One for the mycologists

[Roger the shrubber]

Some interesting fungal history and folklore (info from bms)

 

*It is said that the ancient highlanders used to pack their circular shields (targes) with dried material from the birch bolete (Piptoporus betulinus). The fungus is light and tough and is a good shock absorber. It was also used for honing blades - the Victorians called it the "razor strop" fungus and sharpened their old fashioned razor blades on it. Good job that the fungus also has some antiseptic qualities.

 

People have been using fungi for purposes other than food for thousands of years. Tinder material prepared from the bracket fungus Fomes fomentarius was found with the frozen remains of a Neolithic man in an alpine glacier that has been dated to 3350 -3100 BC.

 

Fasinating fungal facts

 

Poison from a piece of death cap fungus sufficient to cover the tip of a knife (0.5g) can kill 100,000 mice.

 

An individual honey fungus is claimed to be the worlds largest and oldest living organism, estimated to be 1500 yrs old and more than 10,000kg in weight its underground hyphae network covering 15 hectares.

 

When fungi are collected from tropical rain forests approximately one in every eight types collected is a species completely new to science.

 

The stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) can reach a length of 20cm in only 2-3 hours due to cells sucking up water.

 

One bracket Dryads saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is recorded as reaching a weight of 14kg in only 3 weeks.

 

Interesting stuff....

[Jamie M]

Not Mycology, but, my mother was a nurse in Plymouth in the 50's and they were regularly sent up to Dartmoor to collect Sphagnum moss to pack wounds and dressings for its absorbency properties.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

nice post, that iceman you speak of actualy had 3 fungi on him all of which are associated with birch.

 

Inonotus obliquos

Piptoporus betulinus

Fomes fomentarius

 

There appears to be some controversy over which one of the two (I.obliquos and F. fomentarius) is the true tinder fungus.

 

Both are very good, with different qualities, the most fascinating is The I. obliquos though which i found out recently makes a very nice incense.

 

 

Been playing around with them all a bit myself of late:001_cool:

[Steve Bullman]

Interesting stuff Roger, specially the shield padding