Jenn86 Posted November 12, 2024 Report Posted November 12, 2024 Hi all! I am wondering if someone can help me ID these mushrooms that I found in my yard. They are growing in open grass, but we are surrounded by thick woods with many species of tree, so there are doubtless tree roots underneath them, but it would be near impossible to tell from which trees. They are growing in a small cluster, with maybe 20 or so mushrooms in about a 2 foot square area. I tried to do a spore print with the smaller caps, but they never dropped any spores. I did not want to bring a larger cap into the house because the larger caps are riddled with some sort of maggot or worm. I did not notice any staining on the cap or stem when cut. These cropped up about two weeks ago, and have been producing new caps every day. I don't know if it is helpful for diagnostic reasons, but it seems like the mushrooms go from being quite small, to quite large (~6 in max cap diameter) and rotten/worm eaten very quickly...like it seems like it only takes a day or so. They do not have a distinct smell. I did notice that the skin on top of the caps (not sure of the name of that part) was separated from the caps so easily that it seemed to peel off just when I touched the caps, which were slightly sticky. However, I noticed this most on the older, worm-eaten specimen, so that may have been due to age and level of deterioration. Each mushroom sprouts independently from the ground (no stalks are joined at the base). We are located in east Tennessee, USA at about 1500ft elevation. Thank you all, in advance, for your help! Quote
Jenn86 Posted November 13, 2024 Author Report Posted November 13, 2024 Hi all! I just wanted to update my thread here. Spore print was brown. Ammonia test was pink. KOH test was purplish turning to grey. As a result, I believe I have Suillus weaverae. I am still open for comments if anyone has anything to say about it. For anyone who is interested, I didn't have KOH, but I leached wood ashes with water, filtered it through cheesecloth and then coffee filters, and boiled it down to increase concentration (I was doing this as an unrelated project). The resulting fluid contained enough KOH for a positive test on these mushrooms, and some others that I was looking at. Since it relates to mushrooms, I figured I would throw that little tidbit out there. I hope it helps! Quote
Dave W Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 That's a really energetic way to mimic a KOH reaction. Honestly, I didn't check the correlation to species ID. But, based upon general appearance genus Suillus almost certainly works here; and S. weaverae looks good. Is white pine one of the types of trees near where these were found? Quote
Jenn86 Posted November 15, 2024 Author Report Posted November 15, 2024 The land that we live on used to be a tobacco farm, and then it was allowed to overgrow with (mostly) eastern white pines. The land has been clear for many years (about 8 years), but there are undoubtedly still roots underground. I found two patches of these directly under white pines, and the third patch is out in the yard, very close (about 10ft) to a patch of mature white pines. The first two patches are separated from the third by several hundred feet. I actually suspect that their appearance in such large numbers this year (this is the first year we've seen them) is related to a mole colony that has taken over the yard 🤔. I also noticed our Suillus americanus mushrooms have taken over a large patch of nearby area that seems to be quite a distance away from any white pines ~50 feet, in some places). We noticed our mole colony about 4 years ago (they were undoubtedly there earlier) but I suspect that our prolific Suillus growth this year may be related to the tunnels of the moles. This tracks with anectodotes that I have read saying that it takes between five and ten years for the mucelllium to proliferate enough to produce fruiting bodies. Just a thought...I wouldnlove input on this hypothesis. As for the KOH, that was completely unrelated, but it clicked that the solution that I was processing for lye might work for this application. I only have proof of concept for two species of Suillus, but I think it might be an effective "poor man's" solution for KOH solution (see what I did there? 😁). Quote
Dave W Posted November 24, 2024 Report Posted November 24, 2024 Suillus americanus is a mycorrhizal species that associates only with living white pine. S. weaverae similarly associates with white pine, and maybe a few other types of coniferous trees. Maybe the moles have something to do with these Suillus boletes fruiting where they do? But, it's really about the trees. A mushroom sprouting from a fungus associated with a given tree may be quite a distance from the tree; although generally not very far from the drip line of the tree. Also, a sapling is apt to inherit mycorrhizal associations from other nearby trees. So, even small trees may be responsible for certain types of mushrooms. Quote
Jenn86 Posted November 26, 2024 Author Report Posted November 26, 2024 Hi Dave. I appreciate all of your input! The S. americanus mushrooms that we have are almost at the edge of the "fall zone" of the tree that I believe that these mushrooms are emanating from. I think that the tree has utilized the mole tunnels to extend its root structure beyond what is considered normal. What I have read indicated that Suillus mushrooms are usually within 2-3 times the drip line of the tree which is hosting the fungus. In our case, the tree is probably 35' tall (as soon as I can go to town and get a suitable protractor, I intend to make a sextant to verify tree height....a project that I have wanted to do for a while). The farthest S. americanus from the host tree are around 35-40 feet from the tree (measurements pending....I am just eye-balling right now). I have narrowed down, what I believe to be, the host tree based on the growth pattern of the mushrooms. The drip line of the tree is probably not more than six or 7 feet (once again, measurements pending). The mushrooms were fun to see, but the tree is what has taken over my focus! I am in compete awe as to the extent of root growth from this tree. There are two P. strobus closer to the mushrooms in question, but the mushroom growth pattern indicates that these trees are not the hosts (but I believe that they are the hosts of the S. weaverae [suspected] that I discussed earlier). The whole area is mowed regularly. There aren't any saplings here....certainly none that have had time to root and produce fungal fruiting bodies. There are only three trees that can be the host (the rest are oak and maple....for hundreds of feet). I don't, in any way, mean to sound contrary. I am simply stating my observations for anyone who is interested. I have read, from one other source (I admit that I can't cite it) that P. strobus is capable of rooting out as far (or farther) than the fall line. What I am seeing indicates that this is true. This is simply food for thought.... Quote
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