News & Stories / Mycology & Art News Mushrooms of Australia and New Zealand A new illustration from Taylor Lockwood. Can you count how many mushrooms are there? :-) Yevgeny Nyden • March 5, 2014 Mushrooms of Australia and New Zealand (from mushroom.pro). ©2013 Taylor F. Lockwood Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Cam Cam by Taylor Lockwood Mycology & Art News Taylor Lockwood's National Geographic Magazine Debut Mycology & Art News Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Birch Boletes (2014). Photo by Steve Olson Birch Boletes in July! Steve Olson Found these little Birch Boletes in a neighbors wooded yard. I would love to pick and dry these little fellas but not sure if they've been spayed, fertilized, etc. Too bad……they look delicious! Found in San Carlos, July 20, 2014 Sadly only had my iPhone camera Camera Apple iPhone 5 Focal L. 4mm Aperture Shutter Sp. 1/100s ISO 80 Flash Off Photo taken on July 20, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Stewardship Elections 2013: Wednesday May 15th Cast your vote and celebrate with a sparkling wine toast! Isn’t democracy great? In fact, if you’re mulling over taking on a position but are still undecided, a glass to help you decide can be arranged before voting... Phil Carpenter • May 1, 2013 General Meeting The FFSC Bylaws call for election of Club Ministers (Officers) every two years. We are now at the end of the current two year term and re-election of Ministers will be conducted at our last regular meeting of this mushroom season in May. Our bylaws also call for a slate of Ministers nominated for the next season to be announced in the April and May issues of the DUFF . At the April general meeting, the Ministers nominated were announced and additional nominations from the floor were taken. The slate to date is printed below. Duties of the various Ministers can be seen in the bylaws. This notice is a call for nominations for the elected Minister positions. If you are interested in doing some interesting and rewarding work, please notify me regarding the position you are interested in. While some Ministers have graciously consented to continue their positions for another two years, all positions noted below are open for nomination (volunteering) and election. We would welcome the chance to have two people vying for a position! As someone who has been a Minister for most of the 25+ years that the FFSC has been around, I can attest that it is a lot of fun (the monthly Minister’s meetings alone are worth it!) and a great group of which to be a part. Consider joining us! Phil Carpenter Prime Minister Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Field Reports 2016 February Local Foray Field Report It was a beautiful day for exploring the Santa Cruz area forests last Saturday 2/6/2016, and though the weather was amazing, the fleshy fungi were few and far between... Cass Fuentes • February 22, 2016 Forager basket with wax paper bags. Photo by Cass Fuentes Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 2016 February Local Foray Field Report Field Reports Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

TriCini. Photo by Paul Lazazzera TriCini Paul Lazazzera I took this photo on April 8th 2018 in Watsonville California among some pine trees. I call this image "TriCini" for obvious reasons and it is to this date the most unique specimen of this species I have found. I harvested it to eat and gain its special powers! I hope you enjoy it as well. Camera Samsung SM-G935 Focal L. 4mm Aperture f/1.7 Shutter Sp. ISO 50 Flash Off Photo taken on April 8, 2018 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Field Reports Habitat Walk Summary - 2013 To open the 2013 - 2014 mushroom season the Fungus Fed of Santa Cruz held a habitat walk on the west side of Santa Cruz on the morning of Saturday, September 28th. Though significant amounts of rain had yet to fall, the event was well attended by an enthusiastic group of around 20 fungiphiles. Cass Fuentes • September 29, 2013 2013 foray / habitat walk Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts November 2014 Habitat Walk Field Reports Foray and Habitat Walk March 2015 Field Reports Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Auriscalpium vulgare (Soquel, 2016). Photo by Cass Fuentes Auriscalpium vulgare on Pinecone Cass Fuentes Exploring the Soquel Demonstration Forest at the FFSC local foray in February, and though the weather was amazing, the fleshy fungi were few and far between... None-the-less, there was some really cool finds, including Hericium coralloides (a choice edible related to Lion's Mane), and Auriscalpium vulgare . Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on February 20, 2016 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

The Mycophagist's Ten Commandments When you are collecting for the table, follow these "ten commandments" -- and stay safe! Amanita novinupta in Douglas Fir. Photo by Katherine Elvin When you are collecting for the table, follow these "Mycophagist's* Ten Commandments," excerpted from Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America by David Fischer and Alan Bessette: 1 Never eat a mushroom unless it is positively identified as edible . Mistakes can result in toxic reactions ranging from mild gastric upset to death. If in doubt, throw it out! 2 Eat only fresh mushrooms that are free from infestation by insects or larvae. Mushrooms can spoil, and eating any spoiled food can cause food poisoning or other adverse reactions. 3 Thoroughly cook all mushrooms unless they are specifically known to be edible raw. Some mushrooms contain toxins or gastrointestinal irritants that must be destroyed by cooking. 4 Eat mushrooms only in moderate quantities . Mushrooms are not easily digested; overeating them is an easy way to get sick. 5 When trying an edible mushroom for the first time, eat only a small portion (a spoonful), and don't try any other new kinds for forty-eight hours. As with many kinds of food, some people are sensitive or allergic to mushrooms commonly eaten by other people. Individuals with known food allergies or sensitivities should be extra careful when trying mushrooms new to them, especially those species known to present problems for some individuals. 6 Don't pick mushrooms from contaminated habitats . These include polluted areas, chemically treated lawns, ornamental trees, and places close to highways, landfills, toxic waste sites, crop fields, power lines, railroads, buildings, industrial areas, or firebreaks. Contaminants may accumulate in wild mushrooms. 7 Never assume that a wild mushroom you find overseas is the same edible species you know from North America, or vice versa. Too many serious cases of mushroom poisoning occur because vacationers and immigrants unwittingly gather dangerous look-alike species not found in their native lands. 8 Be conservative about feeding wild mushrooms to children, the elderly, and the infirm. Avoid edible species known to cause adverse reactions in some people, and don't let children, the elderly, or persons in poor health try an unfamiliar kind of wild mushroom until you and other friends or relatives have identified and eaten it without any adverse reactions. Limit portion sizes for children, the elderly, and the sick because they're generally more susceptible to toxins than other people are. 9 When trying a wild mushroom for the first time, save a few intact, uncooked specimens in the refrigerator for forty-eight hours. If someone develops an illness within two days after trying an unfamiliar mushroom, the physician may want expert identification to rule out the mushroom as the culprit. 10 Examine every specimen in every collection of mushrooms to avoid inadvertent mixing of different species. Even experienced mushroom hunters can err if they become careless and fill their baskets too hurriedly. *A mycophagist is an organism or person who eats fungi, particularly mushrooms, or an enthusiast who is deeply interested in mushrooms from a gastronomic perspective. The term combines the Greek-derived prefix "myco-," meaning mushroom or fungus, with the word "phage," referring to eating. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

Scarlet Waxy Cap. Photo by Jim Kern Scarlet Waxy Cap James Kern Scarlet waxy cap in Mesick, Michigan. Photo taken August 18, 2017 by James Kern. Read upon Waxy Caps in our Featured Fungi: Hygrocybe laetissima (Waxy Caps) Camera Nikon D600 Focal L. 60mm Aperture f/3.5 Shutter Sp. 1/800s ISO 200 Flash Off Photo taken on August 19, 2017 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Field Reports Busted It was 25 years ago in May that I joined a foray to Yosemite, led by David Arora. Tony Dewey • May 16, 2016 Morels. Photo by Yevgeny Nyden Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Memories of Matsutake Writings Reality Check: Dispelling a Myth Writings Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Weathered Morel (2014). Photo by Hugh Smith Weathered Morel Hugh Smith Formerly called Morchella elata (which is now known not to exist in North America). Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on May 18, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Stewardship Phil Carpenter receives Knighton Award at Appalachia NAMA 2023 Phil Carpenter, FFSC Science Advisor, has been awarded the 2023 Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award by the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) ! Sue Willis • August 3, 2023 Phil Carpenter receiving Knighton Award. Photo credit: Brennon Strnad The Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award was established by the NAMA Board of Trustees to recognize and encourage persons who have distinguished themselves in service to their local clubs. It is named for the Knightons, whose efforts began the North American Mycological Association in 1967. The annual award consists of: A plaque Publicity for the winner and club in The Mycophile A one-year membership in the organization Rregistration, housing and foray fees for the next NAMA Foray. Each year's recipient is selected by the three most recent recipients of the Award. Every NAMA-affiliated mycological club may nominate one candidate whom it feels has performed meritorious service during the current or preceding year, which has to be described! The North American Mycological Association (NAMA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of professional and amateur mycologists with over 90 affiliated mycological societies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Phil was presented with the award at the 2023 NAMA National Foray in North Carolina, with over 400 amateur and professional mycologists in attendance. Read a summary of Phil's contributions on pages 9-11 of The Mycophile Quarterly (July August September 2023 issue). Phil Carpenter. (Photo credit: Dan Tischler) Congratulations, Phil! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Field Report - 2021 NAMA Foray Grandby CO Field Reports Time Lapsed Laetiporous Field Reports Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article