MushRoaming Hawaii | Mushroaming – Daniel Winkler’s …

MushRoaming Hawai'i

(Kauai, Hawai'i - the Big Island, Oahu)

December 2008 was a good month for mushroaming Hawai'i. When we got to Kauai on Dec. 12, it had already rained every day for two weeks in Kapa'a. The rain did not stop and the sun shone once in awhile too, so fungi fruited plentiful, at least for Hawaiian condition. Hawai'i has a rather sparse funga (formerly mushroom flora) in the first place; as Don Hemmes & Dennis Desjardin stated in their very useful guide "Mushrooms of Hawai'i (2002) "what Hawai'i lacks in diversity and abundance, it makes up for in beauty and uniqueness". In this context it should be mentioned that so far no endemic ectomycorrhizal species is known, the few EM species growing in Hawai'i were all introduced with non-native tree species. Thus saprophytic species rule, making up 95% of the 300+ species recorded so far (Hemmes & Desjardin 2002). UPDATE: I heard recent research has turned up an endemic ectomycorrhizal species, but I have not seen the publication yet. I would appreciate receiving a hint regarding the reference.

Asere rubraLabill.: Fr.Starfish StinkhornorSea Anemone Fungus

The fruiting body of the Sea Anemone Fungusjust opened. The gleba, the dark brown slimy spore mass, is still in its original position and will soon spread out onto the base of the tentacles. The gleba has not developed its awesome smell, at least spoken through a fly's nose. Humans in general are less fond of this particular smell imitating rotting flesh. However flies flock to this filth and take care of spore dispersal. Daniel Winkler

The hollow stem of thisAsere rubrafits over my little finger. Daniel Winkler

One of the two eggs isfullydilated. The fruiting body extends within hours by pressurizing already developed cells with liquid.

One of Hawaii's most beautiful and intriguing mushrooms is definitelyAsere rubra, the "Starfish Stinkhorn" or "Sea Anemone Fungus". Starfish Stinkhorn indicates that it is unmistakably a member of the Stinkhorn / Phallales order named for the infamous Stinkhorn, poignantly known asPhallus impudicus.

AllAsere rubraphotos were taken at Kalalau Lookout, Koke'e State Park, Mount Wai'ale'ale, Kauai Island, Hawaii on Dec. 19, 2007, 1200 m asl (4000 ft).

This site is within 10km to the earth's most rainy site, Mount Wai'ale'ale (a.k.a. Waialeale, height 1569 m /5,148 ft). Here, on this heavily eroded dormant volcano precipitationmeasures11,700 mm (460 inches) onannual average. Photos: Daniel Winkler.

Neither Starfish nor Sea Anemone manifested yet, but they are lurking to hatch. The universal veil of this mostly buried egg is being ripped open by the fruiting body about to hedge.Asere rubrais a saprobic fungus, feeding of decaying biomass. It also grows in flower beds on mulch and in disturbed areas in general. It is common on the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical Pacific Islands. It seems to be spreading to the continental US and Europe.In 1800Asere rubrawas the first Australian fungus to be named. Daniel Winkler

Phallus multicolor(Berk. & Broome) Cooke- Yellow-veiled stinkhorn

What a unique beauty!

And it does not reek so strongly of rotting meat like many of its lovely relatives, but offers a decisive spermatic note to spice up its aroma.

Laid out on a lava rock the jelly-filled volva with its rhizoids is separated from the hollow stem of the fruiting body ofDictyophora multicolor.

The Yellow-veiled stinkhorn Phallus multicolor akaDictyophora multicolorgrowing out of needle duff of Iron wood (Casuarina equisetifolia). Most netted stinkhorns have white indusia, whileDictyophora multicolorhas a yellowish indusium (the apron / veil-like structure). Also growing in Hawai'i is the Yellow-netted stinkhorn (Ph. cinnabarinus), which has a longer veil and a cinnabar red receptacle, the tissue that is covered by the gleba.

All Phallusphotos: MacKenzie Park (seeAgaricus subrufescensbelow), Puna, Hilo, Southeast Hawaii, Jan 2, 2008. Daniel Winkler

Amanita marmorata subsp. myrtacearumO.K. Miller, Hemmes & D.Wong Marbled death cap

Amanita mormoratasurrounded by the needles of Iron wood (= Australian pine,Casuarina equisetifolia) and an old tree snail shell (Achatinellasp. ). Iron wood and Hawaiian death cap live in ectomycorrhizal symbioses. It is believed that this deadly poisonous mushroom was introduced from Australia while introducing one of its host trees such asCasuarina,Araucaria, Melaleucaor anEucalyptusspecies. Daniel Winkler.

Carved spirits are watching over two marbled death caps on a beautiful site overlooking the Pacific ocean.

AllAmanitaphotos were taken near Moloa'a Beach, Kauai Island, Hawaii on Dec. 17, 2007, 50 m asl (160 ft), All photos: Daniel Winkler.

Chlorophyllum molybdides(Meyer: Fr.) Massee- Green-Spored Shaggy Parasol

A flush ofChlorophyllum molybditesfruiting along a road near Kapa'a, Kauai, Dec. 19, 2007. Photos: Daniel Winkler.

Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii, Dec. 19, 2007. Photo: Daniel Winkler.

Sources:Vellinga, E.C. 2002. New combinations in Chlorophyllum. Mycotaxon 83: 415-417. Vellinga, E.C. 2003. Type studies in Agaricaceae the complex ofChlorophyllum rachodes. Mycotaxon85: 259-270.

A group of Green-spored shaggy parasols in fruiting between a flower bed and the lawn. Jan. 6, 2008. Kilua, Oahu, Hawaii Daniel Winkler

Agaricus subrufescensPeckAlmond Mushroom

Agaricus subrufescens, theAlmond Mushroom is close relative of the Prince -Agaricus augustus, one of my absolute favorite edibles. And the almond taste is even stronger in this fungus. A. subrufescensis also saprophytic, but prefers a warmer climate thanA. augustus. Dec 29, 2007,MacKenzie Park, Southeast Hawaii Daniel Winkler

MacKenzie Park, Southeast Hawai'i ("Big Island")

Typical conditions in December 2007 in Hawaii, the skies are gray and the Pacific surf is up. Picking Almond mushrooms under these conditions is ideal. The salt sprayed made this tasty mushroom even more delicious, yummy! (I like to eat this almond mushroom and the prince raw).

Often the Almond mushroom fruits in groups. It used to be cultivated since the late 1800s on the East Coast, but somehow got forgotten in the early 20th century and replaced by the boring button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus).Dec 29, 2007, MacKenzie Park, Southeast Hawaii Daniel Winkler

Agaricus subrufescensis not just tasty, but reputed to be highly medicinal. However, the almond mushroom made it to its myco-medicinal stardom under the nameAgaricusblazeiMurrill (sensuHeinemann) and most recently asA. brasiliensisWasser et al.

Agaricus rotalisK.R.Peterson, Desjardin & Hemmes

ThisAgaricus rotalisis a newly described species from Hawaii. It was growing in leaves under a banana in Moloa'a, Kauai.Agaricus rotalisstains yellow at the stem base (not pictured) and smells of phenol, two good indications that digestive problems will follow consumption for the ones who were not deterred by its chemical smell. Andy's backyard in Moloa'a, Kauai. Dec. 26, 2007. Daniel Winkler

Lepista tarda(Peck) Murrill

Lepista tardaPeck, a close relative of the Blewit [Lepista / Clitocybe nuda], is reputed to be as tasty as the Blewit, but it lacks the blewit's typical orange juice concentrate smell. Since I rely on my nose for the final identification of the blewit, I did not fry these ones. This mushroom has also been described asClitocybe tardaPeck,Clitocybe sordida(Fr.: Fr.) Singer andTricholoma sordidum(Fr.) Kummer.

Dec. 23, 2007, Haena State Park, Kauai, Hawaii. Daniel Winkler

Wood Eating Fungi

Auricularia cornea(Ehrenb.: Fr.) Ehrenberg ex Endlicher Pepeiao / Wood Ear

Schizophyllum communeFr. Splitgill mushroom

Pycnoporus sanguineus(L.: Fr.) Murr.Red Polypore

Schizophyllum communeis named for its split gills. Due to its unique lengthwise split or grooved gills it is placed in its own family: Schizophyllaceae. It is globally distributed and eaten in East Asia. Also there is a fair amount of research indicating medicinal value. Dec. 22, 2007, Kapa'a, Kauai, Hawaii. Daniel Winkler

Pycnoporus sanguineusis a pan-tropical white-rot fungus that recycles lignin. It is used as a afebrifuge toreduce a high fever in traditional medecines in the Amazon. Its unique color makes identifyication easy. This picture shows the Red Polypore growing out of dead hardwood from above (right). On the left, the hymenium, the spore bearing porous underside is turned-over resting on a conk (left). Dec. 27, 2007, Kapoho near Hilo, East Hawaii, Hawaii. Daniel Winkler

The Fan Jelly,Dacryopinax spathularia(Schw.:Fr.) G.W. Martin feeds of dead wood. In China this tiny Fan Jelly is eaten just as much as its better known relativeTremella mesenterica, theWitch's Butter. The latter I had the doubtful fortune to taste in a Chinese eatery in Tibet. I found it very bland and I have no intention to pick it for the table. Dec 29, 2007, Kehena,Pahoa, East Hawaii ("Big Island") Daniel Winkler

The beautiful "Golden Scruffy" or "Golden Tuft", Cyptotrama asprata(Berkeley & M. A. Curtis) Redhead & Ginns is a small gilled wood decayer, formerly classified as aCollybia. Jan 1, 2008,MacKenzie Park, Pahoa, East Hawaii ("Big Island") Daniel Winkler

Main sources:

Desjardin, D.E.; Hemmes, D.E. 2002. Mushrooms of Hawaii: An Identification Guide, Ten Speed Press, 1-212.

Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. 959p.

Former webpage graphic background: Dicranopteris linearis- False staghorn fern Hawaiian:uluhe- Gleicheniaceae

Webpage first published: 2-24-2008

Last revision: 2-8-2018

Bonus non-fungal photos

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