Spot fungi, mushrooms during dog days hikes

#Middlebury #MLT #Fungi

By JANINE SULLIVAN-WILEY

“Dog days of summer” refers to the days of mid-to-late summer, from July through August, that generally are the hottest and most humid days of the year in the northern hemisphere. The reason they are called that harkens back to ancient Greece and Rome.

The “dog” in “dog days” relates to the star Sirius – the dog star – which rises in the east around dawn this time of year. It is part of the constellation Canis Majoris, and the brightest star in the sky. It is more visible mid-winter, but the ancients were apparently most concerned with the time of its rising, as the name “Sirius” comes from Ancient Greek seírios, which means “scorching.”

Most people think of water and beaches during these dog days, but it can be a good time for hiking as well, as the temperature is always lower in the shady shelter of trees. There are many shady trails in the Middlebury Land Trust (MLT) Sperry/Juniper Hill Preserve, the Nichols Road Preserve (which is also the future site of the dog park), in the Clark Preserve, as well as shorter trails in the Crest Preserve. You can find maps of these on the MLT website at middleburylandtrust.org.

A pretty red and white mushroom stands in an area of pines in the MLT Sperry Preserve, possibly a Russula emetica, which is mildly poisonous. Never eat a wild mushroom unless its identity is certain. Many are highly poisonous, even fatal to humans. (Janine Sullivan-Wiley)

While hiking, dog days are a good time of year to look for fungi and mushrooms – the fruiting parts of fungi – as they are noticeable now, especially if there has been adequate rain. Those fungi have an extraordinary role in our woodlands, both their seen and unseen portions. The fruiting bodies above ground are sources of food for wildlife, and fungi are critical to the forests for decomposition and nutrient recycling. While they also are agents of disease in trees, that leads to cavities developing that then are used by both birds and mammals.

Fungi also have the most amazing symbiotic relationships with trees. A lot of action goes on unseen beneath the soil surface. Research has discovered that fungal networks are an integral part of trees communicating with each other (yes, communication!) and sharing of nutrients. For a fascinating read about this I recommend “The Hidden Life of Trees,” a former NYT best-seller, by Peter Wohlleben.

There are many places to learn more about the mushrooms and fungi that you may see on hikes including books, a “Mushrooms in CT” Facebook site where users help each other identify various types of fungi and mushrooms (there are some serious fungi aficionados in there!) and online. The “USDA Field Guide to Common Macrofungi in Easter Forests and their Ecosystem Functions” is full of information and good photos at www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs79.pdf.

Please share your fungi finds with us at the MLT; we love to hear about what is being spotted in the preserves.

You can contact this writer at jswspotlight@gmail.com; visit the Middlebury Land Trust on Facebook or the website at middleburylandtrust.org. Happy hiking!