The Wild West of mycology: My first mushroom foray
Mushrooms seem mysterious. There are so many different types and even the experts are constantly coming across new varieties that have never been documented. In fact, I recently participated in a mushroom foraging event and one of the speakers described Louisiana as the “wild, Wild West of mycology.”
The event was held on Saturday, September 24 at the Burden Museum & Gardens on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. I’ve always wanted to attend a foraging event and it was an added bonus that it was at Burden. Although I’ve been to the property several times before, I’ve never gone past the main area.
The event was hosted by the Baton Rouge Mycology Society. The group is very new. In fact, this was one of only a few events they’ve done so far. About two dozen people arrived at 9 a.m. to go out into the woods to learn more about mushrooms.
Before we set off, our expectations were lowered because it was explained that the current dry conditions make it unlikely to find many fresh mushrooms. Ideally, you’ll want to wait about a week after a hard rain before you go out seeking mushrooms.
We set off on the main trail and split into two groups. I went with the beginners group, naturally. It was led by Dr. Steve Antrobus and he did a fabulous job teaching. Very quickly we started to see signs of some mushrooms, even though we were in the middle of a dry, hot spell.
At two different spots on the trail we found two different varieties of oyster mushrooms. The winter variety was discovered with great delight by my friend Jennifer Torkkola. She literally jumped for joy!
Above: Jennifer Torkkola
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most common edible mushrooms. They grow on rotting trees, which is exactly where Jennifer found her clump. We were told they were likely the result of the recent “cold” snap because that particular variety only really pops out when it dips below 60 degrees.
They get their name not only for the way they look, but for the way they smell. They smell a little fishy and it’s very distinct. Smell, they say, is one of the key indicators for correctly identifying a mushroom. The second is taste.
Steve explained that you can taste all mushrooms because they are only toxic when ingested. You can take a little nibble, taste it, and spit it out when attempting to identify. When you taste something bitter or off, then it’s best to move along. The really bad ones will even burn the end of your tongue.
Everything else is going to utilize your eyes and experience. The most important place to start is under the cap. Flip it over and give it a good inspection. Do you see gills, ridges, or a porous surface? Another key spot on the mushroom is the top of the cap. Does it have a dimple or is it flat? All of these things will help you find what you’re looking for in a field book.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, which is why the FIRST thing you need to do when you find a mushroom is to take lots of pictures! Before you touch your find, make sure to get pictures of the area surrounding the mushroom so you can identify where it’s growing. For example, some mushrooms are found on specific types of trees, so you’ll want to be able to identify the tree in your photo as well.
Next, you’ll want to focus your lens on the mushroom itself. Take pictures of the top, sides, and underneath if you can. If it’s dirty, you can and should brush off the dirt. If there are multiple mushrooms around, make sure to get the ones that represent different growth stages. Basically, the small ones are just as important as the biggies.
Finally, size matters! In your photograph, make sure you’re including something to show size. Money is always an easy way to show scale. Another option is to bring a little ruler with you.
Photographs are the key for field guides, which will help you with identification. After our excursion, we went back to the visitors center to show off and observe our finds. They put out dozens of field guides because there are SO many different books on mushrooms out there.
Being overwhelmed is a common feeling for beginners. Most of the folks who get involved in this do not have degrees to back them up. In fact, our speaker for the day has a PhD. in English!
Logan Wiedenfeld is the president of the Gulf South Mycological Society and is credited with finding two new varieties of mushrooms, one of which he discovered in Baton Rouge.
Louisiana is the wettest state in the nation and its subtropical climate is perfect for mushroom growth. Logan explained there are constantly new varieties found here and there are far less folks out there exploring than in other regions, which means we are littered with possible discoveries.
Above: Logan Wiendenfeld
Although I don’t aspire to find some rare or new variety, I do find all of this fascinating and would love to one day be able to hunt out and find my own wild mushrooms for my partner who loves to cook. Picking up a book and trying to do it on my own… well, I’m less interested in that, too. And I think that’s the case for most folks.
Having an experienced guide is really the best way to learn about mushrooms, which is why I will continue to attend the foray events hosted by the new Baton Rouge Mycological Society. If you’re not from here, I’m sure there’s a mycological society in your area. Like mushrooms, they’re everywhere, you just have to look for them!