Fungi 2013

[Stephenb]

Try Wolf's Milk - Lycogala epidendron 

[Peter Maguire]

Many thanks Stephen - that's why I couldn't find it in any of my fungus books - it's a slime mould! (Fascinating organisms, I was watching a BBC nature program recently showing timelaspe footage of another one, rejoicing in the common name of Dog's vomit (Fuligo septica), consuming fungi in leaf litter)
Does this mean that I should start a new thread?? 

Regarding the common name, I knew that they were considering reintoducing extinct species to the Cairngorms National Park, but has anyone heard any nocturnal howling around the Aviemore area recently? 

[Natalia]

Probably the last mushrooms in our area...

Tremella mesenterica

[Hans J]

Hi all ,

 I'm back today from a very interesting excursion 
We ( some fungi specialists ) and I had today the opportunity to go searching for truffles  - we had a very good guide with his dog ( a italian dog )
It was unbelievable to see how quick this dog ( called Zara) found the fungi ...

Here are some pics of Tuber aestivum :

[Hans J]

It is not allowed for common people to collect truffles to collect - but our guide is a reasearcher  !

[Hans J]

On this hill grows several Tuber species :
The most common is Tuber aestivum ( the summer truffles )
later in year comes Tuber brumale ( the winter truffles )
Also we found some few Tuber excavatum ( see last picture )

Enjoy
Hans

[Stephenb]

Wow! Lucky you...thanks for sharing! Was this in the Black Forest? Did you get to eat them?

[Hans J]

Hi Stephen ,

thank you for your interest !

Yes it was in my area ( river Rhein valley )
But not in Black Forest - the reason is truffles need a calcy soil - Black Forest is mostly acid soil

We got nothing from this truffles for eating - the specialist and reasearcher need all     ( my wife was really sad )

I have learned on this day that truffles are more distributet ....from Portugal to the Krim ...and from there until to China ( different species )
They grows also in the North ! ( p.e in Danmark ,Sweden )
And they grow until a altitude of 1000 m !

Hans

[Stephenb]

Interesting, thanks! Yes, I know that Chinese species are sold in Italy in the same way as many Porcini fungi (ceps) nowadays come from China and are sold as Italian...

There's a project ongoing in Norway with an Italian truffle dog trying to find the edible species....but so far as far as I know not successfully (various other Tuber species and other inedible truffles are found however).  I know someone who is growing a Hazel inoculated with the black summer truffle (no crop yet)...

[Hans J]

Stephen ,

I have never heard that "Fungi porcini" comes from China ...so far I know they all Comes from eastern countires ( Poland )

But I know that those chinese truffles are mixed with T.melanosporum or T.aestivum ....they looks perfect like it ...but they dont smell like a real truffle ....it is not possibly to see the difference with a microscope ....and after few days mixing with real truffles they have the same smell

There is no problem for a dog ...they can find all kind of truffles ( anyway if edible or not ) for the dog there is no difference !!

Our guide with his dog works for the unversitiy ...and they have made a lot of research about truffles which growing with trees ( Hazel - Oaks ...)
Now after 6 -7 years of research they sell the first trees ...maybe you are interested ?

As I told earlier it is not allowed to collect wild truffles in Germany ....but if they are growing on your own ground between trees which you have plantet ...so you can use it !!!

Here is the website of this people ...sorry only in german :
http://deutsche-trueffelbaeume.de/index.php

Ah - I forgot : truffles are growing in England 

Hans

[Stephenb]

Interesting, thank you!!

Yes, I would really like to try truffle trees....I have wild Hazel growing in my garden and I also have fairly alkaline soil, so it should be possible

Concerning Chinese imports, I have a paper (in English) on "Globalized Porcini" - it also covers truffles (I can send it to you if you send me a PM with your email address).
This is a quote from the paper:

"Most dried “Italian porcini” are not Italian at all, but originate in eastern Europe or, especially, in
Yunnan province, China, where a cottage industry has sprung up to support Italy’s demand for porcini."

Best wishes, Stephen

[Hans J]

 

Stephen : I have ask this man what is the prize for a Hazel which can produce truffles ...he told me :
One pot ( maybe 5 x 5 cm ) costs 35€ ....but if you buy more so they are cheaper 

This people from "Trüffelbäume" will help you with planting - no problem

Good that you have alkaline soil ...you should plant it on a slope with good drainage and good aeration ( similar as for bulbs )

Also you need a dog ...and dont forget ... you need truffles for the training of the dog
( I have heard you can buy such dogs in Switzerland )

Thank you - but I'm not interestet for this paper ...all the Boletus edulis that we eat are collect from my wife !

Good luck
Hans