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OfflineWorkmanV
1999 Spore War Veteran


Reged: 03/01/01
Posts: 3598
Loc: Oregon, USA
Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms
      11/29/12 07:41 PM

Mushroom Cultivation: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms


"I grew mushrooms but they don't look right"

Not all contamination is slimy or moldy.  Sometimes a mushroom substrate can unintentionally produce unwanted mushrooms.

Presenting an informational collection of images of contaminate mushrooms growing on cakes or in trays.  The list is rather short so you should be able to find your rogue mushrooms here.  If you find something completely different, let me know and I'll add it to the list.  All images are of actual contaminate mushrooms observed and documented by members of the Shroomery forums.

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#1 Schizophyllum commune (Common Split gill)

This is an extremely common contaminate mushroom, often mistaken for small Pleurotus (oyster mushrooms).  The mushrooms start out looking like a tiny flask before flattening out to the mature fan-like form.  This species has a worldwide distribution where it is usually found growing on wood.  Despite it being a highly successful wood decaying fungus, it seems just as happy on rice flour and vermiculite. 

Reported in the forums several times a year, with reports spiking in the summer months.  Forum posts suggest that the usual source of this mushroom contaminate is natural environmental spore load.

This species is actually edible, but is usually designated as inedible in guidebooks because of its tough, chewy texture. 

 


Schizophyllum commune - collected Shroomery posts

Tom Volk's Mushroom of the Month Schizopyllum commune
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#2 Small Gray Unknown (Spikes)

A less common but not rare contaminate, sometimes mistaken for Panaeolus or malformed Pleurotus (oyster mushrooms).  The mushrooms are small and thin with white spores.  The cap and stem are the same color, usually grayish. Reported about once a year on this forum. This is almost certainly a collection of similar species since there is some variability in appearance.  Collybia is a possible genus.  The contamination source is apparently environmental spore load.  Not active or edible, possibly poisonous. DO NOT EAT!

       

Threads with  for above images

Rahz (2005)
bensoncd1990 (2007)
juggaloskater (2008)
gmarkball (2011)
Scarousel (2012)
F4112N (2012)
capncaveman (2014)

Microscopy of juggaloskater specimen


The reports of this rarer type of contaminate are hard to find in the forums since they lack common search keywords, so let me know if I missed any.  I am pretty sure I've seen a few more over the years.

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#3 Pleurotus (Oyster Mushrooms)

Oyster mushrooms are a fairly common contaminate but unlike #1 and #2, these rarely (never?) occur due to wild spores.  The oyster mushrooms are usually malformed and not immediately recognizable.  They are extremely sensitive to the high CO2 levels often found in low-tech passive grow chambers.  The lack of adequate air exchange causes reduced funnel shaped caps and elongated stems.  Cap color can be white, brown, blue or yellow, depending on the oyster species (pink is possible but has yet to be observed as a contaminate).  Stems are white, spores are white to pale lilac.

Update with pink oyster example.
https://www.reddit.com/r/shroomery/comments/14653dp/a_cautionary_tale_of_pink_oysters/

There are 3 main causes for oyster mushrooms to appear where they are not expected. 

A mixup of cultures/trays by the cultivator that is growing more than one species, one of which are oyster mushrooms. 

A high oyster spore load from an earlier successful oyster mushroom fruiting has contaminated the cultivation area. 

Contaminated spore prints from side by side growing of oysters and other species.  This has been known to happen with purchased and traded spores.  Oyster mushrooms are very aggressive and can overgrow most other desirable species even if only a few oyster spores are present. Not active, Edible (choice if grown properly) 




The far right image by Lorddavros (see Weird link below) shows cubensis and oysters growing from the same cake.  An outstanding example of oyster contamination. 

A small selection of unintentional oyster mushroom cultivation posts

Oysters
Oysters instead of Cubensis
Weird
Strange

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#4 Coprinoids (Inky Caps)

A common contaminate mushroom often seen in bulk cultivations using manures, composts, straw or soils.  The spores of many coprinoids are thermotolerant and can survive inadequate pasteurization.  There are many species but the contaminating types are all fast growing and fragile with most dissolving into an inky liquid at maturity. The cap coloration can be white, brown or gray.  The young caps are usually egg shaped, but mature into a bell or parasol shape before melting down.  Spores are black.  Not active, not edible (some species can be somewhat toxic, but none are considered deadly)





Threads
Oddball
Mushroom contaminate
Inky caps
More inky caps
Albino PE?

The Shroomery Contaminate page, includes inky caps

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#5 Psilocybe cubensis (Cubes)

Psilocybe cubensis can contaminate Panaeolus cyanescens (and allies) cultivations and more rarely other species.  The reasons are the same as with oyster contamination (see #3 above) with the additional factor of spores intentionally or mistakenly mislabeled (both species have dark spores so the spore prints are visually similar)

Interestingly, trays of fully colonized Panaeolus can produce a normal flush of Panaeolus mushrooms before becoming overwhelmed by Cubensis mycelium and fruiting cubensis for the 2nd and following flushes.  This generally happens when both species are grown in close proximity and the grow area is loaded with free cubensis spores.  It appears that the Panaeolus colonized substrate is selective for cubensis colonization.  This hints at the possibility of sequential use of manure based substrates. 

 

Although Cubensis contamination is common, pictures are almost always of one species or the other.  Currently I am only able to find one good Shroomery posted picture showing both species growing in the same container.  The two pictures on the right are from the thehawkseye and mycotopia.  If I find more Shroomery posted pictures I will replace the the offsite ones.

Pans don't look like pans

Rogue mushrooms

Cubensis instead of Oysters


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#6 Everything else

Rare events that don't fit in the above.

Polypore?

Stemonitis splendens. Chocolate Tube Slime Mold

*minor edits: 3/28/2020

Edited by Workman (06/11/23 01:00 PM)

Post Extras Print Post Remind Me! Notify Moderator
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Deemstar   11/29/12 10:00 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms WorkmanV   11/29/12 10:11 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms EvilMushroom666   11/30/12 03:23 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Cryono   01/13/15 02:50 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms MykoMyers   01/14/15 09:22 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms galaxy_brain   12/01/23 05:38 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms GuyOnaBuffalo   12/02/23 09:44 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms FrankHorrigan   06/25/13 12:28 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Kizzle   06/25/13 12:41 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms WorkmanV   06/25/13 12:59 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms WorkmanV   10/06/14 03:50 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Kizzle   10/06/14 07:34 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms sendmehummus   08/07/20 06:42 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Mdnghtgspl   09/11/20 05:20 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms 5-MeO-stuff   10/24/20 05:51 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Weyland   10/24/20 04:26 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Baby_Hitler   10/24/20 04:29 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Weyland   10/24/20 04:34 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Baby_Hitler   10/24/20 05:22 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Weyland   10/24/20 05:28 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Baby_Hitler   10/24/20 05:42 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms James9870   01/26/15 07:23 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms MykoMyers   01/26/15 08:50 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms joshkepler   02/09/15 10:00 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms XxMUST_BE_LUCKxX   02/21/15 11:39 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms AmoebicMagician   04/09/15 06:33 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms TheEaglesGift   04/10/15 03:30 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Jozz   10/28/15 01:56 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Mad Season   06/05/15 04:46 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms kys   08/25/15 03:06 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms TheEaglesGift   08/25/15 03:07 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Mycovester   02/26/23 05:14 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Mycovester   03/02/23 02:38 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms omgflyingbanana   03/16/23 10:59 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms thatguyatthatplace   09/01/15 04:56 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Mad Season   09/01/15 07:57 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Jozz   10/28/15 01:53 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Memushies   02/11/17 10:52 AM
. * * Re: [STICKY] Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms steelheadwill   10/06/17 10:22 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms beginner1   10/20/17 02:06 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms ethano   04/25/20 12:31 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms silverp   05/20/20 06:21 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Baby_Hitler   05/22/20 04:07 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms kibbster   03/16/21 10:39 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Sillycelium123   07/03/21 06:25 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Psilimax   08/06/21 05:50 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Psilimax   08/17/21 08:25 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Trabin2836   10/20/22 03:07 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Shrimps   10/21/22 02:24 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms dyel   01/12/23 05:55 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms MissBlue   01/09/23 11:55 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms ChadInMe   01/11/23 07:45 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Sakedawg1   03/23/23 01:27 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms myc_ousin_vinny   03/23/23 05:45 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Xorgo   06/19/23 07:18 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms shuniatarg   06/29/23 01:32 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms Maestus   07/01/23 10:14 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms SirPsycho   07/01/23 10:23 PM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms GreaseNutsTheCubeG   12/17/23 01:07 AM
. * * Re: Guide to Common Contaminate Mushrooms LogicaL ChaosM   12/23/23 03:11 PM


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