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molds belonging to Penicillium, Aspergillus or
Trichoderma.
1. White: The color shared by the largest
population of saprophytic mushrooms is white.
Oyster (Pleurotus spp.), Shiitake (Lentinula
edodes), Hen-of-the-Woods (Grifolafrondosa),
the King Stropharia (Stivpharia rugoso-annulata)
and most Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybes) all have
whitish colored mycelium. Some imperfect
fungi, like Monilia, however, also produce a
whitish mycelium. (See The Mushroom Cultivator,
Stamets and Chilton 1983.)
2. Yellow/Orange/Pink: Nameko (Pholiota
nameko) produces a white mycelial mat which
soon yellows. Oyster mushrooms, particularly
Pleumtus ostreatus, exude a yellowish to orangish
metabolite overtime. These metabolites are sometimes
seen as droplets on the surface of the
mycelium or as excessive liquid collecting at the
bottom of the spawn containers. Strains of Reishi,
Ganoderma lucidum , vary considerably in their
appearance, most often projecting a white mycelium
which, as it matures, becomes yellow as the
agar medium is colonized. A pink Oyster mushroom,
Pleurotus djamor, and Lion's Mane,
Hericium erinaceus, both have mycelium that is
initially white and, as the cultures age, develop
strong pinkish tones. Chicken-of-the-woods
(Polyporus orLaetiporussulphureus) has an overall
orangish mycelium. Kuritake (Hypholoma
sublateritium) has mycelium that is white at first
and in age can become dingy yellow-brown.
3. Brown: Some mushroom species, especially
Shiitake, becomes brown over time. It
would be abnormal for Shiitake mycelium not
to brown in age or when damaged. Similarly,
Agrocybe aegerita produces an initially white
mycelium that browns with maturity. Morel
mycelium is typically brown after a week of
growth.
4. Blue: Lepista nuda, theWood Blewit, pro-
THE STOCK CULTURE LIBRARY 113
duces a blue, cottony mycelium. Many species
not yet cultivated are likely to produce blue
mycelia. Although the number of species generating
blue mycelium is few, most of the
psilocybian mushrooms are characterized by
mycelium which bruises bluish when damaged.
Beyond these examples, blue tones are highly
unusual and warrant examination through a micro
scope to ascertain the absence of competitor
organisms, particularly the blue-greenPenicilhum
molds. Although unusual, I have seen
cultures of an Oyster mushroom, P. ostreatus
var. columbinus, which produces whitish mycelium
streaked with bluish tones.
5. Black: Few mushrooms produce black
mycelium. Some Morel strains cause the malt
extract medium to blacken, especially when the
petri dish culture is viewed from underneath.
The parasitic Honey Mushroom, Armihlaria
mehlea, forms uniquely black rhizomorphs. A
pan-tropical Oyster mushroom, called
Pleurotus cystidiosus, and its close relatives P.
abalonus andP smithii, have white mycelia that
become speckled with black droplets. (See Figure92.).
6. Multicolored: Mycelia can be zonate, with
multicolored tones in concentric circles around
the zone of transfer. The concentric circles of
growth are usually diurnal, reflecting rates of
growth dictated by the passage of day to night.
All of the species described in the past 5 categories
undergo unique color changes. This
sequence of color transformation defines the
unique "personality" of each strain. I have yet
to see a mycelium of greater beauty than that of
the extraordinary Psilocybe mexicana, the sacramentalTeonanacatl
of Mexico. Its mycelium
is initially white, then yellow, golden, brown
and sometimes streaked through with bluish
tones. (See Color Plate 2, opposite page 176 in
The Mushroom Cultivator by Stamets and
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