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Hungarian Mushroom Soup Jim brought this spicy soup to an FFSC Holiday Potluck. It was outstanding! by Jim Maley Hypomyces lactifluorum. © samzanita (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 188533088) Method Sauté onions in 2 Tbsp. stock, and salt lightly. Cook until translucent and soft (add stock or water if needed, so the pan doesn't go dry). Add mushrooms, 1 tsp. dill, ½ cup stock or water, garlic, paprika, and the cooking sherry. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly until the roux turns a light golden color and develops a nutty aroma (2 or 3 minutes). Add milk. Cook, stirring frequently, over low heat until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 10 minutes). Stir in mushroom mixture and remaining stock. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes. Just before serving, taste and adjust with salt, pepper, lemon juice, sour cream, and if desired extra dill (1 tsp). Serve garnished with parsley. Recipe contributed: January 2006 Hungary is the focal point for peppers in Eastern Europe. In Eastern and Central Europe, dried red pepper powder is called paprika . Like most Eastern Europeans, Hungarians also love wild mushrooms. Hungary is one of the few countries that traditionally mixes sweet paprika with wild mushrooms. I have used various Hungarian paprika varieties in the soup, but Pride of Szeged Hot Paprika works out well and is readily available. This powder allows you to carefully upgrade heat at the end to provide a lot of zest, but at a level adjusted to prevent overpowering the mushrooms. I have learned (the hard way) that many do not like the spice in this soup, or in any recipe for that matter. Stirring in paprika powder in individual cups to suit tastes seems to work well and puts the onus on the user to get the right level of heat. Too much heat wipes out the flavor of the mushrooms. Lately I also let people add their own room temperature sour cream to the soup, as many want to avoid excess fat. Remember though, strong mushrooms, heat, sour cream and lots of dill are key to this recipe variation! Use strong and earthy mushrooms to stand up against hot paprika. I like to use mushrooms with good texture, like lobsters, and some nice strong ones such as boletes. Honey mushrooms work well, shiitake mushrooms are a good bet, too. For this recipe, I was originally inspired by a Hungarian Mushroom Soup recipe in Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen, which is also quite good. Objective: Soup Total Time: 1 hour Yield: Serves 4 Suggested Mushrooms: Lobster mushroom (Hypomyces lactiflourum) Porcini (Boletus edulis, Boletus regineus, Boletus rex-veris) Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) Join FFSC or renew your membership to access the rest of this content. Join FFSC Login as an FFSC member to access the rest of this content. Login Ingredients 12 oz. lobster or porcini mushrooms, sliced 2 cups onion, chopped 2 to 4 tbsp. butter (as needed) 3 tbsp. flour 1 cup skim milk 1 - 2 tsp. dried dill weed (or ½ cup fresh) 1 Tbsp. paprika (see note above) 1 Tbsp. crushed garlic 1 tsp. salt 2 cups stock (e.g., vegetable broth and/or strained liquid from rehydrated mushrooms, if using dried mushrooms) 2 Tbsp. cooking sherry 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish) Fresh ground black pepper to taste ½ cup sour cream Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

News & Stories / Notes from the Outgoing CEO To the truly wonderful membership of the FFSC: This is my last article as CEO of the Fungus Federation. In my two-year term it has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated group of people. Deb • May 1, 2001 Debbie Johnson, CEO The ministers have put much time, effort and inspiration into their own duties as well as assisting one another, and I thank them all heartily. They made my job an easy one, and without that unique bunch of humans it wouldn't have been half as much fun! My appreciation also goes out to the members who contributed so much to our many events, taking care of tasks large and small. We couldn't do it without you! Our Culinary Committee has improved and expanded our food-related events and coordinated with restaurants for special dinners. ID classes and local forays continue to further our knowledge of fungi. The FFSC has established a website and is working on functional improvements. Groundwork is being laid to have the Duff posted on our website to eliminate postal delays, and an e-mail list will facilitate communication. Please keep Andrea Webster, Minister of Membership, apprised of your current e-mail address. Elections will be held at the general meeting on May 16. Ministers are elected for a two-year term. The proposed slate of officers is listed below, and any member in good standing may add their name to the ballot for all positions but that of CEO, which requires prior Ministry experience. Should you wish to add your name to the slate, please contact me before May 8. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts From the Incoming CEO, 2001 Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Chanterelles and Mussels, Alive, Alive O This recipe idea started at Lion’s Market on Saratoga Boulevard in San Jose. Walking along a frozen seafood case, I saw a package of New Zealand Green Mussels, half shelled and pre-cooked at $3.99 a pound. by Richard Lyness Cantharellus californicus. © Alan Rockefeller (from mushroomobserver.org) Method Start with a stove-top casserole pan and melt a half stick of butter on medium heat. Add 6-8 quartered large shallots and 1or 2 teaspoons of minced garlic. Once that’s beginning to simmer add a bottle of lager. Or, knowing the FFSC audience, something you’ve brewed yourself – again supporting the “eato-loco” movement). Sauté all. Chop your chanterelles (or, in a pinch, use King Oyster mushrooms) into large pieces comparable to the shallot pieces. Add to the mix and sauté for 5 – 10 minutes. In the meantime, toast sourdough bread to create croutons. Add cheese melted on top and then add the croutons to the mix in the casserole dish. Stir to incorporate the simmer juices into the croutons. Toss the thawed, cleaned mussels into the simmering liquid and heat through for 1-2 minutes (no longer, as frozen green mushrooms are pre-cooked). Remove the mussels from the shells at this point (they should just slide off the half shell). Continue to simmer for a few minutes before serving. Enjoyably tasted with a cold dark beer! Possible Variations The second time I made this I found it interesting to omit the croutons, add 2-3 tablespoons of Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce and serve over rice or noodles. More broth is probably helpful (perhaps requiring a little more beer). I also wonder about using chopped or whole garlic cloves rather than minced garlic. Or possibly other root vegetables like small finger potations or carrots. Fennel is another possible variation that blends well with mussels. Recipe contributed: December 2009 I’m sure variants of the recipe that follows would similarly work with fresh green mussels or fresh local mussels (the latter adding to a sense of the foray and “eato-loco” discipline — to which I subscribe when possible). But the frozen Green Mussels (24 to a package) made this a remarkably easy dish. Objective: Main course Total Time: Under an hour Yield: Varies by preference Suggested Mushrooms: Chanterelle (Cantharellus californicus, Cantharellus formosus, Cantharellus subalbidus) Oyster / king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus) Join FFSC or renew your membership to access the rest of this content. Join FFSC Login as an FFSC member to access the rest of this content. Login Ingredients 1 package of green mussels (24 pack) on the half shell, thawed and rinsed 1/2 stick of butter 6-8 quartered large shallots 1or 2 teaspoons of minced garlic Bottle of lager or Oktoberfest beer Chanterelles or King Oyster mushrooms (about the same amount as the shallots) Loaf of sourdough bread* Your favorite tasty cheese * When I cheat I use pre-sliced Trader Joe’s Four Cheese or Trader Joe’s Cheese and Cheddar Sourdoughs, and toast before chopping into large croutons. If I were doing this for you, I’d certainly use a homemade sourdough from my 100-year old sponge, with appropriate cheeses and herbs, baked a few hours before your arrival and toasted. Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

News & Stories / Field Reports Report from the Mendocino Coast Black Trumpets: $12.00 per pound; Hedgehogs: $5.50 per pound; Yellow Feet: $1.00 per pound... With prices like that, you know Black Trumpets are scarce. We hiked two entire mountains where I know I can find them. Nothing! Hugh Smith • February 16, 2014 Albion II foray (Feb. 2008). Photo by Hugh Smith Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 2013 Sierra Scouting Report Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Come to the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair to learn fascinating and fun facts about beautiful and diverse species of mushrooms! View remarkable mushroom arts and crafts, taste unusual and exceptionally good fungal fare, and experience FFSC's overriding mission: "We keep the fun in fungus!" Fungus Fair Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Fungus Fair General Information Did you know that without fungus, we’d have no bread, cheese, beer, or wine? Or that anti-cholesterol medicine was developed from mushrooms? Come to the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair to learn fascinating and fun facts about beautiful and diverse species of mushrooms! View remarkable mushroom arts and crafts, taste unusual and exceptionally good fungal fare, and experience FFSC's overriding mission : "We keep the fun in fun gus!" This unique Santa Cruz area tradition draws thousands of visitors each year. These pages provide details for the 2026 Fungus Fair, which was held in January. The next Fair is scheduled for January 8-11, 2027. Check back in November for tickets and the new schedule of speakers! A Forest of Fungi One of the highlights of the fair is the Great Hall, where visitors explore the shapes and scents of wild mushrooms in a recreated woodland habitat. Fair volunteers collect hundreds of species of local fungi in the days leading up to the Fair, and carefully identify and label each one. Science advisors and experienced FFSC members are available to answer questions about the mushroom exhibits throughout the event, and to identify any wild mushrooms you’ve found yourself. Found a mushroom but can't bring it with you? Visit our Photography for ID Purposes page for tips on taking photos that will help us answer your "what is this?" question. Expert Speakers Nationally and locally renowned speakers present talks on a wide variety of topics each year. Sessions sometimes also include short hands-on workshops. Many talks are FREE with your purchase of a Fair Admission ticket, and you can also purchase tickets to larger sessions (Room 3 headliner talks) for a modest additional fee. Check out the schedule of speakers for the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. Make, Eat, and Shop Create fun mushroom art, sample gourmet foods made with mushrooms, and take home beautiful mushroom-themed crafts, books, and more. Create your own mushroom art at the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair! Try dyeing fabric swatches, get your face painted and more. Fun for all ages! Make Fungi Art Tasty food, beautiful artwork, mushroom-dyed silks, jewelry and more can be found throughout the venue on Saturday and Sunday. Vendor Areas Presented By The Santa Cruz Fungus Fair is organized by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz actively promotes the study of mushrooms, and is dedicated to encouraging an avid interest in the fungal kingdom. We hunt mushrooms for scientific interest and for the table. We encourage a sense of wonder with regard to one of the least understood segments of our global environment. We are fungiphiles, and you just might be one, too! See our mission page and member benefits for more information about FFSC. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. It was the first museum in Santa Cruz, dating back to 1905 with the founding collection of Santa Cruz lighthouse keeper and naturalist, Laura Hecox. The museum has been connecting people to the wonders of nature for over 100 years. The museum served as one of the original locations of the annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. See the museum's About page for more information about its mission.

Pairing and Cooking Mushrooms with Wine Everyone knows drinking wine with wild mushroom dishes is a delight beyond compare. Can we go a step further and think about pairing styles of wine with a particular mushroom genus? by Shea Moss Wine glasses at the Wine & Mushroom dinner. Photo by Katherine Elvin Pairing Mushrooms with Wine Good wine is a careful balance of fruit and acidity. The alcohol has to be in balance with the fruit and acidity to give that rounded yummy taste. California white varietals tend to be a little less acidic, so winemakers sometimes add acid during fermentation for balance. That's where you get that nice clean crisp feel in your mouth. Red wines in general are slightly higher in alcohol content. That’s where you get that nice glow in your head. White wines give a lighter lift to food, while red wines, because of their complexity, lay a heavier interest to dishes. Now lets think about wild mushrooms. Are morels light or robust? Chanterelles are light. Lepiota spp. are heavy. Coccora and Amanita velosa are light. Chocolate is heavy. You can think about the balance you want to create between the wine and the mushrooms you're serving. Objective: Complementary Total Time: N/A Suggested Mushrooms: Amanita calyptroderma (coccora) Boletus sp. (bolete) Cantharellus sp. (chanterelle) Morchella sp. ( morel) Equipment and/or Ingredients Your favorite mushroom dish and a variety of wines to choose from. Method Cooking Mushrooms with Wine When cooking, too much wine can overwhelm the dish and you lose flavor. As an example, people who dump half a bottle of red wine on a 5 pound roast have to add a lot of salt and fat to compensate for the acidic taste from the reduced wine. If you are going to cook a mushroom dish with wine, add the wine during the last ten minutes of the cooking cycle. The more acidic the wine, the more oil or fat you can add. Suggested combinations are: Boletes with butter and 1/4 cup Sauvignon blanc Cream of chanterelle soup with 1/4 cup of Chardonnay (per 2 quarts) Morels sautéed in olive oil, a dash of tamari, a pinch of brown sugar and a sprinkling of Zinfandel Sliced coccora wrapped in 1/4 strip of bacon, broiled and brushed with a mix of Pinot Noir, tarragon and a little arrowroot (for thickening). You get the idea. Taste taste taste. When you are cooking with wild mushrooms and wine, think about what you are combining and how the ingredients will play on one another. Remember to only cook with wine you would drink. A so-so wine will result in a so-so dish. Think about sampling and enjoying the complexity of each bite, sipping thoughtfully. Ahhh…Life is good. Previous Technique All Techniques Next Technique

News & Stories / Stewardship Culinary Diva Steps Down After 4 years of dazzling FFSC members with outstanding culinary events, René Seltzer is relinquishing leadership of the culinary committee (not to be confused with any insider mushroom trading scandal)! Patria Brown • November 1, 2002 Full crowd at a Holiday Potluck. Photo by Debbie Johnson René's enthusiasm and culinary talent will not be missed however, as she will continue to support the committee in it's quest to further the fungal feast. Thank you René for all the time, energy and inspiration you give to us all. The culinary committee is beginning its new year under the artful leadership of Vernetta McGuire, with the assistance of Patria Brown and Marilyn Fenn. Patria will be writing the culinary page for the Duff. If you have any information or recipes you wish to contribute please send it in! If you have ever considered participating on the culinary committee now is a great time to get involved. Our first event is the Annual Holiday Potluck. There are many ways to help make the evening a magical holiday event. The set up and decorating starts at 3:30 PM. Anyone interested in helping can contact the Culinary Minister. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Propagation of Propaganda Perpetuated... Stewardship Letter from the Outgoing CEO Stewardship Message from Our Outgoing CEO Stewardship Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Black Trumpet Cabbage Cakes These whole-wedge cabbage steaks (or fritters) would be great with a dollop of tangy herb sour crème fraîche on top, or a warm brown butter and lemon sauce. And on their own! by Alex Russakovsky Craterellus calicornucopioides. © Benjamin Wong (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 340855970) Method Cut the cabbage into wedges. Boil in salted water until tender, and let them cool until they are safe to handle. Sauté the black trumpets until their liquid evaporates. Set aside and cool to room temperature. Beat eggs, and then mix the sautéed trumpets into the beaten eggs. Season with salt. (Feel free to experiment with adding other seasonings, such as finely minced fresh thyme, freshly ground black pepper, or minced shallot.) Gently open a few inner leaves of each cooked cabbage wedge, tuck some sautéed trumpets from the egg mixture inside, and then press the wedge with your hands to gently squeeze out excess water and compact it a little. Drench each wedge in the mushroom/egg mixture. While doing so, use a spoon or your fingers to also scoop up some of the sautéed trumpets and press them onto the wedge surface. Place the coated wedges into a lightly oiled hot pan. Scoop any stray mushrooms from the bowl (or that slipped off into the pan) on top of each wedge. Cook wedges on each side until the egg coating sets and turns golden (about a minute per side). If you'd like to experiment with some sauces to serve with the fritters, perhaps mix half a cup of sour cream or crème fraîche with a minced garlic clove, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and some chopped fresh herbs like chives, dill, or parsley. Or combine 2 Tbsp. of soy sauce, 1 tsp. of rice vinegar, a splash of sesame oil, a pinch of sugar or honey, and a dash of chili flakes or sriracha. Or just drizzle Dijon mustard mixed with a little olive oil and honey. Recipe contributed: December 2014 This recipe is adapted from some suggestions Alex shared in an FFSC Google Group email thread. Objective: Side or first course Total Time: About 40 mins Yield: 2 servings Suggested Mushrooms: Black trumpet / black chanterelle (Craterellus atrocinereus, Craterellus calicornucopioides, Craterellus cinereus) Join FFSC or renew your membership to access the rest of this content. Join FFSC Login as an FFSC member to access the rest of this content. Login Ingredients 1 small head of cabbage 2 to 3 oz. (a handful) of fresh black trumpet mushrooms, cleaned and finely chopped (or ½ oz. dried and rehydrated) 2 large eggs Salt (to taste, plus extra for drawing out moisture) A little cooking oil or butter Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

Risotto Cakes with Wild Mushrooms Risotto is a wonderful accompaniment to almost any poultry or meat dish. Try this recipe with your favorite mushrooms and vegetables. by Vince Viverito Craterellus calicornucopioides. © Shahram Tavakol (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 335143743) Method Preheat oven to 250°F. Sauté shallots in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic and rice and cook for one more minute. Add mushrooms and sauté for an additional minute. Deglaze with wine and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Add 1 cup simmering stock; continue to simmer until liquid is absorbed. Repeat this step two more times. Stir in cheese and butter until well mixed. Transfer risotto to a sheet pan and chill for one hour. Form risotto into six 2 oz. patties of rice, coating all sides with the breadcrumbs. Heat olive oil, and then cook the rice cakes until both sides are a deep golden brown. Transfer to the oven to finish cooking** at 250°F, until the center is hot and the cheese has melted. Keep warm until served. ** This recipe relies on starches in the rice to hold the patties together, rather than using an egg as a binder. If you use any egg, be sure the middle of the patty reaches 165°F before serving. Recipe contributed: October 1997 The only other thing I would add is a glass or two of a fine Cabernet. Objective: Side or first course Total Time: About 2 hours Yield: 6 patties Suggested Mushrooms: Black trumpet / black chanterelle (Craterellus atrocinereus, Craterellus calicornucopioides, Craterellus cinereus) Chanterelle (Cantharellus californicus, Cantharellus formosus, Cantharellus subalbidus) Morel (Morchella sp.) Porcini (Boletus edulis, Boletus regineus, Boletus rex-veris) Portobello/portabella, champignon, cremini, button (Agaricus bisporus) Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) Join FFSC or renew your membership to access the rest of this content. Join FFSC Login as an FFSC member to access the rest of this content. Login Ingredients 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. shallots (finely diced) 1 tsp. garlic (finely diced) 1 cup Arborio rice 1 cup assorted wild mushrooms* (finely chopped) ½ cup dry white wine 3 cups chicken stock (simmering on stove) ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated) 1 Tbsp. butter Seasoned bread crumbs (finely ground) 2 Tbsp. olive oil Half-sheet pan (18"x13") * Use your favorite mushrooms. For example, porcini pairs well with Parmesan. Chanterelles can balance the heavy richness of the cheese and butter. Morels go well with garlic and cheese. Black trumpets could be visually striking against the rice. Alternatively, store-bought cremini or shiitake can also work. Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

News & Stories / Fungus Fair Raffle sends FFSC Member to Todd Spanier Weekend One of the highlights of the Fungus Fair is our Raffle with many awesome items raffled off during the two day event. Rene Barone • February 1, 2011 Our new poster series, a cooperative effort by Erin Page Blanchard, Christian Schwarz, Noah Siegel, and Marje Young. Photo by Hugh Smith This years raffle included many generous donors (listed below). The Grand Prize was a trip to Todd Spanier’s Anderson Valley Culinary Weekend – won this year by FFSC Member Austin Stowell. A special thank-you also to Monterey Mushrooms for their generous donation of mushrooms utilized during the cooking demonstrations. Raffle Donors Carpenter’s Custom Cutlery FUNGI Magazine Gelato Massimo India Joze JustMushroomStuff.Com King of Mushrooms La Posta Restaurant Light Energy Glass Lucy Martin Art Angela Mele Ma Maison Restaurant Fred Molnar Shea Moss Monterey Mushrooms Jeannine Niehaus Oswald Restaurant Brian & Ruth Salisbury Nate & Erika Seagraves Gale Lee Still The True Olive Connection Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Fungal Diseases That Must Be Overcome For Thanksgiving Many thanks to Tom Volk for giving us a new perspective on Thanksgiving. This piece (and a whole lot more) was originally posted on his website. Tom Volk • November 1, 2003 Corn smut (Ustilago maydis), on a maize plant. © Jamain (from wikipedia.og) Mycology (the study of fungi) and Plant Pathology (the study of plant diseases) can have a positive effect on everyone's lives. For example, there are fungi that can infect just about every kind of crop plant or animal, even those needed for Thanksgiving dinners. It is one of the jobs of the mycologist or plant pathologist to control or diminish the effects of fungi on these crops. The following list of fungi affecting certain crops highlights some contributions of mycologists and plant pathologists: none of these crops could be grown profitably and be easily available for consumers for their Thanksgiving dinners without these scientists' studies of the fungi and the crop plants. Some of these fungi cause post-harvest diseases, and some infect the crops directly. Most of these diseases are not a huge problem any more under prevailing conditions, mostly due to studies of fungal life cycles and pathogenic properties by mycologists and plant pathologists - but there are always other diseases waiting to take their place! I realize that everyone has their own Thanksgiving traditions, but I have tried to include as many as possible from a wide range of geographical areas. In the list below the italicized fungus name is on the left, and the disease that must be overcome for the Thanksgiving food to be available is on the right. There are many other diseases that affect these crops that are not included - for example there are entire books of just cranberry diseases! Fungus Name Thanksgiving Food Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus Turkey-X Disease** Phytophthora infestans Late blight of potato Synchytrium endobioticum Black wart of potato Alternaria solani Early blight of potato and tomato Rhizopus nigricans Soft Rot of sweet potato Bremia lactucae Downy mildew of lettuce Monilinia oxycocci Cottonball disease/tip blight of cranberry Ceratocystis fimbriata, Choanephora cucurbitarum Rot of pumpkin Claviceps purpurea Ergot contamination of cream (through ingestion by the cow) Aspergillus flavus Aflatoxin contamination cream and milk Ustilago maydis Corn smut Colletotrichum lindemuthianum Bean anthracnose Cryphonectria parasitica Chestnut blight Puccinia graminis Wheat rust (rolls & stuffing) Erysiphe graminis Powdery mildew of cereal grasses Penicillium digitatum and many other species Rot of apples and oranges Hemileia vastatrix Coffee rust Ceratocystis adiposa Black rot of sugar cane Aphanomyces cochlioides Rot of sugar beet Trichoderma viride Green mold disease of mushrooms Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Sclerotinia stem rot of soybean, affecting Tofurkey production **Turkey-X Disease deserves a special mention. Aflatoxin was first discovered by observing a "plague" that occurred on many turkey farms, particularly in England in the early 1960's, where the turkeys died rapidly and in great numbers. Since the causal agent for the disease was not known, it was simply called "Turkey X disease." Mycologists later discovered that the turkeys had been fed peanut meal contaminated with Aspergillus flavus and related species. Although aflatoxin is widely known for its carcinogenic properties, under the conditions present at that time these fungi produced aflatoxin in such great quantities as to rapidly kill the turkeys. This is no longer a problem since the peanut meal, if used to feed the birds, is monitored very closely for the fungus. There is no chance of turkey containing aflatoxin today. Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that one of the things you're thankful for now is the work of Mycologists and Plant Pathologists! For further information on plant pathogens that affect many types of crop plants and forests and what plant pathologists are doing about them, you should visit the home page of the American Phytopathological Society - apsnet.org . For further information on what mycologists do, I highly recommend visiting the home page of The Mycological Society of America- MSAfungi.org Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Algae and Fungi Team Up--and They're Lichen It... Will Mushrooms Make Styrofoam Obsolete? Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Fomes fomentarius, the “Tinder Fungus” Most of us enjoy the process of walking through moist forests in search of fungi for the table. For some of us, it is the hope of finding a rare or unusual species that draws us to the woods. But in a time before matches and Bic lighters, a hike in the woods yielded fungi that held the promise of a fire . by Cortinarius Fomes fomentarius amadou tinder. Photo by S Labiste F fomentarius (2014). Photo by Walt Sturgeon A while back, four small specimens of Fomes fomentarius were gifted to me by a friend returning from the FFSC Alaska foray. I was delighted, but not for the usual reasons. Most of us enjoy the process of walking through moist forests in search of fungi for the table. For some of us, it is the hope of finding a rare or unusual species that draws us to the woods. But in a time before matches and Bic lighters, a hike in the woods yielded fungi that held the promise of a fire. In Europe, back in the day when flint and steel started your fire, “German tinder” was sold. It was an industry of sorts involving the collection of Fomes fomentarius , a birch-loving conk. From this fungus, a light brown felt was produced with the feel and look of soft buckskin. This fungal felt is commonly known as “amadou”. This processed polypore felt had many uses. It could be fashioned into clothing like hats and vests when leather was scarce. But for German tinder, it was saturated with salt peter (potassium nitrate). This is the same stuff that gives gunpowder much of its explosive force. The folks who made the tinder didn’t necessarily know the chemistry, but they sure knew how to make tinder “quick”, quick to catch fire that is. The source for this salt came from soiled straw from stables heaps. Piled in rows, the urea in this stable waste underwent bacterial decomposition to form first calcium nitrite, then eventually calcium nitrate. Water was poured through the heap, collected, then filtered through white wood ash (containing potassium carbonate). The calcium nitrate salt converts to potassium nitrate as it reacts with the potassium carbonate. This nitrate rich solution was then decanted, sopped up with the amadou, then dried. Natural sources of potassium nitrate crystals can sometimes be collected directly from bat cave walls and old stables. ( A note of caution here . If you try this at home, and you get a little too much saltpeter in your amadou, be prepared for an explosion rather than “quick” tinder. Burn injury is a real risk.) Fomes fomentarius amadou tinder. Photo by S Labiste But Germany’s tinder manufacturers were not the first to discover the relationship between Fomes fomentarius and fire. Long before nitrate-enhanced amadou was in use, before Europe even had cities, this fungus was in use as a tinder. In 1991 a late Neolithic man melted out of a glacier in the Ötztal region of the Italian Alps. Ötzi, as he came to be named, carried tinder fungus ( Fomes fomentarius ). He may also have carried it for its medicinal qualities, but his knife shows traces of marcasite, so he apparently used the knife as a striker in his pyrite/flint fire kit. The last time he used the kit was 5,400 years ago. Most likely he needed the Fomes fomentarius he carried to kindle a fire in that alpine winter environment. Even without creating a fungal felt, the trauma layer of this conk can be scraped into a fluffy mass then ignited with a small spark. The term “amadou” can mean either the felt or the fluff from this fungus. To appreciate amadou one has to realize how difficult it can be to obtain really good tinder material in the wild. I’m talking about tinder that will catch a spark from flint and steel or flint and pyrite/marcasite without first being charred. Most flint and steel enthusiasts use charred punk wood, charred cotton cloth, or charred plant pith. Unless you carry some form of charcloth in the field with you, you have to first make a fire to make the charcloth. If you are relying on flint and steel or flint and pyrite for that fire, you are in a bit of a fix without charcloth. So it’s useful to know about tinders that work without charring. Mors Kochansky, survival guru of the boreal forest, teaches the processing and use of this tinder material. Amadou isn’t the only good tinder, but it sure is an appealing one. You will see Fomes fomentarius referred to as both "tinder fungus" and "false tinder fungus". It is also known as "horse hoof" fungus, "tinder polypore", "tinder conk" and "touchwood fungus" among others. Even more confusing, the term “false tinder fungus” is applied to both Fomes fomentarius and to a similar birch-loving conk, Phellinus igniarius . Common names can be confusing since they vary depending on the region. The terms tinder fungus and true tinder fungus are also used to describe an entirely different fungus, Inonotus obliquus (chaga). Chaga is an incredible tinder which can be used without processing, or it can be powdered, but it does not produce a felt. Like Fomes fomentarius , it is found on birch (though not exclusively birch) and is rare in our area. Amadou felt had other uses. It has an amazing ability to absorb moisture. Dentists once used it to dry teeth before a blast of air came into vogue. Podiatrists used it to pack the sides of toenails prone to inflammation. It has been used to staunch bleeding and to serve as a wound dressing. To this day fly fishermen use it to dry fishing flies and it can be purchased on line. It has medicinal qualities, was used as a razor strop, and it is even used to make “smoking hats”… wait, a flammable hat for smoking? What were those Germans and Hungarians thinking? https://medium.com/@istvan.daraban/the-worlds-last-amadou-makers-korond-iii-9694114ffa4a Then too, the tube layer has its use in relation to fire. A small section of the tubes, set to rest in a pool of fat or oil becomes a wick for a candle. It draws the liquid to the flame and remains unconsumed until the oil is completely burned. It, and the tubes of other polypores, appear to have been used as wicks in the fat lamps of Cro-Magnon man. No wonder it flaunts its relationship to fire in its name. The Latin word fōmĕs means touchwood or tinder. Mushrooms covered: Fomes fomentarius (tinder fungus, hoof fungus) Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description