Special Issue, December 11 and 12, 1999
Mycological Society of San Francisco (MSSF) Fungus Fair
by Herman Brown
herman@fungi-zette.com

Back to FUNGUS FAIRS

Contents:

Comment
The Fair (from Yu-Shen Ng)
The Fair Schedule (from Mark Thomsen)
Barbara Sommer's Pictures from the Fair
Specie List (from Mike Wood)

Fair Poster
Fair Poster

The following material was donated by some of those who attended the December, 1999 Mycological Society of San Francisco (MSSF) Fungus Fair.

I was unable to go, so I solicited pictures and comments from the members of the MSSF OneList (MSSF electronic mailing list), and collected what I could off the MSSF OneList postings.

What follows is a result of that solicitation and collecting.

A note from Barbara Sommer:

I heard that there were 1,000 people in attendance on Saturday, but that is 2nd hand information. I was only there on Sunday and it did not seem like there were that many people -- but the turnout was good. The Amanita table was a big draw -- as always, and people were interested in the deliquescing shaggy manes and blue-staining Psilocybes (see species list).

- Barbara

The Fair  

The following is a brief description of the Fair, posted on the MSSF Onelist by Yu-Shen Ng:

Hi,

I'd like to invite you to the SF Fungus Fair, to be held in Golden Gate Park at the Hall of Flowers on December 11 and 12. The Hall of Flowers (also named the SF County Fair Building) is located near 9th and Lincoln in San Francisco. Here's some more information about the Fair:

Explore the world of mushrooms. See thousands of mushrooms on display, learn to find and identify mushrooms, cook with wild mushrooms, and listen to experts on psychedelics, poisonings, medicinal uses, and more.

  • Saturday, 12/11, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, 12/12, 11am-5pm.

  • County Fair Building (generally known as the Hall of Flowers) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

  • $6 adults/$3 students with ID and children under 12

  • Full details at: http://www.mssf.org/

    Anyone with a passion for the outdoors and an interest in mushrooms will be able to get a hands-on introduction to the beauty, smells and tastes of the world of mushrooms.

    Over a thousand specimens of local mushrooms will be on display at the fair, and visitors will learn, first hand, how to distinguish the deadly poisonous mushrooms from the choice edibles. Mushrooms will be displayed in a setting that assists in their identification and mimics their natural habitat.

    EXPERTS TO COVER PSYCHEDLIC EFFECTS, MEDICINAL USES, DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY OF, AND ECOLOGY OF MUSHROOMS

    Speakers at the fair will focus on various roles of mushrooms in our society. Multiple speakers will address ethnocultural aspects of mushrooms, including psychedelic mushrooms. Internationally-renowned photographer Taylor Lockwood will present a multimedia show about exotic mushrooms from around the world: "Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi." Dr. Mo-Mei Chen, Professor of Mycology at the Chinese Academy of Forestry in Beijing, and currently a visiting professor at UC-Berkeley, will discuss medicinal uses of mushrooms. Janet Doell, of the California Lichen Society, will give a multimedia presentation on "Lichens Exposed." Mike Boom, past president of the Mycological Society of San Francisco, will teach beginners how to safely hunt and identify wild mushrooms.

    JUST FOR KIDS

    Middle and high schools students will enjoy and appreciate most fair activities, and younger students can also participate in artist and author Louise Freedman's Kid's Area. The Kid's Area will provide opportunities to learn about a select set of mushrooms, participate in a mushroom drawing contest, and "hunt" for specific mushrooms among the display tables.

    COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS

    Cooking shows will be held throughout the day. Francis Wilson, head chef at LaLime's in Berkeley, will demonstrate techniques and recipes for preparing choice wild mushrooms available in the Bay Area. Several other chefs will also be showcasing mushroom cooking techniques.

    ORGANIZED MUSHROOM HUNTING FORAYS

    In addition to viewing displays and presentations, fair visitors can participate in "mushroom-hunting" by joining one of the pre-fair "mushroom forays." On Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11, several teams of experts will invite fair-goers to hike through forests, hillsides, trails, and seashores to collect mushrooms throughout the Bay Area. To participate in any of the pre-fair forays, call the Mycological Society of San Francisco's (MSSF's) hotline at 415-759-0495.

    The Fungus Fair is not a crafts fair; some mushroom related items, however, including mushroom dyed clothing, posters, and growing kits, will be available for sale.

    ABOUT THE SOCIETY

    The Mycological Society of San Francisco is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of educational and scientific activities involving mushrooms. The MSSF is the largest regional mushroom society in the United States, and has over 800 members. Founded in 1950, the society is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. The society awards a yearly scholarship to a Northern California graduate student of Mycology, maintains a species database used by city, county and state parks, provides expertise to Bay Area poison control centers, leads identification walks and works to preserve cultural traditions of mushroom collecting.


    The Fair Schedule of Events  top

    The following schedule was posted on the MSSF OneList by Mark Thomsen:

    Saturday, December 11th

    Outdoor Cooking demonstration

    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM John Pisto, chef, restaurateur, author, television personality and mushroom aficionado will be cooking up a wild mushroom risotto. There will be liberal samples at the end of the show. John has been delighting audiences with his love of mushrooms and cooking for years.

    Auditorium

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Lichens Exposed. A multi media presentation on lichens by Richard Doell of the California Lichen Society.

    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Beginning mushrooms. A slide show presentation on the basics of fungi by MSSF past president Mike Boom. This is a general introduction to mycology and a tour of common California mushrooms.

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi. An awesome slide and musical show by Taylor Lockwood, one of the most talented photographers of mushrooms around. This really is a special presentation.

    Lecture Room

    11:30 AM - 12:30 PM California's rich mushroom heritage. A slide show and lecture by Dr. Mo-Mei Chen, professor of forest pathology and mycology at UC Berkeley/Jepson Herbaria and at the UC Forest Products Lab.

    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Buddhist saints on drugs: Mushrooms in the history of religion by Scott Hajicek-Dobberstein.

    2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Intro to Enthnomycology, the discovery of psychedelic mushrooms by the West. Part 1. A presentation by James Arthur.

    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM A slide show presentation of 19th century American artist Mary Banning's mushroom illustrations.

    Sunday, December 12th

    Outdoor Cooking demonstration

    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Frances Wilson, executive chef at Lalime's restaurant in Berkeley will be preparing a variety of wild mushroom dishes including a candy cap creme brulé. Frances teaches classes in cooking with wild mushrooms at various Bay Area locales.

    Auditorium

    11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Lichens Exposed. A multi media presentation on lichens by Richard Doell of the California Lichen Society.

    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Photographing mushrooms. This is a workshop with tips and techniques on photographing fungi by our (MSSF) webmaster Mike Wood and past president Fred Stevens.

    2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi. An awesome slide and musical show by Taylor Lockwood, one of the most talented photographers of mushrooms around. This really is a special presentation.

    Lecture Room

    1:00 AM - 2:00 PM California's rich mushroom heritage. A slide show and lecture by Dr. Mo-Mei Chen, professor of forest pathology and mycology at UC Berkeley/Jepson Herbaria and at the UC Forest Products Lab.

    2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Intro to Enthnomycology, mushrooms and shamanism Part 2. A presentation by James Arthur.

    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM A slide show presentation of 19th century American artist Mary Banning's mushroom illustrations.


    Barbara Sommer's pictures top

    Barbara used a Sony Mavica MVC 83 digital camera set in the high resolution mode. I reduced the resolution as necessary to fit my screen

    The Culture Table
    The Culture Table

    A customer?
    The Customer

    Bob Sommer
    The Culture table

    Bob's table
    Bob's table

    Lots of 'Shrooms
    'Shrooms

    A nice setting
    The Mix

    A few Ramaria (and others)
    Ramaria, et al

    Mike Wood's table
    Mike's

    Fred Stevens, The ID Wizard
    ID Wizard

    A display about mushroom identification
    Identifcation

    Hypholoma aurantiacum
    Hypholoma aurantiacum

    Mushroom growing kits available for purchase
    Kits

    Help on the edibility of mushrooms
    Edibility

    Display about the ecological value of fungi
    Ecology

    The Amanita table
    Amanitas

    Specie List (from Mike Wood) top

    The IDs were done by Dr. Dennis Desjardin, Michael Wood, Fred Stevens, J. R. Blair, and Norm Andresen

    1. Agaricus arvensis
    2. Agaricus augustus
    3. Agaricus bernardii
    4. Agaricus californicus
    5. Agaricus campestris
    6. Agaricus cupreo-brunneus
    7. Agaricus hondensis
    8. Agaricus praeclaresquamosus
    9. Agaricus subrutilescens
    10. Agaricus xanthodermus
    11. Agrocybe pediades
    12. Alboleptonia sericella
    13. Aleuria aurantia
    14. Amanita calyptrata
    15. Amanita franchetii
    16. Amanita gemmata
    17. Amanita muscaria
    18. Amanita pachycolea
    19. Amanita pantherina
    20. Amanita phalloides
    21. Amanita silvicola
    22. Amanita vaginata
    23. Armillaria mellea
    24. Arrhenia bryophilum
    25. Auriscalpium vulgare
    26. Battarraea phalloides
    27. Bolbitius aleuriatus
    28. Bolbitius vitellinus
    29. Boletopsis leucomelas
    30. Boletus aereus
    31. Boletus amygdalinus
    32. Boletus appendiculatus
    33. Boletus chrysenteron
    34. Boletus dryophilus
    35. Boletus edulis
    36. Boletus flaviporus
    37. Boletus piperatus
    38. Boletus pulcherrimus
    39. Boletus regius
    40. Boletus rubripes
    41. Boletus satanas
    42. Boletus subtomentosus
    43. Boletus truncatus
    44. Boletus zelleri
    45. Bulgaria inquinans
    46. Calvatia lycoperdoides
    47. Camarophyllus russocoriaceus
    48. Cantharellus cibarius
    49. Cantharellus tubaeformis
    50. Caulorhiza umbonata
    51. Chroogomphus vinicolor
    52. Clathrus ruber
    53. Clavaria vermicularis
    54. Clitocybe (Lepista) nuda
    55. Clitocybe deceptiva
    56. Clitocybe inversa
    57. Clitocybe nebularis
    58. Clitocybe (Lepista) tarda
    59. Clitopilus prunulus
    60. Conocybe lactea
    61. Coprinus comatus
    62. Coprinus micaceus
    63. Coprinus niveus
    64. Corintarius cylindripes
    65. Cortinarius albida
    66. Cortinarius alboviolaceus
    67. Cortinarius cedretorium
    68. Cortinarius clachrous
    69. Cortinarius cylindripes
    70. Cortinarius glaucopus
    71. Cortinarius infractus
    72. Cortinarius iodes
    73. Cortinarius percomis
    74. Cortinarius ponderosus
    75. Cortinarius prasinus
    76. Cortinarius pseudobolaris
    77. Cortinarius regalis
    78. Cortinarius rufo-olivacea
    79. Cortinarius scaurus
    80. Cortinarius sodagnitus
    81. Cortinarius superbus
    1. Cortinarius vanduzerensis
    2. Crepidotus herbarum
    3. Crepidotus mollis
    4. Crucibulum laeve
    5. Dacrymyces palmatus
    6. Daldinia grandis
    7. Dermocybe phoenicea var. occidentalis
    8. Entoloma bloxami
    9. Entoloma rhodopolium
    10. Flammulina velutipes
    11. Fomitopsis cajanderi
    12. Fomitopsis pinicola
    13. Galerina atkinsoniana
    14. Galerina autumnalis
    15. Galerina unicolor
    16. Gandoderma tsugae
    17. Geastrum fimbriatum
    18. Geastrum fornicatum
    19. Gomphidius oregonensis
    20. Gomphidius smithii
    21. Gomphus clavatus
    22. Gomphus floccosus
    23. Gymnopilus luteocarneus
    24. Gymnopilus luteofolius
    25. Gymnopilus sapineus
    26. Gymnopilus spectabilis
    27. Gymnopus (Collybia) dryophilus
    28. Gymnopus (Collybia) villosipes
    29. Hebeloma crustuliniforme
    30. Hebeloma mesophaeum
    31. Hebeloma sinapizans
    32. Helvella lacunosa
    33. Hohenbuehelia petaloides
    34. Hydnum repandum
    35. Hygrocybe conica
    36. Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca
    37. Hygrophorus eburneus
    38. Hygrophorus subalpinus
    39. Hypholoma aurantiaca
    40. Hypholoma fasciculare
    41. Hypomyces chrysospermum
    42. Inocybe albodisca
    43. Inocybe geophylla
    44. Inocybe geophylla var. lilacina
    45. Inocybe pyriodora
    46. Inocybe sororia
    47. Jahnoporus hirtus
    48. Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis
    49. Laccaria fraterna
    50. Laccaria laccata
    51. Lactarius alnicola
    52. Lactarius deliciosus
    53. Lactarius pseudomucidus
    54. Lactarius rubidus (fragilis var. rubidus)
    55. Lactarius rubrilacteus
    56. Laetiporus sulphureus
    57. Leccinum manzanitae
    58. Lepiota atrodisca
    59. Lepiota cristata
    60. Lepiota roseifolia
    61. Lepiota rubrotincta
    62. Lepiota sequoiarum
    63. Lepiota ventriosospora (clypeolaria)
    64. Leptonia parva
    65. Leucopaxillus albissimus
    66. Leucopaxillus gentianeus
    67. Lycoperdon perlatum
    68. Lycoperdon umbrinum
    69. Lyophyllum decastes
    70. Macrocystidia cucumis
    71. Macrolepiota rachodes
    72. Maras
    73. Paxillus involutus
    74. Paxillus panuoides
    75. Peziza vesiculosa
    76. Phaeocollybia attenuata
    77. Phaeocollybia californica
    78. Phaeocollybia olivacea
    1. Phaeolus schweinitzii
    2. Phellinus gilvus
    3. Pholiota malicola
    4. Pholiota scamba
    5. Pholiota terrestris
    6. Pleurotus ostreatus
    7. Pluteus cervinus
    8. Polyporus badius
    9. Polyporus squamosus
    10. Psathyrella candolleana
    11. Psathyrella gracilis
    12. Psathyrella hydrophila
    13. Psathyrella spacicea
    14. Pseudohydnum gelatinosum
    15. Psilocybe cyanescens
    16. Ramaria abietina
    17. Ramaria acrisiccescens
    18. Ramaria araiospora var. araiospora
    19. Ramaria araiospora var. rubella
    20. Ramaria aurantiisiccescens
    21. Ramaria botryoides
    22. Ramaria botrytis
    23. Ramaria conjunctipes
    24. Ramaria fennica var. violaceibrunnea
    25. Ramaria formosa
    26. Ramaria myceliosa
    27. Ramaria stuntzii
    28. Ramaria vinosimaculans
    29. Rhizopogon ochraceorubens
    30. Rhizopogon parksii
    31. Russula amoenolens
    32. Russula aurantialutea
    33. Russula basifurcata
    34. Russula blacktondiae
    35. Russula brevipes
    36. Russula cessans
    37. Russula cyanoxantha
    38. Russula eccentrica
    39. Russula graveolens
    40. Russula laurocerasi
    41. Russula maxima
    42. Russula nigricans
    43. Russula olivacea
    44. Russula sanguinea
    45. Russula semirubra
    46. Russula subalutacea
    47. Russula turci
    48. Russula versicolor
    49. Russula xerampelina
    50. Schizophyllum commune
    51. Scleroderma cepa
    52. Scleroderma geaster
    53. Stereum hirsutum
    54. Strobilurus trullisatus
    55. Stropharia ambigua
    56. Suillus brevipes
    57. Suillus caerulescens
    58. Suillus fuscotomentosus
    59. Suillus granulatus
    60. Suillus lakei
    61. Suillus pondersosus
    62. Suillus pungens
    63. Suillus tomentosus
    64. Trametes versicolor
    65. Tremella mesenterica
    66. Tricholoma dryophilum
    67. Tricholoma flavovirens
    68. Tricholoma fracticum
    69. Tricholoma imbricatum
    70. Tricholoma magnivelare
    71. Tricholoma myomyces
    72. Tricholoma pardinum
    73. Tricholoma saponaceum
    74. Tylopilus humilus
    75. Tylopilus pseudoscaber
    76. Volvariella speciosa
    77. Xeromphalina campanella
    78. Xeromphalina cauticinalis
    79. Xylaria hypoxylon

    I'd say that was a pretty long and impressive list! top

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