News & Stories / Mycology & Art News Relishing Medicinal Mushrooms Part III Part 3 of 3. Chef Zachary Mazi • May 1, 2013 Chanterelle. Photo by Yevgeny Nyden Chanterelle Chanterelle ( Cantharellus spp. ) mushrooms are among the most delicious of mushrooms available in the fall and the spring. In a talk at the 2012 North American Mycological Association annual event, David Arora introduced the audience to the fact that over 50 species of chanterelle mushrooms are harvested commercially in Zimbabwe. This mushroom is eaten and used as medicine worldwide, and has a wide variety of textures and flavors. For us at Food Is Medicine, these morsels are always a treat, especially when used in confections. Cal Stamenov, Chef of Bernardus Lodge in Carmel, CA combined this fragrant mushroom with caramelized white chocolate at the 39th annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair…let your mental taste-buds feast on that! Chanterelles have all eight essential amino acids, are 21% protein when dried, and are a good source of iron and potassium. Because of its high content of both vitamin A and beta-carotene, this mushroom has been indicated for night blindness and eye inflammation in China, as well as a treatment for vitamin A deficiency. It is known to remove radioactivity from the body as well, though this property also holds true for the environment, so be sure of where you are picking your delicacies! In Tanzania, in combination with other mushrooms, Chanterelles are used in a powder prescribed to help combat the ravaging effects of HIV/AIDS with good results. The hot water extracts of this mushroom shows promise against many bacteria as well. Not a bad report card for a mushroom that would be as delicious even without these amazing properties. Oyster Next we turn our attention to the tree mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus , or oyster mushrooms. There is significant research underway to find ways to access a compound in oyster mushrooms that mimics the opioid pathway for pain reduction, without the side effects or addiction associated with these popular pain medications. Oyster mushrooms are a nerve tonic, and some constituents reduce acute neuropathic pain quite effectively. In Finland, an over the counter medicine called Remesan, which is 2/3 dried oyster mushroom, is used internally for easing growing pains in children as well as used externally to get rid of warts and other skin blemishes and keep them away! Water extracts of oyster mushrooms showed significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth, preventing the DNA of tumor cells from repairing and causing cell death. Breast cancer and prostate cancer were inhibited by water extracts of these fungi; and in Robert Roger’s book The Fungal Pharmacy , he reports that in vitro studies of oyster mushrooms showed a 100% inhibition rate of sarcoma 180, a common cancer cell line used in laboratories to perform tests…100%!! (Rogers). Like shiitakes, oyster mushrooms can be used to lower serum cholesterol, acting as a natural statin drug with no contra-indications with alcohol consumption. Rats fed a diet of just 2% oyster mushrooms lost weight and increased the body’s ability to metabolize fats that had previously been stored in the adipose cells. In fact, these mushrooms prevented further adipose cells from forming while minimally part of a normal diet! While these mushrooms are available commercially as a nerve tonic, they are still not available for cholesterol reduction, despite their effectiveness. But you can use them in your kitchen without FDA approval. Morel Though perhaps not consumed in even near the volume of the first four mushrooms, the morel mushroom ( Morchella spp. ) is nevertheless one of the prizes for mushroom lovers. It is widely available commercially, but not nearly as easy to find and collect wild as perhaps the chanterelle. Nutritionally, morels have 17 unique amino acids, magnesium, and accumulate gold (as well as lead: picking morels in mining areas or polluted areas can be very hazardous). There is a mystique to the morel, and essence of the morel earned it many names, some vulgar (star-sore), and some just bizarre (‘molly moochers’ West Virgina), some consistent such as ‘dryland fish’ (Kentucky), and ‘land fish’ by the Mohawk. This mushroom was believed to be the work of the devil in Poland; called star sores, penis, ears, and land fish by various Native American tribes. This is a weird mushroom! Morel mushrooms are quite poisonous when raw, even lethal, containing more dangerous levels of hydrazines like the Agaricus suite. However most, if not all, the toxins are evaporated and removed by cooking through the air; to this end, when cooking larger batches of morels, proper ventilation is recommended. Despite this factor, certain extracts seem to exhibit kidney protective action against pharmaceutical toxicity associated with cisplatin, a cancer chemotherapy agent, and gentamicin, a potent antibiotic. No study has shown these medicines are effective in whole consumed mushrooms however, requiring extraction by methods not used in the kitchen (yet?)(6). Morels contain gastro-irritants when eaten raw, but they act as a digestive system tonic when properly prepared and eaten. They soothe the stomach and intestines with medicines that are sized to be delivered to the appropriate spot in the body, and take much longer to be absorbed. In addition, they contain compounds that act as red blood cell destroyers in their raw form (hemolysins), but these two are also destroyed in cooking, and the prepared mushrooms boost the immune system with polysaccharide actions similar to other fungi. The mushrooms have been used for a long time in Chinese medicine for regulating Qi , as well as decreasing phlegm and shortness of breath, and acute asthma (7). Regardless of the cure or nutrition, this is a case where flavor trumps all, and provides another delicious and healthy reason to get out in the woods in the spring and summer, and to pay attention at the farmer’s market! We hope covering the very basics of these five well-known mushrooms will stimulate the desire to explore medicine in the food you love even further. Amazingly, Food Is Medicine hasn’t come across an edible mushroom described that does not also have elsewhere a description of its medicinal value. Not one! Each specimen has its own strengths and weaknesses, and of course there are mushrooms more potent than others, but not one single mushroom that we eat had zero effect on our mind, body, or soul! It is no wonder we are more enthusiastic than ever about the scientific and clinical data being collected about these mushrooms than ever before… but more than likely, we have not yet realized the full benefits that we will receive worldwide when we choose to adopt these ancient medicines into our diets as a regular food. References 1. Rogers, Robert, RH. “The Fungal Pharmacy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms and Lichen of North America.” Norht Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA. 2011 2. Wayne, R.R. PhD; “Growing mushrooms the easy way: Home cultivation with Hydrogen Peroxide.” 2010; Randall R. Wayne. http://www.mycomasters.com/ 3. Agricultural Research magazine, USDA; July 2010, “Researchers study benefits of white button mushrooms.” http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul10/immunity0710.htm 4. Tanis, David; “Not an exotic mushroom, but a satisfying one.” New York Times. January 11th, 2013; City Kitchen. 5. Stamets, Paul; Fungi Perfecti informational website. “Fungi Perfecti Host Defense Supporting Natural Immunity.” 2013; QN Organic. http://www.fungi.com 6. Nitha B, Janardhanan KK; “Aqueous-ethanolic extract of morel mushroom mycelium Morchella esculenta, protects cisplatin and gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in mice.” Food Chem Toxicology 2008 Sep. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18692113 7. Haynold, Bernd. Sourced from Wikicommons. Found on http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/morchella-esculenta.html August 2008. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Relishing Medicinal Mushrooms Part I Relishing Medicinal Mushrooms Part II Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Toni with a baked dish Food & Fun From tailgate tastings and potlucks to chef dinners, our foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year. Is it a coincidence that "FFSC" also stands for F un and F ood in S anta C ruz ? (Yes, but we'll take it!) We get together for tailgate tastings, potluck* dinners, and sit-down dinners; as well as demonstration-style cooking programs. Organized foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year. Some recurring favorites are listed below, and we announce others on a case-by-case basis. Not sure what to bring to a mushroom potluck? Explore some of our members' recipes for inspiration! Also see our tips on how to clean and store mushrooms , from drying to salt-preserving to freezing and more. * For all FFSC potlucks, any wild mushroom dish must adhere to the species list for potlucks, serve at least 10 people, and be labeled with a descriptive tag. See our Potluck Essentials page for details. Popular FFSC Culinary Events Learn more about some of our most popular culinary events below, and see the schedule lower on this page for a schedule of upcoming culinary events. Wine & Mushroom Event Our annual Wine & Mushroom Fest is a phenomenal early Spring evening of sampling wonderful wines and fabulous homemade food. This member-only event is always fantastic and is the highlight of our culinary activities. Event Overview Fermentation Friday workshop Shane Peterson, Master Fermentologist of Farmhouse Culture fame, will be our fearless leader. He’ll do a demo, share tastings, and instruct us in creating a few of our own ferments to take home. Join us and bring a friend ! Friday, May 1 5:30pm-8:30pm Register at the link below. FFSC members should login to get the access code to buy tickets at the member price. Event Overview Beer and Mushrooms Picnic As our stories turn to morel hunts and spring kings, we gather for a co-op potluck picnic with the Central Coast Zymurgeeks , a local homebrew group. (Wouldn't you go just to say you had MET a "Zymurgeek"??) Event Overview Fall Mushroom Dinner Join us in celebrating each new season! As Autumn beckons and we await or enjoy the first fungal fruitings, Chef Bob Wynn and the FFSC Culinary Committee welcome FFSC members and their guests to celebrate the season with our much-loved Fall Mushroom Dinner. Event Overview Members Holiday Potluck A Festive Gathering for Members and Their Guests Spend a delicious evening in the company of the great cooks of the FFSC at our annual members' Holiday Potluck! Event Overview Santa Cruz Fungus Fair After Hours Dinner On opening night of the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair each January, we indulge in a multi-course prix fixe meal crafted by a celebrity chef. Event Overview Foray Potlucks After a day of foraging in Mendocino, Tahoe, and farther afield, create an amazing gourmet potluck feast as you share tales of the hunt around a warm campfire. Event Overview No events at the moment Scheduled Culinary Socials Past Culinary Socials RSVP Closed Sat, May 16 2026 Beer and Mushrooms Picnic / Details Prepare to enjoy a fun-filled day with a bunch of Fungiphiles and Zymurgeeks! Our spring picnic is coming up, and you won’t want to miss it. Fri, May 01 May 2026 Fermentation Workshop / Learn more Shane Peterson, Master Fermentologist of Farmhouse Culture fame, will be our fearless leader. He’ll do a demo, share tastings, and instruct us in creating a few of our own ferments to take home. Join us and bring a friend ! Attendance is limited so advanced tickets will be required. Tue, Apr 14 April 2026 Ministers Meeting and potluck / Learn more The ministers meeting and potluck is where we discuss club business and plan for upcoming events. All are welcome and encouraged to join in! Load More

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Red Russula. Photo by Justin Ciccone Red Russula Justin Ciccone This beautiful Russula was photographed by Justin Ciccone during a nice rainy hike at Nisene Marks park on November 19, 2014. Happy Holidays! Camera Nikon D90 Focal L. 35mm Aperture f/7.1 Shutter Sp. 1/200s ISO 125 Flash Fired Photo taken on November 19, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

What is Not to Love About The Prince? (Agaricus augustus) Just when you thought the mushroom season was over, “The Prince” may appear, providing mushroom enthusiasts a culinary bounty. Tall, stately, golden-hued and perfumed like almond paste, this royal-sized mushroom often fruits in warm weather. Coming upon the Prince unexpectedly can be an experience to remember. ... Agaricus augustus. Photo by Drew Anderson (from mushroomobserver.org) Mature specimens are thick and meaty growing as broad as a dinner plate. So what is not to love about Agaricus augustus , commonly known as “The Prince”? FFSC members have some stories to tell about their encounters with this magnificent mushroom. Continue reading below for a summary of how to identify Agaricus augustus yourself. Encounters with The Prince Agaricus augustus . Photo by Tim Sage (from mushroomobserver.org) “I have picked lots of Agaricus augustus over the years, some very large, some small, but one episode stands out above the rest. A group of us travelled to Monterey to do a bike ride along the coast. We started our ride at the Asilomar conference center, where there is good parking and easy access to the coastal bike trail. I was quicker unloading my bike than the rest of the group so I jumped on and rode around a bit while waiting. Less than a block from our cars, I noticed an extremely large cluster of mushrooms along the side of the road. Upon inspection, it turned out to be a true cespitose cluster of "The Prince". That is a most unusual fruiting formation for that species. The individual mushrooms were all unopened buttons and each was at least as large as a softball. The whole cluster was about 2 feet across. I recall that there were 16 caps in the cluster while others recall even more. No matter what the count, everyone went home with a lot of tasty mushrooms to cook. As I recall, I fixed my share in a most yummy sauce that evening.” --Phil Agaricus augustus . Photo by V. Berthelsdorf (from mushroomobserver.org) “On May 27th, while hiking in the forests surrounding the Land of the Medicine Buddha Retreat Center, I spotted a group of A. augustus . I was quite surprised to find these delightful mushrooms just off a hiking trail, yet there they were, at the base of a small cliff, underneath large redwoods. The dry summer weather caught me unprepared; I generally carry specimen bags with me while looking for mushrooms, but as I was taking a relaxed hike and enjoying the quiet, I did not have anything to put them in. I left them beside the trail for someone else to enjoy...” --Beau Agaricus perobscurus . Photo by Susan Labiste “My first encounter with the Prince led to some gender confusion. Temperatures were in the 70s. It was steamy after a solid rain and a warming trend in March. There they were, deep in the forest near UCSC, all luminescent gold and rising from the shade in redwood duff and tanbark leaves. I gasped and my heart jumped. Could it be I had encountered “The Prince”? Who else could it be, so regal, so substantial, so golden, and in my hand so sweetly almond-scented. I gathered them greedily, gratefully and utterly besotted. But as this was a first encounter I decided to check this royal out with someone who knew it better than myself. It turned out that my “Prince” was a “Princess” ( A. perobscurus ). I was crestfallen… but in the pan my Princesses were every bit the culinary royal-equal to The Prince.” --Sue "Here are some photos of a Prince ( Agaricus augustus ) near my driveway. Shaggy stem but no bulb or rings near base. Also skirt-like veil still adhering a bit to outside edge. This one has very light colored gills for an Agaricus , though this is typical of this species when young. When spores mature they will be chocolate brown. Its sister mushroom was already dark gilled when I picked it the day before yesterday. Note the tawny fibrils. The ones I've seen have a lot of gold/yellow color. There is a fairly strong almond odor when cut. It smells heavenly. This specimen is fairly small for a Prince." --Kitty with Sue Morphology The first thing one notices when encountering a “Prince” is the size. Twenty-two centimeters (8.66") and larger in diameter is not uncommon. The cap is marshmallow-shaped before it is fully expanded, then becomes domed to flat or uplifted. The flesh is thick. The surface of the cap has many fibrillose scales, brown or golden-brown in color against a white background. It has a large, skirt-like annulus. The stem is often buried deep in the duff. Look for prominent raised fibrils below the annulus, giving a fluffy look to the stipe. The sweet scent of almonds should be discernable. When the cap is rubbed, it will slowly discolor to a golden yellow. (Please see pp. 337-338 in David Arora’s Mushrooms Demystified for a more complete list of characteristics.) Be sure your “Prince” has no cup or volva. The base should not be bulbous, nor should the base have ridge-like rings or signs of any universal veil remnants. Agaricus augustus . Photo by Christian Schwarz (from mushroomobserver.com) The Prince is a gilled mushroom. True to its genus, Agaricus , the mature gills are chocolate-brown as the spores mature. However, like most agarics, gill color in the button stage is pale. And "The Prince” is slow to change color. Though this mushroom is distinctive, it is possible to mistake a non-edible for this prize. When A. augustus is at its best for the table the gill color is still a buffy-white. This might cause some confusion, as many mushrooms, including some very toxic mushrooms , have white or nearly white gills. Be sure all identifying characteristics are present, and take your specimen to an expert for a back-up ID if this is a new species for you. Remember: When in doubt, throw it out! Avoid poisoning yourself or others. Mushrooms covered: See code Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

Mushroom Bisque I usually look at other recipes and then wing it, so quantities are guesstimates. The liquid needs to be varied to get the right consistency of the bisque. ... Mushroom Bisque in a Teacup. Photo by John Spaur Objective: Soup Total Time: 30 minutes Yield: Serves 4 Suggested Mushrooms: See code Ingredients Butter as needed divided use 1 onion, diced 1 small clove of garlic, minced 8 oz maitake mushrooms, sliced 3-4 shitake mushrooms, sliced 1 14.5 oz can vegetable broth (more or less) ½ C heavy cream (more or less) ½ C white wine (more or less) ½ cube porcini bullion dissolved in a little water 1 sprig fresh thyme 1 small bay leaf Salt and pepper to taste Ground nutmeg - smidgen Cayenne pepper - smidgen 2 Tbls dry sherry (to taste) Method 1. In a heavy skillet, heat butter. Add the onion and sauté to caramelize; add garlic during the last 1-2 minutes to soften but do not brown the garlic. Put the onion garlic mixture into a blender or food processer. 2. Sauté the shitake mushrooms in butter to brown a bit and put into the blender or food processor reserving a few to use as garnish. 3.Sauté the maitake mushrooms in butter to brown. I cook these separately because they are moister and take longer to brown than the shitake. Place the mushroom in the blender or food processor reserving a few for garnish. 4. Add the vegetable stock to the onion/mushroom mixture in the food processor or blender and puree or blend until smooth. Be careful when starting the blender because the hot mixture will expand and blow the top off of the blender and spill the hot mixture. Pulse quickly before blending on high speed. You may need to do this in batches and add more vegetable broth. This is where you can add the porcini broth with water and white wine. The porcini broth will add salt so be careful. 5. Pour the blended mixture into a soup pot and add the white wine if you have not added it already. Add the bay leaf and thyme. Simmer for a few minutes to a boil or just under. Add the cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne to taste. Heat up and cook a few minutes longer. 6. Remove the bay lead and stir in the sherry just before serving with the reserved mushrooms as garnish. Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

News & Stories / Stories from the April 1 2011 Issue of Duff FFSC Members who foraged far fetched a number of fun stories for the April 2011 issue of Duff ... Wendy Wells • April 1, 2011 The constellation Mycelius Kepler Telescope Finds More Than New Planets in Distant Space For a year and a half now, NASA’s Kepler space telescope has been staring at a group of about 146,000 stars located near the constellation Mycelius. In all that time, month in and month out, Kepler’s digital eyes have barely blinked. But some of the stars have. NASA believes this is due to solar winds carrying clouds of mushroom spores through space. And that’s exactly what Kepler was designed to see. During one of these close up sessions near the Amyloidia Galaxy, scientists were startled to see a fairy ring galaxy, perhaps the source of the clouds of mushroom spores. --Submitted by David Rust Rare and Exotic Mushrooms Found in Scotts Valley Many people were awed by the presence of rare and beautiful mushrooms in the Cacaoaceae family at the Scotts Valley Community Center on Saturday, 19 March 2011. Of all colors and shapes, these exotic mushrooms evoked many “ooooohs” and “aaaaahs” from the gala revelers assembled that evening. Especially memorable were big and beautiful specimens of Theobrominus chinsonensis and Caffinocybe molnarii . Edibility of these rare species was confirmed by the ravenous crowd, seemingly unconcerned with the possibility of confusion with poisonous species. Finding these fabulous fungi was a favorably fitting finale for a fun-filled fête of feasting and frolicking. --Submitted by Phil Carpenter, FFSC CEO and Science Advisor Button Mushrooms Found Growing in Trees In a rare moment for science, these Agaricus bisporus were found on a new host in an Oakland back yard. They are not believed to be parasitic. This remarkable discovery implies that common button mushrooms may be evolving to meet market demand for America’s salads. These mushrooms were sautéed with onions and chicken for a delightful dinner. The excited tree owners are looking forward to the next crop. --Submitted by David Rust Giant Snow Morels Found Near Pioneer The first Giant Snow Morels of the season were found near Pioneer on the Spring Equinox. You can clearly see them in the photo above. --Submitted by Bill McGuire Brandi Discovers ‘Shrooms: A UCSC Student Adventure Follow Brandi’s spellbinding journey of mycological enlightenment on the BAMS website . Our sincere thanks to David Rust, who never fails to make us smile. We wait with bated breath for Part 2! Will Hugh Ever Find Himself? Hugh Smith Looking for Hugh Smith. Photo by Hugh Smith --Submitted by Hugh Smith Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Field Reports Matsutake or Amanita? Thank You, Debbie Viess! Since last year the Albion forays are one of my favorite times of the mushroom season. This season, at the first Albion, I joined Dawn, Drew, Sergiy and Richard to foray for matsutake. Maria Tanase • January 1, 2011 Western Matsutake (Tricholoma murrillianum). Photo by Hugh Smith At the first stop, three feet into the forest, Richard found the first cluster of mushrooms and he called Dawn to come from the car, to pick them. Unfortunately the cluster was a group of Russula and Lactarius, not matsies, and the spot was almost empty. Sergiy finally got 3 matsutake and I found 2 (one big, ID’d by Richard, and then a button). Back at the cars Dawn, looking at my button, asked how I could be sure that is a matsutake. At the next spot I found a few more matsutake and then we moved to a chanterelle spot. Having a good Santa Cruz chanterelle spot, I wasn’t too much into picking chanterelles so I started picking hedgehogs. Then I stepped on the Black Trumpets ( Craterellus cornucopioides ) and in no time my basket was full with blacks, even if it wasn’t their season. I learned later that this location is a known blacks spot by others, but none had thought to check it. Back at the Field Station I sorted and cleaned the mushrooms, but I still had a doubt about those two matsutakes. I asked Debbie Viess if she would take a look at my first pair of matsutakes and, as always, the answer was “Yes, I’d be glad to”. I took my first-picked matsutake from the bag and showed it to her. The answer was “yes it is a Matsie”, but when I showed her the second one, even with that button still in my hand, the answer was immediately “now that is a bad Amanita - Amanita silvicola ”. Then she and David explained to me, and a few other people around, the differences between matsutakes and Amanita and what to check for. A lesson I will never forget. Thank you to Debbie and to all FFSC club leaders. The organized forays are the best way to really learn mushrooms, and believe me with an Amanita in your basket by mistake, the lesson has much more weight. Learn more about these mushrooms: Tricholoma Murrillianum (Matsutake) Mykoweb: Amanita silvicola Mykoweb: Tricholoma murrillianum Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Albion II, 2011 – Great Forays, Fungi and Food Memories of Matsutake Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Vellany Pierce Vellany Pierce is the Prime Minister of the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz. She grew up in Santa Cruz County and, always having had an interest in fungi, is a self taught mushroom cultivator who currently works at Far West Fungi , propagating mushroom spawn from cultures grown in petri dishes. She serves the Fungus Federation as minister of digital media, helps lead local forays, and has taught cultivation classes with the Fungus Federation for many years. 2026 Vellany Pierce 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Getting Started with Cultivation Saturday, January 10, 2026 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Room 1 An Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation Saturday, January 11, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Room 1

News & Stories / Field Reports Time Lapsed Laetiporous Time lapse of chicken-of-the-woods growing over 11 days. Phil Carpenter • October 12, 2023 Day 11 (Laetiporus time lapse). Photo by Phil Carpenter I discovered this Laetiporus growing on one of my eucalyptus stumps. To record its growth, I took the same picture every day for 11 days, and sent them out to club members, so we could all watch its growth together. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Phil Carpenter receives Knighton Award at Appalachia NAMA 2023 Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Alaska Long-Distance Foray, September 2026 Sat, Aug 29 Save the date for our fantastic journey in Alaska! Explore the Alaskan Kenai peninsula and be amazed by the wildlife, fjords, glaciers and of course mushrooms. +11 more Details FFSC Calendar We have a lot of fun foraging, learning, and socializing from September to May. Many of our events are open to the public, and you can join FFSC for more! Note: We schedule local forays , ID classes , and culinary events on relatively short notice, based on location availability and habitat conditions. You can also visit or subscribe to the FFSC Google Calendar, and/or download an iCal file for other calendar applications. June 2026 Today Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Calendar View FFSC Calendar Grid View

Mushroom Poisoning If you suspect you have consumed a poisonous mushroom, call 911. Then go to the Emergency Department, and call Poison Control: 1-800.222.1222 Galerina marginata group. Photo by Christian Schwarz Emergency Procedures If you suspect you have consumed a poisonous mushroom: Call 911 Go to the Emergency Department Call Poison Control @ 1-800.222.1222 Call toll-free 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, with poison-related questions or help in California. Santa Cruz Area Hospitals Watsonville Community Hospital : (831) 724-4741 Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz : (831) 462-7700 Dominican Hospital and Watsonville Hospital keep a list of contacts to help with identification of suspect fungi. Some hospitals have engaged in clinical trials for the immediate treatment of amatoxin mushroom poisonings. Call 911 and talk to a doctor to determine the best course of action if you suspect you or someone you know may have been poisoned. Bring the Mushroom With You If you believe a mushroom poisoning has occurred, the doctors will need to identify the mushroom so they can determine the most appropriate treatment. For an accurate identification, your best chance is to bring a sample of the mushroom with you. The more complete your specimen is, the better chance to ID it correctly. A complete specimen consists of the cap, stem, bottom of the mushroom and any roots or fluff that may have been part of the mushroom at one time. Store the specimen in a paper or waxed paper bag (not plastic) in the refrigerator until needed. Note where the mushrooms were collected in case of potential contamination by pesticides or heavy metals from lawns, roadsides or industrial areas. Non-Emergency Recommendations There is an old saying that “There are old mushroom hunters, and bold mushroom hunters. But there are no old, bold mushroom hunters.” Bit of exaggeration? Sure. But it’s critically important to know what you’re eating! Mushroom Identification The term "poisonous" refers to a wide range of toxicity, covering the range from mild nausea to allergic reactions to life-threatening illness. For general identification of mushrooms you’ve found (not a poisoning case) we encourage you to bring them to our Monthly Meeting or the annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair . You can also send a Mushroom ID request to our FFSC community mailing list (our Google Group), or via the Contact FFSC page on this website. Pet Poisonings Pets, particularly dogs, eat wild mushrooms on occasion. While the majority of these mushrooms are not toxic, a highly toxic small percentage can cause illness and death in pets. Contact your veterinarian if you see your pet consume a wild mushroom and bring a sample of the mushrooms in the area. For more information see Mushroom Poisonings in Dogs and Cats on the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) website. Report All Poisonings NAMA (North American Mycological Association) tracks all mushroom poisoning incidents. It is important to file a report, even for a minor gastrointestinal upset. After the incident, help document mushroom poisonings by submitting an online report or mail-in report to the NAMA Poison Case Registry. Learn More about Mushroom Safety The California Poison Control System (CPCS) Bay Area Mycological Society: Mushroom Poisonings North American Mycology Association: Mushroom Poisonings Wikipedia: Mushroom Poisoning Members Only Content Login Join FFSC