Foster’s Creek Foray – Aug 14, 2010

Foray Leader: Arnie Cremer

Foray Location: Foster’s Creek, starting from the trailhead and exploring trails to the north and south.

Foray Habitat and Weather: The trails run through a range of forest types including hardwoods, mixed hardwoods and conifers, and areas of primarily white pine. There are moist areas close to creeks and dryer ridges. The day was warm and humid. There had been above average temperatures and slightly below average rainfall in the region in the previous few weeks, but conditions seemed moist and a good variety of fungi were fruiting.

Summary: Eleven members took part in the foray, hunting from about 10:00 AM to shortly after noon. We found and identified 62 species – a very good total for a foray without the expertise of a professional mycologist. Edibles collected included small quantities of Chanterelles, Lobsters, Cauliflower, Chicken of the Woods, Beefsteak Polypore, and some boletes, but by far the most abundant edibles were the Apricot and Corrugated Milk Caps – prime specimens of these seemed to be everywhere. We found two species that were new to the Club’s cumulative species list: Lactarius glaucescens, distinguished from L. piperatus (Peppery Milk Cap) by latex that slowly stains green, and the yellow-green Russula heterophylla, confirmed later by spore-print color and spore size.

Species identified: