Agraria_Journal_WINTER_2022

An Artful Path to Learning About Mushrooms Many people shy away from wild mushrooms because they fear that they will become sick from eating or touching poisonous mushrooms. Yet only a small percentage of mushrooms are lethal if ingested, and touching a poisonous mushroom would not be fatal. Mushrooms have had symbolic associations with death and decay for many years, so it is easy to understand why some people are mycophobic and avoid interacting with them. Education is the key to clearing up misconceptions and overcoming fear. Learning how to identify mushrooms you come across in the wild will foster a deeper connection to them and an understanding about how they benefit our bodies and our minds as well as the vital role they play in our environment. Creating a spore print is a hands-on tool that can be used to identify mushrooms. Even if you do not have a microscope to view the spores, simply observing the color of the print puts you on the path to the identification. Here is a quick guide on the steps for creating your spore print: 1. Find a mushroom! Find the mushroom that you are interested in identifying. Avoid taking a mushroom that looks too young or too old, as these specimens may not produce spores. 2. Place the mushroom on a piece of paper. Carefully cut off the stalk of the mushroom. The cap should be placed gills or pores side down on a piece of paper. If the cap feels very dry, place a few drops of water on the cap to help release the spores. 3. Cover it up for 12-24 hours. Cover the specimen with a container to reduce the airflow and keep the specimen uncontaminated. Leave the specimen under the container for 12-24 hours. 4. Observe the beauty of the print! Once 12-24 hours have passed, remove the container and gently lift the mushroom cap. Spores are powdery and are easily disturbed by touch or the slightest waft of air. You can preserve the spore print by spraying a light sealant onto the paper. Maureen Fellinger is a mushroom enthusiast and Education Administrative Assistant and Media Specialist at Agraria. BY MAUREEN FELLINGER 30 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2022 Mushroom spore prints by Maureen Fellinger