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Mushrooms with Gills, Ridges or Teeth

Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)

Black Trumpet (Craterellus cornucopioides, C. cenerius, C. foetidus)

Small Chanterelles (Craterellus tubaeformis, C. ignicolor)

Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum, H. umbilicatum)

Horse and Meadow Mushroom (Agaricus arvensis, A campestris)

Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera)

Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)

(White) Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare)

Blewit (Lepista nuda)

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus,  P. populinus)


Mushrooms with Pores

King Bolete (Boletus edulis) Boletus variipes and other.

Two Colored Bolete (Boletus bicolor)

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Chicken of the Woods   (Laetiporus sulphureus)

Dryads Saddle (Polyporus squamosus)


Other Mushrooms

Morels (Morchella esculenta, M. elata)

Puffballs  (Calvatia gigantea, Calvatia cyathiformis, others)

Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)

Aborted Entoloma (Entoloma abortivum)

 

Medicinal Mushrooms

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae, G. lucidum)

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

Artist's Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)

 

Collecting, Photographing and Cooking 

Rules for Collecting

Collecting Tips

Useful Equipment

Photographing Mushrooms

Evaluating Flavor
using basic cooking processes

Dyeing Fabrics and Paper with Mushrooms

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Dyeing with Mushrooms

 

Many mushrooms may be used to dye wool, some fabrics and other fibers. Paper can be made from some mushrooms and mushroom papers can be dyed with other mushrooms for a unique, textured, colored, paper suitable for art applications. Until recently I was only aware of a few species that were useful for these applications. This past summer I attended the 2007 NEMF Annual Samuel Ristich Foray at the University of Maine in Orono. There I witnessed a truly beautiful display of dyed wool made by Anne Williams of Stonington Maine. Anne has been experimenting with mushrooms as dyes for years and the results of her efforts are truly impressive. She uses many mushrooms no one else seems to use and has dyed wool with dozens of species. I would have eaten the chanterelles but she makes nice yellow wool with them. She had dozens of different colored wools on display that were labeled with the types of mushrooms and mordants/modifiers she used.

Simple natural mordants/modifiers like salt water, vinegar, ammonia, a copper pot, and a rusty iron pot are used. For 4-5 oz. of wool, up to half of a plastic shopping bag of mushrooms is generally required. About 12 oz. or more of mushrooms per 4 oz. of wool is a good way to measure (3 to 1). An alkaline solution is best in most cases. When using ammonia, about one cup per 4 oz. of wool should be used (2 to 1). Dye makers polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii) and lobster mushrooms (Hypomyces lactifluorum) can be used in smaller quantities.

Dyes can be made with the mushrooms you find that are not edible, slightly gone by, or wormy. This can add a new dimension to your collecting.

Below is a chart of mushroom species, mordants/modifiers, and results of Anne's work in dyeing wool.

Species

Mordant/Modifier

Color Produced

Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)

ammonia

muted yellow

Flame Colored / Yellow Foot Chanterelle Cantharellus/Craterellus ignicolor 

ammonia

muted yellow

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

ammonia/iron pot

gray-green

Horse Mushroom (Agaricus arvensis)

salt water
iron pot

yellow-tan
gray-green

Meadow Mushroom (Agaricus campestris)

salt water
iron pot

yellow-tan
gray-green

Blewit (Lepista nuda)

ammonia/copper pot

grass-green

King Bolete  (Boletus edulis)

ammonia

chrome-mustard

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

ammonia

soft yellow

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus, L. cincinnatus)

ammonia

orange

Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)

ammonia

red-brown

Purple Spored Puffball (Calvatia cyathiformis)

ammonia

rust red

(Calvatia ruboflava)

vinegar

rust red

Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)

ammonia

cinnamon pink to red

Artist's Conk (Ganoderma applanatum) ammonia

rust

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) ammonia brown
Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae, G. lucidum)

ammonia

rust
Dye Makers Polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii) ammonia
ammonia/copper pot
ammonia/iron pot
salt water 
orange
deep green
red rust
brilliant yellow
Lepiota americana salt water
ammonia
pink beige
deeper tones
Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) iron pot
ammonia
bayberry
gray-green

 

 

 

 

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