| PMB 113 Fall 2007 | lecture: Wednesdays 2 - 3pm lab: Mondays 2 - 5pm |
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| California Mushrooms | Course control number 70968 | |
| webpage: http://plantbio.berkeley.edu/~bruns/pmb113/ | download course info pdf |
DescriptionThis is a hands-on class in identification of macrofungi. Emphasis will be on laboratory work with fresh and dried fungi. Lectures on Wednesday focus on mushroom systematics, collection techniques and identification. Three weekend fieldtrips are required in addition to the weekly laboratory. Previous course experience with fungi is recommended but not required. Grades are based on tests and a collection (see below).
Objectives- Learn to recognize the major genera and common species of macrofungi in California
- Learn to key out unknown species
- Learn proper collection procedures for macrofungi
SyllabusTopics covered in individual labs will probably vary; dependent on availability of fresh material, from that given below, but this is an approximation of the topics we plan to cover.
| date | topics | lec notes | slides (big) | ||
| Monday | 8/27/07 | lab | Using the microscope, sectioning and examining mushrooms | microscope instructions |
microscope instructions ppt |
| Wednesday | 8/29/07 | lect | Structures of mushrooms used for identification | mushroom construction |
class intro 2007 |
| Monday | 9/03/07 | Labor Day Holiday | |||
| Wednesday | 9/05/07 | lect |
Polypores and other Aphyllophorales |
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| Monday | 9/10/07 | lab | Common lawn mushrooms | handout | collecting keys ppt |
| Wednesday | 9/12/07 | lect | Agaricaceae, Psathyrellaceae, Bolbitiaceae | handout | lecture ppt |
| Monday | 9/17/07 | lab | Polypores and others | polypores | lecture ppt |
| Wednesday | 9/19/07 | lect | Amanitaceae | Amanitaceae | lecture ppt |
| Monday | 9/24/07 | lab | Amanita | ||
| Wednesday | 9/26/07 | lect | "tricholomataceae" - a hodgepodge of white spored agarics | common genera | lecture ppt |
| Saturday | 9/29/07 | field trip |
Saturday Fieldtrip to Point Reyes or Salt Point leave early Saturday morning, return late afternoon. Cost: free |
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| Monday | 10/01/07 | lab | work on collections from fieldtrip (tricholomataceae) |
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| Wednesday | 10/03/07 | lect | Russulales | ||
| Monday | 10/8/07 | lab | Russulales | ||
| Wednesday | 10/10/07 | lect | Boletales | ||
| Monday | 10/15/07 | lab | boletes and relatives | ||
| Wednesday | 10/17/07 | lect | "Pink" spored Agaricales | ||
| Monday | 10/22/07 | test | MIDTERM lab exam | ||
| Wednesday | 10/24/07 | lect | Strophariaceae, Cortinariaceae | ||
| Saturday | 10/27/07 | field | Friday-Sunday Fieldtrip to Redwood National Park | ||
| Sunday | 10/28/07 | trip | (leave Friday afternoon, return mid afternoon Sunday. Estimated cost: $40 | ||
| Monday | 10/29/07 | lab | work on collections from fieldtrip | ||
| Wednesday | 10/31/07 | lect | Gomphales, coral fungi, and Cantharellales | ||
| Monday | 11/05/07 | lab | gasteromycetes | ||
| Wednesday | 11/07/07 | lect | gasteromycetes" another non-phyllogenetic group | ||
| Monday | 11/12/07 | lab | HOLIDAY | ||
| Wednesday | 11/14/07 | lect | Ascomycetes | ||
| Saturday | 11/17/07 | field | Mendocino Foray leave 7:15 am | ||
| Sunday | 11/18/07 | trip | Mendocino Foray return 5:00 pm. Estimated cost: $40 | ||
| Monday | 11/19/07 | lab | fieldtrip collections | ||
| Wednesday | 11/21/07 | lect | mushroom natural history | ||
| Monday | 11/26/07 | lab | Ascomycetes | ||
| Wednesday | 11/28/07 | lect | Mushroom poisons | ||
| Monday | 12/03/07 | lab | work on collections | ||
| Wednesday | 12/05/07 | lect | Overview of major groups and common species | ||
| Monday | 12/10/07 | test | Lab review - last day to turn in collections | ||
| Tuesday | 12/18/07 | test | Final exam - in lab |
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Fungal Dichotomous Keys On-LineBelow you will find links to taxonomic keys for common genera of fungi. The Pacific Northwest Key Council also has a key to their keys here. Some groups or genera may not be below that are found on either the PNW Key Council site or the Common Fungi of Salt Point site. Also, see the links below for some helpful sites on identifying mushrooms.
| Genus |
Pacific Northwest Key Council
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Common Fungi of Salt Point State Park
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Other Keys |
| Agaricus |
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Dr. Else Vellinga's key to Agaricaeae | |
| Agrocybe |
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| Albatrellus | |
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| Amanita | Amanita | |
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| Armillaria | Armillaria | |
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| Bolbitius | |
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| Boletus | Boletes | |
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| Botryobasidium | University of Tubingen | ||
| Bovista | Lycoperdaceae | |
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| Calvatia | Lycoperdaceae | |
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| Camarophyllus | |
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| Cantharellus | Chanterelles | |
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| Caulorhiza | |
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| Chlorophyllum | Chlorophyllum | |
Dr. Else Vellinga's key to species of Chlorophyllum |
| Chroogomphus | Gomphidiaceae | |
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| Clavaria | Club Fungi | |
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| Clavariadelphus | Club Fungi | |
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| Clavulina | |
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| Clitocybe | Clitocybe | |
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| Clitopilus | Entolomataceae | |
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| Collybia | Gymnopusoid | |
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| Coprinus | Coprinus | |
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| Cortinarius | |
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| Crepidotus | Crepidotus | |
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| Cyathus | Niduraliaceae | |
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| Cystoderma | Cystoderma | |
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| Discina | Helvellaceae | ||
| Echinoporia | University of Tubingen | ||
| Entoloma | Entolomataceae | ||
| Flamulina | |
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| Fomitopsis | Polypores | |
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| Galerina | |
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| Ganoderma | Polypores | |
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| Geastrum | Geastraceae | |
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| Genea | -North American Truffling Society | ||
| Geopora | Pezizales | ||
| Gomphidius | Gomphidiaceae | |
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| Gomphus | Veined Fungi | |
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| Gymnopilus | Gymnopilus | |
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| Gyromitra | Helvellaceae | |
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| Hebeloma | |
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| Helvella | Helvellaceae | ||
| Hericium | Toothed Fungi | |
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| Hydnellum | |
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| Hydnum | Toothed Fungi | ||
| Hygrocybe | |
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| Hygrophorus | Hygrophorus | |
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| Hypnodontia | University of Tubingen | ||
| Hypholoma | |
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| Inocybe | Inocybe | |
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| Laccaria | |
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| Lactarius | Lactarius | |
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| Leccinum | Boletes | |
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| Lentinellus | Lentinellus | |
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| Lentinus | Lentinellus | ||
| Lepiota | Lepiota | |
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| Leptonia | Entolomataceae | |
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| Leucopaxillus | |
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| Limacella | Limacella | |
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| Lycoperdon | Lycoperdaceae | |
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| Lyophyllum | |
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| Marasmius | Marasmioid Fungi | |
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| Melanoleuca | |
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| Morchella | Morels | |
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| Mycena | Mycenoid1 Mycenoid2 | |
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| Nolanea | |
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| Omphalina | |
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| Omphalotus | |
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| Panaeolus | Panaeolus | |
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| Panellus | Pleurotoid | ||
| Panus | Pleurotoid | |
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| Paxillus | |
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| Peziza | Pezizaceae | |
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| Phaeocollybia | |
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| Phaeolus | Polypores | |
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| Phellinus | Polypores | |
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| Pholiota | Pholiota | |
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| Pleurotus | Pleurotoid | |
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| Pluteus | |
Mushroom Expert | |
| Polyporus | Polypores | |
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| Psathyrella | Psathyrella | |
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| Psilocybe | |
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| Ramaria | Ramaria1 Ramaria2 | |
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| Rhizopogon | |
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| Russula | Russula1 Russula2 | |
The Russulales |
| Schizopora | University of Tubingen | ||
| Scleroderma | Sclerodermataceae | |
Truffle Key (Basids) |
| Stereum | Crusts | |
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| Stropharia | |
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| Suillus | Boletes | |
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| Thelephora | |
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| Tofispora | University of Tubingen | ||
| Trametes | Polypores | |
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| Tremella | |
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| Tricholoma | Tricholoma | |
Key to Tricholoma of Quebec |
| Tricholomopsis | Tricholomopsis | |
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| Tubaria | |
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| Tuber | -North American Truffling Society | ||
| Tylopilus | Boletes | ||
| Tyromyces | Polypores | |
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| Verpa | Morels & False Morels | |
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| Xerophalina | |
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| Xylaria | Club Fungi | |
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| Families/Groups | |||
| Corticaceae | |||
| Endogonaceae | |||
| Hypomyces | |||
| Mycoanilitadelira | |||
| Myxomycetes |
Helpful Links For Identifying MushroomsMatch Maker:
Match Maker is a great on-line interactive program for identifying mushrooms, you can enter in the key morphological characters of your fungus and then the program automatically searches for potential matches in its database.
Mushroom Photos:
the following are links to sites with detailed mushroom photography and tutorials on how to collect and identify fungi.
- Fungi Photo
- Mushroom Journal
- Mushroom photos by Dr. Michael Beug
- Myco-Web
- The Fifth Kingdom
- Mushroom Hobby
- Mushroom Observer
- Pt. Reyes Mycoblitz
Fungal Nomenclaturethe site Index Fungorum can be used to search for species of fungi and find helpful photos and descriptions of them.
Fungal GroupsThese pages and links have been established for the students (current and prospective) as a visual guide that will follow the course and provide helpful study guides. The links below will take you to a photo gallery that is organized by family groups of California's mushrooms.
List of ReadingsRequired book:
Mushrooms Demystified. David Arora, Ten Speed Press, 2nd edition.
Recommended books:
How to Identify Mushrooms ot Genus VI: Modern Genera. David Largent and Timothy Baroni, Mad River Press.
How to identify Mushrooms to Genus III: Microscopic features. David Largent, David Johnson, Roy Watling. Mad River Press.
General Literature and Web References
Grades - a total of 1000 pt are possible for the course:
- 400 for the collection
- 100 for the first lab practical
- 100 pts for two quizzes
- 100 point for the microscopic check off list
- 300 for the final lab practical
Collection projectEach student will collect, identify, dry, label, and turn in a set of macrofungi. Each individual specimen should include properly dried material (i.e., one or more fruiting bodies), ideally a spore print, and a typed collection label containing: the scientific name of the fungus (including authority, if identified to species), date, location, habitat, collector, and brief notes on the distinguishing macroscopic and microscopic features that are the basis of the identification. A digital photo would also be useful, but is not required. Correct identifications are worth 10pt for each different genus, and 5 pts for each different species. Note that species level identifications are not necessary, but you will get more credit for species level identifications. If you do identify collections to species it is expected that you will consult additional technical keys beyond those in Mushrooms Demystified for the final determination. Points are deducted for misidentified specimens (-5 for genus, -3 for species), but if they are then identified correctly and returned they are worth the standard points minus the deduction (so approximately half credit). Points will be deducted if the material is too young, too old, or rotten, or if the label information is incorrect or incomplete.
Up to two collections can be turned in with detailed descriptions of the macroscopic and microscopic features. These collections are worth an additional 25 pts each. The description should be in the format that one might use if describing a specimen for publication as a new species. Full descriptions are worth a maximum of 25 pts each; points may be deducted if the descriptions are unclear or incomplete.
Total possible points for the collect project is 400. This can be achieved in various ways. Below is one example that is based on the minimum number of specimens:
| 30 different genera correctly identified | 30 X10 = 300 |
| 10 of the above correctly identified to species | 10 X 5 = 50 |
| 2 full descriptions of any of the above collections (at least one required) |
2 X 25 = 50 |
| Total | = 400 |
- Note that you acquire points more quickly by collecting many different genera, than by identifying species.
- 10 Bonus points are for all resupinate or cyphelloid collections that are correctly identified to genus.
- 25 Bonus points can be earned for working 3 or more hours at the fungus fair (see schedule above). This is a great way to review before the final.
- Please do not wait to turn in all of the collections at the end of course; turn them in as they are completed and we will keep a running tally of your collection points so that you know exactly were you are on project. The Last day you can turn in collections is the last day of class. Late collections will not be accepted.
- download the collections label sheet: [pdf] [doc]
Lab practicalsLab practicals will test your ability to recognize common genera and species that you have seen in the class, and to identify morphological features associated with mushroom taxonomy. They will be open book tests because you will need to key many of the specimens. However, you will not have enough time to key all the specimens on the test. This is because you are expected to be able to sight identify genera and species that you have seen before in the class.
Microscopic checkoff listThis is new this year. We are trying it as a devise to get people to become more familiar with microscopic characters and spore colors. The list, download [pdf] [excel], includes a set of feature that you are likely to encounter as you examine your mushroom collections. Lecture material, and the book How to identify Mushrooms to Genus III: Microscopic Features, will help you identify these features. When you succeed is finding them, have one of the instructors confirm it, and initial your sheet. Each correctly identified feature is worth 2 pts up to a maximum point total of 100 pts. If you encounter unique microscopic morphologies not listed on the check sheet, these can be added for equal credit. You can gain an additional point by using the lab camera (or your own) to take a digital image of a given structure that is good enough to include on the lab website. Download the microscope instructions pdf.
25 Bonus points are given if you volunteer 3 hrs at the Fungus Fair. This takes place at the Oakland Museum on December 1 and 2. Helping sort on Friday night November 30 is a great way to review. A signup sheet will be available a week or so before this event.
Instructor:Tom Bruns, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management.
Office hours: 9-10am Mondays and Thursdays, or by appointment
Office: 321c Koshland Hall
email: pogon@berkeley.edu - a very effective way to make appointments!
phone: 510-642-7987
Graduate Student Instuctor:
Nicole Hynson, Department of Environmental Science Policy & Management
Office hours: Wednesday 3-4 pm or by appointment
Office: 321 Koshland Hall
email: nhynson@nature.berkeley.edu
phone: 510-643-5483
Visiting Lecturer:
Else Vellinga, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
email: vellinga@nature.berkeley.edu
phone: 510-643-5483
Dr. Vellinga will give one lecture, and is likely to visit the lab occasionally and go on the fieldtrips.
Class Photos
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2007 class photos |
last updated: November 30 2007