Mushrooming in State forests' pine plantations

Mushrooms are the quiet invaders of the NSW pine plantations.

After the soft autumn rains, they burst upon the scene, enticing people from far afield to visit Oberon in the central west for its famous mushroom season.

Jack Simpson, a specialist in tree diseases with Forests NSW, and one of only a handful of mycologists (mushroom experts) in Australia, says pine plantations contain a number of recognisable, good-eating mushrooms.

He says these mushrooms are ectomycorrhizal with the pines, helping the tree to extract nutrients from the soil.

Jack says these mushrooms were introduced from Europe and adapted to relatively cool temperate conditions; therefore they are not as abundant in pine plantations close to the coast or inland NSW as they are on the tablelands.

Forests NSW has more that 40,000 hectares of pine plantation around Oberon and places such as Hampton, Jenolan and Vulcan State Forests boast the best mushrooming grounds.

Mushroomers pour into Oberon, often from Sydney, to experience the magic of mushrooming among the pines.

Coveted by top Sydney restaurants, and a delicacy in Europe, the best thing about these exotic fungi is they are free.

Mushrooms need a certain amount of light and warmth, so pickers work around the edge of the plantations, in among the pine needles, with their flat-bottomed baskets - up tails all.

A profusion of languages break the quiet forest air, indicating that many of the pickers inherit their passion from a long line of mushroomers.

Yes, mushroomers are passionate people. They are passionate about the weather, their stomping grounds and their recipes.

Jack says one of the most abundant edible pine mushrooms is the Saffron Milk Cap (Lactarius deliciosus). Up to 20 cm in diameter, the cap is orange and bears distinct concentric zones of a slightly darker shade.

Its gills and flesh are orange red to pinkish to apricot, and when broken open, exude a bright-orange latex.

Jack says Sydney shops have recently started to sell these mushrooms as the Blue Mountains' Blood Mushroom. While he says other people, of a melancholy nature, say this fungus weeps orange tears.

He says it best to avoid the older mushrooms in favour of the young brightly coloured ones. The Saffron Milk Cap should be cooked quickly at a high temperature to avoid stewing. The stalks should be discarded.

Other mushrooms that thrive among the pines are slippery jacks (Suillus granulatus and Suillus luteus) and mousy tricholomas (Tricholoma terreum).

The species of Suillus are sometimes called ceps; they should be peeled before being cooked as the slimy cap may cause gastric upsets.

Jack says it cannot be emphasised strongly enough that you must correctly identify your mushrooms. Some mushrooms are poisonous and will make you extremely sick.

For example, its an old Polish trick to fry the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), the fairytale mushroom from Europe, on a piece of tin and then leave it out to kill flies.

This mushroom, often used in illustrations in children's books, is usually bright red with yellow lumps. It is poisonous in large doses.

Jack says that if there is any doubt about the identity of the fungi you have collected, don't eat them.

Mushrooming tips

• If you are having trouble identifying a mushroom you might like to check it in a book at the Oberon Visitor's Centre in the main street of Oberon. The Centre is open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Telephone (02) 6336 0666.
   
• When it comes to mushrooms: If in doubt, throw it out! It cannot be emphasised strongly enough that you must correctly identify your mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain toxins and will make you extremely sick.
   
• Be careful not to get lost and let someone know where you are picking mushrooms and when you are due back. It's best to have a mushrooming buddy.
   
• The best time to collect mushrooms from pine plantations is in autumn after rain.
   
• Anyone intending to go mushrooming must remember that Forests NSW' roads are public roads and all road rules apply. You must have a registered car and driver's licence, park to the side of the road when stopping, and obey all road signs.
   
• Be aware that timber harvesting is often carried out seven days a week in State forests, so take notice of signs and keep clear of any areas where harvesting is taking place. Ensure you park well to the side of the road to avoid timber trucks.
   
• The best way to clean mushrooms is to wipe them with a damp cloth.
   
• Young Lactarius and Suillus mushrooms are delicious pickled.
   
• Species of Suillus can be dried and used later in soups and stews.
   
• The better areas for mushrooms are where pines are reasonably mature (more than 10 years old), which has allowed good mushroom growing needle matter to build up.
   
• When mushrooming please take away what you bring. Don't treat the forest as a rubbish dump. If you don't have a successful day and fill your containers please don't leave them behind.
   
• While mushrooming, please note that any timber in the area cannot be taken out of the plantations without a permit. Removal of bush rock from State forests is not permitted.

Some of the best mushrooming areas are around Jenolan, Hampton and Vulcan State forests. You can buy Forests NSW' Central West Forest Map that will help you find these areas from Forests NSW Information Centre in West Pennant Hills, Sydney; Forests NSW' regional office in Panorama Avenue, Bathurst; Oberon Visitor's Centre; and the Lithgow Information Centre. The map retails at $9.85. Credit card purchases can also be made over the telephone from Forests NSW Information Centre on Ph: 1300 655 687 or (02) 9871 3377.