Mycena leaiana
This little orange mushroom caught my attention for two reasons. One it is bright orange and is visible from a ways off. Two, it was growing on the same beech log that just last week had yielded a bounty of oyster mushrooms. One of the most striking things about the mushroom was that it stained my fingers orange when I picked it. It is also very rubbery and hard to pick. The first picture does not give a good idea of its size since it is of a small limb. That little clump of mushrooms is only about 2 1/2 inches across all together. The biggest cap is less than 1 inch across.
The guide books say it is probably ok to eat but no one has tried it. I would hate to see your mouth after you ate it, if it stained your mouth like it stains your hands. The other day I was noticing the squirrels had been busy on the black walnuts – I wonder if the black walnuts stain their teeth black like they do my fingers.
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Mycena leaiana
Type: GilledCollection date: 08/28/2008
Name: Mycena leaiana
Common Name:
Description: This is a small orange mushroom that caught my attention because it sprang up on what I call my oyster log right after the oyster mushrooms quit fruiting. The oyster log is a large beech. It is also notable in that it is very dry. When I got a specimen the orange came off on my fingers and stained them.
Edibility: Unknown
Color: Orange
Size: Less than 5cm
Cap type: Convex, Shield Shaped
Gills:
Stem type: Stem longer than cap diameter, no volva
Flesh: Flesh exudes colored (orange) latex
Texture:
Veil:
Ring:
Volva:
Mycelium:
Spore color: White,cream,yellowish
Habitat: Grows in woods
Habitat2: Grows on wood
Habitat3:
Field Notes
Note: 09/27/2008 I see these scattered throughout the woods on dead logs : 57-80°F : DryNote: 09/28/2008 Still showing up all over the place. : 55-80°F : Dry
Note: 10/09/2008 These have been growing on and off with the moisture for a couple of weeks : 55-65°F : Moist (1 inch of rain the last two
Amanita cokeri
This is one of the most striking mushrooms I have seen. It is always perfect with no bugs on it or damage to it. It is pure white and usually quite large. The first picture is of a mushroom over 9 inches tall. As with all Amanita it is not good to eat, but it is beautiful to look at. I usually find it in parts of the forest where there are aspen. I don’t know if that’s a coincidence or not. The first picture was taken during a rainy period and the other pictures were taken during a dry period.
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Amanita Cokeri
Type: GilledCollection date: 08/27/2008
Name: Amanita Cokeri
Common Name:
Description: This is a beautiful white gilled mushroom. I have am startled by its beauty every time I see it.
Edibility: Poisonous/Suspect
Color: White to Cream
Size: 5 to 15cm
Cap type: Convex
Gills: Notched Attachment
Stem type: Bulbous base of stem with volva
Flesh: white
Texture: Flesh fibrous
Veil: partial-membranous - sort of sticky
Ring: collarlike
Volva: scaly
Mycelium:
Spore color: White,cream,yellowish
Habitat: Grows in woods
Habitat2: Grows on the ground
Habitat3: humus Oak Beech Maple Sasafras
Field Notes
Note: 09/26/2008 Found a big beautiful speciman see picture 6 : 55-85°F : DryNote: 09/27/2008 I see these scattered throughout the woods usually singly. : 57-80°F : Dry
Note: 09/29/2008 Didn’t see any today for the first time in a couple of weeks. : 54-80°F : Dry
Note: 09/30/2008 A few new ones : 52-71°F : A little rain .12 inch
Note: 10/01/2008 Half a dozen new ones spread out over the forest coming up through the leaves. : 43-69°F : Damp
Note: 10/03/2008 Still coming up : 40-68°F : Dry
Note: 10/03/2008 Added a picture of a bud today : 40-70°F : Dry
Note: 10/04/2008 I spotted one not under aspen. Most of the ones I have found have been where there are aspen. This one was under an oak with beech nearby. : 40-70°F : Dry
Note: 10/06/2008 Several coming up – most under aspen but some under maple : 55-75°F : Dry
Note: 10/07/2008 Saw one under an oak tree : 50-72°F : Light Rain
Note: 10/14/2008 Saw one today : 55-80°F : Dry
Omphalotus illudens
The Jack O Lantern is a good mushroom to be familiar with. It looks a lot like chanterelle mushrooms. The major difference is that the Jack O Lantern has true gills. It is also poisonous and can cause severe gastro-intestinal distress. It grows on dead wood but these appeared to be growing out of the ground like chanterelles. Unlike the chanterelle it also grows in large groups and like many mushrooms it can grow very fast. The mushrooms in the pictures to the right sprang up within a 24 hour period. The whole bunch weighed almost a full pound. I will have to admit I was very disappointed they were not real chanterelles. I found it in the same general area as I had found chanterelles. The second picture has a golf ball in the picture for reference.
All the descriptions of this mushroom tell of how it glows green in the dark. Having seen foxfire on many occasions, I put it to the test. My son and I took one of the mushrooms into a basement room, turned out the lights and waited. After about ten minutes, we both could see a faint and I mean faint green glow. It was most noticeable when I picked up the mushroom and moved it around. I have to say it was not near as bright as foxfire.
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Omphalotus illudens
Type: GilledCollection date: 08/27/2008
Name: Omphalotus illudens
Common Name: Jack O Lantern
Description: This is a bright orange mushroom that looks very much like chanterelle mushrooms except that it has true gills.
Edibility: Poisonous/Suspect
Color: Orange
Size: 5 to 15cm
Cap type: Funnel Shaped
Gills:
Stem type: Stem longer than cap diameter
Flesh: pale orange
Texture:
Veil:
Ring:
Volva:
Mycelium:
Spore color: White,cream,yellowish
Habitat: Grows in woods
Habitat2: Grows on wood
Habitat3:
Field Notes
Note: 09/18/2008 The third blush of these mushrooms is appearing. : 88-53°F : dryNote: 09/22/2008 It looks like the last of these are starting to rot. Unless more come up again. : 55-82°F : Dry
Note: 09/23/2008 I thought these were finally done but saw a new patch today. : 57-85°F : Dry
Note: 09/28/2008 I thought these were done but a new patch has flowered. : 55-80°F : Dry
Note: 09/30/2008 The new ones are dying back now : 52-71°F : A little rain .12 inch
Note: 10/01/2008 Three new batches came up : 43-69°F : Damp
Note: 10/03/2008 The new ones are mature now. : 40-68°F : Dry
Note: 10/09/2008 The rain prompted some new ones to come up next to a stump : 55-65°F : Moist (1 inch of rain the last two
Note: 10/23/2008 Just when I think these are done another shows up : 40-65°F : Dry
Note: 10/25/2008 The one is getting bigger. : 35-57°F : Damp – over 1” rain yesterday last