Fungi Appreciation Thread!

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So there are no actual mycologists on this site? Or are they all out hunting mushrooms? My original training was as a mycologist, but could not get a job. So I ended up with many different jobs along the way, but none in my field.

There's you!

Sorry Darmok old boy, technically there's nobody here who's a mycologist as that would require being employed in a paid position with the title Mycologist or at least microbiologist (the latter study micro-fungi like lichen, yeast and mould).

There are however hobbyists a plenty who like these colourful penis shaped mycelial masses....

A mycologist is someone who studies fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicine, food, and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as toxicity or infection. (adapted from wikipedia)

I was flattered that Darmok considered me a mycologist and was going to protest gently (nah, not me).

Then cyberdad is clearly saying I'm not because I don't have a job and get paid for it.

Mycology has a long and storied history of "amateurs" contributing greatly to the field. The Peck Forray, held in the Adirondacks each year gathers professionals and others together for the gathering and study of fungi. I'm somewhere between an amateur and a professional and if anyone else here studies fungi, please speak up!

You may just become the person to discover the galactic mycelial network — the Establishment will never break free enough from conventional thinking to do it.

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Mycelial_network

(I will confess that, as much as I am a die-hard ST fan, the galactic mycelial network is not one of their best creative conceits. But perhaps they will be able to salvage it.)

Yeah but amateur botanists and mycologists don't have the money to conduct genetic or biochemical studies, classical botanical nomenclature (conducted by amateurs) was replaced with biochemical systematics some 30 years ago.

Classical amateur botanists/mycologists no longer contribute to scientific literature (hence why I called them hobbyists)

I concede, cyberdad. You are correct about the move from macroscopic anatomy to biochemical systematics, and the time line and the cost. Not sure that means that you can't be a mycologist without a scientific position. There are other avenues to explore such as the production of mushrooms for food, bioremediation, etc. When I was in school, the idea that morels could be cultivated was viewed as fantasy and now of course, people do it.

Darmok, I missed the class on the spore drive. I think the mycelium drive is a more applicable to the space ship I am constructing in the swamps.

Phenotypic plasticity masks genetic variation, that's the problem with classical botanical nomenclature when applied to lichen, fungi, algae and bacteria.

But yeah I guess you and Darmok can call yourselves whatever you like.

Yes, I understand that, having studied all those groups and taxonomy being my specialty. And what will we do with all those Fungi Imperfecti? I don't think all of them have been genetically analyzed, but I could be wrong. Also convergent evolution. Also a problem with tropical plants, which all look alike. And even with plants like coca trees. Apparently there are many kinds in the American tropics for which the indigenous peoples have individual names with different actions, but all look the same to Western botanists.

Had I been born a generation earlier, I could have studied botany or biology with the likes of Edward O. Wilson or Richard Evans Schultz. Or a generation later, I could have become this woman...Mycologist Travels World in Search of New Fungi.

https://www.purdue.edu/research/researc ... new-fungi/

Had I a different life, I might have done different things. But, I am very happy with the life I have been given and still enjoy seeing what others are up to.

I would volunteer to weekends at a Botany school in one of your local universities or colleges and help look after their herbarium fungi collection, it sounds like something you would be really good at and then you could call yourself a mycologist (or at least you would pass the collegial muster)

Good idea. I have done some volunteering at botanical gardens. Perhaps more when I don't have to work full time. (I really don't need to call myself a mycologists. It was sort of a joke, but I am quite bad at expressing humor.

How about a botanist specialising in lower plants?

This is definitely a cool list:

https://mentalfloss.com/article/71159/7 ... ames-fungi

70 Totally Amazing Common Names for Fungi

I found some cool little cup fungi growing on the deck railing of our cabin when we were in Arkansas a few weeks ago, but now the phone I used to take pictures of them won't take a charge, so I'm waiting to get a new one. If I can get the pictures transferred over to the new phone, I'll share them then. I'm posting now so I know I'll be able to find this thread fairly readily.

Please do!