Mushroom Season in Anmore

The Fall, with its autumnal colours, drop in temperature but especially with

the increased moisture it brings is the season of the mushroom. This season

started badly for mycologists, (although we relished it as West Coast

residents), for it was too dry until well into October. For between September

and Christmas the high season in the mycological calendar is upon us. And

we don’t have to look that far for our Fungi. Following my earlier articles, I

have attached some pictures of fungi found mostly in my back yard. The

exception to my little collection are the Chanterelles, which grow in the

forests around Anmore and the tiny specialist fairy mushrooms found on the

cones of Douglas Fir. As in earlier articles, I prefer not to say unequivocally

what is edible or not. Please assure yourselves of what you eat.

Firstly the tiny little fairy mushroom known as the ‘Fir cone cap’, seen on the

Douglas Fir cone below, (Strobilurus trullisatus). I have seen many this year

and whilst they are interesting to look at, their edibility is not known. They

are too small to be of economic value to a collector and no-one has tried.

Secondly are the prized Chanterelles. I have found a good crop this year, not

as many as in years when September has some precipitation but after the

rains started in mid October, they did some catching up and grew quickly so

I averaged two meals a week from my finds. However, I learned something

this year. I had always assumed our Chanterelles were the same genus as

the European ones, (Cantharellus cibarius) but have since learned that

careful DNA analysis revealed that our local versions are a distinct species

found in the North West Pacific called ‘Pacific Golden Chanterelle’,

(Cantharellus formosus). Guess what, they tasted just as good as the ones I

used to pick in Europe. Here you see them in both the wild and on my

kitchen table, just before I washed them and added them to the pan. Note, I

cut them carefully at the stem and don’t pull them out by the roots. I’m told

that doing so doesn’t destroy the mycorrhizal root network below the surface

and they will grow back next year. I have my own little spots where I have

found them for the last 20 years, so intend to continue this practice. I would

ask you to do the same, if you pick them seriously.

Let’s address ‘False Chanterelles’. Chanterelles are usually quite safe to eat

as they are very distinguishable to the average person. However, other

mushrooms that look similar in colour have been mistaken for them. Some

of these look-alikes can be poisonous. The true ‘false chanterelle’ is the

(Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) and its shape, as well as lamella below the cap

look deceptively similar to the real chanterelle on precursory inspection.

However, on careful inspection it has a much thinner stem, its gills are not

really chanterelle shaped, being rather finer lamella that run into the stem

and it’s colour is not as vibrant as a chanterelle but is more yellowish to

orange brown. Additionally, it’s doesn’t have the Chanterelles mild Apricot

fragrance. Simply put, to the average mycologist it just doesn’t look, smell

or feel like a chanterelle. So please take heed in what you pick.

In the area around Anmore I found another look alike which, whilst

supposedly not poisonous, was mistaken by a family member as a

Chanterelle. It is shown below and even I have some difficulty unequivocally

identifying its species, (other that it is definitely not a chanterelle). It looks

to me to be a ‘Wooly pine spike’, (Chroogomphus tomentosus). Habitat, gill

description and colour, season when it appears, all fit. I am happy to stand

corrected if offered an alternative identification.

One of the more unusual family of fungi are, to my mind the Coprinus

species. I found three sets of one species in my garden. One solitary

member, a group growing in the field close by and yet another group hiding

amongst our flower beds. The most well known family of the Coprinus are

the ‘Shaggy ink cap’ or ‘Lawyers wig’, (Coprinus Comatus); however, my

visitors seem to be all of the ‘Tippler’s bane’ family, also called ‘Alcohol inky’,

(Coprinus atramentarius). Whilst some Coprinus are edible, some do have

an intolerance to alcohol consumption, (up to days before or after eating the

mushroom) and some are thought poisonous. The Alcohol inky’s side effects

can be skin flushes, nausea or other unpleasant side effects. This fungi has

been used in the treatment of alcoholism, presumably to make tipplers

baneful. Below are the examples I found in my garden.

‘Puffballs’ are a common mushroom that many know. They have been a pest

in my garden’s existence. Most years I have found them on the lawn in the

guise of ‘Lawn puffball’, (Vascellum pretense). These can be found either

solitary or in groups. Bursting them when old will only scatter the spores all

over the lawn so I try and remove them when young and destroy the root

structure, (mycorrhizal network). However, this year instead of finding them

on my lawn, I found what looked like a group of ‘Pear-shaped puffballs’,

(Lycoperdon pyriforme), under our ornamental cedar tree. Whilst puffballs

are generally thought edible, (the Pear-shaped puffball certainly is stated as

being so) they must be approached with care. Older examples may be bitter

and inedible even before they metamorphosise into a shell with a cloud of

spores inside. Always cut the ones you have decided are edible open and

carefully inspect the insides. The deadly Amanita species has a nasty trick

up it’s sleeve, it can look the same outside as a puffball when young. If the

inside of the puffball is homogenous, it probably is a puffball; however, if it

has the shape of a mushroom inside the outer envelope, even if shrouded by

other tissue, and the outline of a stalk and cap are discernible, it is unlikely

to be a real puffball but is likely to be an Amanita, or even something else

that has a traditional mushroom shape when mature. Discard immediately.

In our garden we have some Serbian Pines. Every year under them I find

some examples of a Boletus growing. Identification has been a little time

consuming but I have come to the conclusion they are probably ‘Slippery

jacks’, (Suillus luteus). The shape and description match the fungi but one

authority suggests they grow in Eastern North America. Similar ones grow in

the pacific North West but they lack the veil. None are stated as poisonous

but the suggestion is that the slimy cap need be peeled from the fungi as it

may cause diarrhea. I have not summed up the courage to find out. Below

are my example I found in the garden.

With the onset of serious frost and snow, the season ends. I once found

some Chanterelles in January but that was after a mild winter. Generally,

around mid November the season is over for me. I have had my fun and my

pot full of my favourite fungi so that I am satisfied with the year.

Have fun, mycologists but please select and eat carefully. As always, my

examples are given in good faith but without any guarantee. Check what you

have found against credible sources such as the Audubon Society’s excellent

‘Field Guide on North American Mushrooms’ or ‘Common Mushrooms of the

North West’ by J. Duane Sept.