Macrofungi of Coastal Sand Dunes
Prince Edward Island is blessed with many costal sand dunes. Dune plant species, such as beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) and woolly beachheather (Hudsonia tomentosa), often get all the attention and credit for dune stabalization, however these dunes are also home to a great diversity of fungi that make it possible for those plants to thrive. Non-descript, hard to identify and growing where you do not normally look for mushrooms has resulted in this group of fungi being under reported in North America.
Please remember sand dunes are fragile ecosystems that are easily disturbed. Please do not walk on dunes. Walking on the dunes in the National Park is prohibited and will result in a fine.
Inventory effort since the fall of 2021 has improved our understanding of the rich diversity of coastal sand dune macrofungi, documenting 81 different species to date. This number will likely change as DNA sequences for submitted specimens are recieved.
Highlights
- Hygrocybe jackmanii was docummented at Black Pond and currently known from only one other location in Labrador
- Melanoleuca cinereifolia was documented for the first time in Canada and seems common on the foredunes, though DNA indicates this is likely a different species.
- An undescribed Russula species, previously only known from Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick, was found in Prince Edward Island National Park and Hog Island
- Several species are likely undescribed, others are significant range or habitat extensions
Reports
A Provisional Survey of the Macrofungi on Sand Dunes in Prince Edward Island National Park - 2022 Research Report for PEI NP
Key Species
Hygrocybe jackmanii
This colourful waxcap was described in 2015 from a single site in Labrador. This species is now known from two more locations on PEI: Black Pond and Basin Head. It grows typically in a bouquet like form on heath and grey dunes, specifically associated with Empetrum sp. (Crowberries) and potentially other heath plants. The DNA sequence can be viewed here.
Coprinopsis sp.
This elusive inky cap was first found at the front of the foredunes on South Rustico beach in 2022. This is likely an undescribed species and has been tricky to document as it fruits at night for just 5-10 days at the end of June. Growing on buried stems and leaves of Ammophila breviligulata (American Marram Grass), this mushroom has cup like volva's that fuse together with one another forming a bulb shaped base. The DNA sequence can be viewed here.
Russula sp.
This undescribed Russula species was first observed at Kouchibouguac National Park in 1986, by Greg Thorn, and was only known from this location. It has since been found at three locations on PEI, all sites that also support populations of Lechea maritima (Beach Pinweed), though growing with Hudsonia tomentosa (Woolly Beachheather). This species is part of the yellow clade and similiar to R. versicolor. The DNA sequence can be viewed here.
For the purposes of this inventory the coastal sand dunes on PEI have been broken into different habitat types based on vegetation and fungal observations. These habitats often intermingle, specially around blowouts or other changes in dune morphology.
Foredunes
The Foredune stretches from the shore to the first parallel dune ridge. Characterized by dynamic sand and exposure to salt spray, it's primarily vegetated by Ammophila breviligulata (American Marram Grass). Foredunes on the south side of PEI are different and need further exploration, they may just be White dunes.
Yellow Dunes
Yellow dunes lie inland from the foredune, primarily vegetated by Ammophila breviligulata (American Marram Grass) and Morella pensylvanica (Northern Bayberry). These dunes signify a transition from the dynamic foredune environment to more stable inland areas.
Green Dunes
Green dunes represent semi-stable dunes, regularly influenced by blowing sand. They are primarily vegetated by Hudsonia tomentosa (Woolly Beachheather). The parabolic dune at Greenwich is an example of green dune.
Grey Dunes
Grey dunes are characterized by their stability and a dense cover of Cladonia (Reindeer) lichens, along with Hudsonia, Empetrum (Crowberries), and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry). Black Pond is an example of grey dunes.
Heath Dunes
Heath dunes are dominated by heath-type plants like Empetrum (Crowberries), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry), Vaccinium (Blueberries), Corema conradii (Broom Crowberry), and Hudsonia ericoides (Pine Barren Goldenheather). The east end of Hog Island and Basin Head are examples of heath dunes.
Dune Slacks
Dune slacks are depressions within the dunes, often moist, supporting diverse vegetation including Vaccinium oxycoccos (Bog Cranberry) and Morella pensylvanica (Northern Bayberry). These areas have been primarily observed on their peripheries during this inventory.
Forested Dunes
Forested dunes are typically dune edges and much older dunes that have been covered in local forest. This inventory is not focusing on forested dunes except in passing.
| Name | Fall 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Entoloma "dark and small" | - | - | X |
| Agaricus bisporus | X | - | - |
| Alloclavaria | - | - | X |
| Amanita cornelihybrida | - | - | X |
| Amanita muscaria guessowii | - | X | X |
| Ascomycota "partial cup" | - | - | X |
| Astraeus smithii | X | X | X |
| Calocybe fallax | - | - | X |
| Clavulina coralloides | - | - | X |
| Clitocella popinalis | - | - | X |
| Clitocybe "big funnel" | - | - | X |
| Clitocybe "pink caps" | - | - | X |
| Collybia "in soil" | - | - | X |
| Collybia "no sclerotia" | - | - | X |
| Collybia cookei | - | - | X |
| Coltricia perennis | - | X | - |
| Coprinellus | - | X | - |
| Coprinopsis | - | X | X |
| Cortinarius "like fallax" | - | - | X |
| Cortinarius "nipple" | - | - | X |
| Cortinarius "serated gills" | - | - | X |
| Cortinarius "shiny hog" | - | - | X |
| Cortinarius "sp-PEI01" | - | X | - |
| Cortinarius "sp-PEI02" | - | X | X |
| Cortinarius "wet area" | - | - | X |
| Cortinarius impolitus | - | X | - |
| Cortinarius psammocola | - | X | X |
| Crucibulum laeve | - | - | X |
| Cyathus stercoreus | - | - | X |
| Dermocybe "crowberry" | - | - | X |
| Entoloma "Basin-head 2023" | - | - | X |
| Galerina "bay berry" | - | - | X |
| Gyroporus subalbellus | - | - | X |
| Hebeloma sordidulum | - | X | X |
| Hygrocybe conicoides | - | X | X |
| Hygrocybe jackmanii | - | X | X |
| Hygrocybe substrangulata | - | - | X |
| Hypholoma "pholiota" | - | - | X |
| Inocybe "brown capped" | - | - | X |
| Inocybe "sp-PEI01" | - | X | - |
| Laccaria "forest" | - | - | X |
| Laccaria trichodermophora | - | X | X |
| Laccaria trullisata | - | X | X |
| Lactarius helvus | - | - | X |
| Lactarius pubescens | - | X | X |
| Leccinum "brown arenicola" | - | - | X |
| Leccinum "cranberry" | - | - | X |
| Leccinum "on edge" | - | - | X |
| Leccinum arenicola | - | X | X |
| Lycoperdon | X | - | X |
| Lycoperdon "tiny" | - | - | X |
| Marasmiineae "frilled" | - | - | X |
| Marasmius "ammophila stems" | - | - | X |
| Marasmius "spruce cones" | - | - | X |
| Marasmius "wide gills" | - | - | X |
| Marasmius oreades | - | X | X |
| Marasmius wettsteinii | - | - | X |
| Melanoleuca "cinereifolia-PEI01" | X | - | - |
| Mutinus elegans | - | - | X |
| Mycena "2023-01" | - | - | X |
| Mycena "bay berry medium" | - | - | X |
| Mycena "bay berry tiny" | - | - | X |
| Mycena "black pond" | - | - | X |
| Mycena "FR grassy" | - | - | X |
| Mycena "griseoviridis-IN01" | - | X | - |
| Mycena epipterygia | - | - | X |
| Paragymnopus perforans | - | - | X |
| Peziza ammophila | X | X | X |
| Phallus hadriani | - | - | X |
| Psathyrella "tiny" | - | - | X |
| Psathyrella arenulina | X | X | X |
| Rhodocollybia "sp-IN01" | - | X | X |
| Rhodocollybia lentinoides | - | - | X |
| Rickenella | - | - | X |
| Russula "sp-IN118" | - | X | X |
| Russula ventricosipes | - | - | X |
| Scleroderma septentrionale | - | X | X |
| Suillus ampliporus | - | - | X |
| Thelephora terrestris | - | X | X |
| Tricholoma equestre | - | - | X |
| Tulostoma brumale | - | - | X |
| Basin Head | Brackley Beach | Greenwich |
|---|---|---|
| Amanita cornelihybrida | Astraeus smithii | Alloclavaria |
| Astraeus smithii | Clitocella popinalis | Amanita muscaria guessowii |
| Cortinarius 'like fallax' | Cortinarius impolitus | Ascomycota 'partial cup' |
| Entoloma 'Basin-head 2023' | Hebeloma sordidulum | Astraeus smithii |
| Gyroporus subalbellus | Laccaria trullisata | Cortinarius 'sp-PEI02' |
| Hygrocybe jackmanii | Cortinarius psammocola | |
| Hygrocybe substrangulata | Cabot Park | Crucibulum laeve |
| Laccaria trichodermophora | Astraeus smithii | Hebeloma sordidulum |
| Laccaria trullisata | Calocybe fallax | Hygrocybe conicoides |
| Marasmiineae 'frilled' | Coprinopsis | Hygrocybe substrangulata |
| Mycena epipterygia | Crucibulum laeve | Laccaria trichodermophora |
| Russula ventricosipes | Cyathus stercoreus | Laccaria trullisata |
| Scleroderma septentrionale | Entoloma 'dark and small' | Lactarius pubescens |
| Tricholoma equestre | Hygrocybe conicoides | Leccinum 'cranberry' |
| Laccaria 'forest' | Leccinum 'on edge' | |
| Black Pond | Laccaria trullisata | Leccinum arenicola |
| Amanita muscaria guessowii | Lactarius pubescens | Mutinus elegans |
| Ascomycota 'partial cup' | Leccinum arenicola | Psathyrella 'tiny' |
| Astraeus smithii | Lycoperdon | Rickenella |
| Clavulina coralloides | Marasmius oreades | Thelephora terrestris |
| Clitocella popinalis | Melanoleuca 'cinereifolia-PEI01' | |
| Clitocybe 'big funnel' | Mycena '2023-01' | Hog Island |
| Clitocybe 'pink caps' | Mycena 'black pond' | Amanita muscaria guessowii |
| Collybia 'no sclerotia' | Peziza ammophila | Astraeus smithii |
| Cortinarius 'like fallax' | Psathyrella arenulina | Clitocella popinalis |
| Cortinarius 'nipple' | Rhodocollybia lentinoides | Clitocybe 'pink caps' |
| Cortinarius 'serated gills' | Thelephora terrestris | Collybia 'in soil' |
| Cortinarius 'sp-PEI02' | Tulostoma brumale | Collybia cookei |
| Dermocybe 'crowberry' | Coltricia perennis | |
| Hygrocybe conicoides | Cavendish Spit | Cortinarius 'shiny hog' |
| Hygrocybe jackmanii | Agaricus bisporus | Cortinarius 'wet area' |
| Hygrocybe substrangulata | Coprinopsis | Cortinarius psammocola |
| Hypholoma 'pholiota' | Crucibulum laeve | Hygrocybe conicoides |
| Inocybe 'brown capped' | Melanoleuca 'cinereifolia-PEI01' | Hygrocybe substrangulata |
| Inocybe 'sp-PEI01' | Psathyrella arenulina | Laccaria trichodermophora |
| Laccaria trichodermophora | Peziza ammophila | Lactarius pubescens |
| Laccaria trullisata | Conway Island | Leccinum arenicola |
| Lactarius helvus | Astraeus smithii | Marasmius 'ammophila stems' |
| Leccinum 'brown arenicola' | Cortinarius 'like fallax' | Marasmius 'wide gills' |
| Leccinum arenicola | Cortinarius psammocola | Phallus hadriani |
| Marasmius 'ammophila stems' | Crucibulum laeve | Russula 'sp-IN118' |
| Mycena 'bay berry medium' | Galerina 'bay berry' | Thelephora terrestris |
| Mycena 'black pond' | Hebeloma sordidulum | |
| Paragymnopus perforans | Hygrocybe conicoides | South Rustico Beach |
| Rhodocollybia 'sp-IN01' | Laccaria trullisata | Coprinopsis |
| Rhodocollybia lentinoides | Lycoperdon | Crucibulum laeve |
| Russula ventricosipes | Marasmius 'ammophila stems' | Cyathus stercoreus |
| Scleroderma septentrionale | Marasmius 'wide gills' | Melanoleuca 'cinereifolia-PEI01' |
| Suillus ampliporus | Mycena 'bay berry tiny' | Peziza ammophila |
| Thelephora terrestris | Psathyrella arenulina | Psathyrella arenulina |
| Tricholoma equestre | Russula 'sp-IN118' | |
| Tracadie Harbour | ||
| Blooming Point | Darnley Point | Astraeus smithii |
| Marasmius 'wide gills' | Laccaria trullisata | Cortinarius psammocola |
| Peziza ammophila | Peziza ammophila | Crucibulum laeve |
| Psathyrella arenulina | Psathyrella arenulina | Cyathus stercoreus |
| Hebeloma sordidulum | ||
| Bothwell Beach | French River Beach | Laccaria trullisata |
| Cortinarius 'sp-PEI01' | Coprinellus | Lactarius pubescens |
| Mycena 'griseoviridis-IN01' | Coprinopsis | Leccinum arenicola |
| Russula ventricosipes | Crucibulum laeve | Peziza ammophila |
| Scleroderma septentrionale | Cyathus stercoreus | Psathyrella arenulina |
| Lycoperdon 'tiny' | Russula 'sp-IN118' | |
| Marasmius 'ammophila stems' | ||
| Marasmius 'spruce cones' | ||
| Marasmius oreades | ||
| Marasmius wettsteinii | ||
| Melanoleuca 'cinereifolia-PEI01' | ||
| Mycena 'FR grassy' | ||
| Peziza ammophila | ||
| Psathyrella arenulina |