By Lawrence Millman
Thoreau Farm and the Thoreau Society sponsored the 2nd Annual Super Cup Fungus Foray on Sunday, February 3, in order to provide citizens of the Commonwealth with a healthy alternative to watching a bunch of grown men smash repeatedly into each other in an event known as the Super Bowl.
Cup fungi are somewhat smaller than a football stadium, but considerably more interesting.
We found several on the Super Cup Fungus Foray that was held in Estabrook Woods in Concord, Massachusetts.
Altogether, we found 41 different fungal species — not bad for the dead of winter.
Here’s the species list:
- Angelina rufescens (cup fungus — uncommon)
- Apiosporina morbosa (Shit on a Stick — a parasite of Prunus species)
- Bisporella citrina (cup fungus)
- Botryobasidium sp. (crust)
- Camarops petersii (Dog’s Nose Fungus — uncommon)
- Cerrena unicolor (Mossy Maze Polypore)
- Chlorosplenium chlora (cup fungus)
- Crinula caliciiformis (asexual form of Holwaya mucida)
- Daedaleopsis confragosa (Thin Maze Polypore)
- Daldinia concentrica (Cramp Ball)
- Diatrype stigma (pyrenomycete)
- Diatrypella sp. (pyrenomycete)
- Exidia recisa (Brown Witches Butter — everywhere!)
- Holwaya mucida (ascomycete — uncommon)
- Hydnochaete olivaceum (Olive Toothed Polypore)
- Hymenochaete rubiginosa (crust)
- Hypomyces pallida (on Tyromyces chioneus)
- Hypoxylon fragiforme (pyrenomycete)
- Irpex lacteus (Milk White Toothed Polypore)
- Kretschmaria deusta (pyrenomycetre)
- Nectria sp. (ascomycete)
- Lachnelulla resinacea (ascomycete on pine resin)
- Panellus stipticus (Night Light — bioluminescent)
- Peniophora meridionalis (crust)
- Phaeocalium polyporaeum (ascomycete — on Trichaptum biformis)
- Rosellinia sp. (pyrenomycete)
- Sarea resinae (cup fungus on pine resin)
- Sarea difformis (cup fungus on pine resin)
- Schizophyllum commune (Split Gill)
- Stereum complicatum (Crowded Parchment)
- Stereum ostrea (False Turkey Tail)
- Trametes cinnabarina (Cinnabar-Red Polypore)
- Trametes concyifer (Tender Nesting Polypore)
- Trametes hirsutum (Hairy Turkey Tail)
- Trametes pubescens (Pubescent Turkey Tail)
- Trametes suaveolens (Anise-Smelling Polypore)
- Trametes trogii (Big Pored Polypore)
- Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail)
- Tremella lutescens (Witches Butter)
- Trichaptum biformis (Purple Toothed Polypore)
- Tyromyces chioneus (Cheese Polypore)
Lawrence Millman is an adventure travel writer and mycologist.