Ground Fungus Identification
There are over 100,000 known species of fungus in North America, and a large majority of those are ground fungus or mushrooms. Identifying them is a daunting task similar to flower identification because of the variety of color, size, shape and structure.
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Collection
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When you pick a mushroom for identification, dig it out from its base using a small knife. This will ensure the whole mushroom is gathered and no parts are missing.
Storage
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Store mushrooms upright and in a material that preserves some of the moisture. A "Field Guide to Mushrooms" suggests rolling each fungi in wax paper and twisting the ends. They can then be carried in shallow baskets with the caps up to prevent damage.
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Notes
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Take notes while gathering ground fungus. Write down where the fungus was found, what the area looked like and a detailed description of the fungi itself.
Visuals
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How a fungi looks is important to its identification, according to "The Amazing Kingdom of Fungi." The color and form the tissue takes are important clues. Keeping a visual record of a fungi is helpful. To do this, place the fungi gills down on a white sheet of paper until it deposits its spores, then photograph or draw a depiction of the results. This "spore print" is used for examination and study.
Handbooks
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There are any number of ground fungus handbooks and identification charts for purchase. Because the number of ground fungus is so extensive, a book with photographs makes identification quicker and easier.
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References
- Photo Credit mushroom image by blaine stiger from Fotolia.com
