Please Join us at our upcoming Monthly Meeting on Monday, November 4th at 7:00pm. Balboa Park, Casa Del Prado, Room 101We are holding our Annual Board of Directors Election and will be having a summer events recap with Cassandra Ablola and Steve Farrar.
Please Join us at our upcoming Monthly Meeting on Monday, November 4th at 7:00pm. Balboa Park, Casa Del Prado, Room 101We are holding our Annual Board of Directors Election and will be having a summer events recap with Cassandra Ablola and Steve Farrar.
FROM Fantastic Fungi Newsletter5 FUN and FREAKY FACTS About MushroomsWe take fungi seriously, and we’re in awe of the magic and mystery of mushrooms. Whether to support our health, clean up our planet or nourish our bodies, mushrooms and fungi are, well, fantastic. But as Halloween draws close, we wanted to have a little more fun. We’re diving into the folklore behind mushrooms, looking into some of the freakiest facts about them!1. Trick or Treat? Chanterelles or Jack-O-Lanterns? As the saying goes: “There are old mushroom hunters/and bold mushroom hunters/but no old, bold mushroom hunters.” Whether you are a novice or a seasoned forager, you must be 100% certain about the identity of every mushroom you intend to consume. One common mistake newbies make is confusing delicious chanterelles with jack-o-lanterns, which cause severe GI distress if consumed. While they are both orange, chanterelles lean toward the more muted, yellow side of the color wheel. Plus, they have false gills (wrinkles along the stem) and a cap that can’t be detached from the stem without tearing it. They are solitary mushrooms – or sometimes found in small clusters – while jack-o-lanterns form large clusters often at the base of tree stumps 2. Are Cordyceps "Zombie Mushrooms?" The original Cordyceps mushrooms – the ones relegated to only the emperors of ancient China and their families – were found in nature and feasted on a specific kind of caterpillar. Those mushrooms are Cordyceps sinensis, which still grows wild in Nepal and Tibet. The cultivated versions used in our Cordyceps products use a cruelty-free, vegan species. Cordyceps militaris offers the same support as C. sinensis, but it is cultivated on plants (usually grains)! 3. Is There a Zombie Fly Fungus Among Us? Mushrooms are to be respected – not feared – unless you happen to be a house fly! There’s a fungus called Entomophthora muscae that turns female house flies into zombies who emit chemicals that entice male house flies to commit necrophilia. And, creepily enough, the longer the corpses have been dead, the more appealing they are to the males. Eek! Let this be a reminder of the power of nature. 4. Are "Fairy Rings" Truly Magical? Fairy rings are simply rings of mushrooms that sprout up. Since mushrooms “grow” right under our noses – but mostly without us noticing until they have fully formed – these rings seemed magical to our ancestors. One popular belief about fairy rings was that stepping inside them left someone vulnerable to the power of the fairies. Most mentions are benign, but fairy rings are called “Hexen Rings” (Witches Rings) in German! 5) Did Mushrooms Inspire Halloween? Halloween, known as Samhain, has its roots in Celtic Ireland. The ancient Irish believed that during this time, the veil between our world and the Otherworld grew thin, allowing fairies, leprechauns, pixies, and elves to cross over freely. In this mystical season, mushrooms held significant importance in religious ceremonies, serving as a means to connect with the universe and share wisdom. It's even thought that mushrooms may have found their way into mead, the honey-fermented drink cherished by the ancients.JOIN THEIR NEWSLETTER FOR MORE:fantasticfungi.com/blogs/newsTheir Halloween Video:YOU TUBE: youtu.be/BFvZp3ZzaU0Pictured is a Jack-O-Lanterns found in Felicita Park, San Diego County.
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
It is mushroom fruit body time. When the rain comes to your neighborhood, check for what pops up in your yard and surrounding area. Join iNaturalist.org, find the SDMYCO in projects tab and submit your pictures with the following information. 😃 Thank You to fungaplanet for the image. www.instagram.com/p/DAx_R_xMuCJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.