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  • Rocket Fuel in Mushrooms? Explorations of Toxicity in Morels, False Morels, and Pigs Ears

Rocket Fuel in Mushrooms? Explorations of Toxicity in Morels, False Morels, and Pigs Ears

  • February 24, 2025
  • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Dr, Yakima, WA 98901

Registration

  • Must be a current YVMS member. Please choose this option if you plan to attend in-person. If you are bringing family members, please share how many.
  • If you are not a current YVMS member and will be attending in-person, please choose this option.

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Presentation By Claire Carpenter,

Biology Instructor, Yakima Valley College


Morels (Morchella species) are commonly harvested and eaten by amateur and professional mushroom hunters. However, the similar-looking false morels and their relatives the pig ears (Gyromitra species) are generally considered to be poisonous, largely because some (but not all) species contain the molecule gyromitrin. In the presence of stomach acid, gyromitrin is converted into methylhydrazine, a toxic component of rocket fuel. As a summer research project at Yakima Valley College, we explored the toxicology of true and false morels and pig ears to determine which local species had gyromitrin or other toxic molecules.

Free to current members and $5.00 for guests. We encourage you to register ahead of time. Room at the event is limited. Member check-in and guest tickets may be available at the door if seats are available.

Doors open at 6:30

Meeting will start at 7:00 PM. We'll hold our regular membership meeting, and the presentation will begin shortly thereafter


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The Yakima Valley Mushroom Society is a 501(c)7 nonprofit corporation incorporated in the State of Washington. PO Box 9971, Yakima, WA 98908.


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