January Featured Mushroom & Giveaway
Become a member of CTMS and be entered in a win a Grow-At-Home Oyster Kit !
Hi-Fi Myco is Austin's first urban mushroom farm. This month's feature mushroom and giveaway is the local cloned variety of oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.
This month there are two giveaways!
In early February we start this book by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing in the online bookclub. We meet twice a month on Sunday evenings. The book is about the rare Matsutake mushroom and what it can teach us about sustaining life on a fragile planet. If you would like to become a member of our bookclub, send a note to info@centraltexasmycology.org to be added.
Become a member and be entered to win this book!
Winner will be announced at the beginning of February.
Hi-Fi Myco is Austin's first urban mushroom farm. This month's feature mushroom and giveaway is the local cloned variety of oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. The mushroom's taste has been described as mild with a slight odor similar to anise. The oyster mushroom is frequently used in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cookery as a delicacy. It is frequently served on its own, in soups, stuffed, or in stir-fry recipes with soy sauce. Oyster mushrooms are sometimes made into a sauce, used in Asian cooking, which is similar to oyster sauce. Oyster mushrooms are available for purchase on their website for pick-up at the following Farmers Markets: Lakeline, Sunset Valley, Downtown, New Braunfels, and Mueller.
Become a member of CTMS and be entered in a win a Grow-At-Home Pink Oyster Kit !
Winner will be announced in February.
PHOTOS: Split Gill Mushroom, Schizophyllum commune
The Split Gill Mushroom, Schizophyllum commune was one of the beautiful mushrooms we spotted on the foray to kick-off the Zilker Mushroom Project this past weekend. It is super common and can be found decomposing logs and stumps. It can even dehydrate and rehydrate. The real show are the split gills on the underside of the mushroom.
The Split Gill Mushroom, Schizophyllum commune was one of the beautiful mushrooms we spotted on the foray to kick-off the Zilker Mushroom Project this past weekend. It is super common and can be found decomposing logs and stumps. It can even dehydrate and rehydrate. The real show are the split gills on the underside of the mushroom.
One of the most interesting things about S. commune is its system of sexual reproduction. Split Gill has acquired some genetic changes that give it a total of over 28,000 distinct sexes.
Don't get too close and sniff this mushroom tho. This fungi can colonize within human bodies!
Over the past several decades, numerous reports of infection caused by the Split Gill fungus have been reported in the medical literature. The most recent case study from an outpatient center involved a 25-year-old woman whose left foot showed symptoms of rashes, nodule formation, lesions, and pain. A skin biopsy was performed, and the isolated hyphae (fungal strands) were cultured for 7 days. DNA sequencing confirmed the culprit: the Split Gill fungus β Schizophyllum commune. (BMC Infectious Diseases, 2018.)
Since 1950, close to 100 cases of Schizophyllum-induced clinical disease have been reported in the literature. Illnesses include: sinusitis, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis, bronchial mucoid impaction, pulmonary fungal ball, Schizophyllum asthma, pulmonary infiltrate with eosinophilia, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, honeycomb lung, bronchogenic cysts, pulmonary nodules, and other pulmonary mycoses.
As you can see, the majority of infections target the lungs. Inhalation of spores seems to be a likely cause.
Despite all this, the Split Gill mushroom is used as a food, medicine, and tool for bioremediation around the world. This mushroom isn't commonly consumed in the US but in places like Mexico and elsewhere in the tropics. In Northeast India, in the state Manipur it is known as kanglayen and one of the favourite ingredients for Manipuri-style pancakes called paaknam. In Mizoram, the local name is pasi (pa means mushroom, si means tiny) and it is one of the highest rated edible mushrooms among the Mizo community.
PHOTOS: Texas Star Mushroom
The Texas Stars came out for our Zilker Mushroom Project kick-off this afternoon. We saw it in its many forms, cigar all the way to full 6 points. They are found near dead cedar elms, which are all over Austin. Just look closely at the base of the dead stump for the cigar shape.
The Texas Stars came out for our Zilker Mushroom Project kick-off this afternoon. We saw it in its many forms, cigar all the way to full 6 points. They are found near dead cedar elms, which are all over Austin. Just look closely at the base of the dead stump for the cigar shape.
The Texas Star or Chorioactis geaster is only found in Central Texas area up into the Oklahoma border. It is also found in Japan and scientists do not know why this mushroom is only found in these two geographies or why it has a disjunct distribution. Genetic analysis has determined that the two populations have been separated for at least 19 million years ruling out the possibility of human introduction. Basically scientists have no idea why these two populations are separated by such distance.
We think this mushroom should be the Texas state mushroom. What do you all think?
Thanks to everyone that came out to help ID mushrooms within the Zilker study area. Anyone else can also participate by adding mushrooms they find in the Zilker Mushroom Project on iNaturalist.org.
December Featured Mushroom & Giveaway
Become a member of CTMS and be entered in a win a Grow-At-Home Oyster Kit !
Hi-Fi Myco is Austin's first urban mushroom farm. This month's feature mushroom and giveaway is the local cloned variety of oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.
Hi-Fi Myco Oyster Mushrooms
Hi-Fi Myco is Austin's first urban mushroom farm. This month's feature mushroom and giveaway is the local cloned variety of oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. The mushroom's taste has been described as mild with a slight odor similar to anise. The oyster mushroom is frequently used in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cookery as a delicacy. It is frequently served on its own, in soups, stuffed, or in stir-fry recipes with soy sauce. Oyster mushrooms are sometimes made into a sauce, used in Asian cooking, which is similar to oyster sauce. Oyster mushrooms are available for purchase on their website for pick-up at the following Farmers Markets: Lakeline, Sunset Valley, Downtown, New Braunfels, and Mueller.
Become a member of CTMS and be entered in a win a Grow-At-Home Pink Oyster Kit ! (Winner will be announced in January.)
December Foraging Forecast
With the cool, rainy December weather look out for Snow Fungus, Tremella fuciformis. Sam and the crew found this beautiful jelly fungus during the Plant and Mushroom Walk at Circle Acres this past weekend. It has been cultivated in Asia for hundreds of years and is used in everything from desserts, soups, and cosmetic products.
With the cool, rainy December weather look out for Snow Fungus, Tremella fuciformis. Sam and the crew found this beautiful jelly fungus during the Plant and Mushroom Walk at Circle Acres this past weekend. It has been cultivated in Asia for hundreds of years and is used in everything from desserts, soups, and cosmetic products.
Keep an eye out for Oysters, Pleurotus ostreatus on dead black willows and oaks.
The medicinal mushroom Turkey Tail, Trametes versicolor is also flushing after rain. Make sure the underside is white because it looks a lot like False turkey tail.
Look for Reishi, the "Mushroom of Immortality" or Ganoderma species on dying or dead Pecan trees. If the top of the shelf looks red and varnished and the underside is still white, it is still good to harvest for medicinal purposes.
As always, if you are trying a new mushroom, confirm the ID with an expert, then try a small amount to make sure you don't have an allergic reactions. Texas Mushroom Identification Facebook group is great for quick responses and ID help. Click images to learn more and to see where to find them! Also, don't forget to add your finds on the Mushrooms of Texas project on iNaturalist. Follow my adventures @forage.atx.
RECIPE: Mushroom and Kale Soup
When Austin finally gets some nice fall weather, take advantage of it with a delicious, hearty soup! β β
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Make use of your @hifimycology mushrooms and curly kale from Josh Ruiz Farm in Alamo, TX for this creamy mushroom, kale, and root veggie soup. β β
Recipe provided by Farm to Table Texas.
When Austin finally gets some nice fall weather, take advantage of it with a delicious, hearty soup! β β
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Make use of your Hi-fi Myco mushrooms and curly kale from Josh Ruiz Farm in Alamo, TX for this creamy mushroom, kale, and root veggie soup. β β
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What you need: β β
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π₯ 2 tsp Olive oilβ β
π₯ 1/2 Yellow onion, dicedβ β
π₯ 2 Assorted Hi-fi Myco mushroom boxes, choppedβ β
π₯ 5 cloves Garlic, mincedβ β
π₯ 3 tbsp Butterβ β
π₯ 4 tbsp Flourβ β
π₯ 3 cups Whole milk, room tempβ β
π₯ 5 cups Chicken or vegetable stockβ β
π₯ 1 tsp Thymeβ β
π₯ 1 tsp Crushed red pepper, adjust to tasteβ β
π₯ 1 Bay leafβ β
π₯ Root vegetables of your choosing, 1 diced Sakura Purple sweet potato used in this recipeβ β
π₯ 1 bunch Curly kale, choppedβ β
π₯ Salt + pepper to tasteβ β
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What to do: β β
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Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat. Then add the diced onion and cook until translucent.β β
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Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 - 10 minutes or until well-browned. Season with salt and pepper.β β
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Add garlic and butter and cook until the garlic is fragrant and the butter is melted.β β
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To make a roux, sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and toss to coat. Stir for 1-3 minutes. It should be thick. β β
Add the milk to the flour, little by little, fully incorporating until all the milk is added. Taste and season with salt and pepper.β β
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Add the chicken stock, thyme, crushed red pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a very low boil and add the potatoes. β β
Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are almost fork-tender. β β
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Add the kale and stir to fully incorporate. Cook for 10 minutes until tender. Fin!β β
November Membership Giveaway
New members this month will be entered to win this new mushroom field guide devoted to the nearly 1,400 mushroom species found in the five-state Gulf Coast regionβ including Central Texas. With more than 650 color illustrations and dichotomous identification keys that will delight foragers, cooks, and scholars alike.
Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast States
By Alan E. Bessette, Arleen F. Bessette, and David P. Lewis, UT Press
New members this month will be entered to win this new mushroom field guide devoted to the nearly 1,400 mushroom species found in the five-state Gulf Coast regionβ including Central Texas. With more than 650 color illustrations and dichotomous identification keys that will delight foragers, cooks, and scholars alike.
Even more... We have plans in-the-works to have one of the authors, David for a guest lecture.
Become a member of CTMS and be entered in a win this field guide!
(Winner will be announced in December. Drawing will include all CTMS members.)
November Foraging Forecast
Chicken-of-the-Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus will continue to flush on older, Live Oaks. I was finding them into November but make sure they are still moist on the inside. We found some during the Halloween foray that were already past their prime. They can be mealy and hard to eat if they are not moist on the inside and soft and fleshy on the outside.
Chicken-of-the-Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus will continue to flush on older, Live Oaks. I was finding them into November but make sure they are still moist on the inside. We found some during the Halloween foray that were already past their prime. They can be mealy and hard to eat if they are not moist on the inside and soft and fleshy on the outside.
We found some Oysters, Pleurotus ostreatus flushing on dead black willows as well so keep a look out for this choice edible
The medicinal mushroom Turkey Tail, Trametes versicolor is also flushing after rain. Make sure the underside is white because it looks a lot like False turkey tail.
Ringless Honey Mushroom, Desarmillaria tabescens have also been popping up all over Austin in large clusters at the bases of trees (when the clusters appear to be terrestrial they are actually growing from underground wood) in late summer and fall. This parasitic fungus is part of a genus that is the largest living organism ever found on this planet.
As always, if you are trying a new edible mushroom for the first time, confirm the ID with an expert, then try a small amount to make sure you don't have an allergic reactions. Texas Mushroom Identification Facebook group is great for quick responses and ID help. Click images to learn more and to see where to find them! Also, don't forget to add your finds on the Mushrooms of Texas project on iNaturalist. Follow my adventures @forage.atx.
PHOTOS: Halloween Foray @ Circle Acres
Foray hooray! It was so lovely meeting everyone and see happy mushroom hunters IRL. Yesterday we found and identified several of mushrooms at the members only Halloween foray! We are planning another one at Zilker Botanical Garden in the near future so keep dancing for rain!
πππForay hooray! It was so lovely meeting everyone and see happy mushroom hunters IRL. Yesterday we found and identified several of mushrooms at the members only Halloween foray! We are planning another one at Zilker Botanical Garden in the near future so keep dancing for rain! π§οΈπ
If you were there, feel free to add your photos on iNaturalist in Circle Acres and Mushrooms of Texas projects.
