The Cold Creek Conservation
Area includes a number of ecologically interesting ecosystems, which include
within the main valley system, coniferous and mixed wooded swamp ecosystems and
smaller areas of bog communities. These
communities contain several trees and shrubs found more commonly in northern
parts of the Province. The valley
slopes and adjacent rolling tablelands (kame), include areas of mature
deciduous, mixed and hemlock woodlands.
Coniferous plantations, extensive grasslands and marsh ecosystems are
also represented.
The Mycological
Society of Toronto (MST) was given approval to make an inventory of the fungi
occurring in the Conservation Area.
Surveys were carried out in summer and fall during 2006 by MST, and were
organized by Dr John Sparling and Alan Gan with the assistance of Tony Wright
and Vito Testa. The Toronto Region
Conservation Authority (TRCA) maintains a no-picking fungi policy for its
properties. Specific identification
often requires microscopic examination, and picking for identification was
permitted for the purpose of this inventory.
Fungi form an
extremely varied group, and have in the last century been classified often with
plants; however, extensive biochemical work augmented by DNA analyses now
places them in an entirely separate Kingdom.
Fungi have closer but remote affinities with the Animal Kingdom.
Fungi play a number
of key roles in different ecosystems.
One is in the breakdown and recycling of nutrients from vegetation,
especially the lignin and cellulose components of wood. Fungi are essentially the only group of
organisms capable of breaking down lignin and releasing contained nutrients to
the soil. Other saprophytic and
parasitic fungi perform similar roles.
In addition, many fungi are essential for the growth and health of
plants. They form mycorrhizal
associations with plants, especially shrubs and trees, in which the fungal
hyphae form a covering over growing roots, and also extend far into the soil. The mycorrhizal association facilitates both
water and nutrient uptake by the host.
Without this close mycorrhizal association with fungi, many plants would
grow poorly.
Fungi are central
to entire ecosystem function providing food for larger animals and birds, while
many litter and wood inhabiting invertebrates depend on fungi using either the
fruiting body or grazing on hyphae growing in the soil or rotting wood. These species are important food sources for
several mammals and birds.
The inventory of
species found in Cold Creek CA is provided below. Many fungi have no common name and so are generally referred to
by its binomial. We have suggested
common names for some common fungi that have been taken from those found in
field guides. The fungi are arranged in
groups generally following that of Lamoureux (2000)
1. MYXOSTELIDA–THE
SLIME MOULDS
The Slime Moulds
have until a number of years ago been grouped as part of the fungi; however,
they are now placed in their own Phylum and are part of another Kingdom that
includes the protozoa. Mycologists have
generally studied these organisms, and continue to do so. They produce spores
similar to fungi, and these on germination produce an amoeboid single-celled
myxamoeba. At this stage, slime moulds
engulf bacteria and other small food fragments. Compatible myxamoeba may fuse and continue to grow as a
multinucleate plasmodium. This
plasmodium is capable of moving over a surface, and will undergo a spectacular
transformation in which the plasmodium will come together and rapidly form
fruiting bodies. The fruiting bodies of
six species were found during the forays.
Hemitrichia sp.
Ceratiomyxa
fruticulosa (Coral Slime)
Fuligo septica (Scrambled Egg Slime)
Lycogala epidendrum (Wolf’s Milk Slime)
Arcyria nutans (Candy Slime)
Stemonitis axifera
2. ASCOMYCETES-CUP FUNGI
The Cup Fungi are
so called because they produce spores from an open cup-like, flask-like or
closed structure called an apothecium.
This may be small or large depending on the species. Many are brightly coloured, such as orange,
red, black, blue-green, but others are various shades of brown or greyish and
merge in with the soil or litter colour.
The cup or apothecium contains large numbers of asci each with 8 or 16,
sometimes many more spores. Among the
cup fungi are several kinds of morel; these were not encountered since they
fruit earlier in the spring.
Apiosporina morbosa
(Cherry Black Knot)
Bisporella citrina (Yellow Fairy Cups)
Helvella
crispa (Fluted White Helvella)
Helvella
lacunosa (Fluted Black Helvella)
Leotia lubrica (Yellow Jelly Club)
Peziza
badio-confusa (Common Brown Cup)
Rhytisma acerinum (Maple Tar Spot)
Scutellinia
scutellata (Eyelash Cup)
Underwoodia
columnaris (Underwoodia)
Ustulina deusta (Carbon Cushion)
Xylaria longipes (Dead Moll’s Fingers)
Xylaria polymorpha (Dead Man’s Fingers)
3. BASIDIOMYCETES-JELLY FUNGI
Basidiomycetes
include the jelly fungi, coral fungi, polypores and mushrooms. Jelly fungi are gelatinous in texture, and
vary in colour from white, bright yellow, shades of mauve to black. The spores are born of surficial cells
called basidia. Generally four spores
are formed on stalks from the top of the basidia. Only one species was found Dacrymyces palmatus (Orange Jelly)
4. BASIDIOMYCETES-POLYPORES
AND SIMILAR FUNGI
The Polypores
include the bracket fungi in which spores are produced either from pores or, in
some cases, from folds covering the undersides of the fruiting body. The spores are released inside the pores
from specialized hyphae called basidia, and are dispersed downwards where they
are carried by air currents. Polypores
vary in size from less than one cm wide to some which extend to nearly a
metre. Many of the bracket fungi are
parasitic and can kill their host. Piptoporus
grows on dead and senescent birch trees.
Several, such as Trametes live on dead wood. Many species of polypore live on trees or
shrubs for many years without killing them.
They are important contributors to the break down of wood in the forest
and the recycling of nutrients as well as soil improvement. Mostly, polypores have a hard or corky
structure. A large variety of species
were found at Cold Creek, including three species of Ganoderma.
Bjerkandera adusta (Smoky Polypore)
Daedalopsis
confragosa (Maze Polypore)
Fomes fomentarius (Tinder Polypore)
Fomitopsis
pinicolor (Red-banded Polypore)
Ganoderma applanatum (Artist’s Conk)
Ganoderma tsugi (Hemlock Varnish Polypore)
Gloeophyllum
sepiarium (Yellow-red Gill Polypore)
Irpex lacteus (Milk-white Tooth Polypore)
Ischnoderma
resinosum (Late Fall Polypore)
Oligoporus chioneus
(White Cheese Polypore)
Oxyporus populinus (Mossy Maple Polypore)
Phlebia tremellosa (Jelly Phlebia)
Piptoporus
betulinus (Birch Polypore)
Plicaturopsis
crispa (Crimped Gill)
Polyporus
arcularius (Spring Polypore)
Polyporus badius (Black-footed Polypore)
Polyporus brumalis (Winter Polypore)
Polyporus elegans (Elegant Polypore)
Polyporus mori
Polyporus squamosus
(Dryad’s Saddle)
Polyporus varius (Black-footed Polypore)
Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail)
Trametes elegans (Elegant Bracket)
Trametes pubescens (Pale Polypore)
Trametes versicolor
(Turkey-tail)
Trichaptum
abietinum (Violet-toothed Polypore)
Tyromyces fragilis
The spore-bearing
surface in these fungi consists of conical teeth on the underside of the
fruiting. Some species are hard and
corky, while others, including those found on the forays, were delicate and
pale in colour. They are a
heterogeneous group and the dispersal method appears to have evolved several
times
Hericium
coralloides (Comb Tooth)
6. BASIDIOMYCETES-CORAL AND CLUB FUNGI
These fungi grow on
the soil or on well-rotted logs. They
may be unbranched or repeatedly branched, and the species range in colour from
pure white, yellow, pale pinkish-brown or purple. Spores are produced from the upper portion of the fungus.
Clavicorona
pyxidata (Crown-tipped Coral)
Ramaria concolor
Ramaria sp. (Branched Coral)
7.
BASIDIOMYCETES-CHANTERELLES AND ALLIES
This family
includes some of the choice edible fungi such as the ‘Chanterelles’ and the
‘Horn of Plenty’ Species are more frequently found during the summer. The spores develop on folds on the outer
surface. The folds resemble true gills
but are developed differently. The
Chanterelles are highly prized, and often the focus of haut cuisine. They are generally yellow or pale in colour,
but some, such as Craterellus, which was not found, may be almost black.
Cantharellus ignicolor
1. BASIDIOMYCETES-OYSTER MUSHROOMS AND ALLIES
These are gilled
mushrooms resembling bracket fungi, and they fruit shelving on wood. They play an important role in nutrient
recycling. Phyllotopsis nidulans
is quite common, a gilled bracket fungi having a strong coal-tar
odour. There are several other common
species not yet found in Cold Creek.
Panellus stipticus (Bitter Oyster)
Phyllotopsis nidulans
2.
BASIDIOMYCETES-WAXYCAPS
Fungi in this
mainly mycorrhizal family are often bright scarlet, red or yellow. The Parrot Waxycap, Hygocybe psittacina,
is quite spectacular being bright green when young. All appear waxy to the touch, hence their common name.
Hygrocybe
cantharellus
Hygrocybe conica (Conic Waxycap)
Hygrocybe
flavescens (Golden Waxycap)
Hygrocybe miniata (Vermilion Waxycap)
Hygrocybe niveus (Snowy Waxycap)
Hygrocybe
psittacina (Parrot Waxycap)
Hygrocybe punicea (Sticky-cap Scarlet Waxycap)
Hygrophorus
pratensis
10.
BASIDIOMYCETES-TRICHOLOMATACEAE
This is a large and
diverse family of white-spored mushrooms.
It includes the Honey Mushroom, Armillaria mellea complex, a good
edible and an aggressive fungal parasite of trees.
Armillaria ostoyae (Honey Mushroom) (one species in the mellea complex)
Clitocybe gibba (Forest Funnelcap)
Clitocybe robusta (Robust Funnelcap)
Hypsizygus
tessulatus (Elm Oyster)
Laccaria lacata (Deceiver)
Lyophyllum decastes
(Fried Chicken Mushroom)
Tricholoma aurantium (Golden Tricholoma)
Tricholoma
magnivelare
Tricholoma
myomyces (Mouse Tricholoma)
Tricholoma vaccinum
11. BASIDIOMYCETES-COLLYBIAS, MYCENAS AND OTHERS
This group includes
many of the more fragile fungi such as those in the genus Mycena, and
also in Marasmius, interesting fungi that dry up during dry periods, and
revive completely following the next rainfall.
Many in this group are delicate with light shades of pink, brown or
yellows. Included are several that are
choice edibles such as the fungus ‘Enoki-take’ or Velvet Stalk, Flammulina
velutipes.
Collybia butyracea (Buttery Collybia)
Flammulina
velutipes (Velvet Stalk)
Gymnopus confluens
Marasmius rotula (Pin-wheel Marasmius)
Mycena haematopus (Bleeding Fairy Helmet)
Mycena leaiana (Golden Fairy Helmet)
Mycena pura (Pink Mycena)
Xerula furfuracea (Deep Root)
Xerula megalospora
12. BASIDIOMYCETES-CORTINARIACEAE
This family includes
the Deadly Galerina that fruits on decaying logs contains similar amatoxins to
those found in Amanita spp., and which are responsible for many human
fatalities from eating fungi. It also
includes some poisonous brown-spored mushrooms including some that do not cause
gastric upsets, but affect other body organs.
Several are common in the Cold Creek CA. No mushroom is poisonous by simply touching the surface only by
ingestion. Cortinarius spp. are
difficult to identify to species without a full range of fresh specimens.
Cortinarius
alboviolaceus (Pale-violet Cort)
Cortinarius
spp. (Corts)
Crepidotus
mollis (Brown Crep)
Galerina autumnalis
(Deadly Galerina)
Inocybe fastigiata (Conic Fibrehead)
Inocybe geophylla (Earth Blade Fibrehead)
Inocybe sororia
13. BASIDIOMYCETES-AGROCYBES
None has been
encountered so far during the visits to Cold Creek.
14. BASIDIOMYCETES-PHOLIOTAS AND ALLIES
These are large and
often spectacular fungi growing in large clumps on the sides of trees. They are
yellowish to brown in colour and many have a viscid cap.
Pholiota aurivella (Golden Scalecap)
Pholiota malicola (Smooth Scalecap)
15.
BASIDIOMYCETES-COPRINUS AND ALLIES
The Ink Caps: These are black-spored mushroom which when
fresh are good edibles; however the gills quickly decay to a black liquid. This specialization allows for the
progressive exposure of spores, thus the later developing spores are exposed
and are dispersed. Dispersal is also
accomplished by contact with animals.
Many are common on soils rich in humus material, including dung.
Coprinellus
disseminatus (Crumble Cap)
Coprinellus
micaceus (Mica Cap)
Coprinopsis
atramentaria (Alcohol Ink Cap)
Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Mane
Parasola plicatilis
(Japanese Umbrella Ink Cap)
Psathyrella
velutina
Psathyrella spp. (Psathyrellas)
16.
BASIDIOMYCETES-AGARICUS, LEPIOTA AND ALLIES
This group includes
the common store-bought mushroom, Agaricus bisporus or A. brunnescens,
as well as several field and woodland mushrooms. It also includes members of
the genus Lepiota which includes several very poisonous species, one of which
was implicated in a death recently in Toronto.
Agaricus campestris (Meadow Mushroom)
Agaricus
diminutivus
Agaricus silvicola
Lepiota
acutaesquamosa (Sharp-scaled Parasol)
Leucoagaricus
naucinus (Smooth Parasol)
17.
BASIDIOMYCETES-PLUTEUS AND ALLIES
This group includes
those gill fungi that produce pink spores.
Most have a stalk and cap as with other mushrooms but there are species
appearing like a bracket fungus but with gills rather than pores. The group includes both edible and poisonous
species. Common in our area is the Deer
Mushroom which fruits on rotted wood.
Pluteus cervinus (Deer Mushroom)
18.
BASIDIOMYCETES-AMANITA AND ALLIES
These white-spored
mushrooms include the Death Caps and the Destroying Angel, which are among the
most deadly fungi. Amanitas generally have a ring, and also a basal volva. The
volva may not always be obvious so the base of the mushroom needs to be
examined very closely. The family
includes some of the most important mycorrhizal fungi, which are essential for
a healthy forest.
Amanita citrina (False Death Cap)
Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)
19.
BASIDIOMYCETES-ENTOLOMAS
These are pink spored
mushroom, which when fresh show colouration distinctive of the species, these
may be blue-black, violet, iridescent green, salmon pinks and yellow-green Some
species are quite common. Many are
poisonous, but they make up for this in their beauty. One species encountered was the Aborted Entoloma which is
non-poisonous and frequently eaten in its aborted form as ‘Hunters’
Hearts’. They are important mycorrhizal
fungi.
Entoloma abortivum (Aborted Entoloma)
Nolanea
salmonea (Salmon-coloured Nolanea)
20.
BASIDIOMYCETES-LACTARIUS AND RUSSULA
These two genera,
although appearing similar, are only distantly related to other mushrooms. Lactarius include fungi that produce
milk when the gills or stalk are cut. The
colour of the milk, and whether it changes colour or not are important
diagnostic feature. Russula
species, although closely related to Lactarius, are quite different, and
do not produce milk. Many have richly
coloured caps that contrasts with the pure white of the flesh. Another feature is the stalk which when bent
breaks like a stick of chalk.
Lactarius
deterrimus (Delicious
Lactarius)
Lactarius rufus
Lactarius
subpurpureus
Lactarius
theiogalus
Lactarius thyinos
Russula aeruginea
Russula emetica (Emetic Russula)
Russula
fragilis (Fragile Russula)
Russula silvicola (Woodland Russula)
21.
BASIDIOMYCETES-PAXILLUS AND ALLIES
Some members of this family form a
symbiotic relationship with conifers. Several
species have been used as a dye for clothing.
Some are regarded as edible, however, others may affect the blood and
immune systems.
Paxillus atrotomentosus (Velvet-stalked Pax)
22. BASIDIOMYCETES-BOLETES AND ALLIES
This is another
important family that form mycorrhizal associations with forest trees. These are large mushrooms with pores on the
undersides rather than gills. Almost
all are edible although some should be avoided since they cause gastric
upsets. Species with reddish stalks and
pores, such as Boletus satanus are very suspect. On the other hand Boletus edulis is
the famous edible ‘Cep’ of European cuisine.
The group is an important food source for squirrels and woodland mice,
as well as slugs, millipedes and other woodland invertebrates.
Boletinellus
merulioides (Ash Bolete)
Boletopsis
subsquamosa
Suillus
granulatus (Granular-dotted
Bolete)
Suillus pictus (Painted Bolete)
Tylopilus
ferrugineus
23. BASIDIOMYCETES-GASTEROMYCETES
This is a heterogeneous
group of fungi, once conveniently linked together by their general appearance
and form. They include the Puffballs,
Earthballs, Earth Stars, Stinkhorns, and Bird’s Nest fungi. The following five species were encountered
during the 2006 forays.
Calvatia
cyathiformis
Cyathus stercoreus (Blue-black Bird’s Nest)
Geastrum
quadrifidum (Four-armed Earthstar)
Lycoperdon perlatum (Gem-studded
Puffball)
Lycoperdon
pyriforme (Pear-shaped Puffball)
This inventory
confirms that there is a high diversity of fungi in Cold Creek. The inventory includes approximately 140
species. There was fairly good
representation in the Ascomycetes, Mycena spp., and Boletes, however
there were a number of species expected which were not found. It is likely that these would be encountered
if the inventory were continued for a further year.
The presence of a
number of Agaricus was interesting, and perhaps related to the grassland
communities following previous agriculture.
John Sparling
Mycological Society
of Toronto