Clinton Community Nature Center

Mid July 2007 on the Trails
A focus on Mushrooms

Common Name: Bolete Fungus
Scientific Name: Unknown
Where to look: Throughout the Center. Photo and text by Bill Stark

July 2007 may long be remembered for the unusual period of daily rainfall. A major consequence of this warm moist episode is the array of mushrooms on display along the trails. This sombrero shaped bolete fungus is one of the hundreds of interesting creatures which thrive in these periods of moisture.

One of the more spectacular mushrooms encountered along the trails is this scarlet capped species. Several of these individuals with the caps unexpanded were seen in a small, incomplete “fairy ring” near the boardwalk on Pioneer Trail.

Common Name: Gill Fungus
Scientific Name: Unknown

Where to look: The only group of these seen on July 15 was found just south of the boardwalk on Pioneer Trail. Photo and text by Bill Stark

Fairy rings of mushrooms have cropped up all over Clinton in the past week or so and the Center has its share particularly along the Hickory Loop and east end of Pioneer Trail these clusters of mushrooms can be found.

Common Name: Gill mushroom
Scientific Name: Unknown
Where to look: Throughout the Center but common along the trails on the east end. Photo and text by Bill Stark

Common name: Gill mushroom
Scientific Name: Unknown
Where to look: Throughout the Center. Photo and text by Bill Stark

Numerous yellow mushrooms of various species add color to the moist woodland floor. This individual is growing at the base of a tree in a particularly attractive setting.

	Russula mushrooms are often bright red but there are many pale species and varieties in our area. Some of the species are considered edible but others are distasteful or toxic so considerable caution should be used in gathering these for food.
Common Name: Gill mushroom Scientific Name: Unidentified member of genus Russula Where to look: Scattered throughout the Center. Photo and text by Bill Stark

Additional Fungi Observed on the Trails this Month.

	Clinton Community Nature Center 617 Dunton Road Clinton, Mississippi 39056 601.926.1104 ccnaturecenter@gmail.com