Fungus Fact Friday

Tagged: arts and crafts

#084: Mushroom Paper 4

Fungus Fact

#084: Mushroom Paper

Believe it or not, you can use mushrooms to make paper! Mushroom paper uses the same process as normal paper making and only differs in the type of fibers used.

#070: Ganoderma applanatum, The Artist’s Conk [Archived] 2

Archived

#070: Ganoderma applanatum, The Artist’s Conk [Archived]

Note: this is an archived post. You can find the current version here. Ganoderma applanatum is unique among fungi in that it is primarily used by humans as an artistic medium. This large, woody bracket fungus features a flat, rapidly-staining, white pore surface, which readily becomes a natural canvas for an artist.  By lightly scratching the pore surface, an artist can produce beautiful sketches without using a pen, pencil, or paint.  The pores stop growing once the mushroom is removed from its substrate, so the stains remain on the pore surface.  Conks produced by applanatum are woody and therefore decay very slowly.  As a result, artwork produced on the Artist’s Conk can last for many years when kept indoors.

#063: Overview of Lichens, Part 2: Ecology and Impact 1

Fungus Fact

#063: Overview of Lichens, Part 2: Ecology and Impact

Because of their resilient nature, lichens are able to grow in almost any climate. Their primary environmental role is initial soil creation, but they also provide food and shelter for animals and are used in a variety of ways by humans.  In case you missed last week, here is a recap.  Lichens are composite organisms that contain a few different species living in a mutualistic relationship.  All lichens contain a mycobiont (a fungus) and a photobiont (a green alga and/or a cyanobacerium).  The mycobiont provides structure while the photobiont provides sugar through photosynthesis.