Diario del proyecto Bioblitz-W12-Angela

For this week I chose the Funeral Bell mushroom or Galerina marginata Kühner. This mushroom is a member of the Galinerina Genus, and contains deadly poisonous toxins. These toxins are the same present in the notorious Aminata phaliods, or the Death Cap. The toxins present cause a variety of nasty symptoms and if not treated properly, death. This is a fairly uncommon species, but is present scarcely in Europe, Asia and North America. Because of it's scarcity, few have fallen victim to it. However it's resemblance is dangerously close to other edible species such as Kuehneromyces mutabilis.

Galerina marginata (Batsch) kühner - funeral bell. Galerina marginata, Funeral Bell mushroom. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/galerina-marginata.php.

Turkey tail mushrooms, scientifically known as Trametes Versicolour, are multicolored fungi that are often listed as being one of the most common fungi in North American woods. The life cycle of a Turkey-tail begins when the haploid spores are blown by the wind away from the pores. These spores hopefully land in an area with favourable conditions and begin to grow. Interestingly, this fungus breaks down the deadwood of a tree, using it as nutrients for itself while helping clear the forest for new growth. Finally, Trametes Versicolour is very useful in medicine and has been used to prevent and treat many ailments such as certain types of cancer (because of immune-boosting properties), obesity (because of protein-bound beta-glucan (PBG)), and respiratory conditions (according to traditional Chinese medicine).

The Galerina marginata’s nicknames, the “Funeral Bell” or “Deadly Skullcap” , are very deserving. The type of fungus is toxic if ingested by humans, causing liver and kidney damage and if enough is consumed, it can be fatal. Dog and cats fallen victim to the toxins within the mushroom. Visually, the species is quite cute (as cute as a mushroom can be); it has defined gills underneath its brown-ish cap with a paler/white rim. I noticed some differences between the ones I observed and some of the images I found; my mushrooms’ caps were matt while I’ve seen reference images where they’re shinier which is most likely due to where the pictures were taken, either in a moist environment compared to a drier one. Also, my stems were white/brown while pictures showed almost black stems but that is due to old age of the mushroom.

In this lab, I came across the Common Bonnet (Mycena galericulata). This mushroom is around in spring and fall in most of eastern North America and the West Coast. They are usually off-white or pale brown and they grow in groups around and on stumps and logs. This location is chosen due to the Common Bonnet's saprobic nature, feeding off of wood. This mushroom's caps can reach between five and six centimetres in diameter and are characterized by a central bump. Its stem varies between five and nine centimetres in height and two and five millimetres in thickness. With age, the Common Bonnet's gills can become a light pink colour.

During Lab 5, I observed the fungus Pleurotus pulmonarius, or summer oyster mushrooms. These mushrooms grow between late April and September, as opposed to "true" oyster mushrooms, which are one of the few fungi that grow during the winter months. They can be found in subtropical as well as temperate forests around the world. They grow on both downed and upright trees, as well as on branches. They are most commonly found on beech trees but will grow on any hardwood tree. Summer oyster mushrooms are edible, and are the most popular mushroom in China (Barba Belletini, 2016). Summer oyster mushrooms have a white, convex cap that runs between three and 10 centimeters across, with short white gills running down the stem.

During Lab 6, I observed common bonnets. These mushrooms grow in damp habitats (like all mushrooms) and were first described in 1722. They usually live in clusters, on dead stumps and can be found all over the Northern Hemisphere but have been found in Africa. You can tell common bonnets apart from all other mushrooms due to their distinct groove caps. The colours are always brown. Their shape varies throughout the different species, ranging from bell-like to flattened with an umbo. The stem of the mushroom is white, this and hollow. The gills are grey, white or pink(ish). They can grow up to 4 cm in diameter.

Crepidotus mollis, commonly known as Peeling Oysterling or Soft Slipper mushroom is
common to damp, dark areas across Europe and North America. They lack a visible
stem, and typically attach to a branch/trunk/stump at a single point, with gills that fan
outwards from this point. These gills eventually turn from white to brown as the fungus
matures. The genus Crepidotus was in fact created when mycologist Friedrich Staude
reclassified the Peeling Oysterling as Crepidotus (from the previously very vague genus
Agaricus).

The Psathyrella Bipellis, known as the Maroon Brittlestem, is a gilled mushroom belonging to a family of over 400 species, ranging all across North America! It has a hygrophanous cap which means that as the fruiting body loses its moisture it also changes in colour, that is why they are often two-toned! Their colours range from a mix of dark brown and purple to white or even a light pink. This species is most commonly found in forests and urban areas as it helps decompose debris.

Trametes versicolored, more widely known as turkey-tail mushroom, gets its name from the shape and color similar to the wild turkey. Its unique lobed and wavy edge makes it easy to identify. It is often found on dead wood. And it is believed to have the ability to modulate the immune system to fight against cancer, it is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

According to Nature Spot, the Parasola plicatilis, commonly known as the Pleated Inkcap, is found in grassland, parkland, and lawn soils. Often, they grow from late spring until autumn in small groups after it rains. They can be identified by their pale brown, white, or grey caps that are darker in the middle and around the edges.