Fungal Foragers Field Activity
Upstate NY Field Station Ecology & Mycology Lab
Fungal Foragers Identification Guide
Field Diagnostics, Spore Analysis & Dichotomous Key for New York State Woodlands
Habitats: Adirondack • Catskill • Finger Lakes
Biomes: Northern Hardwood & Mixed Conifer
Investigator:
Date:
Lab Station #:
1. Fertile Surface (Hymenophore)
- Gills (Lamellae): Radiating bladelike plates under cap (e.g., Agaricus, Amanita).
- Pores (Polypores): Sponge-like tubular openings (e.g., Laetiporus, Boletes).
- Ridges (False Gills): Blunt, forking veins; not removable blades (e.g., Cantharellus).
- Pits/Ridges: Honeycombed hollow cap (Ascomycota: Morchella).
2. Stem & Veil Features
- Annulus (Ring): Skirt-like veil remnant on upper/mid stem.
- Volva (Cup/Sac): Bulbous universal veil remnant at subterranean base. [DANGER]
- Gill Attachment: Free (not touching stem) vs. Decurrent (running down stem).
3. Spore Print Diagnostics
Pure White Amanita, Pleurotus
Yellow / Cream Cantharellus, Omphalotus
Rusty / Brown Cortinarius, Galerina
Choc. Brown/Black Agaricus, Coprinus
Dichotomous Field Key: Upstate New York Species
Always inspect cap, under-surface, stem base, and spore print
1a. Mushroom with cap & central stem; underside has true bladelike gills ............ Go to 2
1b. Underside lacking true gills (pores, blunted ridges, brackets, or pitted cap) ............ Go to 5
2a. Spore print pure white; stem possesses distinct ring AND basal cup/volva ............ Amanita bisporigera
2b. Mushroom lacks basal cup/volva; spore print brown, cream, or lilac ............ Go to 3
3a. Growing on soil/grass in meadows; gills pink turning dark chocolate; brown spores ...... Agaricus campestris
3b. Growing in dense clusters on wood/stumps or shelf-like on decaying logs ............ Go to 4
4a. Bright orange throughout; true gills decurrent; bioluminescent fresh; toxic ...... Omphalotus illudens
4b. White/grayish shelf-like lateral caps on hardwoods; lilac-white spores; edible ...... Pleurotus ostreatus
5a. Underside has blunt, shallow forked ridges/veins (not blades); fragrant apricot scent ... Cantharellus cibarius
5b. Underside has pores, brackets, or honeycomb-pitted surface ............ Go to 6
6a. Spring fruiting; cap conical/sponge-like with pits & ridges; hollow stem interior ...... Morchella esculenta
6b. Large tiered sulfur-yellow/orange bracket with pores on decaying oak/hemlock ...... Laetiporus sulphureus
Upstate NY Forest Ecological Roles & Phyla
Key Scientific Classifications
Mycorrhizal Mutualists
Forms symbiotic sheath around roots of NY Eastern Hemlock, White Pine, & Oak. Exchanging minerals for carbon. (Amanita, Cantharellus)
Saprotrophic Decomposers
Secretes extracellular enzymes to break down lignin and cellulose in Adirondack fallen timber and forest humus. (Pleurotus, Agaricus)
Parasitic / Heart-Rot
Attacks living or weakened hardwoods (Beech, Oak, Sugar Maple) causing brown/white rot before switching to saprotrophic decay. (Laetiporus)
Part I: Field Identification
Mystery Specimen Case Files
Use the Dichotomous Key and Diagnostic Guide on Page 1 to complete the analysis for all 4 specimens.
Specimen Alpha Catskill Mts • Mixed Hardwood
Visual: Pure satiny white cap (8 cm), free white gills under cap.
Stem Anatomy: Delicate skirt-like ring on stem; base buried in a distinct sack-like volva.
Spore Print: Pure, brilliant white.
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Safety / Toxicity:
Ecological Role & Phylum:
Specimen Beta Adirondack Boreal • Hemlock Stand
Visual: Large overlapping fan-shaped shelves (30 cm across), vibrant sulfur-yellow and orange.
Underside: Fine yellow pores (no gills); thick succulent flesh.
Spore Print: White to pale cream.
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Safety / Toxicity:
Ecological Role & Phylum:
Specimen Gamma Finger Lakes • Old Apple/Ash Grove
Visual: Conical cap with distinct deep pits and ridges resembling a honeycomb; found in early May.
Cross-Section: Entire mushroom (cap and stem) is completely hollow from base to tip.
Phylum Note: Produces spores internally in sac-like asci.
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Safety / Toxicity:
Ecological Role & Phylum:
Specimen Delta Hudson Valley • Base of Dead Oak
Visual: Dense, cespitose (overlapping) cluster of bright pumpkin-orange mushrooms growing directly on buried wood.
Underside: Sharp, bladelike true gills running down stem (decurrent); glows faintly in dark.
Spore Print: Creamy pale yellow-white.
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Safety / Toxicity:
Ecological Role & Phylum:
Station Checklist: Did you verify all 4 specimens against the Dichotomous Key and check their spore print colors before proceeding to the Hazard Analysis?
Verified
Part II: Critical Safety & Ecology
Look-Alike Hazard Analysis & Field Synthesis
Comparative Diagnostics & Forest Dynamics
Critical Look-Alike Comparison: Complete the Diagnostic Matrix
| Feature / Diagnostic | Deadly: Amanita bisporigera (Destroying Angel) | Edible: Agaricus campestris (Meadow Mushroom) |
|---|
| Spore Print Color | | |
| Mature Gill Color | | |
| Base of Stem (Volva present?) | | |
| Primary Habitat | | |
Diagnostic Distinction: Cantharellus (Chanterelle) vs. Omphalotus (Jack O'Lantern)
Explain how you distinguish the under-cap fertile surface and growth habit of edible Chanterelles from toxic Jack O'Lanterns:
1. Mycorrhizal Networks in Adirondack Forests
Why do species like Amanita and Boletes fruit primarily near living host trees (such as White Pine and Oak) rather than on fallen dead logs? Describe the bidirectional nutrient exchange occurring beneath the forest floor:
2. Scientific Spore Print Methodology
Why is examining only cap color insufficient for reliable fungal identification in field ecology? Explain why taking a spore print on a split black-and-white card is an essential diagnostic technique:
Field Safety Rule: Never consume wild mushrooms based solely on classroom keys. Amanita bisporigera contains lethal amatoxins that cause irreversible liver necrosis and cannot be destroyed by cooking or boiling.
