FY2024 Fukushima Fngi Society Observation Report for Kawauchi Village 　Iwana-no-Sato (October, Reiwa 6)

Click here to view the list of observed species (PDF file).
Click here for the webpage list.

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, a mushroom observation meeting was held at Iwana-no-Sato in Kawauchi Village.
This observation event at Iwana-no-Sato is held annually in late September or early October, with the primary purpose of monitoring the status of the rare mushroom Microstoma aggregatum Otani, commonly known as the Senbon Kitsune-no-Sakazuki.

The Senbon Kitsune-no-Sakazuki is an extremely rare mushroom, confirmed only in certain parts of Hokkaido and at Iwana-no-Sato in Kawauchi Village, Fukushima Prefecture. It has not yet been found in other regions, including outside of Japan.
We started conducting these annual observations in 2020 following the near-complete clear-cutting of the area where the Senbon Kitsune-no-Sakazuki grows in 2019. Since then, we have continued to monitor its growth status each year. For further details, please refer to the “Research, Surveys, and Reports” page. ← Click here to access the detailed page.

The Senbon Kitsune-no-Sakazuki typically appears as a young mushroom in late September and reaches full maturity with an open cap in early October. However, despite all participants' efforts to find it this year, we were unable to locate any. As mentioned in last year’s report, the surrounding environment seems to have deteriorated further, and we believe that the chances of finding it in the coming years are quite slim.

This year, three researchers participated from both inside and outside the prefecture. One of them was a foreigner, likely conducting radiation measurements on mushrooms. Another seemed to be researching folklore or culture, but I regret not asking more details (tears).
Aside from the Senbon Kitsune-no-Sakazuki, we collected 53 species of mushrooms, including 47 species of soft fungi. Given that there was a good amount of rain at appropriate intervals, we believe the environment was quite favorable for mushroom growth. For this time of year, it felt like there were more species to observe than usual.

The Shirauotake, which caught the attention of veteran members last year, also reappeared this year. However, the standout species this year was probably the Kaentake. There was a sense of inevitability, thinking, "So even Iwana-no-Sato has the Kaentake now." Additionally, although not a mushroom, the Tsuchiakebi was also quite memorable.

"Once again, as the administrator of this site, I was hardly able to take any pictures of the members because I was busy with the Senbonkitsune no Sakazuki and the mushroom hunting that followed.
１．Members who arrived earlier than the meeting time are waiting.		２．Veteran members and promising young members are exchanging information.
３．The foreign researchers are tough. Sensing that they might head deep into the mountains, the president of our association hurriedly chased after them. After a while, they returned.		４．A cluster of the poisonous mushroom Chlorophyllum was growing at the base of a thick oak tree.
５．The veteran member (president) is with the younger and mid-level members, identifying mushrooms.	６．When I told him that I had found Tsuchiakebi, the president boldly ventured into the thicket and got it. As expected of him!

１．Suillus bovinus（The Japanese name is"amitake")		２．Rhodocollybia butyracea（The Japanese name is"eseorimiki")	３．ハタケシメジ Lyophyllum decastes（The Japanese name is"hatakesimeji")

４．Aleuria aurantia（The Japanese name is"hiirotyawantake")	５．Megacollybia clitocyboidea（The stem was extending deep into the ground.）（The Japanese name is"hirohidatake")	６．wood-inhabiting Lycoperdon sp（The Japanese name is"hokoritake sp")
７．Trichoderma cornu-damae（The Japanese name is"kaentake")	８．Mycena densilamellata Nagamune（The Japanese name is"mituhidasakuratake")	９．Broadly defined Armillaria mellea subsp (mature fruiting bodies.)（The Japanese name is"naratake")
１０．Hygrophorus russula（The Japanese name is"sakurasimeji")	１１．Multiclavula mucida（The Japanese name is"sirauotake")	１２．Hydnum repandum var. album（The Japanese name is"sirokanosita")
１３．Boletus hiratsukae（The Japanese name is"susukeyamadoritake")	１４．Amanita sphaerobulbosa（The Japanese name is"tamasiroonitake")	１５．Lactifluus volemus（The Japanese name is"tititake")
１６．Amanita vaginata（The color of the umbrella is somewhat ochre.）（The Japanese name is"turutake")	１７．Leotia lubrica（The Japanese name is"zukintake")