Fungi Log, Volume 1
At Harmony Hill, we are fortunate enough to have a wonderful person who, among myriad things, is a mycologist. She has written a few informative posts about some of the mushrooms she’s encountered on Harmony Hill and has been kind enough to give them to us as some outstanding Nature Notes for you to enjoy! Here is the first in a periodic series on the fungi of Harmony Hill we like to call, “Fungi Log”!
Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma Tsuga) and (Ganoderma Lucidum) are a shelf type mushroom, exhibiting very unique characteristics, drawing your attention for a very important reason. Reishi mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for centuries, with a vast amount of scientific evidence to support the ancient claims that Reishi is a mushroom of ultimate health and healing. A great ally, during our human experience.
Reishi mushrooms can also be referred to as a varnish shelf polypore and are commonly found fruiting on conifers of other hard wood. Ganoderma Tsuga are found growing primarily on Hemlock and other confers, while the Ganoderma Lucidum, though almost indistinguishable in common characteristics, will be found on other types of hardwood but is limited to habitats in parts of Eurasia. They are a saprophytic fungus, which means they will be found growing on dead, dying or decaying wood. They specialize in breaking down lignin, which is a complex heterogeneous polymer, in the biomass of trees. These mushrooms can be all white and bulbous at a young age and upon maturation the varnish shelf begins to change into a dark reddish brown lacquer varnished appearance. This type of mushroom will commonly be found with a short stem that is also varnished. The young tissue can be eaten when still soft and white. Once mature, this Reishi mushroom becomes woody and unpalatable. It is best to use mature mushrooms that have been sliced thin and dried on a windowsill, in a tea or tincture form. The dried Reishi mushroom can also be ground down into a powder form and taken as a medicinal daily supplement.
Common bird-nest fungi (Crucibulum laeve) is another unique mushroom found on Harmony Hill. You can probably tell by its appearance, why is this called a bird's nest fungi. At first glance, you would not recognize this as a fungus. You might not even notice this fungus at all. They are very small and can often be overlooked in their natural setting. They are commonly found on decaying wood, which is why these you see in the photograph were spotted on a mulched pathway at Harmony Hill. These cupped fungi are in a class of their own, as their fertile body is not gilled or porous. Take a look at the photo on the right and you will see small egg-like pestuals located in the center of the “nest”. These tiny sacs rely on water droplets to propel them into, or onto, their next location. Some have been found on the underside of leaves several feet above the ground.
Many species of Chanterelles mushrooms can be found growing in Harmony Hill. Chanterelles, such as Golden Chanterelle and Cinnabar Chanterelle, are a fairly common cap and stem type mushroom and are prized in the culinary world for their exquisite flavour. Golden chanterelles have a bright yellow or “golden'' look to them, with forked descending gills, that allow for easy identification. Another type of Chanterelle found here on Harmony Hill, is the cinnabar chanterelle. This looks similar to the golden chanterelle, in the way that it also has forked, descending gills but what gives these mushrooms its unique characteristics, is the color. Cinnabar chanterelles are bright red and are actually very small compared to its common sister. These mushrooms are usually a few inches tall, but often much smaller than that.
Chanterelles are a rhizomorphic-type mushroom. This means that they grow in association with living trees and their roots. Commonly found growing in groups scattered in leaf litter on the floor of an old pine forest. This also means that chanterelle mushrooms are very difficult to cultivate, because you would not only need to farm the mushroom, but you would have to farm the soil and the pine trees as well.