Open Chat

Welcome to Open Chat — the casual corner of our MHMA community. This is a free-form space where members can connect, chat, and get to know each other beyond our forays and groups. No agenda, no topic requirements — just good conversation among people who share a love of fungi.

Joan Kutcher led a wonderful walk at her place that sits at 2200 feet elevation in the Catskill Mountains. It was a great location with good people and excellent finds. We found nice edibles like Hydnum repandum (hedgehogs), Laetiporus sulphureus (chicken of the woods), Hericium erinaceus (lions mane), and Suillus spraguei (painted boletes). We also found curious species, including Lactarius lignyotus (chocolate milky), Helvella crispa (white saddle), and Clavulinopsis fusiformis (golden spindles).

I found this article interesting indeed!

https://www.sciencealert.com/we-may-finally-know-why-mysterious-mushroom-fairy-rings-grow-in-circles

The many mushrooms found on the Black Rock walk gave John Cox an opportunity to explain why it is so important to cut open what you think is a puffball before you ever think of eating it.