THE BOLETEN ONLINE

The Gulf States Mycological Society, Inc. is a non-profit educational organization formed to promote the appreciation and study of the very diversified fungal flora of the Mid-Gulf Coast region by amateur naturalists under the guidance of professional mycologists. The society is affiliated with the non-profit North American Mycological Association. Gulf States Mycological Society Inc. is the reorganization of the parent New Orleans Mycological Society, which was originally formed in 1979. This reorganization was brought about by our increasingly widening regional membership. Today we have a broad membership base in all the Gulf Coastal States, with additional members scattered across the US.

Our emphasis is on Taxonomy (Identifying species) so that the membership can identify, photograph, grow edible/non-edible species of fungi and share their enjoyment of a common interest. For those who wish to learn which species are edible or not, the society presents a safe environment, under the watchful, educating eye of professional Mycologists, a chance to share among each other our gastronomic interests...safely.

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The Gulf Coast region of the United States produces an outstanding variety of "mushrooms", including a large representation of the best edible Genera and species.

There are two "main" fruiting seasons that occur. One from late May to early September/October, and one from mid-November to early January/February, with some years seeing fungi occur continually, except for short periods near subfreezing temperatures. But as a rule the above holds true except for "morels", which start fruiting in late March where the southernmost reach of the Smoky Mountain's mountainous flora juts almost to the coast around St. Francisville, LA.

The frequent afternoon rains during the hot, humid summer months, plus the temperate late fall months, produce a very abundant and diverse mix of temperate to tropical species, ranging from the "beautiful tasting" Morchella esculenta L. ex Fr., to the "beautiful red capped" Phillpsia domingensis (Berk.)Berk. There are also what everyone wants large fruitings of edible species, such as the "Chanterelles" including, but not limited to Chantharellus cibarius, C. lateritius, C. tabernensis, C. cinnabarinus, C. minor; Craterellus odoratus, and C. fallax, and the "Boletes", such as Boletus pinophilus, B. projectellus, B. nobilis, Gyroporus castaneus, and Suillus decipiens. Other edibles can also be found at certain times/locations in plentiful supply, not limited to but including the species of "puffballs", Calvatia cyathiformis, Lycoperdon pyriforme, L. perlatum. The Lactarius species (L. volemus, L. corrugis, etc.) are plentiful with unknown species still to be found, which is also true with many Genera in the deep central coastal reagion. Other choice edibles such as the grouping of species around Pleurotus ostreatus ("oyster or "willow mushroom"), and species of Pluteus, Suillus, Auricularia, Hericium, Armillaria, Agaricus. etc., etc., etc. can be found in such profusion that the number of species fruiting at one time can boggle the mind.

The Society conducts two major forays a year, and tries to do a number of "informal" announced and just groups calling each other and getting together so-called "mini-forays" when fruitings of choice edibles or large flushes of fungi occur. The two "major" forays, however, occur once during the summer months and again in the late fall. A newsletter is published four times a year to inform members of upcoming events, reviews and topics of interest. The annual dues for the Society are $15.00 per person or $20.00 per family. A registration fee is also charged for the major forays to cover expenses, such as Mycologists. Dues are payable on a yearly basis (January) to the Gulf States Mycological Society, Inc. Inquiries should be directed to our email address or to one of the following GSMS officers:

David or Patricia Lewis, President/Treasurer GSMS - 262 CR 3062, Newton, TX 75966 Phone: 409-423-3776 Email: plewis at jas dot net

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The following mushrooms guidebooks, are highly recommended for our area:

TEXAS MUSHROOMS, by Susan Metzler, Van Metzler, & Dr. Orson K. Miller, Jr., Scientific Advisor, University of Texas Press

A FIELD GUIDE TO SOUTHERN MUSHROOMS, by Dr. Nancy Smith Weber & Dr. Alexander H. Smith, photographs by Dan Guravich, U. of Michigan Press, 1996.

THE AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN MUSHROOMS, by Gary Lincoff, Knopf, 1981.

COMMON FLORIDA MUSHROOMS, by Dr. James Kinbrough, U. FL Ext. I.F.A.S., 2000

MUSHROOMS OF NORTH AMERICA, Roger Phillips, Little, Brown & Co., 1991

North American BOLETES, A Color Guide to the Fleshy Pored Mushrooms, A.E. Bessette, W.C. Roody, & A.R. Bessette, Syracuse U. Press, 2000