More Arboretum Fungi

Our blessed rain and rising heat push the local mycelium networks to fruit. According to Jenny at the Mushroom Appreciation blog, for those of us in the Southeast during summertime: "The best time to get out in the woods is 2-5 days after a good rain storm. This is when most mushrooms will fruit. If you wait too long, you’ll have to contend with slugs and bugs who are looking for a nice snack." The arboretum's squirrel population might also be sampling the mushroom offerings. The photos below were snapped Saturday morning, and by Sunday afternoon, the mushrooms were gone or partially chewed!

Here we see a tattered member of Cantharellus, the culinary Chantrelle genus. Examining the Chanterelles of the US page at the above-mentioned blog, we feel confident that this yellow mushroom is edible, but since there are several candidates which match the color, shape and region, we can't make a firm ID.

This small, peachy colored mushroom growing in the grass is classified somewhere in the Boletus genus. Narrowing it down to a species is a daunting task. Beware the boletus rabbit hole! There's a 640-page book titled Boletes of Eastern North America released less than three years ago. Just move on. Which was an easy thing to do because no additional photos or examination were possible―it disappeared within 24 hours. By the way, Boletus is the Latin word for "mushroom."

There were several of these red mushrooms in a small patch under the pine trees near the Student Union Building. They are classified either in the Russula genus, commonly called "brittlegills" or the Lactarius genus (a "milkcap"). Probably the former. It's potentially Russula emetica, the "sickener". For loads of photos to compare, try making an account at Mushroom Observer.

Jack O'Lantern Mushrooms (Omphalotus sp.) TOXIC!!!

Copious rain and warm weather conspire to cause certain organisms in the arboretum to bestir themselves.

Countless students, faculty, and staff have walked past this post oak (Quercus stellata) on their way to and from the Student Union Building. It's an old, mature, on-site native oak, very much established before the construction of the Student Union Building.

Today, we notice something special. Something orange!

Something unusual and... infundibuliform. That's Latin for "funnel-shaped."

These mushrooms grow from the roots of the oak tree, feeding on lignin and dead material. Is the presence of mushrooms a good or bad sign for the health of the old oak? We have lost nearly all of our giant post oaks; this is one of the few remaining individuals. 

The following photos aptly shows a few defining characteristics: a funnel-shaped cap, orange color, and clustering.

From this angle, we see a bare stalk, true gills, and gill tissue that extends down onto the stalk.

We're as confident as we can be that this is in the genus Omphalotus, probably the Southern Jack-O-Lantern (Omphalotus subilludens) given our area.

This mushroom is noteworthy for two reasons. First, it glows green in the dark. Second, it's definitely poisonous. Don't eat it; you will deeply regret the experience.

For additional excellent photos of mushrooms in the same genus, check out the Texas Mushroom Blog by Dr. Alexey Sergeev, professor of mathematics at TAMU.

Shrub Removal: Gummi Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora)

This past week, we removed a long-time arboretum resident: one of our two Gummi Berry shrubs. One of the few intentionally-planted non-native species, these two specimens have been in the arboretum since 1997. That's nearly thirty years, older than most students on campus! When we covered these shrubs in 2019, both were healthy and prosperous. We last studied them in 2021, when they were providing some tasty treats to the Centenary squirrel population.

Entropy and time have worked together to compromise the health of one shrub. Ants and termites were present, chewing rotten wood and churning up the earth around the base of the shrub. Green leaves were still present, but three-quarters or more of the branches were bone-dry and naked. A colony of our small native black ants had taken up residence in its center. At this point, the main option presenting itself is removal.

Bare, brittle branches of the gummi berry (Elaeagnus multiflora) are pictured here. This shrub was planted as a pair, purchased from Mr. Sherwood Akin in 1997.

We see mostly dead branches, although there are a few green leaves.

During removal, the trunk of the shrub spontaneously split open, revealing plenty of rich dirt, termites, and ants where only healthy wood and roots should be.

The shrub has been converted into a large pile of branches, twigs, and poles.

Post-cleanup, only the small green sign remains, and it has since been moved over to the remaining shrub. 

We now have an opening in the landscape, and there are several months and two full seasons to think about what to plant here. 

 

Dewberry Picking in the Arboretum

Fruits on the dewberry vines have been ripening over the past two weeks. 

The large dewberry patch near the Student Union Building is the easiest place to find and pick berries.

It isn't necessary to walk through the tall, overgrown areas—just walking the perimeter you can easily pick a handful of berries.

The fruits do not all ripen at once, so check back every few days to pick a few more.

Ripe berries are dark purple or black. Yum!

April Flowers

 Here at the end of April, we have a beautiful assortment of native wildflowers to share.

 

The oak-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrub is full of large flower clusters.

Oak-leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) panicle

Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)

Two catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) trees grow near the Fitness Center. Be sure to look up to find the large flower clusters. Individual flowers are scattered in the grass, too.

Around the trunk of this dead eastern red cedar, you can find foxglove, strawberry bush and maypop flowers.

Foxglove Beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis)

  

Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus)

Ants were busy working the pollen of the strawberry bush.

Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)

There isn't just one flower on the mapop vine. Note the flower buds on the verge of opening.

Beetles were congregating on the maypop flowers.

 

Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.)

 

Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.)

  

 

Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)

 

Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea)

Lizard tail (Saururus cernuus) and flowering magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) are also flowering right now, and they will continue on into the month of May.

Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea)

There are two coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) plantings in the arboretum. One is located on the north side of the Fitness Center, growing unfortunately in the shade of a hickory and an irrepressible & ever-spreading Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia). The other coral bean has a more advantageous spot at the southwest corner of Mickle Hall. The latter plant has a flower stalk this week.

 

The flower stalk demands attention as it protrudes from the greenery of the coral bean, but the fresh spring-time growth of the nearby French mulberry and toothache tree conceal the bright red flower. 

 

Keep an eye on this flower stalk if you have an interest in collecting the pretty 'beans' that are expected to develop here. In the past, your arboretum curator has had exactly zero luck in germinating the seeds, so please feel free to collect them when they are ready. Good luck! Just be a bit careful, many parts of the plant contain poisonous compounds.

 

Pyramid Magnolia Germination Project Update

Back in February, we planted 15 pyramid magnolia seeds that were provided by the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Our first seedling revealed itself this past Sunday. Wahoo! We have a picture of our first and timeliest seedling: 

 

Pyramid magnolia (Magnolia pyramidata)