FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
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FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
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Death Cap Mushroom Found at Edgewood By Bill Freedman Bill Freedman wrote this article in Dec. 1998, too late for last December’s issue. We are printing this update now because of its timeliness to the mushroom season. For Bill’s compilation of fungi found at Edgewood, please refer to the table on the following page. — ed.
My wife Louise and I make periodic forays along the Sylvan Loop in our continuing survey to describe the fungi of Edgewood. We think that you should be alerted that one of the fourteen varieties found recently was the most dangerous mushroom in the world, the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides). We found four of them, which was as many or more than any other species found. We would like to emphasize that this is the first time we have encountered this fungus in this park. It heralds the arrival of more of them. In January, 1997, it was the most common fungus found in Mills Canyon, Filoli, and other local areas. It was also reported for the first time in Vancouver, Canada. Since 1979, they have been popping up in large numbers in the Bay Area. We commonly receive reports of them being found in areas where they were previously unknown. This has led to several incidents in which experienced mushroom collectors ate them by mistake. We have provided the Rangers with several copies of a warning poster designed to alert visitors about this mushroom’s potential for poisoning. The poster was created under the auspices of the national amateur mushroom society, the North American Mycological Association. In 1998 we distributed about 4,000 copies through the U.S. and a few other countries. These posters may have contributed to the recording of no poison cases in the 1998-1999 season until 12/4/98, when three young men in Monterey ate some to get high. All were ultimately returned home after a short stay at Stanford Hospital for observation. Please examine the paintings on the poster. The paintings show you exactly what the green-capped mushroom looks like. Mushrooms aren’t all bad though. They contribute much to the health of our forests. They entangle their mycelial threads to form a mantle around the rootlets of plants (called mycorrhizae), and extend a network of mycelia into the soil beyond the reach of the tree roots . Exchanging nutrients such as water, nitrogen, phosphates, trace metals, etc. with the vascular cells of the tree roots, they interdependently absorb carbohydrates created by the trees’ photosynthesis in return. So we can’t say that the Death Cap is evil to anyone but the dogs, cats, and humans who eat them. But don’t worry. They won’t bite you unless you bite them first. To do damage to humans, 3 to 4 ounces must be eaten. Cooking doesn’t destroy their toxic chemicals. It is not dangerous to touch or smell them. You can use a mirror to enjoy their lovely colors and the veils and cups below their stems as you would a flower. We have identified another interesting toxic mushroom at Edgewood. This is the first time we have found Inocybe sororia, a yellowish-gray form which smells like fresh corn silk. We ask that visitors not remove fungi from Edgewood for culinary purposes. Although damaging or collecting plants or other natural objects is forbidden, we have noted that many fungi have been pulled from the ground and discarded. We would like people to recognize that fungi are the winter wildflowers and should be respected as much as their spring companions. We want to compliment the well-coordinated volunteers and rangers on their park management. The trails are ideal. The park has never been in better condition. |
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