A new book on one of my favorite subjects has just come out. I've just ordered it, even though I have a shelf full of mushroom and fungus books. While the old saw tells us we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, it does appear to have a very nice cover, and being written by a pair of old hands from the British Mycological Society, I have high expectations.
In other fungal news, fungi appear to be on the move again. I got this through my news-alerts and attempted to chase the rabbit down the hole to the original source, only to find my library doesn't subscribe (frown). However, the article suggests that truffles have been found in an area in previously not known to have them, north of the Alps. They hypothesize the cause is climate change. Click on that link if you want to see a cute dog with a gigantic truffle.
I also learn in this article of the existence of a breed of dogs known for their ability to hunt truffles: the Lagotto Romagnolo. At $2500+, I don't think I'll be getting one any time soon, though there is a club (actually two clubs) for their people here in the US.
While Australians may have been salivating at the thought of a bumper crop of pistachios, Colletotrichum acutatum seems to have gotten to them first, unfortunately. This fungus, which causes an anthracnose, affects a broad range of plant hosts, including Pistacia vera (Anacardiaceae). The article goes on to suggest that this isn't the only fungal disease outbreak occurring in Australia this year. Blame it on the rain.
"Worm-grass" is neither worm nor grass, but as you can guess from its mention here, is a fungus. In this article, about Cordyceps spp.(though it is not mentioned by name), it is suggested that harvesting of this fungus may be threatening the delicate ecology of the Tibetan Plateau.
And finally in this installment of the Fungal News, another item that I have WANT for, a Super Mario Mushroom lamp. While the article claims it is a 1UP lamp, it appears to come in PowerUp as well.
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