We continued to find a number of larger fleshy fungi that are commonly collected later in the year such as species of Boletus, Suillus, and Tylopilus. The same undescribed species of Amanita found the previous week at Sugarlands turned up. Rod knows this taxon from northern hardwood-Tsuga forests in northwestern New Jersey. It would be good to keep an eye out for A. albocreata Atk. which is an uncommon species occurring in the New Jersey sites and to the north in similar habitat.
Forty-eight collections were made. Photography was jury-rigged
(author's apologies!), but hopefully will be useful. The quality
of annotation rose with experience. Most agarics not previously collected
received good to very good to excellent annotation. The preceding
week, only about one-third of the
collections fell into that category.
The quality review process led to a new procedure for processing---a more formal triage to be established in the future, with marked table areas to be established to clarify the results of triage.
Because of limited funds, the next site visit (10 July) will be overseen by Dr. Lorelei Norvell, who will be in the area for studies in the TENN herbarium. Note that a volunteer photographer must be designated for the processing.
It is also hoped that two students from Haywood Community College will join the volunteers for the first time on the 10 July visit.
List of Volunteers for Weekend: Anathea Brooks, Whitey Hitchcock, Steve Peek, Theresa Rey, Dr. Rod Tulloss, Pete Whelihan.
--- R. E. Tulloss