July Mushroom of the Month: Purple-spored Puffball, Calvatia cyathiformis
The July Mushroom of the Month is the Purple-spored puffball, Calvatia cyathiformis
🍄⭐The July mushroom of the month is Purple-spored Puffball, Calvatia cyathiformis
👏 Congrats to May Feng for guessing it right and winning a membership to the society! 🎉
You can also be a supporting member to stay dialed-in with events & discover next month’s mystery mushroom.
puffball gigante
Two grapefruit-sized puffballs bloom in the grasslands of North America: the Giant Puffball, Calvatia gigantea, and the Purple-spored Puffball, Calvatia cyathiformis. Both are edible when young—their interiors pure white and marshmallow-soft. What distinguishes the Purple-spored from its cousin is its transformation with age—body and spores evolving from pure white to deep, rich purple. In East and Central Texas, it fruits June to October, often in open woods, fields, and roadsides. The fungus grows in various soils, including clay, loam, and sand, and is associated with oak, pine, and other deciduous trees
taxonomy & ecology
Calvatia cyathiformis, or purple-spored puffball, is a large saprobic Calvatia species. This terrestrial puffball has purplish to purple-brown spores, distinguishing it from other large Agaricales. The fruiting body is 5–20 cm (2–8 in) high or broad. When young it’s smooth, spherical or slightly flattened, and white, purplish, or brownish. It has a chocolate-brown or purple gleba with a smooth exoperidium. As it matures, it becomes pear- or top-shaped, and the exterior darkens or silvers. Later, the skin cracks, releasing spores dispersed by wind and rain. A leathery sterile cup remains after spores disperse.
uses & benefits
Besides being edible when young, puffballs can be used to dye fabrics and paper when used in combination with ammonia (as a mordant). Purple-spored Puffballs create a rusty red color while Giant Puffballs make a more reddish-brown dye. Medical scientists are currently investigating puffballs in the genus Calvatia because they have been shown to prevent some types of tumors. For years, puffballs have been used as a styptic to stop bleeding and to dress wounds − both powdered and slices of the mushroom.
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July Foraging Forecast
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Texas after rain.
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Texas after rain.
Comes with download of a Wild Edible Mushroom Calendar.
REISHI: Ganoderma, 12 species in Texas
Polypore with woody, varnished texture, banded red to brown colors with white pores on underside.
HABITAT: Grows at base or on hardwood stumps, logs, especially oaks and pecan. Pines in East Texas.
SPORE COLOR: Brown
SIZE: 4-10" width
EDIBILITY: Medicinal. Very bitter because of medicinal compounds.
LOOK-ALIKES: Red-Belted Conk, Fomitosis Pinicola (also medicinal).
honeycomb fungus: FavoluS 3 species in Texas
Genus of tropical fungi in the family Polyporaceae but with fleshy with radially arranged pores on the underside of the cap that are angular and deeply pitted, somewhat resembling a honeycomb. White to yellow and grows alone or in overlapping clusters similar to oyster mushrooms or other shelf fungi.
HABITAT: On decaying hard-wood, year round when humidity is high after rain.
SPORE COLOR: White
SIZE: 3-6" wide
EDIBILITY: Odor slightly foul, especially in rehydrated material; taste not distinctive. Tough texture and can be cooked like chicharrones.
LOOK A-LIKE: Oysters, Pluerotus or Lentinellus cochleatus (none observed in Texas) but grow on decomposing wood.
WOOD EAR: Auricularia 6+- species in Texas
Brown to amber in color. Jelly texture that is irregular, wavy, and ear-shaped. Lacks gills or pores.
HABITAT: Grows in clusters on decaying hardwood after rain
SPORE COLOR: White
SIZE: 4-6" in width and > 1/4" thick
EDIBILITY: Wood ear mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that wood ear has anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.
LOOK-ALIKES: Amber Jelly, Exidia recisa which is also edible.
Puffball: Lycoperdon and Calvatia, 15+- species in Texas
Smooth and spherical, deflate and turn purplish or brown on inside with age making inedible. Some peal and have spines.
HABITAT: Overgrazed Prairie or grasslands.
SPORE COLOR: Purple-brown
SIZE: 2- 60" diameter
EDIBILITY: Doesn’t have a strong flavor of its own and absorb flavors. Try making a Giant Puffball Pizza.
LOOK-ALIKES: Amanita species which can contain toxins and be fatal. If center of puffball is not white, it can cause GI distress.
Blue Milkcap: Lactarius Indigo
Blue cap with concentric rings and a depression in center, sticky or slimy to the touch. Brittle flesh, stem. Gills and body exude blue latex when injured tissue is and stains the wounded tissue greenish blue.
HABITAT: Mycorrhizal and grows in deciduous and coniferous forests.
SPORE COLOR: Cream
SIZE: 2.0–5.9" cap width
EDIBILITY: Choice. Peppery taste and has a coarse, grainy texture.
LOOK-ALIKES: Blewit, Collybia nuda or Lactarius paradoxus (edible)
CHANTERELLE: Cantharellus, 10+- species in Texas
DESCRIPTION: Red, orange, yellow to white, meaty and funnel-shaped and can be found in clusters or individual mushrooms. On the lower surface, underneath the smooth cap, most species have rounded, forked folds that run almost all the way down the stipe, which tapers down seamlessly from the cap.
SPORE COLOR: White Yellowish
HABITAT: Symbiotic and found around 5-30 feet of mature live and red oaks after a lot of rain. Chanterelles need a lot of rain to fruit and they like the torrential Texas-style flash floods. Trees near creeks and where water is flowing downhill is very important. Avoid trees that are in areas that are mowed. Trees with undisturbed leaf matter and not many understory plants are ideal.
SIZE: 2-6" height
EDIBILITY: Choice. Many species emit a fruity aroma, reminiscent of apricots, and often have a mildly peppery taste.
LOOK A-LIKE: The Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens is the toxic look-a-like and is orange to brown in color. They do grow at the same time but their habitat and morphology is different.
Lobster mushroom, Hypomyces lactifluorum
Parasitic fungus that grows on certain species of mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster.
HABITAT: Grows in mixed woods where H. lactifluorum specifically attacks members of the genera Lactarius and Lactifluus (milk-caps), and Russula (brittlegills), such as Russula brevipes and Lactifluus piperatus in North America. At maturity, H. lactifluorum thoroughly covers its host, rendering it unidentifiable.
SPORE PRINT: White spore print
Edible with a subtle shellfish flavor that's easy to identify with no look alikes.
LOOK A-LIKE: The Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens is the toxic look-a-like and is orange to brown in color. They do grow at the same time but their habitat and morphology is different.
NOTE: I spotted this Lobster after we had torrential rain in 2019. Hypomyces may be parasitizing these mushrooms. Several members of the community have already seen them this year!
Become a member and learn more about wild mushroom foraging in Texas!
Membership benefits include early access and discounts to walks, workshops, and more. Your membership helps support the larger community! Tag us to get help with ID and add your observations to iNaturalist.org. If you are trying a new mushroom, confirm the ID with an expert, then try a small amount to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction. Texas Mushroom Identification Facebook group is great for quick responses and ID help. Also, don't forget to add your finds on the Mushrooms of Texas project on iNaturalist.
Follow my adventures @forage.atx.
June Mushroom of the Month: White Juniper Fungus, Robergea albicedrae
The June Mushroom of the Month is White Juniper Fungus, Robergea albicedrae
🍄⭐The June mushroom of the month is White Juniper Fungus, Robergea albicedrae
👏 Congrats to Reid Hardin @ireidaceae for guessing it right and winning a membership to the society! 🎉
You can also be a supporting member to stay dialed-in with events & discover next month’s mystery mushroom.
it’s not chalk, it’s not mold, it’s a lichen!
It’s a common sight in the Texas hill country, one you might have even overlooked or never thought to take much notice of - the branches of ashe juniper trees striped with a non descript, chalky white material. At first glance it looks like it could be part of the tree itself, just some variation of the bark. It’s prolific. Upon closer inspection, you may notice some small nodules, or fruiting bodies, from which spores are expelled. What you are looking at is, in fact, a lichenized fungus!
Taxonomy & Ecology
Lichens are symbionts, a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus. They are classified by their fungal partner. In 1910, Heald and Wolf described this fungus species and assigned it the name Cyanospora albicedrae. The generic name Cyanospora was based on the (apparently incorrect) observation that the spores were green. The following year Saccardo and Traverso corrected this and assigned the species to the genus Robergea.
When you see this fungus in the field, look for small gray nodules on the whitened patches. These contain the fruiting bodies from which the filamentous spores
are expelled.
Juniper Friend or foe?
Since its description in 1910, many researchers have assumed that the relationship between Robergea albicedrae and its host to be parastic. However, studies of others in Stictidaceae have shown a dynamic relationship in terms of nutrient assimilation, for example, the colonization of existing dead twigs as saprotrophs, “optional lichenization,” and parasitic endophytism. More research is needed to determine the exact nature of their relationship.
BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER & stay Dialed in with events & discover next month’s mystery mushroom
June Foraging Forecast
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Texas after rain.
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Texas after rain.
Comes with download of a Wild Edible Mushroom Calendar.
Blue Milkcap Lactarius Indigo
Blue cap with concentric rings and a central depression, 2.0–5.9", sticky or slimy to the touch.
In the Russulaceae family, with brittle flesh, stem.
Gills and body exude blue latex when injured tissue is and stains the wounded tissue greenish
Mycorrhizal and grows in mixed woods. Yellowish spores
Choice edible, peppery taste and has a coarse, grainy texture
Look-alikes: Blewit, Collybia nuda or Lactarius paradoxus (edible)
CHANTERELLE Cantharellus
DESCRIPTION: Red, orange, yellow to white, meaty and funnel-shaped and can be found in clusters or individual mushrooms. On the lower surface, underneath the smooth cap, most species have rounded, forked folds that run almost all the way down the stipe, which tapers down seamlessly from the cap.
SPORE COLOR: White Yellowish
HABITAT: Symbiotic and found around 5-30 feet of mature live and red oaks after a lot of rain. Chanterelles need a lot of rain to fruit and they like the torrential Texas-style flash floods. Trees near creeks and where water is flowing downhill is very important. Avoid trees that are in areas that are mowed. Trees with undisturbed leaf matter and not many understory plants are ideal.
SIZE: 2-6" height
EDIBILITY: Choice. Many species emit a fruity aroma, reminiscent of apricots, and often have a mildly peppery taste.
LOOK A-LIKE: The Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens is the toxic look-a-like and is orange to brown in color. They do grow at the same time but their habitat and morphology is different.
Lobster mushroom, Hypomyces lactifluorum
Parasitic fungus that grows on certain species of mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster.
Grows in mixed woods where H. lactifluorum specifically attacks members of the genera Lactarius and Lactifluus (milk-caps), and Russula (brittlegills), such as Russula brevipes and Lactifluus piperatus in North America. At maturity, H. lactifluorum thoroughly covers its host, rendering it unidentifiable.
White spore print
Edible with a subtle shellfish flavor that's easy to identify with no look alikes.
I spotted the Lobster shown in the photo on July 4, 2019 after we had consistent rain. Hypomyces may be parasitizing these mushrooms. Several members of the community have already seen them this year!
LOOK A-LIKE: The Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens is the toxic look-a-like and is orange to brown in color. They do grow at the same time but their habitat and morphology is different.
OLD-MAN-OF-THE-WOODS Strobilomyces strobilaceus
Cap is soft dark grey to black with overlapping scales of dark fuzz with an ascending annulus. The narrow stem also fuzzy and can with one or two ring zones.
In Boletaceae family with dirty white, hexagonal pores that turn reddish to black when bruised.
Usually growing single, on the ground in mixed hardwood forests and mycorrhizal with oaks.
Not a choice edible but young mushroom has a mellow, earthy flavor. Must be cooked.
Look-alikes: Strobilomyces confusus (non-toxic) or Amanita onusta (Toxicity unknown)
HONEY MUSHROOMS
Desarmillaria, Armillaria species
Honey-colored, dry, scaly to sticky cap, Mellea species has a ring on the stem. Grows in clusters and has gills. Part of a genus that is the largest living organism ever found on this planet.
SPORE COLOR: White
HABITAT: Decaying hard-wood stumps and roots of living trees in the spring and fall after rain.
SIZE: 6"
EDIBILITY: Choice. Many species emit a fruity aroma, reminiscent of apricots, and often have a mildly peppery taste.
LOOK A-LIKE: The Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens is the toxic look-a-like and is orange to brown in color. They do grow at the same time but their habitat and morphology is different.
Jackson's Slender Caesar
CAP: Emerges from egg or volva and is oval at first, becoming convex, typically with a central bump; sticky; brilliant red or orange, fading to yellow on the margin; typically without warts or patches; the margin lined for about 40–50% of the cap's radius. The red pigment fades from margin toward the center with age.
GILLS: Moderately crowded to crowded, orange-yellow to yellow-orange to yellow. They are free from the stem or slightly attached to it; yellow to orange-yellow; crowded; not bruising. The short gills are subtruncate to truncate.
STEM: 9-15 cm long; 1-1.5 cm thick; slightly tapering to apex; yellow; with orange to reddish fibers, often in zones; not bruising; with a yellow to orange, skirtlike ring; with a large (4-7 cm high and 4 mm thick), white, sacklike volva.
SPORE COLOR: White
HABITAT: Mycorrhizal with in hardwoods and pines. They are more common in East Texas but they can be found in Central Texas in places like Bastrop
SIZE: 3-4" in height. Caps sometimes open to 6-10”.
EDIBILITY: Choice but not recommended because of toxic look a-likes. The flavor is of hazelnuts and chestnuts.
LOOK A-LIKE: A. muscaria (contains a neurotoxin that can be parboiled out and A. phalloides (fatal).
honeycomb fungus
Genus of tropical fungi in the family Polyporaceae but with fleshy with radially arranged pores on the underside of the cap that are angular and deeply pitted, somewhat resembling a honeycomb. White to yellow and grows alone or in overlapping clusters similar to oyster mushrooms or other shelf fungi.
SPORE COLOR: White
HABITAT: On decaying hard-wood, year round when humidity is high after rain.
EDIBILITY: Odor slightly foul, especially in rehydrated material; taste not distinctive. Tough texture and can be cooked like chicharrones.
LOOK A-LIKE: Oysters, Pluerotus or Lentinellus cochleatus (none observed in Texas) but grow on decomposing wood.
Shoehorn Oyster Mushrooms
Hohenbuehelia petaloides
Pale to brown funnel-shaped caps with decurrent gills
SPORES: White
HABITAT: Fruits after rain in mulch or woody debris. Considered carnivorous because it traps nematodes with “sticky knobs” in the mycelium to obtain nitrogen and grow.
EDIBILITY: Edible when cooked but can be tough and mealy
Shoehorn Oyster Mushrooms, Hohenbuehelia petaloides is distinctively shaped; its "petaloid" habit often makes it look like a shoehorn with gills, or a rolled-up funnel. Other identifying features include its fairly crowded whitish gills, a white spore print, mealy odor and taste—and, under the microscope, gorgeous "metuloids" (thick-walled pleurocystidia). It often appears in clusters in urban, semi-urban, or even household settings, and is frequently associated with woody debris (though it does not usually grow directly from dead wood) or cultivated soil. However, it can be found in woodland settings, too, where it tends to grow alone or in small groups.
Because this mushroom grows in wood chips which are a good source of carbon but a terrible source of nitrogen, the fungi needs to make proteins. Both Hohenbuehelia and Pleurotus can supplement their protein needs by trapping and consuming nematodes, which are small flat worms that are very abundant in wood and soil. The fungi have "sticky knobs" on the hyphae that grow through the wood. These sticky knobs attach to curious nematodes as the nematodes attempt to eat the mycelium. The nematode thrashes around and additional parts of its body become stuck. The hyphae then grow into the body of the nematode and digest it, providing the fungus with the nitrogen it needs. That makes these fungi carnivorous!
LOOK A-LIKES: Oysters, Pluerotus or Lentinellus cochleatus (none observed in Texas) but grow on decomposing wood.
WOOD BLEWIT Collybia species, formerly Lepista, Clitocybe
Distinct lilac to purple-pink color
Grows in and decomposes leaf duff
Light pink to white spores
Great in breakfast tacos
As the weather stays cool, look out for the edible Wood Blewit, Collybia nuda or tarda species (formerly Lepista and Clitocybe.) This distinct lavender-colored mushroom is found from fall through spring and fruiting in hardwood leaf duff which is decomposes. Fresh wood blewits are great with eggs in breakfast tacos. As they get older they become more tan and iridescent colored on the cap and taste bitter. I throw the older wood blewits my compost leaf pile because they are such great decomposers and will colonize and grow in hardwood leaf litter.
Look-alikes: Be warned because there are deadly, poisonous look-alikes in the Cortinarius or webcap family that grow in similar conditions. It's important to do a spore print AND also confirm the ID with an expert. The spores of the wood blewit are light pink to white and the spores of Cortinarius mushrooms are rust colored. See our blog post with lots of photos and details to help you identify this mushroom.
OYSTER Pleurotus ostreatus
Color can vary white, tan and gray
White to cream gills, run down stem
Cap fan shaped, 2"-8" across, white spores
Grows in clusters and decomposes hardwood
Delicious meat replacement in all types of cuisines
Look-alikes: Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens which is toxic and orange to brown in color.
WOOD EAR: Auricularia species
Grows in clusters on decaying hardwood after rain
Cap is wavy, ear-shaped to irregular, 1-4" and > 1/4" thick
Jelly texture and lacks gills or pores
Produces white spores
Absorbs flavors, great in soups, contains protein, iron, calcium and phosphorus
Edibility: Wood ear mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that wood ear has anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Look-alikes: Amber Jelly, Exidia recisa which is also edible.
Become a member and learn more about wild mushroom foraging in Texas!
Membership benefits include early access and discounts to walks, workshops, and more. Your membership helps support the larger community! Tag us to get help with ID and add your observations to iNaturalist.org. If you are trying a new mushroom, confirm the ID with an expert, then try a small amount to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction. Texas Mushroom Identification Facebook group is great for quick responses and ID help. Also, don't forget to add your finds on the Mushrooms of Texas project on iNaturalist.
Follow my adventures @forage.atx.
How to Cultivate Bioregional Mycorrhizal Fungi for Plants
There are several types of mycorrhizal fungi, but ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most common.
Instructions adapted from Danielle Stevenson, D.I.Y. Fungi, This content was taught at workshop with Danielle for Healthy Soils, Healthy Trees program and part of tree drought research with TreeFolks. Thanks to Ecology Action and City of Austin Urban Forestry Grant for supporting this program.
There are several types of mycorrhizal fungi, but ectomycorrhizal (EMF) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most common. It is a good idea to look up what kind of mycorrhizal relationships the plant(s) you’re trying to cultivate form and cultivate those.
Watch part one of our workshop series with Danielle to learn more about mycorrhizal fungi.
Do you need to restore mycorrhizal populations? Yes in:
intensively managed agricultural lands (industrial ag- frequently tilled, heavily
fertilized, fungicide use)
degraded soils (remediation of mine sites and brownfields, ecological restoration and reforestation efforts)
nurseries (and hydroponic or container gardens)
You can restore mycorrhizal fungi through agricultural and land management practices or through introduction of mycorrhizal inoculum. Management practices that encourage mycorrhizal fungi:
Crop rotation including deep rooting of mycorrhizal plants
Cover cropping - do not leave soil bare
Reduced/no till
Deep plowing
Reduced fertilization (esp Phosphorus)
Where to source your MYCORRIZAL SPORES?
You can purchase commercial mycorrhizal spores to inoculate plants and soil but recent meta analysis has shown they are less effective than using methods that introduces native, cultivated mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizal spores, pieces of mycorrhizal roots and viable mycorrhizal hyphae are active propagules that can be used as inoculum.
Methods OF CULTIVATING AND AMPLIFYING Native mycorrhiza
Whole Soil Method
Trap Culture Method
Nurse Plant Method
Spore Slurry Method (EMF)
Species-specific AMF Method
Whole Soil METHOD
Takes soil from a healthy reference ecosystem as inoculum
It inoculates with intact rhizosphere soil containing the complete array of the soil community including AM fungi, beneficial bacteria such as nitrogen fixing Rhizobia, pathogens, soil-dwelling insects, nematodes, plant roots, and even seeds.
Destructive of healthy ecosystems and requires huge amounts of soil (150-10,000 gallons per acre).
Workshop series with Danielle at Circle Acres on how to cultivating bioregional mycorrhizal fungi using trap culture methods.
Trap Culture Methods
The following method is what we are using for our Healthy Soils, Healthy Trees research.
Works to amplify the volume of whole soil microbes so that a few liters of whole soil inoculum can be used to inoculate hundreds of plants.
Trap cultures are a way of ‘bulking up’ the AM fungal community present in whole soil before it is used as inoculum in a restoration. The AM fungi + plant dependent soil microbes are amplified by growing with plant hosts in a pot and this allows their propagation for future use.
Step-by-Step: Trap Method for Cultivating Native Mycorrhizal Fungi
Materials needed:
Clean Nursery pots or fabric grow bags. (The size of the pot should consider the root depth of the host plant at maturity.)
Native soil (from under healthy, mature trees)
Sterile potting mix or compost (See DIY mix below)
Host Plant Seeds: Bluestem, Corn, Sorghum
Shade cloth or partial shade location
Access to Water
Optional: mesh or hardware cloth to deter critters
Collecting soil from mother trees in the winter.
1. Gather Native Soil: Collect small amounts of soil from mature, healthy native plants you plan to propagate. This soil contains mycorrhizal fungi, root fragments, and microbes — the soil microbiome.
2. Mix Native Soil with Coarse Sand: Combine at a 1:1 ratio by volume (not weight).
3. Mix Your Own Sterile Potting Soil (Optional): It is becoming more common for AMF or EMF fungi to be added commercial mixes of potting soil. To ensure you have a sterile potting soil, we recommend a blend of coco coir and vermiculite at a 1:1 ratio by volume.
4. Combine Native Mix with Sterile Soil: Mix the native soil and sand with the sterile mix at a 1:1 ratio. Fill into clean nursery pot/s. Exact ratios aren’t critical — what matters is seed contact with native soil.
Winter rye grass planted with native soil after planting at Circle Acres in February 2025.
5. Seed Host Plant into Pots: Use grasses like bluestem, corn, or sudangrass, which tolerate heat and rely on AMF. Overseed the pot.
6. Water Regularly: Keep soil moist but not soggy. Mimic natural rainfall. Use rainwater if possible.
7. Provide Shade: Place pots in partial shade to reduce seedling stress and encourage fungal growth.
8. Grow Host Plant for 3–6 Months: Over time, fungi from the native soil colonize the roots. You’re “farming” fungal partnerships.
9. Stop Watering and Let Plants Dry Out: Leave pots undisturbed for 2–3 weeks. This triggers the host plant to invest carbon into AMF. As it dies back, AMF sporulate. Then, cut the shoots at soil level.
Rye grass in May 2025 before we stopped watering.
10. Harvest, Store, and Use Inoculum: Harvest the soil or chop the roots and mix with clean sand. This root-sand mix is your concentrated AMF inoculum. Store in plastic containers in a cool, dry place — it remains viable for at least a year. Use it for new pot cultures, in potting mixes, or to inoculate “nurse” plants in the greenhouse or field. Apply it in gardens, restoration sites, or urban forests.
For the Healthy Soils, Healthy Trees research we will store all of the soil in 5 gallon pots indoors until it is time to plant trees in the late winter. Watch recording of workshop where we harvest the roots and validated that we cultivated AMF.
Variations:
INVAM method: International Culture Collection of (Vesicular) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Collection at West Virginia University.
Rodale-USDA method: On Farm Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculum Production. Rodale Institute.
Example of in-ground trap method in Africa.
Low-Tech, In-Ground Trap Cultures: In-Ground Trap Cultures: Missouri Botanical Garden and the Restoration EcologyLab at Virginia Tech
Fill a pit (150 cm long × 50 cm wide × 30 cm deep) lined with sacks with topsoil collected from around the roots of three native tree species
Then grow maize and beans in this soil for three months before cutting these plants down
Letting the substrate dry out for two weeks. The substrate remaining in the pit is the inoculum
Use by adding one tablespoon inoculum to each seedling container.
The nurse plant method
Inoculating potted seedlings with AM fungi before planting into a site allows them to act as nurse plants
Enhances the likelihood that the inoculum will remain viable in the field
AM fungi can spread to nearby un-inoculated plants, over distances of up to two meters within a single growing season
SPORE SLURRY METHOD FOR Cultivating native Ecomycorrhizal fungi (EMF)
REQUIREMENT: Mushrooms (that you know are ecto) must be gathered from near known ecto-mycorrhizal fungal trees.
Spores or macerated fruiting bodies of some ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, puffballs, or truffles (and false truffles) provide good inoculum. Truffles (Ascomycotina) and false truffles (Basidiomycotina), from now on together referred to as truffles, are uniquely suited for this because their fruiting body tissue consists mostly of spore-bearing tissue and the fruiting bodies can be quite large. We recommend using fresh spores whenever possible, but have stored spore suspensions of various Rhizopogon species up to 3 years without a significant reduction in inoculum effectiveness (Castellano 1987).
Rinse freshly collected fruiting bodies with tap water to remove adhering soil or organic matter
Cut into pieces (1 - 3 cm) and blend with tap water at high speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until all pieces are thoroughly blended. Note: The final consistency is similar to thick chocolate milk.
It is unnecessary to purify spore suspensions. Li and Castellano (1987) and Li (1987) have found beneficial microorganisms within and on the surface of mature fruiting bodies of various ectomycorrhizal fungi; these organisms should be encouraged, not excluded.
Spore concentrations within the resulting suspension are determined with a hemacytometer (blood cell counter).
Store slurry in the dark in the refrigerator until used (up to 3 years) at up to 5 °C or 41 °F).
To then inoculate plants:
In a nursery or for nurse plants, apply spore slurry 6 to 12 weeks after sowing, either with a standard watering can or through the existing irrigation system. Most truffle spores are less than 50 μm in diameter and will pass freely through most filters and nozzle tips.
The desired amount of spores is mixed into a watering can containing sufficient water to cover a certain number or area of seedlings (Styroblocks® or racks of plastic tubes).
Applying spores twice, 2 to 3 weeks apart, works best to assure even distribution (fig. 5.2.53), especially when using the irrigation system instead of watering cans. Alternatively, spores can be applied to the seed before sowing. Although we have not tried this method, it may prove more effective than the watering can method in inoculating each seedling. Seed treatment would also allow finer control in matching ecotypes of fungi to specific seed sources.
Species-specific AMF method
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) cultures contain only living propagules of single or multiple mycorrhizal fungal species). Cultures of a single species usually must be started from carefully selected spores. These spores can originate from a field soil if they are healthy. Step by step process for Establishment of Monospecific Cultures from INVAM
RECORDING: Cultivating mycorrhizal Fungi Workshop with Danielle Stevenson (THREE Parts)
PHOTOS: Cultivating mycorrhizal Fungi Workshop with Danielle Stevenson
Resources
The Container Tree Nursery Manual, Volume 5. Agric. Handbk. 674. Castellano, M.A.; Molina, R. 1989. Mycorrhizae. In: Landis, T.D.; Tinus, R.W.; McDonald, S.E.; Barnett, J.P. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 101-167.
Use of Mycorrhizae in Restoration of Hawaiian Habitats. Gemma, J.L., R.E. Koske. Hawaii Conservation Alliance.
The Use of Mycorrhizae in Native Plant Production. Lorraine Brooks, Deborah Brown, Sierra Smith, and Samantha Sprenger. June, 2006: University of Washington.
A Practical Guide to Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Ecological Restoration. Liz Koziol, Peggy A. Schultz, James D. Bever. University of Kansas, Lawrence Geoffrey House, Jonathan Bauer Indiana University, Bloomington. Elizabeth Middleton, Missouri Department of Conservation. June 2017.
Trap Culture Methods. International Culture Collection of (Vesicular) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Collection at West Virginia University.
On Farm Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculum Production. Rodale Institute.
May Mushroom of the Month: Silky Rosegill, Volvariella bombycina
The May Mushroom of the Month is Silky Rosegill, Volvariella bombycina
🍄⭐The May mushroom of the month is Silky Rosegill, Volvariella bombycina
🙌 to Monica for correctly identifying this mushroom and the newest member of the society.
You can also be a supporting member to stay dialed-in with events & discover next month’s mystery mushroom.
pretty in pink
Volvariella bombycina—also known by a few charming names like silky sheath, silky rosegill, silver-silk straw mushroom, or tree mushroom—is an edible mushroom from the Pluteaceae family. It’s not super common, but it does show up in quite a few places around the world, including Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America. You’ll usually spot it growing alone or in small clusters, often tucked into old knotholes or damaged spots on elm and maple trees. When it first appears, its gills are a bright white, but as it matures and the spores develop, they take on a soft pinkish hue.
Taxonomy & Ecology
The fruit bodies of Volvariella bombycina are initially egg-shaped when still enclosed in the universal veil. As they expand, the caps later becoming bell-shaped or convex, and finally nearly flattened in age, attaining a diameter of 5–20 centimeters. The dry cap surface is covered with silky threads. Its color is white to yellowish, becoming more pale approaching the margin. The flesh is thin, soft, and white, and has an odor resembling raw potatoes. The gills are crowded close together, free from attachment to the stem.
Fruit bodies grow singly or in small groups on trunks and decayed stumps of dead hardwoods. It is often found in clefts and knotholes of dead or living tree trunks. It has been noted to fruit in the same location for several years. Despite its preference for hardwoods, it has been reported growing on rare instances on coniferous wood.
foragers delight
Foragers lucky enough to come across fresh silky rosegills are in for a treat! These mushrooms are a close relative of the paddy straw mushroom, Volvariella volvacea, a common ingredient in Asian dishes. Silky rosegill mushrooms have a mild, pleasant flavor, often described as radish-like, with a faint bean sprout smell. Some people find them to have a creaminess reminiscent of porcini mushrooms.
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May Foraging Forecast
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Central Texas after rain.
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Central Texas after rain.
Comes with download of a Wild Edible Mushroom Calendar.
CHANTERELLE
DESCRIPTION: Red, orange, yellow to white, meaty and funnel-shaped and can be found in clusters or individual mushrooms. On the lower surface, underneath the smooth cap, most species have rounded, forked folds that run almost all the way down the stipe, which tapers down seamlessly from the cap.
SPORE COLOR: White Yellowish
HABITAT: Symbiotic and found around 5-30 feet of mature live and red oaks after a lot of rain. Chanterelles need a lot of rain to fruit and they like the torrential Texas-style flash floods. Trees near creeks and where water is flowing downhill is very important. Avoid trees that are in areas that are mowed. Trees with undisturbed leaf matter and not many understory plants are ideal.
SIZE: 2-6" height
EDIBILITY: Choice. Many species emit a fruity aroma, reminiscent of apricots, and often have a mildly peppery taste.
LOOK A-LIKE: The Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens is the toxic look-a-like and is orange to brown in color. They do grow at the same time but their habitat and morphology is different.
HONEY MUSHROOMS
Desarmillaria, Armillaria species
Honey-colored, dry, scaly to sticky cap, Mellea species has a ring on the stem. Grows in clusters and has gills. Part of a genus that is the largest living organism ever found on this planet.
SPORE COLOR: White
HABITAT: Decaying hard-wood stumps and roots of living trees in the spring and fall after rain.
SIZE: 6"
EDIBILITY: Choice. Many species emit a fruity aroma, reminiscent of apricots, and often have a mildly peppery taste.
LOOK A-LIKE: The Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens is the toxic look-a-like and is orange to brown in color. They do grow at the same time but their habitat and morphology is different.
Jackson's Slender Caesar
CAP: Emerges from egg or volva and is oval at first, becoming convex, typically with a central bump; sticky; brilliant red or orange, fading to yellow on the margin; typically without warts or patches; the margin lined for about 40–50% of the cap's radius. The red pigment fades from margin toward the center with age.
GILLS: Moderately crowded to crowded, orange-yellow to yellow-orange to yellow. They are free from the stem or slightly attached to it; yellow to orange-yellow; crowded; not bruising. The short gills are subtruncate to truncate.
STEM: 9-15 cm long; 1-1.5 cm thick; slightly tapering to apex; yellow; with orange to reddish fibers, often in zones; not bruising; with a yellow to orange, skirtlike ring; with a large (4-7 cm high and 4 mm thick), white, sacklike volva.
SPORE COLOR: White
HABITAT: Mycorrhizal with in hardwoods and pines. They are more common in East Texas but they can be found in Central Texas in places like Bastrop
SIZE: 3-4" in height. Caps sometimes open to 6-10”.
EDIBILITY: Choice but not recommended because of toxic look a-likes. The flavor is of hazelnuts and chestnuts.
LOOK A-LIKE: A. muscaria (contains a neurotoxin that can be parboiled out and A. phalloides (fatal).
honeycomb fungus
Genus of tropical fungi in the family Polyporaceae but with fleshy with radially arranged pores on the underside of the cap that are angular and deeply pitted, somewhat resembling a honeycomb. White to yellow and grows alone or in overlapping clusters similar to oyster mushrooms or other shelf fungi.
SPORE COLOR: White
HABITAT: On decaying hard-wood, year round when humidity is high after rain.
EDIBILITY: Odor slightly foul, especially in rehydrated material; taste not distinctive. Tough texture and can be cooked like chicharrones.
LOOK A-LIKE: Oysters, Pluerotus or Lentinellus cochleatus (none observed in Texas) but grow on decomposing wood.
Shoehorn Oyster Mushrooms
Hohenbuehelia petaloides
Pale to brown funnel-shaped caps with decurrent gills
SPORES: White
HABITAT: Fruits after rain in mulch or woody debris. Considered carnivorous because it traps nematodes with “sticky knobs” in the mycelium to obtain nitrogen and grow.
EDIBILITY: Edible when cooked but can be tough and mealy
Shoehorn Oyster Mushrooms, Hohenbuehelia petaloides is distinctively shaped; its "petaloid" habit often makes it look like a shoehorn with gills, or a rolled-up funnel. Other identifying features include its fairly crowded whitish gills, a white spore print, mealy odor and taste—and, under the microscope, gorgeous "metuloids" (thick-walled pleurocystidia). It often appears in clusters in urban, semi-urban, or even household settings, and is frequently associated with woody debris (though it does not usually grow directly from dead wood) or cultivated soil. However, it can be found in woodland settings, too, where it tends to grow alone or in small groups.
Because this mushroom grows in wood chips which are a good source of carbon but a terrible source of nitrogen, the fungi needs to make proteins. Both Hohenbuehelia and Pleurotus can supplement their protein needs by trapping and consuming nematodes, which are small flat worms that are very abundant in wood and soil. The fungi have "sticky knobs" on the hyphae that grow through the wood. These sticky knobs attach to curious nematodes as the nematodes attempt to eat the mycelium. The nematode thrashes around and additional parts of its body become stuck. The hyphae then grow into the body of the nematode and digest it, providing the fungus with the nitrogen it needs. That makes these fungi carnivorous!
LOOK A-LIKES: Oysters, Pluerotus or Lentinellus cochleatus (none observed in Texas) but grow on decomposing wood.
WOOD BLEWIT Collybia species, formerly Lepista, Clitocybe
Distinct lilac to purple-pink color
Grows in and decomposes leaf duff
Light pink to white spores
Great in breakfast tacos
As the weather stays cool, look out for the edible Wood Blewit, Collybia nuda or tarda species (formerly Lepista and Clitocybe.) This distinct lavender-colored mushroom is found from fall through spring and fruiting in hardwood leaf duff which is decomposes. Fresh wood blewits are great with eggs in breakfast tacos. As they get older they become more tan and iridescent colored on the cap and taste bitter. I throw the older wood blewits my compost leaf pile because they are such great decomposers and will colonize and grow in hardwood leaf litter.
Look-alikes: Be warned because there are deadly, poisonous look-alikes in the Cortinarius or webcap family that grow in similar conditions. It's important to do a spore print AND also confirm the ID with an expert. The spores of the wood blewit are light pink to white and the spores of Cortinarius mushrooms are rust colored. See our blog post with lots of photos and details to help you identify this mushroom.
OYSTER Pleurotus ostreatus
Color can vary white, tan and gray
White to cream gills, run down stem
Cap fan shaped, 2"-8" across, white spores
Grows in clusters and decomposes hardwood
Delicious meat replacement in all types of cuisines
Look-alikes: Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens which is toxic and orange to brown in color.
WOOD EAR: Auricularia species
Grows in clusters on decaying hardwood after rain
Cap is wavy, ear-shaped to irregular, 1-4" and > 1/4" thick
Jelly texture and lacks gills or pores
Produces white spores
Absorbs flavors, great in soups, contains protein, iron, calcium and phosphorus
Edibility: Wood ear mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that wood ear has anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Look-alikes: Amber Jelly, Exidia recisa which is also edible.
TURKEY TAIL Trametes versicolor
Variable coloration, distinct striping pattern
Grows in overlapping clusters on logs and stumps
No gills, pores are small and round, white to light brown
Tough, leathery flesh
Medicinal and can be brewed into a tea, broth, or extracted into a tincture.
Look-alikes: False turkey tail. or Stereum ostrea and is non-toxic. Mushroom Expert has a useful check list to determine if it is true medicinal turkey tail.
Become a member and learn more about wild mushroom foraging in Texas!
Membership benefits include early access and discounts to walks, workshops, and more. Your membership helps support the larger community! Tag us to get help with ID and add your observations to iNaturalist.org. If you are trying a new mushroom, confirm the ID with an expert, then try a small amount to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction. Texas Mushroom Identification Facebook group is great for quick responses and ID help. Also, don't forget to add your finds on the Mushrooms of Texas project on iNaturalist.
Follow my adventures @forage.atx.
What is the Orange Stuff on Mushroom Blocks?
Neurospora crassa, commonly known as orange bread mold, has several potential benefits for soil health, including:
Neurospora crassa, commonly known as orange bread mold, has several potential benefits for soil health, including:
1. Decomposing Organic Matter – As a saprophytic fungus, it helps break down dead plant material, returning nutrients to the soil.
2. Nutrient Cycling – It plays a role in carbon and nitrogen cycling by decomposing organic compounds and making them available for plants and microbes.
3. Mycelial Network Formation – Though not a mycorrhizal fungus, its mycelium contributes to soil structure by improving aeration and water retention.
4. Bioremediation Potential – Some studies suggest Neurospora species can help degrade pollutants and contribute to soil detoxification.
5. Plant Growth Promotion – Certain fungal metabolites may interact with soil microbes, indirectly benefiting plant health.
While it's not as widely studied for soil health as other fungi like mycorrhizae or Trichoderma, Neurospora crassa has unique properties that can support ecological functions in soil ecosystems.
April Foraging Forecast
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Central Texas after rain.
Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Central Texas after rain.
Comes with download of a Wild Edible Mushroom Calendar.
OYSTER Pleurotus ostreatus
Color can vary white, tan and gray
White to cream gills, run down stem
Cap fan shaped, 2"-8" across, white spores
Grows in clusters and decomposes hardwood
Delicious meat replacement in all types of cuisines
Look-alikes: Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens which is toxic and orange to brown in color.
White Morel
Morchella americana
Honeycomb cap with a off-white, bulbous, wrinkly stem. Hollow on inside and 1–4" tall
Fruits after rain while soil temps are 45-50°
Found along creeks near cottonwoods, dying elms, and ash.
Edible when cooked and toxic when raw
As the dewberries blossom, the choice edible morel, starts to fruit in Central Texas. These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges with pits composing their caps. I'm already thinking about how to preserve morels so I can pair them with dewberries.
I found my first morels in Texas in 2019 as the pandemic shut everything down. SXSW was canceled and in my new found free-time I wandered near creeks looking under junipers for the honeycombed, yellow mushrooms. Morels are found to be saprophytic, mycorrhizal and endophytes during different parts of their life. In Texas, I have found morels in riparian areas growing in limestone with grasses and duff near cedars or Juniperus ashei, hackberries, possomhaw, and cedar elms. They are illusive and require moisture from rain. The last few years have been really terrible for morels because of the severe droughts in Central Texas. There is a lot of hope for this morel season because they need at least six weeks of freezing temperatures to grow but obviously they have adapted to our shorter winters in Texas.
Look-alikes: Gyromitra, Verpa , Helvella genera have some toxic species. Get confirmation with expert before eating. Death by morels is real.
WOOD BLEWIT Collybia species, formerly Lepista, Clitocybe
Distinct lilac to purple-pink color
Grows in and decomposes leaf duff
Light pink to white spores
Great in breakfast tacos
As the weather stays cool, look out for the edible Wood Blewit, Collybia nuda or tarda species (formerly Lepista and Clitocybe.) This distinct lavender-colored mushroom is found from fall through spring and fruiting in hardwood leaf duff which is decomposes. Fresh wood blewits are great with eggs in breakfast tacos. As they get older they become more tan and iridescent colored on the cap and taste bitter. I throw the older wood blewits my compost leaf pile because they are such great decomposers and will colonize and grow in hardwood leaf litter.
Look-alikes: Be warned because there are deadly, poisonous look-alikes in the Cortinarius or webcap family that grow in similar conditions. It's important to do a spore print AND also confirm the ID with an expert. The spores of the wood blewit are light pink to white and the spores of Cortinarius mushrooms are rust colored. See our blog post with lots of photos and details to help you identify this mushroom.
WOOD EAR: Auricularia species
Grows in clusters on decaying hardwood after rain
Cap is wavy, ear-shaped to irregular, 1-4" and > 1/4" thick
Jelly texture and lacks gills or pores
Produces white spores
Absorbs flavors, great in soups, contains protein, iron, calcium and phosphorus
Edibility: Wood ear mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that wood ear has anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Look-alikes: Amber Jelly, Exidia recisa which is also edible.
TURKEY TAIL Trametes versicolor
Variable coloration, distinct striping pattern
Grows in overlapping clusters on logs and stumps
No gills, pores are small and round, white to light brown
Tough, leathery flesh
Medicinal and can be brewed into a tea, broth, or extracted into a tincture.
Look-alikes: False turkey tail. or Stereum ostrea and is non-toxic. Mushroom Expert has a useful check list to determine if it is true medicinal turkey tail.
Become a member and learn more about wild mushroom foraging in Texas!
Membership benefits include early access and discounts to walks, workshops, and more. Your membership helps support the larger community! Tag us to get help with ID and add your observations to iNaturalist.org. If you are trying a new mushroom, confirm the ID with an expert, then try a small amount to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction. Texas Mushroom Identification Facebook group is great for quick responses and ID help. Also, don't forget to add your finds on the Mushrooms of Texas project on iNaturalist.
Follow my adventures @forage.atx.
April Mushroom of the Month: Apophysomyces trapeziformis
The April of the Month is Apophysomyces trapeziformis
🍄⭐The April mushroom of the month is Apophysomyces trapeziformis
🙌 to Toni for correctly identifying this mushroom and the newest member of the society.
You can also be a supporting member to stay dialed-in with events & discover next month’s mystery mushroom.
A Microscopic menace
Survivors of the Joplin tornado of 2011 thought the worst was behind them once the storm passed. After all, the EF5 tornado had destroyed 4,000 homes, damaged 8,000 buildings and taken 158 lives. However, the storm had awakened a microscopic menace, the parasitic fungi Apophysomyces trapeziformis. Commonly found in soil rich in decayed plant material, this fungus is typically harmless. However, in extreme situations when it is introduced directly into the bloodstream, it can be deadly.
Taxonomy & Ecology
Apophysomyces is a genus of filamentous fungi that are commonly found in soil and decaying vegetation. Species normally grow in tropical to subtropical regions. A. trapeziformis is characterized by trapezoid-shaped sporangiospores, distinguishing it from other species within the genus. Normally, no special precautions are needed with regard to this fungus. However, 2 species in this genus, A. elegans and A. trapeziformis, are able to cause mucormycosis, in humans, which is often fatal but very rare.
a Cautionary tale
Steven Weersing was sucked from his car by the Joplin tornado. He was one of 13 people who began suffering from a fungal infection suspected to be cutaneous necrotizing mucormycosis after sustaining traumatic injuries from the storm. All of those affected were in the direct path of the storm, and it is hypothesized that the injuries they sustained allowed the fungus to penetrate deeply into their bloodstream. With their bodies weakened, the infection as able to take hold. Global incidence of this kind of infection is low, with roughly 1,500 cases detected worldwide. Mortality rates range from 35% to 100% depending on underlying conditions. Steven survived but his body will forever bear the scars of the infection.
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