Fistulina hepatica
I found this mushroom one fall day as I was going on my daily walk. I did not have anything to carry it back with and left if for the next day. Sigh, some woodland creature beat me to it. Its gone now. It was bright red and I was looking forward to trying it to eat.
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Fistulina hepatica
Type: PolyporeCollection date: 11/20/2008
Name: Fistulina hepatica
Common Name: Beefsteak Polypore or Ox Tongue
Description: Bright red shelf mushroom with white pore surface. It was growing on a dead log.
Edibility: Choice
Color: Red, Redish, Pink
Size: Over 15cm
Cap type: Fan shaped
Gills: No Gills
Stem type: Lateral, rudimentary, absent
Flesh: Flesh Discolors when cut
Texture: Flesh fibrous
Veil: none
Ring: none
Volva: none
Mycelium:
Spore color: Pink
Habitat: Grows in woods
Habitat2: Grows on wood
Habitat3: Dead Oak
Grifola frondosa 1
This large fall mushroom is a favorite of mine. Last year I found a 8 pound specimen. The one this year was only about 3 1/2 pounds. It is a good tasting mushroom both simply fried in butter (with a little garlic and salt) or in dishes. Last year my wife made a big pot of mushroom soup with it. Both times I have found it at the base of tree stumps, though it also grows at the base of live trees as a parasite. The Japanese call it the Dancing Mushroom (Maitake) because the mushroom hunter dances when he/she finds it I was going on my daily walk and almost cut it short when I found this mushroom. Here it is called the Hen of the Woods or the Sheep’s head because of the way it looks..
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Grifola frondosa
Type: PolyporeCollection date: 10/04/2008
Name: Grifola frondosa
Common Name: Hen of the woods, sheepshead, maitake
Description: This frilly mushroom consists of clusters of rosettes all coming from a common stem. The individual caps range from 3/4 of an inch to 4 or 5 inches. The whole cluster can get quit large. The specimen pictured weighed 3 1/2 lb. The caps are grey-brown and the bottom is white. The spore print is white.
Edibility: Choice
Color: Brown
Size: Over 15cm
Cap type: wavy
Gills: No Gills
Stem type: Lateral, rudimentary, absent
Flesh: white firm
Texture: firm
Veil: none
Ring: none
Volva: none
Mycelium: white
Spore color: White,cream,yellowish
Habitat: Grows in woods
Habitat2: Grows on the ground at base of tree
Habitat3: Dead stump oak?
Field Notes
Note: 10/25/2008 Just when I think these are done another shows up. Found about a 2 pound one next to a stump. : 35-57°F : Damp – over 1” rain yesterday lastTrametes versicolor
The Turkey Tail is a striking beautiful mushroom. I found it down in the bottom area growing on rotting wood. Besides the one in the pictures to the left I found a couple more small ones on wood pieces. All had the multilobe appearance and were similar in color. Often Turkey Tail or more colorful than the specimens I found. I will keep looking.
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Trametes versicolor
Type: PolyporeCollection date: 09/23/2008
Name: Trametes versicolor
Common Name: Turkey Tail
Description: Multiple overlapping lobes, looks almost like a flower. Tough woody flesh. Growing on ground, maybe dead wood. About 15cm across. Dark black with white edges.
Edibility: Inedible – too tough
Color: Black, Blackish
Size: Over 15cm
Cap type: over lapping lobes
Gills: No Gills
Stem type: Lateral, rudimentary, absent
Flesh: white
Texture: Flesh fibrous
Veil: none
Ring: none
Volva: none
Mycelium:
Spore color: White,cream,yellowish
Habitat: Grows in woods
Habitat2: Grows on the ground
Habitat3:
Field Notes
Note: 09/25/2008 Still there not much growth : 55-85°F : DryNote: 09/27/2008 The original one of these is still around and about the same size as when I first spotted it. : 57-80°F : Dry
Note: 10/01/2008 Another one is coming up near the original one I saw. : 43-69°F : Damp
Note: 10/04/2008 Something chewed on a new small one. : 40-70°F : Dry
Note: 10/10/2008 The original one is still there – everytime some new ones come up something gets them : 50-68°F : Moist
Note: 10/20/2008 Still around and growing. : 34-65°F : Dry
Ganoderma applanatum
The Artists Conk has to be one of the hardest woodiest mushrooms there is. Often it is harder than the wood it is growing on. The top of the mushrooms around here are almost black and the bottom is almost pure white. On the younger ones, the outside margin is white also. I have found it mainly on downed hardwood logs. It tolerates the dry weather of late summer better than most mushrooms.
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Ganoderma applanatum
Type: PolyporeCollection date: 08/23/2008
Name: Ganoderma applanatum
Common Name: Artist’s conk
Description: Bracket fungus growing on dead logs. It can get quite big. It is dark brown/black on top and white underneath. The flesh is tough.
Edibility: Inedible
Color: Black, Blackish
Size: 5 to 15cm
Cap type: Bracket
Gills:
Stem type: Lateral, rudimentary, absent
Flesh: Flesh fibrous
Texture:
Veil:
Ring:
Volva:
Mycelium:
Spore color: Light to Dark Brown
Habitat: Grows in woods
Habitat2: Grows on wood
Habitat3:
Field Notes
Note: 09/23/2008 New ones still fruiting. : 57-85°F : DryNote: 09/25/2008 New ones continue to pop up : 55-85°F : Dry
Note: 09/25/2008 New ones continue to pop up : 55-85°F : Dry
Note: 09/27/2008 These continue to sprout. : 57-80°F : Dry
Note: 10/01/2008 There is one log that has had these all summer and still sprouting new ones. : 43-69°F : Damp
Note: 10/15/2008 Still a few around : 62-80°F : Dry
Laetiporus sulphureus
This mushroom is commonly called the Sulphur Shelf mushroom or the Chicken of the woods. It is a good edible mushroom and easy to recognize. Its bright orange color makes it easy to spot in the woods. It grows on hardwood stumps and fallen logs. The wildlife in my area like it so you have to be quick to harvest it. It is a mild tasting and smelling mushroom.
Update, I found another specimen during a hot dry period. The second and third pictures are of this mushroom top and underneath side.
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Laetiporus sulphureus
Type: PolyporeCollection date: 07/13/2008
Name: Laetiporus sulphureus
Common Name: Chicken of the Woods
Description: I encountered this mushroom after a wet warm period. The local wildlife likes it also and you have to be quick to harvest it. I found a nice specimen one day and didn’t have any plans to use it then so I didn’t harvest it. I went back the next day and all of it was gone. :( It is big orange and grows on dead stumps and logs.
Edibility: Edible
Color: Orange
Size: Over 15cm
Cap type: Convex, Shield Shaped
Gills:
Stem type: Lateral, rudimentary, absent
Flesh: Flesh fibrous
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 One stump has had a mushroom for almost a month now – it is turning white. : 88-53°F : dryNote: 10/09/2008 The rain prompted a new large one on a dead tree. : 55-65°F : Moist (1 inch of rain the last two
Note: 10/15/2008 Still a few around : 62-80°F : Dry
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