Caromar Covenant: Clavaroid, Chaga and Cryptoporus Volvatus

The western toad is on the provincial Yellow List and is considered a species of conservation concern.
Photo Credit Andrew MacKinnon.

Last week, TLC staff members Andrew and Torrey monitored the Caromar covenant, located approximately 30 minutes away from Duncan. Andrew and Torrey first traversed the covenant from East to West, marking the boundaries with flagging tape. The covenant covers approximately 27 hectares of land and is home to a diverse range of species assemblages; there are ridges filled with Scotch broom, valley bottoms with maple trees and small creeks running through, steep hillsides with Douglas-fir and red alder, and many, many different fungi.

Some of the more interesting species included clavarioid fungi, colloquially known as coral or club mushrooms because they literally look like coral growing from the forest floor! Staff also found a few fluted black elfin saddles (Helvella lacunose) which are described as edible in some literature but have been found to contain monomethylhydrazine (MMH), a component of rocket fuel! MMH is highly reactive and accumulates within the body, so always be sure to check current information on mushrooms before consuming them. Helvella species are also known by some as “false morels” due to their slight resemblance to the delicious edible morel mushroom (Morchella species).

Torrey with the highly poisonous Amanita mushroom.
Photo Credit Andrew MacKinnon.

Other fungal friends we encountered include the Amanita species, a highly poisonous bunch. Staff member Torrey found one that appeared to have a bite out of it, so she posed for a picture. Don’t be fooled though, these mushrooms are NOT edible! They are, however, some of the more visually distinct species, having the classic red or yellow cap with white dots on top.

Some fungi can fool observers, simply because they don’t resemble typical mushrooms. One such species is Inonotus obliquus, commonly known as chaga, which appears as a burnt patch on a tree trunk. This species is usually found on birch trees, though can occur on alder as well. The variety that occurs on birch is highly prized for its medicinal properties. Chaga has been shown to have positive effects on the immune system, and can hamper the growth and proliferation of cancerous tumours. While no clinical trials have been performed yet, studies indicate that it has the potential to be used in cancer therapy.

Another type of fungi that doesn’t look like a mushroom is the grey-brown sap rot fungus, Cryptoporus volvatus. This particular species had Torrey stumped, but thankfully Andrew was able to ID it after returning to the office. By identifying the different fungal species present in the covenant we can better determine its health and diversity as certain species are present only in certain biotic and abiotic conditions (e.g. due to soil chemistry, tree species present, etc.).

The only vertebrate species we encountered happened to hop directly in front of us as we were hiking – a baby western toad! It cooperated with us and allowed a few photographs to be taken. The western toad is on the provincial Yellow List, and is considered a species of conservation concern. Luckily, this little fellow’s habitat is safe!

Overall, the Caromar Covenant contains diverse habitat for many creatures, and TLC is very glad to know it is protected forever. You can help TLC continue to protect important ecosystems sustainably across BC by supporting the monitoring and enforcement of our covenants. Please complete our online donation form to show your support today!