Fungi’s with Some Fun Guys

On October 17th, fellow outdoor schoolers and other various mycology enthusiasts gathered outside the University of Guelph’s nature reserve to find and identify numerous species of mushrooms and fungi. After an hour and a half of dedicated foraying, close to 40 different species were collected!

After the foray was finished, students, friends, and educators assembled to question and classify the many fungi present. Although another group had recently accessed the reserve a few days prior for their own mushroom foray, there were still many new fungi and mushrooms to be found!   

On of the more interesting mushrooms we found and learned about was Gymnopilus junonius, also known as “Laughing Gym”. This particular mushroom, when consumed, causes individuals to experience hallucinations and often run around laughing, hence the nickname. The second unique mushroom we learned about was Hydnum repandum. Hydnum repandum, otherwise known as the “sweet tooth mushroom”, which tastes spicy to the tongue, and is often dried and used as a herb in meals.

As our first foray experience, this adventure has opened our eyes to the world of mycology. Through a truly hands on experience, we were able to gain a new appreciation for fungi and their place in the ecosystem. Holy shiitake it was fun!

Written by Riley Grant and Brianna Marshall