Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Mycology Demystified

 This Page is Under Construction

by Wil Franklin 

 

 

 

Mycology Demystified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “Going to the woods is going home, for I suppose we came from the woods originally”

John Muir from  The Atlantic, April 1900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, in many ways Mycology is about going into the woods:

 

Fungi - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also Fungi in Medicine -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fungi in Food and Wine - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also about Arts and Crafts (Wild-crafting) -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

 

  • Fungal Biology & Ecology
  • Identifying Fungi & Local Mushrooms
  • A tour of local edible and poisonous mushrooms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fungal Biology & Ecology

 

 

What Unites all of these Organisms?

 

Chytridomycota

Aquatic Zoosporic molds

Zygomycota
 

Common Molds

 

Ascomycetes

Cup Fungi, Truffles and Others

 

 

Basidiomycetes

Rusts, Bracken, Mushrooms and Others

       
       
       

 

 

 

 


 

Fungi have chitin

 

 

 

The large multicelluar Fungi, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes are united by:

 

  • long  narrow cells called hyphae.....  
  • that branch and multiply to form a web-like mass (the fungal body) called mycellium.

 


 

And are separated by:

 

An Ascus in Ascomycetes

A Basidium in Basidiomycetes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Fungal Biology

 

  • Parasites on Insects, Trees and Humans (you don't want to see theses)

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identifying Fungi & Local Mushrooms:

 

 

 

Summary of Key Characteristics for Identifying Mushrooms:

  • Spore producing structure - Gills, pores  or teeth 

 

  • Color
  • Size
  • Spore color

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tour of Local Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms

 

 

 Quadrangle Fungi - Compliments of Weecha Crawford. 

Jack O'Lantern Mushroom (Omphalotus illudens)

 


 

Edibles

 

Poisonous Mushroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dyeing Wool, Silk and other Fabrics with Fungi

 

 

 

 

 


 

Great Fungal Recipes

 

 

Easy Oyster Mushroom Pate':

  • 1 part Philly Cream Cheese
  • 5 parts Fresh Oyster Mushrooms (cooks down to about 2 parts)
  • 2 gloves of garlic
  • crushed walnuts or almonds
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • splash of fresh lemon juice
  1. Sautee mushrooms with butter and garlic until volume is reduced about 3-4 times.
  2. Puree.
  3. Mix in cream cheese, allow to cool.
  4. Roll and form into desired shape.
  5. Drizzle with lemon juice.
  6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Roll in crushed nuts and serve.

 

Politically Correct Frois Gras

Many More at Mushroom Recipes

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Links to Fungal Resources and Images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
6 + 2 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.