Mushroom Identification Quiz

Introduction to Mushrooms

• Mushrooms belong to the Kingdom Fungi, second in species diversity only to insects.
• Over 10,000 mushroom species exist in the U.S., with 2,000 found in Illinois.
• Mycology is the study of fungi, and mycologists are the scientists who specialize in this field.
• Fungi play vital roles in ecosystems by recycling nutrients and forming beneficial relationships with plants (mycorrhizae).
• No mushrooms are listed as federally endangered or threatened, likely due to lack of research.

Mushroom Anatomy

• "Mushroom" refers to fungi with large, visible fruiting bodies, including various types like boletes, puffballs, and morels.
• Toxic mushrooms can resemble edible varieties, stressing the need for accurate identification.

Notable Mushroom Species

• Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

  • Fruiting body: White, spongy, covered in spines.
  • Habitat: Found on hardwood logs, edible, but can be confused with Bear’s Head.

• Bird’s Nest (Cyathus striatus)

  • Appearance: Vase-shaped with eggs containing spores.
  • Habitat: Moist, shaded areas; not edible but not toxic.

• Yellow Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)

  • Cap: Yellow-orange, trumpet-shaped, with unique ribbed texture.
  • Habitat: Grows near oaks; edible but caution advised due to look-alikes.

• Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)

  • Size: Can reach up to 2 feet across; white to greyish.
  • Edibility: Only edible when white inside; can cause gastrointestinal issues if aged.

• Green-Gilled Lepiota (Chlorophyllum molybdites)

  • Cap: Large and white with cream-colored scales.
  • Toxicity: Highly poisonous; causes severe gastrointestinal distress.

• Indigo Milk Cap (Lactarius indigo)

  • Cap: Light blue that bleeds blue liquid when cut.
  • Habitat: Mixed woodlands; edible.

• Jack-O-Lantern (Omphalotus illudens)

  • Appearance: Pumpkin orange, bioluminescent gills.
  • Toxicity: Not edible; can be confused with chanterelles.

Mushroom Facts

• Early Greeks associated mushrooms with lightning from Zeus due to their sudden growth after storms.
• Estimated 1.5 million fungi species exist, with only 80,000 described.
• The largest organism, a honey mushroom, spans 3.5 miles in Oregon, believed to be over 2,400 years old.
• A giant puffball can produce over 7 trillion spores, capable of outnumbering Earth’s weight if all germinated.
• Making a spore print can help identify mushroom species by observing spore mass.

Conservation and Study

• Continued research is necessary for identifying mushroom species and habitat needs.
• Amateur mycologists play a significant role in documenting mushroom distributions.
• Engaging in field identification, journaling, photography, and joining mushroom clubs supports mycological knowledge and conservation efforts.

Introduction to Illinois Mushrooms

• Study guide adapted from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' "Illinois Mushrooms" poster and a publication by Joe McFarland and Gregory M.
• Structurally, mushrooms consist of a cap, gills, and a stalk; fungi undergo a life cycle involving spore production and mycelium growth.

Types of Fungi

• Two main classes of mushrooms: Ascomycetes (sac fungi) and Basidiomycetes (club fungi).

Ascomycetes

• Stalked Scarlet Cup (Sarcoscypha occidentalis):

  • Size: ¼ - 5/8” cap on small white stalk (3/8 – 1 ¼”).
  • Habitat: Moist, deciduous woods during spring/early summer; non-edible.

• Yellow Morel (Morchella esculenta):

  • Size: 7-15 cm tall with sponge-like pits.
  • Habitat: Grows around certain trees from early April to May; edible but caution needed due to similar toxic species.

Basidiomycetes

• Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus):

  • Appearance: Large, spongy white mass with soft spines.
  • Habitat: Found in hardwood logs, edible.

• Bird’s Nest (Cyathus striatus):

  • Size: 1/4 – 3/8” vase-shaped fruiting body.
  • Habitat: Moist shaded areas, not edible.

• Yellow Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius):

  • Size: 1-3” cap, yellowish to gold.
  • Habitat: Grows near oaks; edible.

• Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea):

  • Size: Up to 2 feet across; white to greyish.
  • Habitat: Common in lawns; edible when completely white inside.

• Green-Gilled Lepiota (Chlorophyllum molybdites):

  • Size: 2 – 12” wide cap.
  • Habitat: Forms fairy rings; very poisonous.

• Indigo Milk Cap (Lactarius indigo):

  • Size: 2-4” cap; bleeds blue liquid when cut.
  • Habitat: Mixed woodlands; edible.

• Jack-O-Lantern (Omphalotus illudens):

  • Size: Pumpkin orange cap; glows in the dark.
  • Habitat: Very poisonous, has bioluminescent gills.

• Rounded Earthstar (Geastrum saccatum):

  • Size: 1/4 – 1” wide, star-shaped rays.
  • Habitat: Grows on humus; not edible.

• Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus):

  • Size: 2-3” tall, columnar when mature.
  • Habitat: Grassy areas; edible if collected fresh.

• Split-Gill (Schizophyllum commune):

  • Appearance: Small, white, hairy caps.
  • Habitat: Dead branches and logs; not recommended for consumption.

• Spotted Bolete (Boletus affinis):

  • Appearance: Red-brown cap with yellow pores.
  • Habitat: Deciduous forests; considered edible.

• Sulfur-Colored Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus):

  • Appearance: Fan-shaped, orange/red to sulfur yellow.
  • Habitat: Grows on dead/dying trees; edible, also called Chicken Mushroom.

Fungal Reproduction and Lifecycle

• Young basidium contains two distinct nuclei that fuse and undergo division resulting in four nuclei.
• Four nuclei migrate into basidiospores at the tips of basidia.
• Released basidiospores germinate to form hyphae.
• Hyphae from different nuclei types can fuse to form mycelium with both types of nuclei.
• Mycelium growth leads to nuclei division ensuring each new cell retains its original type.
• As conditions become favorable, a button mushroom develops, progressing through stages to a mature mushroom, completing the life cycle.

Species Descriptions of Fungi

• Stalked Scarlet Cup (Sarcoscypha occidentalis):

  • Cap size: ¼ - 5/8”, tiny red cup on a white stalk (3/8 - 1 ¼”).
  • Habitat: Found on wet sticks and branches in damp deciduous woods during spring/early summer.
  • Not edible, has spores in the lining of the cup.

• Yellow Morel (Morchella esculenta):

  • Size: Typically 7-15 cm tall; honeycomb cap; completely hollow.
  • Habitat: Grows near dead Elm, Cottonwood, apple trees, and old fruit trees from early April to early May.
  • Edible; caution against false morels that lack a hollow structure.

• Crown-Tipped Coral (Artomyces pyxidatus):

  • No cap; features coral-like branches, yellow-tan color with crown-like tips.
  • Habitat: Grows on dead wood of deciduous trees in summer.
  • Edible with a peppery taste.

• Dryad’s Saddle (Polyporus squamosus):

  • Circular to fan-shaped cap covered with dark brown scales.
  • Habitat: Grows on living or dead deciduous wood, reappears annually.
  • Edible with a watermelon taste when raw.

• Elegant Stinkhorn (Mutinus elegans):

  • Long pinkish-orange column with a greenish-brown slime at the top.
  • Habitat: Found in mulched areas and rotting wood from July to September.
  • Edible when immature but caution advised due to look-alikes.

• Emetic Russula (Russula emetica):

  • Bright red cushioned cap, brittle flesh.
  • Habitat: Grows in mixed woods from July to October.
  • Poisonous; can cause severe gastrointestinal distress.

• Fawn or Deer Mushroom (Pluteus cervinus):

  • Brownish gray cap with darker fibers, smooth texture.
  • Habitat: Grows on dead wood or buried wood from May to October.
  • Edible with caution; resembles toxic varieties.

• Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea):

  • Massive, spherical shape, can grow up to 2 feet across.
  • Habitat: Common in lawns and woodlands from August to October.
  • Edible when completely white inside; green/yellow indicates potential toxicity.

• Green-Gilled Lepiota (Chlorophyllum molybdites):

  • Large white cap with cream-colored scales, 2-12” wide.
  • Habitat: Grows in fairy rings in lawns and meadows during summer/fall.
  • Poisonous; can cause severe illness.

• Indigo Milk Cap (Lactarius indigo):

  • Medium size, light blue cap that bleeds blue liquid when cut.
  • Habitat: Found in mixed woodlands from early summer to fall.
  • Edible.

• Jack-O-Lantern (Omphalotus illudens):

  • Pumpkin orange cap, bioluminescent gills.
  • Conservation recommendation: Manage natural areas to protect mushroom populations, continue species research, and develop habitat findings.

General Mushroom Facts

• Ancient Greeks believed mushrooms emerged from Zeus’s lightning after storms.
• Approximately 1.5 million fungi species are estimated to exist, with around 80,000 described.
• The largest organism on Earth is a honey mushroom in Oregon, covering over 3.5 miles.
• A giant puffball can produce over 7 trillion spores.
• To observe spores, create a spore print by placing a mushroom cap on paper and covering it.

Mycology Terminology

• Fungi: Eukaryotic organisms lacking chloroplasts, characterized by chitin in cell walls.
• Mycelium: A mass of hyphae, the vegetative part of a fungus.
• Hypha: Filamentous structures that make up mycelium.
• Fruiting Body: Structures that bear spores.
• Mycorrhizae: Symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots.
• Mycophagist: A person who eats fungi.
• Mycologist: A person studying mycology.

Introduction to Mushrooms

• Mushrooms belong to the Kingdom Fungi, which is diverse and extensive, second to insects in species quantity.
• Over 10,000 mushroom species exist in the United States, with at least 2,000 in Illinois.
• The study of fungi is known as mycology, and researchers are called mycologists.
• Fungi play critical roles in ecosystems, aiding in nutrient recycling and forming beneficial mycorrhizal relationships with plants.

Mycorrhizae and Ecological Roles

• Mycorrhizae involve a symbiotic relationship between fungi and plant roots, enhancing plant growth and nutrient absorption.
• Fungi can be destructive pathogens but also beneficial, enabling plants to thrive in adverse conditions.

Mushroom Anatomy and Definitions

• "Mushroom" refers to various fungi with large, visible fruiting bodies including species like boletes, chanterelles, and more.
• There is a risk of misidentifying edible and toxic mushrooms due to their visual similarities.

Species Overview

• Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus): Edible with a spongy, white mass covered with spines; found on hardwoods.
• Bird’s Nest (Cyathus striatus): Not edible; vase-shaped with dark lines and gray to black "eggs" containing spores; grows in moist, shaded areas.
• Yellow Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius): Edible; has a trumpet shape, yellowish-orange color, and grows around oak trees after rains.
• Rounded Earthstar (Geastrum saccatum): Not edible; star-shaped structure with a split outer layer; found on humus in late summer.
• Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus): Edible when young; transforms into a liquid spore mass when mature; prefers grassy and disturbed areas.
• Split-Gill (Schizophyllum commune): Small, white, and fan-shaped; not recommended for consumption.
• Spotted Bolete (Boletus affinis): Edible; contains yellow tubes beneath its red-brown cap; found in deciduous forests.
• Sulfur-Colored Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus): Edible; fan-shaped, bright sulfur yellow beneath; typically found on dead trees.
• Turkey Tail Fungus (Trametes versicolor): Edible/medicinal; known for multicolored brackets; used in traditional medicine.
• Wood Ear (Auricularia auricula): Edible; wrinkled, gelatinous texture; commonly used in Asian cuisine.
• Yellow-Orange Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria variety formosa): Not edible; poisonous and hallucinogenic with a distinctive cap covered in white warts.

Conservation Concerns

• Mushroom populations, especially in forested areas of Illinois, are declining due to habitat degradation from urbanization and agriculture.

Terminology

• Fruiting Body: Spore-bearing structure of fungi.
• Hyphae: Filamentous structures composing mycelium.
• Mycorrhizae: Fungal roots enhancing plant nutrient uptake.
• Mycophagist: Individual who consumes fungi.
• Volva: Basal structure of a universal veil at the stipe's lower part.
• Pathogen: Organism causing disease.