Mushrooms - Past and Present
For centuries, mushrooms have excited the minds and stomachs of millions of people the world over. Used for food, medicine, religious ceremony--and for poisoning enemies, mushrooms have been an important part of many cultures around the world.
In California, some Indians made soup out of shredded mushrooms. These Indians collected fresh specimens, dried and then shredded them before storing the fungi for later use. Also, fresh mushrooms were often boiled and added to acorn soup. Occasionally, when an Indian became ill after eating a poisonous mushroom, an antidote was made by boiling dried deer brains in water and drinking the greasy broth. This was the Indian's way--survival through the use of whatever resources were at hand, including those plants we now call mushrooms.
Through the centuries, few prople understood the real meaning of mushrooms and related fungi as a part of nature's balance. Often, ideas about their origins were shrouded by a mist of superstition and old wives' tales. Even today, mushrooms in general are objects of apprehension and aversion to many people, due to the persistence of numerous misleading folk tales as well as to the poisonous properties of some of the fungi.
To thousands of other people in the Bay area and elsewhere, winter is an exciting time of the year. While most people seek the shelter of their homes when cloud-covered skies threaten, the "rainy season people" are out searching in woods and fields for nature's jewels--mushrooms and related fungi. Many of the rainy season people spend hours seeking mushrooms and other fungi for the table, for photographing, for painting, and for study. The study of fungi is called "mycology".
The colors, shapes, smells and curious habits of mushrooms have enticed many people into devoting years to their study. The exciting discovery of the fungus world can provide new avenues to man's comprehension of his environment. We invite you to journey into the fascinating realm of mushrooms and related fungi to learn some of the secrets of their survival, so that you may gain a better understanding of their place in the economy of mature.
Referrence : East Bay Regional, Park District by Ronald A. Russo
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