Mushrooms of the Midwest

441 Pages·2014·47.98 MB·English

by  Michael Kuo and Andrew S. Methven

Mu s hr oo Ms Mid we s t
of the
Michael Kuo Andrew s. Methven
and
Mushrooms Midwest
of the

Mushrooms Midwest
of the
Michael Kuo Andrew S. Methven
and
University of Illinois Press ■ Urbana, Chicago, and Springfield
While every effort has been made to provide accurate information in this book, neither the authors,
nor the photographers, nor the University of Illinois Press accepts responsibility for any decision
made by anyone on the basis of the text and illustrations herein.
All photos, scans, illustrations, and micrographs are by Michael Kuo unless otherwise credited.
© 2014 by the Board of Trustees
of the University of Illinois
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
P 5 4 3 2 1
∞ This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014932849
Contents
1. Introduction
An Exciting Time for Amateur Mycology ................................................................. 1
How to Use This Book ............................................................................................. 3
Edibility ................................................................................................................... 3
Coverage Area .......................................................................................................... 3
Midwestern Mushroom Clubs .................................................................................. 4
Recommended Midwestern Mushrooming Locations ............................................... 5
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................... 7
2. Collecting, Documenting, and Preserving Mushrooms
Equipment ............................................................................................................... 8
Ecology, Ecology, Ecology! ....................................................................................... 8
Collection Methods .................................................................................................. 9
Making Spore Prints ................................................................................................. 10
Describing Mushrooms in a Journal ......................................................................... 11
Determining Odor ................................................................................................... 11
Determining Taste .................................................................................................... 12
Testing Chemical Reactions ...................................................................................... 12
Preserving Specimens ............................................................................................... 13
Storing Specimens .................................................................................................... 13
Midwestern Herbaria ............................................................................................... 14
3. Using a Microscope to Study Mushrooms
Equipment ............................................................................................................... 16
Calibrating a Microscope.......................................................................................... 17
Chemicals, Reagents, and Stains ............................................................................... 17
Studying Spores ........................................................................................................ 18
Creating a Section to Study ...................................................................................... 19
Working with Dried Specimens ................................................................................ 20
Additional Resources ................................................................................................ 21
4. Identification Keys
A: Key to Major Groups of Mushrooms .................................................................... 22
B: Key to Pink-Spored Gilled Mushrooms ................................................................. 24
C: Key to Pale-Spored Gilled Mushrooms, First Part ................................................. 26
D: Key to Pale-Spored Gilled Mushrooms, Second Part ............................................ 32
E: Key to Amanita ..................................................................................................... 40
F: Key to Lactarius .................................................................................................... 41
G: Key to Russula ...................................................................................................... 45
H: Key to Dark-Spored Gilled Mushrooms, First Part ............................................... 46
I: Key to Dark-Spored Gilled Mushrooms, Second Part............................................. 52
J: Key to Terrestrial Pored Mushrooms ...................................................................... 56
K: Key to Pored Mushrooms on Wood ...................................................................... 62
L: Key to Chanterelles and Trumpets ......................................................................... 66
M: Key to Toothed Mushrooms ................................................................................ 67
N: Key to Puffballs and Earthstars ............................................................................. 68
O: Key to Cup Mushrooms ....................................................................................... 70
P: Key to Morels, False Morels, and Saddles .............................................................. 73
Q: Key to Club and Coral Mushrooms ..................................................................... 74
R: Key to Miscellaneous Other Mushrooms .............................................................. 77
5. The Mushrooms ..................................................................................... 80
6. The Evolutionary Picture .................................................... 397
Bibliography and Works Cited ........................................ 401
Glossary and Index ........................................................................ 405
Mushrooms Midwest
of the

1
Introduction
38373, 77951; Weber, 24 Aug 1973, 3903, 3926,
An Exciting Time for
4117, 4155, 4197 (all MICH); NORTH CAR­
Amateur Mycology OLINA: Coker 160 (type, NCU); Hesler 23478,
30160, 35703; Olexia (TENN 28273); Petersen
This is an exciting time for the science of mycology (TENN 26919); TENNESSEE: Hesler 4992,
and for amateur mycologists, and we hope this book 17107 (MICH), 20895 (MICH), 21935, 24369,
encourages collectors across the Midwest to partici- 24855, 30160, 35703 . . . Sharp (TENN 3714,
pate in the scientific effort to better understand the 19220); Smith 9654, 10112, 10328, 10432, 10536;
mushrooms of our region. Warise (TENN 8151). (1979, 210)
Not so long ago, the DNA revolution had not
This list tells us that Smith and Hesler studied thir-
yet penetrated mycology, and mushrooms were
ty-two collections of Lactarius allardii before describ-
understood and identified primarily on the basis
ing it in a scientific setting and that, over a period
of their physical features. The astounding body of
of decades, Smith made eight of these collections
work produced by the Midwest’s most prolific, most
himself (also, Smith’s daughter, Nancy Weber, made
famous mycologist, Alexander H. Smith (1904–86),
five collections, and Hesler made eleven). If we cal-
represents the pinnacle of the morphology-based ap-
culate the amount of time involved with collect-
proach to mushroom taxonomy in North America.
ing and documenting mushrooms (see chapter 2)
Smith was an amazing collector and taxonomist, and
conservatively at approximately thirty minutes per
his descriptions of fungi serve as an illustrative ex-
mushroom, Smith spent about four hours of his life
ample of the thoroughness, patience, and dedication
studying fresh Lactarius allardii specimens.
required for good taxonomy. Here, for example, is the
But Smith also preserved the collections and
material cited list for Smith’s description of Lactarius
studied them later in his laboratory at the University
allardii (see p. 230) in his monograph of the genus
of Michigan, poring over their microscopic details—a
Lactarius, coauthored with L. R. Hesler:
process that takes at least as much time, if not more,
Material cited.—MICHIGAN: Bas 721 (MICH); as working with the freshly picked mushrooms; let
Hosney 2902 (MICH); Smith, Sep 1951, 35827, us conservatively put Smith’s Lactarius allardii time