Archive for 2009
A reader sent in a tip (thanks!) on this strangely entertaining cartoon called “Shrooms” (what other name is there for a whack mushroom cartoon?). The website is Weebl’s Stuff and the toon is described as A full length version of the Mushroom Song from 8-Bit Pwny Club since so many of you requested it. Animated [...]
Fungal Visions is a site devoted to YouTube videos about fungi. The latest addition is an awesome demonstration of how to make a realistic paper mushroom. It looks like you’ll need the right kind of paper. This paper folding video was originally spotted on a twitter post. Although the video is titled Perfect origami mushroom, [...]
Tags: Amanita phalloides, Fungal Visions, mycology videos, origami, paper mushrooms, video
According to Kew Gardens to create biggest fungi collection in world, the Fungal collection at Kew Gardens will swell to over one million. The biggest collection of fungi in the world will be created this week as Kew Gardens takes delivery of more than 400,000 specimens. They will swell the number of spores, moulds, mushrooms [...]
Tags: fungal collections, Kew
Wired Science recently posted an article called Dung Fungus Provides New Evidence in Mammoth Extinction by Betsy Mason. Interesting stuff. The latest evidence in the disappearance of the mammoths, and nine other North American species weighing over a ton, comes from fossilized dung fungus. But despite their lowly origin, if the new findings hold, they [...]
Tags: dung fungus, mammoths
I have not found a polling plugin that I can get to work, or that I like. Any suggestions? This is one way to do a poll. Continuing on my thoughts from yesterday, I am interested in your answer to the following question: Have you ever edited a Wikipedia page? There were 8 respondents and [...]
Yesterday while doing a little research for the post on Ochratoxin A in coffee, I discovered that although the subject is reasonably well addressed at Wikipedia, there was nothing for the fungus Aspergillus ochraceus. Myself, I don’t know a whole lot about that species. I could probably get something started on it, but couldn’t do [...]
Tags: Aspergillus, wikipedia
According to Is there a fungus in your future, there will be a mushroom growing seminar on December 5 in Tustin, MI. Individuals or business owners who are interested in producing specialty mushrooms for use in restaurants or direct-to-consumer sales can learn about growing their crops and their operations during a Dec. 5 conference at [...]
Tags: Michigan, mushroom growing
Ochratoxin A (OTA) must be a big problem in coffee beans. Why do I think so? Because the United Nations set up a special program and website to address the issue. The program has been completed but the website, Reducing Ochratoxin A in Coffee remains. This website is also a training resource, providing information and [...]
Tags: Aspergillus, coffee, mycotoxins, ochratoxin, Penicillium
No charge. Really! All you have to do is ask and I’ll arrange to have it sent to you. David Spahr’s book Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada is now available for a MycoRant review. The publisher will send a copy to the reviewer directly. If you are a mycologist at [...]
Tags: books, edible mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms
A recent paper appearing in the American Journal of Botany reports that mycorrhizae are more prevalent in the roots of female individuals of the grass the Distichlis spicata than in the roots of male plants. According to Sex-specific variation in the interaction between Distichlis spicata (Poaceae) and mycorrhizal fungi by researchers at Portland State University: [...]
Tags: Distichlis, females, grass, Mycorrhizae, VAM
Blastomycosis results from infection with the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. It is a threat to the immunodeficient, but also is more prevalent in some areas than others. Researchers find rare fungus in Milwaulkee area briefly discusses the incidence of the disease in urban Wisconsin. Researchers found a rare — and dangerous — fungus in the rural [...]
Tags: Blastomyces, blastomycosis, medical mycology
This story has been floating around the news for weeks now, but things seem to have come to a head. One Joseph Hotz stands accused of murdering his roommate in a rage one night; a rage apparently resulting from a psychedelic delirium induced by eating mushrooms. The trial entered the deliberation phase late last week [...]
Tags: hallucinogens, magic mushrooms, shrooms
In the nation’s corn belt, worry still swirls about the wet growing season and the prospect for crop damage from mold. According to Late, Wet Corn Harvest Favors Ear Mold: These ear molds may be of various colors, such as green, pink, white, red or black. Color is one distinguishing trait of various fungi that [...]
Tags: corn, mycotoxins, phytopathology
Although it is less of a surprise if an avid spelunker comes down with histoplasmosis, it is a bit strange in an office worker. It’s even stranger when two people from the same office building contract histoplasmosis at almost the same time. However, that seems to be just what has happened to two employees of [...]
Tags: histoplasmosis, sick buildiing
Chorioactis geaster is a rare gasteromycete apparently found in only Texas and Japan (go figure). Forrest Mims is a Texas-based science writer interested in this unusual fungus and his article Texas Star fungus a rare, wonderful sight provides an update. In 1998, my wife Minnie saw one of the rarest sights in all of Texas [...]
Tags: Chorioactis geaster, Forrest Mims, Japan, Texas
The story of the rare Chinese mushroom collection that was being returned to China after an extended stay at Cornell University has come back around again. I didn’t mention it the first time through because I was a little late in finding out about it. More on top of it this time. Shu Chun Teng [...]
Tags: Chinese mushrooms
For some people, finding a basketball-sized fungus resembling a yellow brain would make a walk in the woods turn into a nightmare. For hiker and semi-amateur mycologist Linda Quiring, the recent discovery of Sparassis radicata was reason to celebrate. Not exactly sure what a semi-amateur mycologist is, but so be it. See Hiker and mushroom [...]
Spalted wood is a favorite of many woodworkers because of its interesting and unusual coloration. Under the right conditions, certain decay fungi that have infected the wood (sometimes while it is still living unfortunately) will create blue, pink, gray, black or even several-colored patterns in the wood. There are methods for producing artificial spalting but [...]
Tags: decay fungi, spalting, woodworking
I guess this is a little late, but Pumpkin Protein May Fend Off Yeast Infections by Bill Hendrick appears at WebMD Health News. There were quite a few articles out there on this topic. I’m not sure that it wasn’t just a seasonal hype sort of thing without a lot of actual promise. Reporting in [...]
Tags: Candida albicans, pumkins, yeast infection
Avoid Wild Mushrooms, State Urges! Serious Illness, Death Possible! Well…yeah, so what? Kind of makes sense considering that California has tried to prevent the sale of wild mushrooms in some locales. State health officials on Friday reminded Californians that collecting and eating wild mushrooms can cause serious illness and even death. According to the California [...]
Tags: California, mushroom hunting, poisoning
