Special Issue, February 2, 2003
A Winter Hike in the Mountains  
Published about twice a year from Greenville, California
by Herman Brown|
herman@fungi-zette.com

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Because of the long series of warmer-than-usual days, we decided to hike along an old road above the Greenville Wyw, to see what, if anything, had popped up. Because this area had been under snow most of the previous winters, we didn't know what to expect.

We didn't find much in quantity, but we did find lots of variety, including a few surprises.

Findings, February 2, 2003 (top)

Most of the first discoveries were LBMs (One of David Arora's names for Little Brown Mushrooms) with little to distinguish one from another.  But as we continued our walk, we found several small pockets containing more than a few species with varying colors and shapes.


A view aken from the old road:

Below are the pictures we took with more detailed descriptions of most of what we found that day:

White, smooth, oval, amyloid spores 3½ - 5½ x 2 - 3 microns;  viscous, yellow-orange, 2" cap and 3/8" stem; white veil remnants on edge of cap and as a large sheath on stem;  close, white, adnate gills; odor of crushed flesh faintly like bleach. Unidentified
 

White, strongly amyloid spores, with short spikes, oval to round, 5 - 8½ x 5 microns; close, white, close, adnate gills; smooth, tan, 3½" cap; smooth, white, 3/8" stem; odor of crushed flesh mild. Possibly Melanoleuca melaleuca
  

White, lightly amyloid spores, minutely roughened, elliptical to round, 3 - 5 x  2½ - 3 microns; close, white, decurrent gills; odor of anise, cap and stem white when fresh; cap 2 - 3" wide, stem approx ¼" . Unidentified 

White, smooth round to broadly elliptical amyloid spores, 5 - 10 x 5 microns; pale lilac gills, and stem; cap a bit more tan; adnate gills; smooth, 2½" cap; 3/8" stem; strong odor of radishes.  Mycena pura (a first for me)
 

 
White, spiny, round to nearly round amyloid spores,  5 - 9 x 6 - 7 microns; cap tan, gills and stem violet; gills adnate to decurrent and well-spaced. Laccaria amethystina

Orange, minutely-roughened spores, 8 - 9 x 4 - 5 microns; cap 3", dark reddish brown and thin-fleshed; orange, close, notched gills; yellow, orange, smooth stem, cap marginate.  Unidentified
  

 
White, round to nearly round amyloid spores with warts, 4½ - 9 microns.  Probably Lactarius rufulus

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