News & Stories / Mycology & Art News The Wood Wide Web (from the BBC) Most of us know many species of fungi form mycorrhyzal relatonships with plants... but it hasn't always been clear what exactly they are doing and who is benefiting from this relationship. Sue Labiste • November 18, 2014 At Eldorado National Forest (2016). Photo by Anne Dyari Discoveries about chemical warfare, defense communication, protection, food sharing and assistance are all outlined in this fascinating article as part of a "wood wide web" network. This article is written about the ongoing science without a lot of technical detail. So, for anyone who finds the scientific jargon or the myriad of papers difficult to wade through, this is fascinating light reading. This BBC article was suggested by Geary Lyons of BAMs. I hope you enjoy it. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112121629/http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141111-plants-have-a-hidden-internet Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Microscopy of Gilled Mushrooms Mycology & Art News Chanterelle Look Alike Rewriting Evolutionary History Mycology & Art News Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Boletus rex-veris (McCloud). Photo by Hugh Smith Boletus rex-veris Hugh Smith Boletus rex-veris , commonly known as the spring king bolete, is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Boletus found in western North America Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on May 18, 2025 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Field Reports January 2016 Field Report Although soggy, there was a fair selection of fleshy fungi to be observed. Notably, a couple of lucky folks went home with a basket of candy caps, and a mushroom-dyeing enthusiast went home with a nice clump of jack-o-lanterns! Cass Fuentes • January 24, 2016 Hypholoma fasciculare (Sulfur tuft) at a Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. Photo by Larry Volpe Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 2016 February Local Foray Field Report Field Reports Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Writings How I Spent My Summer Vacation I officially retired in Oct 2024 and after the end of our club season this year, I suddenly had more time to go foraging. Katherine (Kitty) Elvin • November 10, 2025 2025 Calabria gang My allergies are the opposum and fish I headed down to Mexico and joined Chad and Rose Hyatt in Oaxaca with Zachary Hunter of TheFungivore.com . I signed up for the MyComida Rupestre - Forage & Feast. For those who know me, what I love almost more than hunting mushrooms, is traveling and eating. This tour was to explore the foods of Oaxaca with a fungal bent. All my three loves in one tour. It was a culinary feast: mole, squash blossoms, corn many ways, insects, mezcal and much more. Unfortunately, the rains arrived 2 days before we were done, but we still found many mushrooms, flowers, plants and insects to entertain us. We were up in Sierra Norte Mountains at around 7000 - 8000'. We found Boletus edulis , Amanita ceasarea , and at Monte Alban inside a tree trunk Volvariella bombycina flaviceps which Chad got really excited. This mushroom was on his bucket list. This area is part of the cloud forest and we found orchids, air plants and carnivorous plants. Definitely worth visiting. Josepha and Ken Hendry. That's a lot of Chicken of the Woods in their Maine neighborhood I headed to Maine to visit with Josepha and Ken Hendry (FFSC members) in Windham Maine and was joined by Phil and Margaret Carpenter who happened to be on the East Coast for the Nama foray. This coastal part of Maine has elevation which was much lower than Oaxaca and more like here in the Bay Area. We hiked around many lovely lakes. I found my first Velvet Foot ( Flammulina velutipes ). We found chicken of the woods and was gifted a large fresh hen of the woods from a member of the Maine mycological club. Josepha managed to get us invited to a local foray nearby. One surprisingly delicious mushroom was the Aborted Entoloma ( Entoloma abortivum ). The current thought is this mushroom is a parasite of Armillaria species. My favorite find was the ghost pipes ( Monotropa uniflora ), this parasitic plant of Russulaceae species. While in Maine, I enjoyed eating lots of lobsters, the crustacean type and not the fungal type. Very much appreciated the hospitality of the Hendry's for putting us up and planning our forays into the woods. What's Cookin Calabria group picture I finished my summer vacation by heading to Italy. I was joining my favorite mushroom tour group, What's Cookin and this time we were visiting Calabria. I have gone on about 5 tours around Europe and parts of Italy with this group led by mycologist Britt Bunyard. Their tours cover my 3 loves: travel, food and fungus. Calabria is famous for their chili and sweet onion and we definitely got to taste those offerings. We hiked amongst conifers and chestnut trees checking out the fungal offerings. Again, I was skunked by the lack of rains and although we had some rains earlier, things were looking a little dry. We found Boletus edulis , chanterelles and many others. I got to eat a soft polypore, call goats foot which was pickled and delicious. What I love about these tours is we have a local mycologist on our foray along with Britt. I love traveling and foraging in different areas. I get to try eating different mushrooms prepared differently from us. I learn that in spite of the differences, I see many similar mushrooms and characteristics. I am a newbie in their woods and with my newbie eyes, I pay more attention and relearn to stop and look deeply. I remember why I love foraging for mushrooms and the best part is even if I don't manage to collect anything, the beauty of the woods is more than enough so I breathe and live. Kitty (Apprentice newbie of the woods) FFSC Long Distance Foray Minister Enjoy the Trip Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts My Adventures in Telluride Colorado Field Reports Field Report - 2021 NAMA Foray Grandby CO Field Reports Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Mycology & Art News Algae and Fungi Team Up--and They're Lichen It... A bit of lichen-laden poetry (with apologies to Robert Burns) as intro to the upcoming Bioblitz at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Deb • March 2, 2014 Fungi and lichen. Photo by Nick Wagner We turn to National Geographic for poetic lichen, as we get ready for the upcoming Bioblitz at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area -- virtually your back yard --March 28-29, 2014, enjoy. Check out the poetry here: https://web.archive.org/web/20140226235002/http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/02/25/algae-and-fungus-team-up-and-theyre-lichen-it/ Find out about the Bioblitz, organized by the National Parks Service and National Geographic: https://web.archive.org/web/20140303211118/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/projects/bioblitz/golden-gate-california-2014/ Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Will Mushrooms Make Styrofoam Obsolete? Mycology & Art News Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Gomphidius in the Rain (spike cap). Photo by Jim Austin Gomphidius in the Rain Jim Austin More about Gomphidius: Gomphidius , Wikipedia Spikes (genus Gomphidius) , iNaturalist Camera Nikon D5300 Focal L. 48mm Aperture f/10.0 Shutter Sp. 1/200s ISO 1000 Flash Off Photo taken on December 6, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Mushroom Cloud Over Silicon Valley. Photo by Dan Turkus Mushroom Cloud Over Silicon Valley Dan Turkus I was out in the hills of Los Gatos looking for mushrooms and saw this mushroom cloud over the Silicon Valley. I took out my phone and took a picture of the only mushroom I found on that day, March 9, 2015. Camera Samsung SCH-I545 Focal L. 4mm Aperture f/2.2 Shutter Sp. ISO 50 Flash Off Photo taken on March 9, 2015 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Lycoperdon perlatum. © Alan Rockefeller Lycoperdon perlatum Alan Rockefeller Common Puffball Lycoperdon perlatum , iNaturalist Camera Canon EOS 60D Focal L. 100mm Aperture f/14.0 Shutter Sp. 1/200s ISO 640 Flash Fired Photo taken on July 1, 2012 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Morel, the Magnificent Morel (2013). Photo by Hugh Smith Morel, the Magnificent Morel Hugh Smith This was one of only a few of this type of Morel that I found on this foray. I was in Lassen National Forest. It was a time when the State had no money to open all of the campgrounds. It was actually very late in the season for Morels, but there's always something to find. Morels in the Sierras like disturbed areas as well as burns. I went on a weekday. No one had begun to clean up the campgrounds where I was, and so it was a successful hunt... Camera Canon EOS REBEL T3i Focal L. 18mm Aperture f/13.0 Shutter Sp. 5s ISO 100 Flash Off Photo taken on May 22, 2013 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Mycology & Art News Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada, 2014 (Cancelled) Once again, Dennis Desjardin and San Francisco State University will be offering their week-long class at the SFSU Sierra Field Station. Students will be introduced to the different kinds of mushrooms and other large fungi that occur in the spring in the Sierra Nevada. Cortinarius • March 30, 2014 Photo by Brian Perry, hosted on the sierra.sfsu.edu website Updated March 9, 2014: Sorry, this class is cancelled due to dry conditions. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of macro- and micromorphological features, as well as ecological roles, to aid in the identification of taxa. The daily class routine consists of an 8:00-10:00 am lecture followed by a field trip until approx. 3:00 pm. Transportation on the field trips will be by car pooling. Upon return to the camp, collections will be examined and identified in the laboratory (3:30-6:00 pm) in collaboration with the instructor and a knowledgeable graduate student assistant. All equipment, microscope slides, cover slips and reagents required for accurate determination of specimens will be provided. In the evenings, several lectures and slide shows will be presented, and the laboratory will be open for additional work on collections. If sufficient quantities of edible fungi are collected, they will be prepared for consumption and served to the class by the camp's chef. Class runs June 1-6, 2014. Tuition is $348 with additional costs for room and board. For further information on the class, visit the San Francisco State University website. Spaces are available as of April 12, but don't delay too long. This class always fills up! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Microscopy of Gilled Mushrooms Mycology & Art News Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Support FFSC Website Accessibility Efforts An accessible website allows visitors with disabilities to browse the site with the same or a similar level of ease and enjoyment as other visitors. To make this website accessible, we rely on the capabilities of the system on which the site is operating, tools which help us determine where the site might not be compliant, and our evolving understanding of WCAG guidelines. Accessibility Adjustments on this Website When building this website, we have: Used various tools to determine font size and color contrast ratios for text and neighboring elements. Used our web platform's Accessibility Wizard to find and fix potential accessibility issues Set the language of the site to US Attempted to maintain consistent heading structures on all of the site’s pages Implemented text and background color combinations that meet the required color contrast in WCAG 2.1 guidelines, to at least a level of AA. In 2025 we will also be working to: Set the content order of the site’s pages Add alternative text to images Make videos and audio files on the site accessible (e.g., with audio transcripts available) Avoid looping motion effects Prevent videos from playing automatically when our system permits it, and/or allow users to stop video effects Test the website with assistive technologies such as screen readers and keyboards Areas of Partial Compliance with the Standard The accessibility of certain pages on the site may vary, depending on two main factors: We sometimes use applications that belong to external platforms (ticketing, shopping, video, etc.) which own and manage their own user interfaces, and we have no direct control over certain features. We are a volunteer-run organization. Over time, some volunteers who contribute content to this website might not consistently follow the standards. We don't always have volunteers available to fix such content in a timely manner. (If you're an FFSC member with expertise in website accessibility, and you're interested in volunteering to assist with such maintenance, please let us know!) Requests, Issues and Suggestions If you are personally affected by an accessibility issue on this website, or if you need further assistance, you are welcome to contact our website volunteers via any of the methods on our Contact FFSC page, or come to one of our Minister Meetings to chat in person. We'll do our best to address or mitigate such issues. FFSC Accessibility Statement This statement was last updated on August 12, 2025. We at the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz are working to making the ffsc.us website accessible to people with disabilities.

Other Mycological Clubs Looking for a club closer to you? Here's some intel about a few of the clubs in the greater Bay Area, and the North American Mycological Association, our national organization. Or just visit them all to see what they have to offer! Spore print on aluminum foil NAMA Wants You! And when you learn a bit about the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), the feeling will be mutual. NAMA is a non-profit organization of professional and amateur mycologists with affiliated mycological societies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Why join NAMA? Expand your mushrooming purview beyond the Central Coast Increase your knowledge through NAMA's newsletter, The Mycophile , and peer-reviewed journal, McIlvainea Attend annual conferences with forays and lectures by professional mycologists Are you a teacher? Gain access to well-planned teaching kits and educational content for K-12 grade levels The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz is an affiliated club, which allows our members to join NAMA at a reduced rate. Further information about joining can be found at namyco.org/join . If you have questions about NAMA, you can chat with Phil Carpenter at any of our events. Phil is a science advisors on our FFSC Ministers board, and our club's current NAMA representative. California Mycological Organizations Bay Area Mycological Society The Art and Science of Mushrooms Humboldt Bay Mycological Society Since 1978, HBMS has welcomed thousands of members. Los Angeles Mycological Society LAMS is a non-profit group whose purpose is to foster and expand the understanding and appreciation of mycology. Mycological Society of San Francisco The Mycological Society of San Francisco was founded in 1950 to promote the understanding and enjoyment of mushrooms and other fungi. Peninsula Mycological Circle Mycological Facebook Group dedicated to individuals and families on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay, who are interested in mushrooms. Mycological Society of Marin County A community organization for all things fungal. The pursuit of culinary mushrooms. Identification, education and foraging fun with lectures and forays. Sacramento Area Mushroomers Welcome all who are interested in things fungal -- beginners, amateurs, professionals, artists. San Diego Mycological Society Educate and disseminate scientific information about mycology, the study of fungi. Sonoma County Mycological Association The Sonoma County Mycological Association (SOMA) is dedicated to learning about local mushrooms and fungi, supporting mycological research through scholarships and educating the public about the vast and diverse world of fungi. Looking for more? Check out NAMA's fill list of affiliated clubs . Members Only Content Login Join FFSC