Feature Article October 24, 2003
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FungiOver the last few days the cooler, wetter weather has been conducive to the growth of fungi such as mushrooms and toadstools. After the heavy rain--actually while it was still raining--several Shaggy Mane mushrooms appeared like a family conference in one area of my lawn. Near my driveway there were smaller, dark mushrooms in the pine needles. Over by my walkway was a gross-looking, and gross-feeling, leaf-like growth, that looked and felt like dark green jelly. In my flower bed was a small cup structure poking out of the ground, and nearby, a splotch of thin white growth was spreading over the soil.
All of these, and probably many more that I did not see, are fungi in various shapes and forms, and just a few of the many thousands that grow in Canada. Trying to sort out what these are can be a 'trying' task. Amateurs and scientists alike have been studying them for centuries and there is still dispute about arrangement and classification of fungi.
So what is the difference between a mushroom and a toadstool? None, except that in practice, edible species are called mushrooms and inedible or poisonous ones called toadstools. I wonder if anyone ever saw a toad sitting on a toadstool!
The earliest known, positively-identified illustration of a mushroom appears on a fresco recovered from the ruins of Pompeii. It was an edible species, and Roman literature indicates the Romans enjoyed eating various mushrooms, just as many do today.
But mushrooms or toadstools are only a small part of fungi. The mould on that tomato you forgot to throw out, the black-spot on your roses, the scab on apples are all fungi. Fungi lack chlorophyll and must obtain their food by living in or on other organic matter, and many are important as sources of vitamins, hormones and antibiotics.
Back to the different forms I found - the jelly-like growth is probably a Jelly Fungi, most of which are small, scattered and rare, and only very few are edible. The cup-like structure is called a Sac Fungi, and this group contains many highly-prized edible species like morels and truffles, but most are poisonous, rare, small, and tough or flimsy. The splotchy white growth is probably a Slime Mould. These may move and feed like animals, but like other fungi, produce spores. Then there are the Puffballs - almost all edible, and for those who enjoy mushrooms, good eating.
The Giant Puffball can grow to be 50 cm. across. The Coral Fungi grow upwards like simple stalks or branching coral-like growths, unlike the Tooth Fungi which have downward-growing spines. Many of the Coral Fungi are edible, but not all, and difficulty in identification means they should probably be avoided. The Tooth Fungi are mainly tough, woody and inedible, though a very few are highly prized by gourmets. And let us not forget the Bracket Fungi, which unlike most mushrooms that decay or 'melt' within days, can last for months or overwinter. Best known of these is probably the Artist's Conk, which has often been used for etching pictures. Earthstars, Stinkhorns, and Bird's Nest Fungi are other fungi forms. There to see if we look, but difficult to identify or classify, fungi are an important and challenging part of Nature!
Observations: A few days ago Ross Herron, Flinton, had a flock of Dark-eyed Juncos, and on October 15, two American Robins. Helm, Oconto, had a Wilson's Snipe on the 11th. A Fisher was spotted on Maberly Road on Oct 16. Share your sightings - call Jean at 268-2518 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
