Mushroom Logs

[Nebraska]

I managed to create some mushroom logs even without one of those fancy purplish innocculation benches.  ;)

This is Cottonwood  it has laid about 3 months after being bucked. In a perfect world it would've been lumber by now. 
Just wondered if anyone knew the mushroom? I've got a good crop although I think I am a week late as some a fairly woody now. It was amazing to me how fast they emerged. 

 

 

 

 

Just wonder what they are and if they are any good??? I have a field guide for mushroom I.D. and will puruse  it later at work and see what I come up with. 

[Nebraska]

A few more pictures  with a ruler for reference.




 

 

 

 

[Southside]

Based on the picture on the sawmill I expected to see some rift sawn images of the mushroom.  :D

[aigheadish]

While it's tough to trust anyone on identifying mushrooms reddit, which is often a cesspit, has some good info for places to start on stuff like this. I believe it is mycology: mushroom hunting, fungi, myco-porn, cultivation. It's easy to ask for IDs with easy to post pictures but as mentioned mushroom IDing is always questionable. 

I don't really like plugging reddit but I've plugged the ForestryForum there many times now, so I guess it's fair.

[Nebraska]

Based on the picture on the sawmill I expected to see some rift sawn images of the mushroom.  :D

I just hope the lumber is still good.  I got the other half done 6 weeks ago it was fine no sprouts.

[Nebraska]

Philiota sp.  Destructive fungi of Cottonwood,  and Aspen  logs wrecks the wood in a hurry. 

[Old Greenhorn]

What doe the "sp." stand for? There are a lot of species in the Philiota group. FYI, all mushrooms are destructive to wood, that's what they do, they break it back down. The question is, do they do it after the tree has died, or do they do it to a living tree? The latter are called parasitic mushrooms and they are destructive. The former are just taking the tree (log) to the next stage of decay after death.
 I can't identify these things but I do keep nationally recognized expert on retainer for such things (yeah, really). I could not find the species you mentioned in my Smithsonian book.

[beenthere]

Tom
Who is the nationally recognized expert?

[Old Greenhorn]

He is local to me, but he lectures all over the country, speaking and teaching at many of the bigger events each year. He also does some international trips here and there. His name is John Michelotti. He's a friend and client, but I lean on him for knowledge when I need it.

[Nebraska]

Species  ....Sp.   was as far as I had gotten with my digging. I believe it's  Philiota destruens.  

I didn't find it in my MacMillan  field guide I have either. 

It listed a sharp variety, and a scalloped  variety. Curious  as to what your source would say. 

[Old Greenhorn]

Well I am tied up all weekend and have to get out the door in a minute, but I sent a note to John and if he can spare time, perhaps he will take a look. He is a super busy guy. Sometimes it takes a few days until he gets a minute. I don't even know if he is in town or on the road this week.

[WV Sawmiller]

Doc says you can eat them - but maybe only once. :D :D :D

[kantuckid]

As a guy who's always gathered nuts and picked wild berries for years, I got on a fungi kick some years back. My area (Red River Gorge Geologic Area) has skads of types of fungi many of which I see all the time on our land. I looked at lots of websites and decided on several books to use for fungi species verification that I could carry with me. After some serious study measured in weeks, I gave up.
 I do think if I had a fungi guru to hike with, I could get past the few ones I know really well and add to my group. It's much harder than one would think! 
Many aren't poisonous but also not very edible. as food. 
I can buy a small box of Portobellas for $2 bucks at Walmart and love em on a burger. Is there any economic value in me growing them really, or is it just a hobby thing done small? 

 

[kantuckid]

Doc says you can eat them - but maybe only once. :D :D :D

I've heard the coroner gets some mushroom adventurer's, not the ER stomach pumper crew. :D 

[Nebraska]

Well what I read about them is yes you can eat them but they aren't very good tasting.   I didn't figure I'd  get so lucky as to have a great culinary fungi growing on my log pile.   I bet there is about a bushel basket worth though.  We will see if Tom's source has an opinion. 

[Southside]

I have to ask.  If you had a game animal in your sights and had to read a book, call someone, or reach out to the internet to find out if it was safe to eat - would you even bother with it or not give it a second look and keep looking for a deer, rabbit, or duck?  Just wondering.   ;D

[Nebraska]

I am better trained regarding animals.  So I am pretty sure I'm good there. Dogs make poor choices regarding mushroom consumption so I am trained regarding the consequences.  I am by no means a mushroom expert. So in this situation I am referring to books and thoughtful study since I value my liver function. 
It's mostly a curiosity thing they kind of showed up and I wondered if they were any good beyond capable log recyclers.

I have put the shotgun down in order to ID a duck or two to make sure we don't go over the bag limit with restricted harvest species such as a hen  "Red Head"..
Federal game wardens  can be less than "jolly" sometimes.

[kantuckid]

I have to ask.  If you had a game animal in your sights and had to read a book, call someone, or reach out to the internet to find out if it was safe to eat - would you even bother with it or not give it a second look and keep looking for a deer, rabbit, or duck?  Just wondering.   ;D

That is far off the topic of fungi and was obviously aimed at me, not Nebraska. 
It's also offensive to my intellect, not to mention that as a lifetime hunter I needed a book with me?  
If you're going to administer this forum at least show some respect please. Fungi guide books are indeed, very common, whereas, books on "which animals are safe to eat before you harvest it", are not. Most states issue pertinent booklet info with the license sellers.
 Yea, I read my "hunting book" before I pull the trigger... :D
Many fungi cannot be identified by sight alone and require a spore print. Some of those fit into various categories as inedible, edible or poisonous to various degrees. Know your subject before you go on a fault-finding mission.  
We both know that certain wild meats have various issues, but hardly related to a fungi discussion.  

[Southside]

It wasn't aimed at anybody, it's called sarcasm, notice the smiley face?
 
I find the whole mushroom thing comical in the sense that I asked about. Ever read Pat McManus? He would be there asking that question. 

On a serious note I personally know the dangers of not identifying a mushroom correctly as I had to figure out where a family had gone foraging for them one time and try to recover more since the entire family was in the ER and both kids were on life support by then, only dad lived when it was all said and done.

So yeah, I am rather familiar with the subject and wasn't fault finding, rather making fun of it. 

[Jeff]

Lighten up kantuckid. Sounds like you need a vacation of late. Don't make me provide it for you.

Just remember with me its like magic. Poof. Yer on vacation.