Module 5
Back to Macro
Homework
For homework this period we are going back to the macro. Now that you have a solid foundation in microscopy, let's get back to learning to identify in the macro. You have already read about several families, genera and species of mushrooms in the past 4 Modules, so now you will do a review and add a few more families to read about. As you read about these families, look over their main genera and try to make some associations about quick ways to know what you are seeing. For instance the Inocybes tend to have brown spores and the Tricholomas have white spores.
As a review, look through your notes and categorize the mushrooms you have already found. For instance the Inocybe pallidicremea is in the family Inocybaceae. You can also look at the mushrooms your group has posted about and categorize those. It might also help to associate a more famous specimen that you know to the family and genus.
Read about the following Families:
Agaricaceae
Clavariaceae
Coprinaceae
Cortinariaceae
Entolomataceae
Gomphidiaceae
Helvellaceae
Inocybaceae
Lepiotaceae
Morchellaceae
Paxillaceae
Pezizaceae
Pluteaceae
Russulaceae
Strophariacaea
Tricholomataceae
​
​
Presentations: Pick one of the Families listed above or pick your own and create a presentation for the rest of the study group.
Please include the following:
-
10-15 min max
-
Classification, Kingdom, Division, Subdivision, Class, Order, Family, Genus and species
-
Identifying features of that Family
-
2 examples of Genera in that Family
-
1 example of a species
-
Habitat
-
Season
-
Toxic?
Finally, continue working on making cross sections of a mushroom and see if you can get more practice at it.
​
Foray
Plan a foray with your group. You can used Doodle to help quickly vote on the schedule that works for everyone.
1) Decide on a place and time to go.
2) Meet up and caravan to the location or meet at the location.
3) Follow all WVMS Foray Safety protocols and take the Safety Class if you have not done so.
4) Make sure you have a full tank of gas. Adhere to social distancing rules as per Oregon State Health Department
5) Bring: basket, field id cards, pen, small compartmentalized container, wax bags, your own lunch (no sharing), hand lens, or minimum 10x eye loupe, 6" scale in metric and English, compass/GPS, rain gear, first aid kit, watch and whistle.
6) Limit your forays to one hour.
Afterwards, go back to our own places to ID alone. Post-pandemic or when safe, plan on meeting together to discuss finds.
​
Some suggested foray locations are: Hebo, Alsea Falls, Mary's Peak.
Group Discussion
We suggest using Google Meets or Zoom to have discussions. Find a day/time that works for everyone to discuss your finds. These discussions are an important part of the learning process. If your group is having issues, please reach out and invite a Mentor to your discussion and we will help point you in the right direction.
​
Alternatively, we suggest getting together for a group discussion and hands on learning event. Plan on a discussion that will last about 2-3 hours.
​
On this foray you will be trying to ID mushrooms to the Family and possibly Genus in the field. Read the homework and bring a field guide*. We are also going to practice taking a spore print while on the foray. Bring a white index card, wax bag, and a knife to cut off the stipe. Don't forget to write down the habitat and weather conditions. Try and gather multiple specimens if you can. Be sure to measure the fresh specimen, note any color changes with bruising, and particular odor. In your meetup, talk about why you think the mushrooms you found made you think they were in a certain family. Key out one mushroom together and look at the spore prints you created in the field. It helps to carry a loup (10X or higher hand lens).
Resources
*Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest Steve Trudell
or
*All the Rain Promises and More David Arora
Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast Noah Siegel
iNaturalist.com
Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska edited by J. Pojar and A. Mackinnon
How to Identify Mushrooms to Genus III: Microscopic Features by David Largent, David Johnson and Roy Watling
Identifying Tapinella atrotomentosa: Video by Autumn Anglin
​
Module 5
ID to Family Presentations
Dale Baer- Strophariaceae
Kerry Timberlake- Lepiotaceae
Richard Iltis- Boletaceae
Brian Sly-Haley- Clavariaceae
Dallyce Vetter- Pezizaceae
Margaret Spahn- Hydnaceae
Jim Scheppke- Entolomataceae