Long, thin, brown skin with white flesh, and a notable long orangish "DAGGER" when pulled from the ground! The stem seemed pretty tough.
SCENT - Fresh husked corn, mushroomy. Haha, sorry if that's too vague!
BRUISING - No bruising when cut open.
Overall, that day was just extraordinary! Here are some other findings:










More recently, I have found some sulphur shelf, and TONS of chanterelles!! I was enamoured by the beauty of both, as it was my first time finding either!
I'm addicted.
Edited by Timberdoodler (07/28/06 12:10 PM)
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xmush
Professor ofDoom


Registered: 10/22/05
Posts: 2,421
Loc: Jaw-juh
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5908801 - 07/28/06 12:23 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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That sulfur shelf looks awesome. I found a giant one a few months back, but was under the impression that only very young ones were tasty. Then I found out that it's not the age of the mushroom that matters, only that you eat the new growth from the mushroom. So I went back and it was gone And Eris had just posted a pic of a plate of it that he had cooked up and it looked soooo good.
Nice finds, I look forward to reading your posts.
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Timberdoodler
illustrator


Registered: 07/20/06
Posts: 122
Loc: Pennsylvania
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: xmush]
#5908828 - 07/28/06 12:33 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Thanks for the kind words xmush!
You probably already know this, but I wanted to make sure that you ID the tree that sulphur is growing on prior to eating it! From what I've gathered, sulphurs growing on hemlock, locust, and pretty much any pine tree are poisonous. Meanwhile, the ones on oak are delicious! Just a heads up.
Also, that orange mushroom isn't the sulphur shelf, is it? I found sulphur shelf too days later, but didn't get a photo of it unfortunately.
I'm not really sure what it is, and didn't take a spore print. Here is a picture of the gills:

Whatever it is, it definitely has gills and a tubular stem. It was also rather flimsy, not stiff and woodish like the sulphur. Hell...maybe someone can tell me what that is too! Haha!
Edited by Timberdoodler (07/28/06 12:37 PM)
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eris
underground


Registered: 11/17/98
Posts: 48,024
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5908833 - 07/28/06 12:34 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Nice finds and pics.
Quote:
GILLS - White, free-gilled. (I'm assuming free-gilled means that you can remove the stem without damaging the gills.) There was a slight stain on a few of the gills, but I think it was caused by something foreign.
Free gills means that the gills are not attached directly to the stem. Whether or not a specimen has free or attached gills is often very important.
As far as it being a Cystoderma amianthinum or not, with KOH the cap cuticle is supposed to stain rusty to reddish brown when it is applied.. It says that there is a variety of Cystoderma amianthinum that can have a wrinkled cap.. The cap is listed as being 2-5 cm broad though. There is also a ring on the stem with this species sometimes from what I can tell. It is described as having a strong odor also.
It seems as though there could be many species that look very similar in this complex of mushrooms, so without lab equipment and having possession of the specimen, I wouldn't be able to be sure. I'd have to say that based on what I see it's not that species.
Try and describe the gill attachment more if possible.
-------------------- Immortal / Temporarily Retired The OG Thread Killer My mushroom hunting gallery
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shroomydan
exshroomerite


Registered: 07/04/04
Posts: 4,126
Loc: In the woods
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5908920 - 07/28/06 01:13 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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I think the mushroom in the first photo is Xerula radicata .
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xmush
Professor ofDoom


Registered: 10/22/05
Posts: 2,421
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5910595 - 07/28/06 11:23 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Oops, my bad. I read where you wrote sulphur shelf, glanced at that picture and then started drooling thinking about how good mine would have been if it didn't get picked. But your orange shroom definitely is not sulphur shelf (I actually prefer the more appetizing moniker - chicken of the woods). I almost wonder if it isn't a Jack-o-Lantern - although the stems look a bit short.
And i've never heard that about the tree making a chicken poisonous. Where did you learn this?
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ToxicMan
Bite me, it's fun!


Registered: 06/28/02
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5910655 - 07/28/06 11:40 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Those orange mushrooms look a lot like Jack O'Lanterns (Omphalotus sp.).
Great photos and finds!
Happy mushrooming!
-------------------- Happy mushrooming!
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Timberdoodler
illustrator


Registered: 07/20/06
Posts: 122
Loc: Pennsylvania
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: ToxicMan]
#5910810 - 07/29/06 12:34 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Eris - I think you may be right. Come to think of it, the cap looked very greasy, and your reference refers to this. This is possibly why it was the only mushroom that had wood-dust from the hemlocks sticking to it's cap! The gills DID go to the stem, but were notched in such a way that the stem was removed with almost no disruption to the gills. I think it was a bit of a challenging ID for a novice like myself!
Also, the text you linked to explains:
"The mushrooms in this species cluster are in a state of taxonomic flux (see below), but whether there are few or many species involved, they are easily identified by their white spore print, slender stature, greasy-looking and frequently somewhat wrinkled caps, and the very distinctive slender tap roots that extend into the ground."
The main feature that stuck out in my mind was the long slender "dagger" like tap root. It appeared orangeish in coloration. Very sharp, long, and slender. Pore print matches, cap description matches, scent matches, and the stature matches. If I was betting money, I would go with Xerula radicata! Thanks!
As for the orange mushrooms, I believe it to be a jack o' lantern mushroom cluster. After viewing some photos of the gills and different ways these mushrooms can grow and appear, I'm feeling pretty confident with the ID! I never saw jack's that appeared so frilly though!
xmush - According to this source (which is the second source I found on the subject):
"Humans can participate directly in this food chain as well. Mushroom aficionados say the texture of the sulphur shelf resembles chicken. Those with an interest in eating it, however, should be aware that, as with any mushroom, some people have a bad reaction, including light-headedness and nausea. Mueller suggests eating a few tablespoons at first to make sure you won't become ill. Avoid eating old, shriveled, and moldy sulphur shelf, or those growing from conifer or eucalyptus trees, and always cook before eating."
In any case, be careful! We don't need anyone getting sick, or dying over chicken of the woods.
If this factoid turns out to be true, I think chicken of the woods might not be as deserving a member of the "foolproof four" as I once thought! Unmistakable, yes, but an easy way to get yourself sick if it's growing on a hard-to-identify log, or if a person just simply doesn't know their trees!
Edited by Timberdoodler (07/29/06 12:53 AM)
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Zen Peddler


Registered: 06/18/01
Posts: 6,379
Loc: orbit
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5911004 - 07/29/06 02:14 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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man im getting hungry... brilliant photos and hunt
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xmush
Professor ofDoom


Registered: 10/22/05
Posts: 2,421
Loc: Jaw-juh
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5911597 - 07/29/06 10:27 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Thanks for the source - I will definitely be careful with the chicken if I find another. It was because of its listing on the 'foolproof four' that I doubted you originally. I agree that it should be taken off that list if you have to add dendrology to mycology in order to safely eat it.
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Timberdoodler
illustrator


Registered: 07/20/06
Posts: 122
Loc: Pennsylvania
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: xmush]
#5913204 - 07/29/06 09:05 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Oddly enough, if these orange mushrooms turned out to be Jack O' Lanterns, what gives with the timing of the fruiting? It is now July, and according to this source, the jack o'lantern is strictly an autumn mushroom.
"The Jack-o-Lantern mushroom's fruiting body (its stem and cap) is an orange color. It grows only in October and November, notably around Halloween."
The next time I find this bugger, he's getting a spore print dammit! I do remember the stem was hollowish, possibly "chambered".
Now I'm baffled. I have three days off in a row coming up. Hopefully I can locate some more for proper ID.
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xmush
Professor ofDoom


Registered: 10/22/05
Posts: 2,421
Loc: Jaw-juh
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5913223 - 07/29/06 09:19 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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The seasons listed in guidebooks are really rough guidelines. Various climatic factors including weather, along with elevation, and regional geography will conspire to thwart what the guidebook authors write. I'm not sure why your source says 'only in October and November.' I don't think any guidebook would list such a strict set of dates.
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shroomydan
exshroomerite


Registered: 07/04/04
Posts: 4,126
Loc: In the woods
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: xmush]
#5915680 - 07/30/06 05:16 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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I found some Jacks today. Don't take what the book says about seasons and habitats too seriously. Many errors are to be found in mushroom field guides.
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Timberdoodler
illustrator


Registered: 07/20/06
Posts: 122
Loc: Pennsylvania
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: shroomydan]
#5916445 - 07/30/06 08:57 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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So is that to say that morels can be found out of season?
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shroomydan
exshroomerite


Registered: 07/04/04
Posts: 4,126
Loc: In the woods
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: Timberdoodler]
#5917919 - 07/31/06 08:08 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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The latest I have ever found a morel was May 29th, and it was a monster.

My sister found some black morels in July last year. She lives in Colorado and found them up in the mountains.
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Timberdoodler
illustrator


Registered: 07/20/06
Posts: 122
Loc: Pennsylvania
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Cystoderma amianthinum var. rugosoreticulatum [Re: shroomydan]
#5918003 - 07/31/06 08:48 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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That's awesome. I've never found a morel, which is strange because I'm always hiking around. Then again, I didn't gain much of an interest until the very end of morel season this year!
Granted, I've been doing my research in plan for next year.
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