I have always been fascinated by mushrooms. One of my earliest memories is of the huge mushrooms growing near the Miles Standish Monument in Massachusetts. I would have to say, though, Arizona is not noted for its mushroom crop. Most of the interest in mushrooms is definitely culinary. In Arizona's arid climate, mushrooms only seem to appear after periods of heavy rainfall, in other words, very infrequently. There is a an association of North American Mycological Societies and Arizona has and Arizona Mushroom Club. I do like to eat mushrooms, but I am not much interested in running around looking for my food.
As usual, there is more information on any given subject than you could ever read in a lifetime. Here is a Checklist of Arizona Macrofungi, Lichens, and Slime Molds. The main website reports 1290 species of nonlichenized macrofungi and 147 species of slime molds for the state of Arizona. The Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium at the University of Arizona houses over 40,000 accessioned specimens of fungi and fungus-like organisms, with special collections of rusts, polypores, and corticioid fungi. Their holdings are global in origin, with special attention to the macrofungi of Arizona and the southwestern United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Gulf Coast region of the USA. Recent expansions include over 8,000 accessions of endophytic fungi from arctic, boreal, temperate, and tropical sites. See website. There is also a very good website from a Northern Arizona University myclogist.
The picture above is from the Arizona high country, just after a huge rainstorm that flooded most of the washes in the area.
As usual, there is more information on any given subject than you could ever read in a lifetime. Here is a Checklist of Arizona Macrofungi, Lichens, and Slime Molds. The main website reports 1290 species of nonlichenized macrofungi and 147 species of slime molds for the state of Arizona. The Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium at the University of Arizona houses over 40,000 accessioned specimens of fungi and fungus-like organisms, with special collections of rusts, polypores, and corticioid fungi. Their holdings are global in origin, with special attention to the macrofungi of Arizona and the southwestern United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Gulf Coast region of the USA. Recent expansions include over 8,000 accessions of endophytic fungi from arctic, boreal, temperate, and tropical sites. See website. There is also a very good website from a Northern Arizona University myclogist.
The picture above is from the Arizona high country, just after a huge rainstorm that flooded most of the washes in the area.
i remember hunting mushrooms in the White Mountains near Sunrise ski with family. Coming across slime molds in neon green, pink and blue colors. Like growing paint balls.
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