1 T M, March/April 2005

V 46:2 M ⁄ A 2005 ..

For the first time Wisconsinwill host a NAMA Foray, andexcitement is running high.

Through the generous invita-tion of Dr. Tom Volk, the NAMA2005 Annual Foray will be held onthe campus of the University ofWisconsin at La Crosse on July 21–24, 2005. The opportunity to collectin the flood plains of the greatMississippi River is very special,and to hunt on the many bluffs andin the valleys of this area is a raretreat.

This part of Wisconsin isunique in several ways. It was notscoured by glaciers, thus it becamea refugium for fungi and plantsthat are no longer found in theupper Midwest. Additionally, itboasts an entire 100-acre forest ofthe American chestnut tree. Thismay well be the only chance wewill ever have to visit these mag-nificent trees, since they continueto be invaded by the chestnutblight.

The foray habitats are varied,and most are short distances fromcampus, so there will be moreforaging and less time spent intravel.

We feel extremely fortunate tohave lined up as Principal Mycolo-gist Dr. Andrew Methven, who hasan extensive knowledge of theregion’s fungi. Dr. Tom Volk willserve as Host Mycologist, and weexpect to host some mycologistsfrom other countries who maybring us up to date on their areas ofexpertise.

There also will be severalworkshops for those of us whoenjoy hands-on experiences.

When we had students in thepast, they never failed to jazz up theproceedings. Since we believe it ispart of our mission to nurture thenext generation of mycologists, wehave instituted a reduced registra-tion for mycology students. This isyet another first for NAMA.

The University of Wisconsinwill offer amenities and adjust-ments similar to those that we havebecome accustomed to over the lastfew years when living the studentlifestyle. We will have breakfast andlunch in the student cafeteria butwill enjoy the banquet hall for ourevening meal and the followingprogram.

We hope to have almost all ofour other programs and the mush-rooms display in one building. Inaddition, we will be housed in justone dormitory, which featuresrefrigerators in each room and alarge comfortable downstairs areafor our socializing. As in mostcolleges, bathrooms are in the halls.Dormitory facilities do not includeelevators or air conditioning.

Additional rooms have beenreserved in two downtown hotels on

NAMA Foray ‘05: Wisconsin!

Attention Cultivators!A NAMA Mushroom CultivationGroup is now up and running onYahoo! Groups. Check it out athttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/NAMA_ mushroom_ cultivation.

This site, intended for use byNAMA members and members ofaffiliated mycological societies, willserve as a forum for mushroomcultivators or those who have aninterest in mushroom cultivation.Web site visitors can post articles,ask questions, and share helpfulhints, new techniques, photos, andany other information that would beuseful for mushroom cultivators.

Chairman Ron Spinosa says,“We hope you’ll join this group. Letus know what mushrooms you arecultivating, your level of cultivationexperience, and what informationyou would like to see on this site.”

[See page 15 for more of examples ofcultivated mushrooms.]

Continued on page 8

In this issue:President’s Message .................... 2

Forays and Announcements ........ 3

Fungi in the News ......................... 4

Book Reviews ............................... 7

Foray ‘05 Registration Form ........ 9

Photo Contest Entry Form ..........11

Remembering Emily Johnson ....14

Mushroom of the Month ............16

Ron Spinosa, NAMA CultivationCommittee Chairman, shows off someoyster mushrooms he grew.

2T M, March/April 2005

The Mycophile is published bimonthlyby the North American MycologicalAssociation, 6615 Tudor Court,Gladstone, OR 97027-1032.NAMA is a nonprofit corporation;contributions may be tax-deductible.Web site: www.namyco.orgIsaac Forester, NAMA PresidentP.O. Box 1107North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-1107<mycoCPA@aol.com>

Judy Roger, Executive Secretary6615 Tudor CourtGladstone, OR 97027-1032<ExecutiveSec@namyco.org><judyr@hevanet.com>

Britt Bunyard, Content EditorW184 N12633 Fond du Lac AvenueGermantown, WI 53022<bbunyard@wi.rr.com>Judith Caulfield, Production Editor927 Lansing DriveMt. Pleasant, SC 29464<jpendle@cchat.com>

NAMA is a 501(c)(3) charitableorganization. Contributions to supportthe scientific and educational activi-ties of the Association are alwayswelcome and may be deductible asallowed by law. Gifts of any amountmay be made for special occasions,such as birthdays, anniversaries, andfor memorials.Special categories include

Friend of NAMA: $500–900Benefactor: $1000–4900Patron: $5000 and up

Send contributions toJudith McCandless, Treasurer330 Wildwood PlaceLouisville, KY40206-2523<judithmc@iglou.com>

Moving?Please send your new address,two weeks before you move, to

Ann BornsteinNAMA Membership Secretary336 Lenox AvenueOakland, CA 94610-4675<Membership@namyco.org>

Otherwise—you may not be gettingyour newsletter for a while. Eachissue, several Mycophiles arereturned as undeliverable because ofno forwarding address on file. NAMAis charged seventy cents for eachreturned or forwarded newsletter.

P R E S I D E N T ’S M E S S A G E

Winter is upon us in full force. The warm, wet days of Decemberproduced an unusual number of fungi, at least for my wintertime hunting.They’re gone now, though, and I’ll just have to sit back and wait for morelseason or maybe concentrate on fishing more.

Things are coming together nicely for the NAMA Foray at the Universityof Wisconsin–La Crosse July 21–24, 2005. The University is located on theMississippi River in western Wisconsin. This area was not scraped bare bythe glaciers that covered much of Wisconsin. In addition to hunting the hillsand valleys in the area, we will be treated to the sight of a forest of Ameri-can chestnut that is only now beginning to succumb to the blight. What arare opportunity!

For those of you interested in cultivation, please give the NAMA Website a look. Our new Cultivation Committee Chairman, Ron Spinosa, hasbegun a Yahoo! group for NAMA members and members of affiliatedmycological societies. The group has grown rapidly, and the site is a greatlocation for posting articles, asking questions and sharing hints, techniques,and other information. The URL for the group is http://groups.yahoo.com/groupNAMA_mushroom_cultivation.

Happy hunting out there this morel season, but don’t forget that you’renot alone. Take this from someone who has been struck by a timber rattlerwhile hurrying to get to that next morel. Pay attention, be careful, or betteryet just call me and let me know where the morels are so you won’t be inany danger! —Ike

A cultivated Stropharia ruguso-annulata (see article on page 1).Photo by R. Vandiver

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F O R A Y S & A N N O U N C E M E N T S

28th Clark Rogerson ForayMoodus, ConnecticutAugust 25–28

This gathering of friends is returningto Cave Hill, a small, comfortableresort located within easy drivingdistance of the Salmon River StateForest and six other state parks. Lastyear over 300 species were collected,and baskets were overflowing withchoice edibles.

Chief Mycologist Gary Lincoff,Dr. Sam Ristich, Dr. Roz Lowen,Sandy Sheine, and Leon Shernoff,editor of Mushroom the Journal ofWild Mushrooming, will be leadingwalks, giving presentations, andconducting mushroom ID sessions.

Other activities include all-dayswimming, evening programs, andmycophagy. A variety of gourmetdishes will be prepared by our CIA-trained chef, Keith Davis. (Lastyear’s menu featured Chanterelleand Black Trumpet Quiche, BlackTrumpet Bisque, Chicken MushroomTempura Nuggets, sautéed mixedboletes, sautéed Lactarius hygro-phoroides, and sliced heirloomtomatoes with fresh mozzarella &

Three Exotic Mexican ForaysPlanned for 2005

Now in its sixth year of organizingmushrooming adventures “south ofthe border,” Mexican MushroomTours announces three special week-long forays in verdant Mexico. Theexcursions are run by NAMA mem-ber Gundi Jeffrey and her husbandErik Purre, both fungi-enthusiastsfrom Canada but residents in Mexicosince 1997.

The tours have a group limit of18, are all-inclusive, and offer goodaccommodations, fine food andbeverages, and a wealth of opportu-nity to collect, study, and learn aboutthe local fungi. Leading bilingualMexican mycologists will be our fieldleaders and give presentations intheir areas of expertise.

But the sights, sounds, andexcitement of friendly, fascinatingMexico are also an enriching part ofthese fungi-oriented travel experi-ences. Choose from three distinctlydiverse regions, each featuringplaces that are off the beaten tourismpath.

Below are highlights; find thefull details on www.mexmush.com.

The Copper Canyon MushroomExpedition: July 24–31

Experience the Bolete-richTarahumara mountains of Chihua-hua. Fascinating local color andculture, awe-inspiring scenery, and ajourney on the world-renownedChepe train along the canyon rimjust to reach another foray location.

Tour fee: U.S.$1,575.00 perperson, double occupancy.

The Tlaxcala Mushroom Foray:August 28–September 4

In the central highlands, foraylocations include the pine-coveredslopes of long-dormant La Malinchevolcano and the mixed forests ofTlaxcala’s misty northern regions.Visits to indigenous villages and ex-

haciendas and delicious dinnersdeveloped especially for the tour.

Tour fee: U.S.$1,475.00 p/p d.o.

The Veracruz Fungi Exploration:October 16–23

Exploring seaside jungle, coffee,and citrus plantations and mountainhabitats in a region where more than2,000 mushroom species have beendescribed. An action-filled weekexperiencing the colorful ambience,archeology, indigenous culture, andfabulous seafood cuisine of vibrantVeracruz.

Tour fee: U.S.$1,495.00 p/p d.o.

For more information contact the tourorganizers, Erik and Gundi, at<gundi@mexmush.com> or visitwww.mexmush.com.

fresh basil, drizzled with pestosauce. Chardonnay, White Zinfandeland Merlot wines helped to aiddigestion and foster conversation.)

Contact Don Shernoff at<donshernoff@yahoo.com> or call(914) 761-0332.

Check out this new Web site:www.nemf.org

Gary Lincoff’s Beginners Page—anAdvanced Page will be added in thevery near future—includes a list ofbooks every beginner should own, alist of mushrooms every beginnershould know, and keys and instruc-tions for their use and for makingspore prints.

There is also an illustrated list ofpoisonous mushrooms and symp-toms when they are eaten, next totheir edible look-alikes, with linedrawings by Bunji Tagawa (the lateillustrator for the Scientific Americanand creator of the NAMA logo) andphotos by Gary.

Moreover, Gary has created acollection of pages for the websitecalled “The Illustrated MushroomYear,” which shows the commonlyfound species in seasonal arrange-ments.

In addition, there are documentson how to collect, on mushroomdyes (from Susan Hopkins), onphotography, scanning, and, yes, onmycophagy, with contributions fromJohn Plischke III and Elinor Shavit.We must educate our taste buds,after all!

To be sure, this is the homepageof the Northeast Mycological Federa-tion, but many fungi have beentraveling east and north in the lastfew decades, so even western andsouthern mycophiles will find muchof the information gathered here ofinterest. Visit early and often!

—Ursula Hoffmann andSandy Sheine

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F U N G I I N T H E N E W S

From the EditorOK, folks, for those of you

wondering where “Fungi in theNews” went last issue, my apologies,but that issue was stuffed. Becauseof the two-month hiatus, my stack ofmagazines and journals awaitingreview has grown so tall that I fear itmay topple over and bury me!

I want to express my sincerethanks to those who have sent mekind words of praise (or gentlecriticisms) over the past year. Itkeeps me going and inspires me todo better.

Also, thanks to all who kindlycontributed a story and/or photos forpublication—it makes my job a loteasier! Also making my job easier(and a lot more entertaining) are allthe wacky news clippings, cartoons,beautiful postcards, and mycophilicstationery that has found its way tome over the past year. Thanks again(you know who you are)!

Despite it being very c-c-cold andsnowy in my part of the country, itseems that mushrooms have beenmaking the headlines elsewhereover the past several months, sowe’ll get right to mushrooms andhuman disease, then turn ourattention to a newly emerging plantdisease (that’s right, another one!), onto some pricey mushrooms, somereally old fungi, and finish with awrap-up of what’s in the latestjournals. —Britt

Letter to the Editor . . . andAnyone with Knowledge ofMushroom Worker’s Lung Disease

Dear Sir: In T MNov./Dec. 2004, you review a paperrelated to the cause of mushroomworkers’ lung disease. How can Ifind out about this condition?

I’m just now coming out of aprolonged bout with what I believeto be an allergic pneumonitis,possibly induced by exposure tomassive amounts of fungus inpartially composted peatmoss/soilmixture—a compacted, dry mass

(nearly 1 cu. yd.) that I broke upmanually to work it into the vege-table bed, under great clouds of“dust.” The planting mix came out ofa container that had held a largecamellia bush for about 18 months. Iemptied the container after a brownslimemold had developed at theinterface of dirt and stem, as well asa “coverlet” of dark reddish-brownscleroderma (?) about 2.5 cm. dia-meter, very firm bodies, with innu-merable little ones coming upthrough the top layer, the wholemess tightly held together by toughmycelium. I dried a couple of thesebut can’t identify them. The onewhole fruitbody was clean andwhite. At the time of this occurrence,Houston had experienced weeks ofsoaking rains, near 100% humidity,and exceedingly high mold counts.

As a person with multiple foodand environmental allergies, I amfamiliar with allergy-induced throatand sinus conditions that mimicinfections. However, pneumonitis isa new experience. It was painful(breathing, coughing) and draining.

Any lead you can give me willbe much appreciated. Sincerely yours,

Anneliese Unterharnscheidt<agunter@wt.net>

Woman Dies after Eating WildMushrooms in California

A 70-year-old woman is dead andthree other people were sickenedafter eating poisonous mushroomsthey picked in Alameda County, CA.The victims reportedly consumed aspecies of Amanita mushroom onThanksgiving Day; all four werehospitalized two days later.

The West Coast has seen someextremely wet weather this season,and it reportedly has produced anexplosion of mushrooms. Despitefrequent warnings about picking andconsuming wild mushrooms, therewere more than 900 cases of mush-room poisoning reported in Califor-nia last year.

Mushroom Deaths in JapanPrompts Warnings

After numerous poisonings thispast year Japanese authorities havewarned people with kidney problemsto stay away from a variety of wildmushroom.

The health ministry has askedregional governments to issuewarnings about angel wings, knownlocally as sugihiratake, a small whiteoyster mushroom, until research isconducted about potential dangers,according to Kyodo News (Japan) andAgence France-Presse (France). Inall, 19 deaths nationwide wereattributed to eating this mushroom inthe latter half of 2004.

Officials said that earlier in theyear 11 people fell ill with feverishsymptoms and three of them died inNiigata Prefecture, some 200 kilome-ters (125 mi.) northeast of Tokyo, twoweeks after eating the mushroom.Reportedly, all those afflicted had ahistory of kidney trouble or wereundergoing dialysis; the victims’ages ranged from the 50s to 80s.

Two more people in their 60s or70s died of a similar fever in Octoberin neighboring Yamagata Prefecture.Both were on dialysis, and at leastone of the two was confirmed tohave eaten the same type of mush-room.

In November two more individu-als, a male in his 20s and a womanin her 50s, died in Akita Prefecture.Like the patients in previous cases,the two individuals suffered renalproblems and had reportedly eatenwild sugihiratake mushrooms beforeexhibiting symptoms.

Mushrooms are a staple of theJapanese diet, amd many people areunconcerned about eating mush-rooms found in the wild. What’sleaving everyone puzzled about thisrecent spate of poisonings is thatsugihiratake is a type of mushroomthat is commonly collected andwidely regarded as safe to eat.

5 T M, March/April 2005

Continued on page 6

Farmers in Midwest FaceOnslaught of Soybean Rust

Just about every news service inthe Midwest is warning of the im-pending outbreak of a new plant dis-ease set to appear for the first timethis spring. Soybean rust is currentlyfound only in the Deep South.

The disease is caused by Phakop-sora pachyrhiza, a potentially devas-tating airborne fungus that can kill asoybean plant in less than 10 days.Agriculture experts say that justabout the only thing that could stopthe rust from making its way up intothe Midwest, where much of theU.S. soybean crop is grown, is thewinter weather, which can kill thespores. Other than that, experts saythe best course for farmers to take isto treat their fields with fungicide,either as a preventive measure, orfollowing first signs of infection.

However, fungicides aren’tcheap; treatment typically costsabout $25 an acre. Currently, fungi-cides are currently the only weaponfor fighting the disease becauseresistant soybean varieties haven’tbeen developed.

U.S. agricultural officials andresearchers have been preparing forsoybean rust for years. The diseasehas appeared in all other major soy-bean growing countries. The funguswas first identified in 1902. Expertssay Ivan and perhaps other hurri-canes may have carried soybean rustspores from Brazil to southern stateslate this summer. The disorder wasfirst found in Louisiana and hassince turned up in Mississippi, Ala-bama, Georgia, Florida, Arkansasand Missouri.

Most experts feel that soybeanrust will not be a yearly problembecause the disease requires rainyweather. Hot, dry weather seems toinhibit the disease. Soybean rustspores can survive a milder southernwinter on host plants such as kudzu,but they can’t make it through anorthern winter. That provides someprotection to the Midwest states thatare the nation’s largest soybeanproducers—Illinois, Iowa, andMinnesota—and perhaps statesfarther south.

In order for new outbreaks tohappen, spores have to blow northevery year. In years when outbreaksdo occur, the spores are likely toarrive later in the season whensoybean plants aren’t so vulnerableto yield losses. Researchers atseveral universities and the USDAare developing a monitoring systemfor the soybean belt to track themovement of the disease so thatthey can advise farmers when theyshould apply preventive fungicides.

A news article in the December3, 2004 issue of the journal Science(pages 1672–73) provides some back-ground, along with photos of leafsymptomology, spores, and maps forthe disease’s current epicenter.

Would You Pay $50,000 for aMushroom?

Well, someone did! And to beprecise, it was $52,000 for a singlewhite truffle.

A London restaurant dished out arecord $52,000 for a 2.4-poundItalian white truffle during a charityauction in Tuscany, regional officialssaid recently, according to the Asso-ciated Press and the Italian newsagency Agenzia Nazionale StampaAssociata. The restaurant Zafferanooutbid other buyers to take home thedelicacy that was found near avillage west of Florence. The auc-tion, held in a castle in northwesternItaly, raised a total of $103,700 forcharities in the United States, Italy,and Britain.

Regular readers of T M- will recall that the previousrecord paid was for a white truffle,about the same size, that sold atauction for $41,000 to New Yorkrestaurateur Francesco Giambelli,owner of Giambelli 50th Restauranton New York’s East Side.

Incidentally, Italy’s whitetruffles sell for around 5 to10 timesthe price of France’s black variety.

And speaking of truffles . . .If you don’t subscribe to Condé

Nast’s Traveler magazine, you maywant to visit your local library tocheck the November 2004 issue. Thearticle “Heart of Darkness” chroni-

cles a rabid truffle gastronome’sautumnal odyssey through southernFrance and Monaco during the blacktruffle season. The author describesa visit to a truffle market, as well asa farm where truffles are foundthrough the help of a dog with akeen nose. (The farmer, who wishedto remain anonymous for tax pur-poses, sells them at the back door ofthe local restaurant.)

The article isn’t for those weakof constitution—nor for the hungry.Who among us can imagine beingserved a sandwich made from“stacked fat truffle slices”? Eachextravagant meal is described indetail, with each dish—from appe-tizer to dessert—centered on theabundant use of the prized blackfungus. That’s correct, I said dessert!The author went crazy for vanilla icecream with a truffled caramel sauce,which he was served at more thanone location!

Sounds like a plan!Feel like growing your own

mushrooms at home? Or need a goodmushroom soup recipe? Then lookno further than the October/Novem-ber 2004 issue of Mother Earth News.Information on growing cultivatedmushrooms from kits or cultures,resources, and even tips on making aliving growing mushrooms (plusseveral good photos and illustrations)is all right there (pages 50–57). Thecooking section is on pages 116–17.

The October 2004 issue ofVegetarian Times (page 104) alsofeatures tips on mushroom cookery,along with an interesting story of theauthor’s childhood memories ofhunting mushrooms (inky caps) in asuburb of New York City.

From the BBC . . .“Ancient fungus revived in lab.”

According to the BBC News, a teamof Indian researchers claims topossess the oldest known fungi thatwill grow on a nutrient medium inthe lab. Researchers from theNational Institute of Oceanographyin Goa, India, have been taking sea

6T M, March/April 2005

bed soil cores from a depth of nearly6,000 meters in the Indian Ocean’sChagos Trench—one of the deepestregions in the Indian Ocean.

The scientists took great pains toensure that no modern-day fungi hadcontaminated their materials. Theyreport that the fungi were culturedfrom sediments that are between180,000 and 430,000 years old!

The fungus turns out to beAspergillus sydowii, a commonlyextant soil inhabitant worldwide.The researchers speculate that themicrobes may be blown off the landinto the sea, where they sink to thebottom and are covered up by deep-sea sediments. (Or not. See article ondiseases of marine corals and seafans, below.)

It’s a fascinating story but notentirely surprising. Similar ageshave been attributed to fungi foundin deep ice cores taken from glaciers(Ma, Rogers, et al., 2000. Mycologia92: 286–95). Scott Rogers, of BowlingGreen State University, even hypoth-esizes that melting glacial ice maybe a source of “new” (actually veryold) pathogenic viruses of humans,including the new strains of influ-enza that annually afflict mankind.Wow!

And now, a synopsis of the latestjournals from the mycologicalworld . . .

In a recent issue of Fungal Geneticsand Biology (41: 872-876) Nik Money,author of Mr. Bloomfield’s Orchardand Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores[reviewed in this issue], and othersprovide biochemical evidence toexplain the convergent evolution oftrue fungi (or Eumycota) and thestraminopiles (organisms also knownas Oomycota and formerly judged tobe true fungi).

Now considered a separate king-dom, straminopiles look just like anyother fuzzy aseptate mold, hencetheir age-old classification as such.Examples include Allomyces spp. andthe infamous Phytophthora spp.

Because of numerous differences(chemistry, DNA, cell wall construc-tion, and others), the straminopilesare accepted as polyphyletic (i.e.,they do not share a common ances-tor) with the Eumycota.

According to Money, convergentevolution is to blame. It seems thatthe same forces that drove hyphaltypes of fungi (including chytrids,zygomycetes, ascomycetes, andbasidiomycetes) to look and act asthey do (basically, they have myce-lial forms and grow invasivelywithin their food source, which mayinclude a living host) drove membersof the Oomycota to look and behavesimilarly. Nik’s group found thatmembers of all the above groupsproduce hyphae that can exert forcesup to two atmospheres as their tipsextend!

◆

From Mycological Research (108[9]:1089–96) comes a report of workshowing that some soil fungi areattracted to low-level ionizingradiation.

You heard me right! NelliZhdanova and colleagues haveisolated and analyzed about 2,000strains of soil fungi from 200 species(representing 98 genera) over thepast 15 years at the ChernobylAtomic Energy Station in theUkraine.

Not surprisingly, many of theisolates examined have incurredaltered genetic composition as aresult of exposure. But what wassurprising was that some fungi(including species of Penicillium,Cladosporium, and Paecilomyces)were “capable of growing into anddecomposing ‘hot particles’” andother organic material at the site.

To see if fungal growth wastoward the radioactivity or merelythe organic compounds, the re-searchers conducted controlledexperiments in the lab. With manyof the fungal strains investigated,the attraction was merely a source oflow-level beta or gamma radiation.Of course, it would seem that fungiinvolved with the decomposition ofradioactive materials must be

resistant to ionizing radiation;currently the entire phenomenon islargely unknown. What is clear isthat this work could lead to futuremethods of bioaccumulation and/orbioremediation of radioactivelycontaminated soils.

◆

By now, everyone has heard of thenear-worldwide plight of marinecorals and sea fans. Science slowlyhas been shedding light on thecauses of the widespread “bleaching”and subsequent die-offs. It turns outthat infectious diseases may alsoplay a role in this disorder, previ-ously thought to be a result ofincreased ultraviolet light or thewarming of the seas, or both. Withregards to sea fans, the culprit hasbeen determined to be a pathogenicfungus!

But that’s just the beginning ofthe story. In a recent issue of thejournal The American Naturalist (164:S52–63), Kiho Kim and C. DrewHarvell report on the “Rise and Fallof a Six-Year Coral-Fungal Epizootic”wherein they document a steepdecline of sea fan corals throughoutthe Florida Keys (more than 50% insome areas), followed recently by acessation of the outbreak.

Strangely enough, the causativeagent (identified in the late 1990s byDavid Geiser, now at Penn State,among others) is none other thanAspergillus sydowii, a commonterrestrial pathogen of plants andvertebrate animals. As it is notknown to sporulate in marine water,it is believed to be a newly emergeddisease.

The two obvious questions:where did it come from, and why didthe epidemic come to an end? Thereare a number of theories for thesource of the aspergillosis, includingspore-laden soils being carried acrossthe ocean from northern Africa.Periodic warming of sea water mayleave the corals more susceptible,too. No one is certain why theoutbreak has abated; Kim and

Continued on page 11

Fungi in the News, continued frompage 5

7 T M, March/April 2005

B O O K R E V I E W S

courts render in cases involving harm by molds? I’ll notspill the beans.

The third part does not fit comfortably into the flowof the rest of the book. The final chapter, “A Plagueupon Your House,” switches from stachybotrys to themolds that cause dry rot of the wooden parts of houses.The emphasis here is on the biology of the fungi, and Ifound the chapter quite interesting reading, even if itdid not mesh terribly well with the stachybotrys story.

Money targeted Carpet Monsters for three groups ofpotential readers, hoping that: (1) those who are inter-ested in the safety of their homes will find the bookhelpful in understanding the science behind the hyste-ria; (2) those in the legal profession or insuranceindustry will find some useful quotes for supportingarguments on either side of a case; and (3) otherscientists will use the book to further their knowledgeof the fungi. To these groups I would add a fourth andfifth: (4) realtors who have to deal with issues ofdisclosure during real property transactions; and (5)anyone interested in how science is used, misused, ornot used by our legal,legislative, andeconomic institutions.

The observationsthat Money makes areapplicable to manyissues beyond therealm of toxic molds,from endangeredspecies protection tofunding for spaceexploration. Aninteresting, enjoyable,and informative read.

—Steve TrudellSeattle, Washington

Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores: A Natural Historyof Toxic Mold, by Nicholas P. Money. Oxford and NewYork: Oxford University Press, 2004. 200 pages; 10 colorillus., 10 halftones & line illus. 5-1/2 x 8-1/4. $24.95(hard cover). ISBN 0195172272

When first we met Nik Money, mycologist at MiamiUniversity (the one in Ohio), he was closeted in abackyard shed writing Mr. Bloomfield’s Orchard (re-viewed in T M 44:3, May/June 2003),accompanied by visions of Michelle Pfeiffer. Appar-ently, he found life in a shed to his liking, as hereturned to it, “a couple of years older, definitely notwiser” and now accompanied by visions of NicoleKidman, to write about the killer mold crisis (or is it?).His account is lively and liberally spiced with his oftenirreverent humor.

Stachybotrys chartarum—“stachybotrys” for thosewho prefer the simpler common names—is the mostinfamous of the black molds, responsible for productionof dark scuzz on all manner of surfaces around ourhomes. It produces toxic spores that have been blamedfor human illness and death, and its presence inAmerican homes has prompted thousands of lawsuitsagainst insurance companies and more than onemultimillion-dollar settlement, much to the dismay ofinsurers and delight of attorneys. Seemingly, we have acrisis on our hands or, more accurately, on our walls.But is there really a serious health threat, or is muchado being made about nothing, or at least about notvery much? Answering that question is the centralfocus of Money’s new book.

The story has three main parts, two of them closelyrelated and the third not so closely. First, Moneyintroduces us to the biology of stachybotrys, explainshow it can affect human physiology and how this hasbeen learned largely through experimentation on otheranimals, and reviews cases of human suffering inwhich stachybotrys has been implicated. Here he doesan excellent job of providing an objective assessment ofthe threat that stachybotrys can pose to us.

The second part centers on the legal and legislativefallout from the discovery of molds in homes and thecreation of a new industry—mold remediation consulta-tion. Here we learn that even the rich and famous canbe targets of these foul fungi: Ed McMahon of TonightShow fame was forced to evacuate to a $23,000-a-monthrental house while his Beverly Hills domicile was“remediated,” although the cleanup came too late forhis unfortunate dog Muffin, who was put to sleep witha severe respiratory illness. Eventual settlement: $7million. So, what role does our scientific understandingplay in these settlements and in the legal decisions that

Children’s Book Review

It seems that I’m always getting asked if I know of anygood books—fiction or nonfiction—that have to do withmushrooms—or fungi, at any rate. (I’m not talking text-books or guidebooks here; I’m talking about something youcan leave on the nightstand or take to the beach, though Ido know a few folks who keep a guidebook or two bedside).

Continued on page 8

8T M, March/April 2005

Since many of us are likely experiencing cabin feverright now—and it’s still too early to get out in the woods insearch of the first spring polypores—I will present a reviewof a brand-new children’s book and my Editor’s Picks.

These are all books with the common theme of fungi.For this issue all the Picks are works of fiction. As they arenearly all mysteries—and you already know that theyinvolve fungi—I won’t spoil the stories with a synopsis.You’ll just have to read them for yourself!

I hope many of YOU will be encouraged to submit yourown list of favorite picks, fiction or nonfiction, to sharewith others in upcoming issues of T M.

—Britt

The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book11), by Lemony Snicket; illustrated by Brett Helquist.New York: HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN 064410145

I have to admit that, until the recent release of themovie Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events(based on the first four books of the series, I’m told), I’dnever heard of these books. Apparently, most children ofa certain age have. That includes my niece, who toldme all about them over the Christmas holiday. Well, Igot wind that the newest installment, The Grim Grotto,involves an unfortunate encounter with fungi, and I hadto see what all the fuss is about.

The heroes of the series of stories are three pre-cocious children named Klaus, Violet, and Sunny, wholost their parents in a tragic fire and were forced to golive with the dastardly Count Olaf. It seems that all ofthe ensuing stories chronicle Count Olaf’s and theBaudelaire siblings’ race to secure the family fortune.All along the way, the children face near doom and,well, unfortunate events that keep the reader en-thralled.

The series is definitely written for young readers—ages 9 and older—and, after a quick scan of reviews atAmazon.com, I surmise that the books have quite aloyal following. I’m not ashamed to admit that I haveread (as an adult) a number of “children’s books” that Ienjoyed. I’m not so enthusiastic, however, about TheGrim Grotto. The story seems repetitive and simple,even for young readers. However, the vast majority ofreviews I saw at Amazon rated this book very highly.So, what do I know?

“Dear Reader,” the story begins, “unless you are aslug, a sea anemone, or mildew, you probably prefer notto be damp.” Things quickly turn miserable for ourheroes, for in the deep, dark recesses of a dank cavethey are terrorized by a strange (albeit unrealisticallyfast growing) creature. “‘Mycelium,’ she said finally, ina faint whisper, and the Baudelaires turned to see thatshe had spoken the truth. Sprouting out of the sand,quickly and silently, were the stalks and caps of theMedusoid Mycelium . . .” Yikes!

Fortunately, the “she” above is Fiona, another childhero of the story, who, it turns out, is an aspiringmycologist. Fiona uses her knowledge of fungi—and amycophilic library that seems to be ever at her finger-tips—to save the poor Baudelaires. I found myselfwishing I had such a collection of mycological texts.

One book in particular comes to mind: MushroomMinutiae. “She brought the book over to the table, andran a finger down the table of contents while theBaudelaires leaned over to see. ‘Chapter Thirty-Six, TheYeast of Beasts. Chapter Thirty-Seven, Morel Behaviorin a Free Society. Chapter Thirty-Eight, Fungible Mold,Moldable Fungi. Chapter Thirty-Nine, Visitable FungalDitches. Chapter Forty, The Gorgonian Grotto . . .’” Youget the picture. The author certainly has a sense ofhumor.

◆ ◆ ◆

Editor’s Picks: Fiction

Acceptable Risk, by Robin Cook New York: G. P.Putnam’s Sons, 1994. ISBN 0399139710

Dragon Bones, by Lisa See. New York: Random House,2003. ISBN 0679463208 (reviewed by Ed Reinert inT M, Mar./April ‘04)

“I” is for Innocent, by Sue Grafton. New York: HenryHolt and Company, 1992. ISBN 0805010858

Editor’s Picks for Young Readers

Once upon a Truffle, by Toby Talbot. New York:Cowles, 1970. ISBN 0402140044

The Grim Grotto (see review in column 1)

Book Reviews, continued from page 7

the Mississippi River. They are being offered at thegovernment rate of $92.00 per night, double occupancy,with a 12.5% tax. If you prefer these accommodations,you may contact the hotels directly. Reservation cut-offis June 20. Hotels:

Courtyard by Marriott Radisson Hotel500 Front Street 200 Harborview PlazaLa Crosse, WI 54601 La Crosse, WI 54601(608) 782-1000 (608) 784-6680

You can reach La Crosse (LSE) via NorthwestAirlines from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP), viaAmerican Airlines through Chicago (ORD), or viaMidwest Express through Milwaukee (MKE). Madison,WI, is about 120 miles from La Crosse, and Minnea-polis about 135 miles if you would like to drive fromthese cities. We do plan a shuttle from the La Crosseairport to campus.

For more information about our venture into thisgreat new territory, check out Tom Volk’s Web site<TomVolkFungi.net> at his NAMA 2005 page.

—Allein Stanley

Wisconsin Foray, continued from page 1

9 T M, March/April 2005

The North American Mycological AssociationNAMA ’05

University of Wisconsin at La Crosse

Thursday, July 21st, through Sunday, July 24th, 2005

Ann Bornstein, Registration336 Lenox Ave., Oakland, CA 94610-4675

<gramma.ann@att.net> • Tel. (510) 839-2487

Complete both sides of this form and send to Ann Bornstein with your check, payable to NAMA ’05.

Name(s):

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone: Email:

Names and club affiliation for name tags:

Assign roommate: ❏ Male ❏ Female I want to share a room with:

REGISTRATION

Complete package (Floors 1 and 2) ......................................................#__________ @ $275.00 ea $_____________

Complete package (Floors 3 and 4) ......................................................#__________ @ $250.00 ea $_____________

Single supplement ................................................................................. @ $ 25.00 $_____________

(includes 3 nights, 9 meals and all programs)

Commuters (off-campus) .......................................................................#__________ @ $180.00 ea $_____________(includes programs, 6 meals, no breakfasts)

NAMA Trustees meeting Wed. July 14th ..............................................#__________ @ $ 80.00 $_____________

Single supplement ................................................................................. @ $ 25.00 $_____________

(includes 2 nights, 6 meals)

NAMA membership (required if not current) .......................................#__________ @ $ 35.00 $_____________

Late fee (after June 20) .......................................................................... @ $ 25.00 $_____________

Mycology student discount: subtract ................................................... –$100.00 $_____________

Total ....................................... $_____________

Do you require vegetarian meals or have other special concerns?

Are you a vendor? Items for sale Amt. of space desired

Be sure to sign the Liability Release on the other side of this page. We must have a signed release for all adultsattending the foray. Also, please note any areas in which you would like to volunteer.

10T M, March/April 2005

LIABILITY RELEASE AND PROMISE NOT TO SUE

I understand that there is some risk in participating in a mushroom foray and conference: all those risks oneassumes by being away from home, risks associated with moving about in fields and woods, risks involved ineating wild mushrooms, risks of losing personal property by theft or misplacement, and all other expected andunexpected risks.

In registering for or attending this foray, I agree to assume total responsibility during this event for my own safetyand well-being, and that of any minor children under my care, and for the protection of my and their personalproperty. I release the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), its trustees, officers, employees,contractors, and all other persons assisting in the planning and presentation of this event from liability for anysickness, injury, or loss I or any minor children under my care may suffer during this event or as a result ofattending and participating. I further promise not to file a lawsuit or make a claim against any of the persons listedabove, even if they negligently cause me or my minor children injury or loss. Finally, I agree to hold NAMAharmless from any liability it may incur as a result of any damages to UW–LaCrosse property that I may cause.

This release and promise are part of the consideration I give in order to attend this event. I understand that itaffects my legal rights. I intend it to apply not only to me but to anyone who may have the right to make a claimon my behalf.

Signature 1: Date:

Print Name 1:

Signature 2: Date:

Print Name 2:

VOLUNTEER OPTIONS

If you can help in any way, please let us know. The volunteer time of our members is what continues to makeNAMA forays such a success and great time for everyone. The coordinator will contact you with details prior tothe foray.

❏ Registration❏ Assemble information packets

❏ Registration desk:❏ Thurs. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. ❏ 1 p.m.–4 p.m. ❏ 4 p.m.–6 p.m.

❏ Display & identification area❏ Set up ❏ Assist identifiers ❏ Clean up

❏ Mycophagy❏ Set up ❏ Preparation (Sat.) ❏ Clean up

❏ Raffle❏ Solicit prizes prior to foray ❏ Assist at foray

❏ Other:

11 T M, March/April 2005

Fungi in the News, continuedfrom page 6

Harvell feel it may have to dowith the emergence of resistancein the sea fan populations.Although the sea fans seem to berecovering rapidly (unlike anumber of other coral species),the authors caution that a changein a number of environmentalfactors could result in a reemer-gence of the epizootic.

◆

From Mycologia: Wang, Hibbett,et al. (96[5]: 1015–29) try to makesense of the morphologicallyvariable genus Sparassis. (Thetasty Sparassis crispa, or cauli-flower mushroom, is a welcomefind for most of us mycophiles!)Also Peintner, Moncalvo, andVilgalys try to provide a betterunderstanding of the large (morethan 2,000 species!) and trouble-some genus Cortinarius (96[5]:1042–58).

You’ve probably heard of thenematode-trapping fungi by now.Most renowned are species of thegenus Arthrobotrys. (If you aren’tfamiliar with this genus, seebelow.) These are famous in theagricultural world for destroyingplant pathogenic nematodes.

More recently it was foundthat members of the genusPleurotus and some close rela-tives, including Hohenbueheliaspp., also seem to kill nematodesfor their nutritional benefit,presumably because a diet ofrotting wood can be a little low innitrogen.

Well, in the latest issue ofMycologia (96[6]: 1218–25) HongLuo and colleagues from YunnanUniversity in China demonstratethat Coprinus comatus (the shaggymane) produces structures theydesignate as “spiny balls” thathave nematicidal properties.Following the invertebrate’sdeath, the fungus invades thetissues by way of penetration

Continued on page 13

2005 NAMA Photo Contest Entry Form

Name:

Address:

Phone: Email:

Classification: Limited [ ] Open [ ]35mm slide contest: If there are not enough entries for two divisions, allentries will be judged in one division.Digital: There will only be one division.

Entry TitlesPictorial (Limited to 6 entries)

P–1: P–4:

P–2: P–5:

P–3: P–6:

Documentary (Limited to 6 entries)

D–1: D–4:

D–2: D–5:

D–3: D–6:

Judges’ Option (Limited to 3 entries)

JO–1:

JO–2:

JO–3:

Entry fee enclosed: [ ] $4.00 for 35mm slide contest[ ] $4.00 for digital contest

• You must submit two entry forms if you enter both contests.Forms may be photocopied or downloaded from the Internet.

• Digital images may be emailed to namphocon@yahoo.com or mailed ona CD.

• For additional Digital Photo Contest Guidelines and FAQs seehttp://briefcase.yahoo.com/namphocon.

• Mail entry forms, entry fees, slides and/or CD, with check payable toNAMA, to

John Plischke III—Slides Damian Pieper—Digital201 Culbertson Avenue 35 Ventura AvenueGreensburg, PA 15601 Iowa City, Iowa 52245(724) 832-0271 namphocon@yahoo.comfungi01@aol.com

All entries must be received by June 15, 2005!

12T M, March/April 2005

Annual Photo Contest RulesEligibility: The contest is open to all paid-up NAMA members. Non-members may enter if a separate check for2005 dues ($35.00) is enclosed with the entry. Slides that have previously won (including Honorable Mention) arenot eligible.Closing Date: All entries must be received by the Contest Director(s) on or before June 15, 2005. Allow at least oneweek for mailing.Subject material: For Pictorial and Documentary, organisms from the Myxomycota (slime molds) and the classesBasidiomycetes and Ascomycetes of the Eumycota (“true fungi”) are eligible. For Judge’s Option, nearly anythinggoes as long as 1) the theme relates to fungi and 2) fungi are a key element of the photograph.Entry Divisions: For the 35mm slide contest, if there are not enough entries for two divisions, all entries will bejudged in one division. There will be only one division in the digital contest.Pictorial: This division is for single photos that illustrate the beauty and variety of fungi in form and color. Theobjective is a photo suitable for display or illustration in a fine book. Judging criteria include consideration of bothtechnical (focus, depth of field, exposure, lighting, color, absence of distracting elements) and artistic (composition,color, background, lighting) aspects.Documentary: For single photographs especially suited as illustrations in a field guide or monograph or for use in alecture. Emphasis is placed on portrayal of key morphological characteristics such that the usefulness of the imageas an identification aid is maximized. Subjects may be shot in the field, laboratory, or studio; and the photographerhas complete freedom to process, manipulate, or orient the specimen in any desired manner to achieve the goal.Close-ups of single features and photomicrographs are acceptable. Judging criteria will be the same as in thePictorial category, but they will be of secondary importance to the overall mycological utility of the photo. Accurateidentification of the subject will be a consideration.Judge’s Option: For single photos or series that do not fit into Pictorial or Documentary divisions. Examples includetime-lapse series, ecological relationships of fungi (e.g. fairy rings), fungi with animals, people enjoying fungi.Entrant Classifications: Limited or Open classification. Open is intended for experienced photographers who arenot entering for the first time. Limited is intended for the novice. All entries from a person must be in eitherLimited or Open: no dual classification entrants. Entrants must compete in the Open class if they have won 1st,2nd, 3rd, or Merit in two or more previous contests. The two classifications are judged separately for the Pictorialand Documentary divisions, and together for the Judge’s Option.Awards: First, 2nd, and 3rd prizes will be awarded in Pictorial and Documentary in both Limited and Open classifi-cations. Additional Honorable Mention awards are given at the judges’ discretion up to a maximum of 15% of theentries in that particular category. There will be no ranking in the Judges’ Option division, and up to 20% of theentries may be selected. Prizes such as film, subscriptions, book credits, certificates, etc. are awarded, dependingon the contest director’s resourcefulness and the generosity of donors.Format: Send color transparencies of any size that will fit into two-inch square plastic or cardboard mounts thatfunction in a standard 80-slide carousel. Glass mounts will not be accepted. Slides may be cropped, retouched, orotherwise reprocessed.Marking, Listing, and Submitting Slides: Mark each slide with a projection spot at the lower left corner of themount when viewed right-side up out of the projector. The same side should include the entrant’s initials, divisioninitials, and slide number (e.g. OQ K-P-1). Use 1a, 1b, 1c, etc. for sequences. Fill out and submit the Entry Formalong with your slides. Send by first class mail. Acknowledgment of receipt will be sent to you. If possible, arrangeyour packaging so that it can be reused in returning your slides.Marking, Listing, and Submitting Digitals: What information do you want included in the digital photo’s filename? If your computer program permits, we’d like to have at least these three things in your filenames: D (forDocumentary), JO (for Judges Option) or P (for Pictorial); the photographer’s initials in 3 spaces, followed by theGenus and species of the fungus or myxomycete if you can identify it; your title for the photo (unless it is the sameas the previous) and, of course, the file extension. If you have enough space for your full name, the date the photowas taken etc., or you wish to include other info, that is a bonus but not required.Entry Fee: The entry fee for slides is $4.00. The entry fee for the digital contest is $4.00.Reproduction: Entry in the contest constitutes the consent of the photographer to allow NAMA to reproduce twocopies of each winning slide or digital (including Honorable Mention) for circulation by the Education Committeeamong the membership and affiliated societies. NAMA also reserves the right to post images of the winning slidesor digital on the NAMA website, Namphocon, and in the Mycophile. All copyrights remain with the photographer.Questions? Contact the Chair of the NAMA Photo Committee: John Plischke III, 201 Culbertson Ave, GreensburgPA 15601, (724) 832-0271, email: <fungi01@aol.com>. See page 11 for Entry Form.

13 T M, March/April 2005

pegs; after digestion is complete thehyphae grow out of the nematode.This makes me wonder just howmany more species of fungi have theability to catch and kill animals forfood!

Also from the MSA comes anaccount of an “Expedition to a LostWorld” in the Mayan Mountains ofBelize. Several MSA members—including Tim Baroni, Jean Lodgeand Dan Czederpiltz, botanists,zoologists, a New York Times reporterand a Mayan guide—traveled byhelicopter to the top of the highestpeak in Belize to collect numerousundescribed species of flora andfauna.

You can see the article, plusnumerous photos in the latest issueof Inoculum (55[6]: 14–16). I can’twait to see the photos in person,when Dan Czederpiltz gives a talk onthe expedition to the WisconsinMycological Society in April!

◆

From the prestigious British journalNature: James Bever and Mei Wangdescribe the means by whicharbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungimaintain genetic variability.

From day one, biology studentslearn that one of the keys to successas a species (evolutionarily speaking)is genetic variability. And geneticvariability increases the odds that,following natural selection, individu-als will survive long enough toreproduce, thus perpetuating thespecies for at least one more genera-tion. Furthermore, it’s been dogmafor decades now that the mainreason for sexual reproduction (atleast in those organisms that do it) isto bring about genetic variability.

So, what about the organismsthat don’t reproduce sexually, suchas arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi?Bever and Wang show that sex canbe unnecessary, at least as far as AMfungi are concerned. Species of theGlomeromycota, also known as AMfungi, maintain high genetic vari-

ability in the absence of sexualreproduction by maintaining mul-tiple, genetically diverse nucleiwithin each cell. Furthermore, thesenuclei can be “shuffled” aroundduring hyphal fusion.

And speaking of mycorrhizalfungi, I just got word of the publica-tion of a book that is aimed atmaking people aware of the types ofmycorrhizal associations that occurin nature. The book—Mycorrhizas:Anatomy and Cell Biology, by R. LarryPeterson, Hugues B. Massicotte, andLewis H. Melville—uses almost 300images, mostly in color, to illustrateall mycorrhizal categories. It ispublished by NRC Press but avail-able in the United States from CABIPublishing (www.cabipublishing.org/bookshop). Maybe we can get SteveTrudell or James Trappe to do areview?

◆

Can’t find Mycologist at any locallibraries in your area? You’re missingout on a terrific journal. Publishedquarterly by the British MycologicalSociety (www. britmycolsoc.org.uk),Mycologist covers many topics ofgeneral mycology and always hasterrific review articles.

In the latest issues you can learnabout the evolutionary developmentof structures to trap and infectnematodes within the fascinatinggenus Arthrobotrys. Never seen anematophagous fungus? BirgitNordbring-Hertz (18[3]: 125–33) pro-vides numerous illustrations andphotos of several species, includingA. oligospora, famous for creating“lassos” to snare passing soil nema-todes.

Issue 18(4) of Mycologist featurestwo review articles on the newlyemerging oomycete pathogenPhytophthora ramorum, the cause ofSudden Oak Death on the West Coastand in Europe, plus diseases of afew other horticultural species (forexample, rhododendron).

Additionally, Comandini andRinaldi trace megafaunal extinctionswith dung fungal spores. In effortsto solve the age-old mystery of whythe Quaternary period (11,000–

50,000 years ago) megafaunasuffered a mass extinction, theseauthors describe the recruitment ofan unlikely assistant: a coprophilousascomycete fungus named Sporor-miella. No one seems to agree on thecause of the extinction; overkill (andloss of habitat) following a wave ahuman invasion, or drastic climatechange resulting from the last IceAge. Fossil spores of Sporormiellafound in soil samples of Madagascarindicate the presence of megafaunauntil the time of the believed massextinction. It is at that time that largeamounts of charcoal, resulting fromhuman activity, is seen in the soilsamples. After several hundredyears, spore levels again increased,likely due to the importation ofdomestic livestock.

In the same issue (18[4]: 165–69), Dorothy McMeekin gives a well-researched account of the percep-tions of Ganoderma lucidum inChinese and Western cultures.Included are numerous examples ofthe fungus (also known as “ling-chi”)in Chinese art.

◆

As always, the winter issue ofMushroom: The Journal of Wild Mush-rooming is packed full of photos,recipes, artwork, crossword puzzles,and stories from the pros andamateurs. Highlights include BrianAkers’s article on taking the mysteryout of keying Lepiota to species.There are several articles on thisyear’s abundant crops of boletes andmatsutakes on the West Coast (andincredible photos), plus recipes, andlots more. Do yourself a favor andsubscribe! Here’s how: go to www.mushroomthejournal.com or at 1511E. 54th St., Chicago, IL 60615. TellLeon I sent you!

[See also the ad on page 14.]

Fungi in the News, continued frompage 11

14T M, March/April 2005

Emily Johnsonspent a lot of hertime behind acamera and on herbelly. As a result,she was one of themost well-respectedmushroom andfungi photographersin the eastern U.S.

She also produced distinctive Christmas cards. “Ialways enjoyed getting Aunt Emily’s Christmas cardsbecause she always used her mushroom photographs,”said Barbara Bly, a niece. “They were so pretty we’dalways save them.”

Mrs. Johnson, a 40-year resident of Export, PA, diedDecember 21, 2004. The cause of death was a headinjury suffered in a fall. She was 79.

Mrs. Johnson, whose given name was Amelia, setup a photographic darkroom while still in her teens.She spent over 30 years enthusiastically traveling,hiking, and photographing mushrooms and other fungithroughout the eastern United States and Europe.“She . . . would go on nature walks at the AudubonSociety’s Beechwood Preserve and the Todd Sanctuarynear to where she lived,” Bly said. “She traveled, too, toseek out mushrooms in marshes and woods.”

Mrs. Johnson’s photos appeared in numerousbooks, including the Audubon Society Field Guide toNorth American Mushrooms, Mushrooms of NortheasternNorth America, Mushrooms of the World coloring book,and Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of the World,published in 2003, which has one of her photographs—a brilliantly red and yellow Caesar’s Amanita—on itscover. “Emily was a master at capturing the beauty ofmushrooms on film, an art made especially difficult bythe low-light conditions of the forest floor where thelovely organisms she passionately sought hid far belowthe protective canopy of the forest,” said David Fischer,co-author of Edible Wild Mushrooms of North Americaand Mushrooms of Northeastern North America, both ofwhich contain Mrs. Johnson’s photographs.

Tall, slender and quietly modest, she nonethelessgave numerous talks about mushrooming through theAudubon Society and other organizations and partici-pated in NAMA’s Teaching Kit program. “She was awonderful person and a very, very good photographer,”said Judy Roger, Executive Secretary of the MycologicalAssociation. “Her lighting techniques made mushroomsstand out and yet still appear natural. She spent a lot oftime helping many of us learn how to take photos andcritiquing our work.”

In February Mrs. Johnson gave her collection of10,000 mushroom slides, valued at $100,000, to theDepartment of Biological Sciences at the University of

NAMA Remembers PhotographerEmily Johnson,1925–2004

Other magazines urge you to subscribe, butwe invite you to join friends on what we call

“printed forays”!

For 20 years, Mushroom the Journal has provided informa-tion of value to those who like to hunt, name, cook, studyand photograph wild mushrooms. We’ve answered —

• How do professionals find “pillowcasefuls” of morels?

• In the future, will you have to pay to pick on public landand still have to contend with bag limits?

• If you discover a new species, can you name it anythingyou want?

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• Can you grow your own truffles? Train your own trufflehound?

• Can you subscribe to the world’s best mushroom maga-zine and have your satisfaction guaranteed? (You certainlycan guess that answer—and yes, you can also train thedog.)

We’re proud of the job we do of reviewing books of interestto the amateur mycologist. Before you buy, you’ll knowwhether you should. Think we’re kidding about “joining”rather than “subscribing”? Our Letters column lets you speakout, or contact others to seek that special book or sell thathistoric mushroom basket.

So join—come aboard and check us out!www.mushroomthejournal.com

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15 T M, March/April 2005

Oh yes, you can . . . cultivate beauties like these!

Arkansas. Some of the slide images will also appear inan upcoming book about mushrooms associated withoak trees in eastern North America.

Another niece, Joanne Klemencic, said her auntwas also one of the earliest organic gardeners andcomposters. “Her interest in the environment was far-ranging,” Klemencic said. “She was always concernedabout the land.”

Mrs. Johnson is survived by her sister, CarolineFiore, of Ledgewood, NJ.

Taken from an article by Don Hopey in the 12/30/2004Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; used with permission.

Pleurotus ostreatus. Photo by John Plischke III

Cultivated nameko and shimeiji. Photomontage by Britt Bunyard

Lentinula edodes. Photo by John Plischke IIICultivated Pleurotus djamor. Photo by Ron Spinosa

Emily Johnson, continued from preceding page

16T M, March/April 2005

North American Mycological Association336 Lenox AvenueOakland, CA 94610-4675

Address Service Requested

Mushroom of the Month: Can you guess what this is?

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 1260CHAS. WV 25301

This month’s photo, provided by JohnPlischke III, is a close-up of Pleurotusdjamor. See inside for more photos ofcultivated mushrooms. We’re featuring themthis month to develop awareness ofNAMA’s very own Cultivation Committee.To get involved, come to this year’s NAMAForay in Wisconsin.