I would like to be involved in the natural sciences if I could live my life over. My life has been with technology - designing computers, aircraft engines, medical systems and teaching mathematics in university. Recently I joined the Queensland Mycological Society (QMS) and began life anew. At a mycology meeting I heard a lot about fungi. One talk mentioned that some insects mouth parts have evolved to fit the shape of particular fungal spores. Some fungi produce as many as five different kinds of spores for different conditions. I was not familiar with many of the technical terms so will have to study.

Some lady produced mushroom shaped candies for the break. Other goodies, some relating to mushrooms were produced.

Members are expected to develop a good knowledge of some group of fungi. Marie and I may specialise in polypores - the kind that grow on wood. We have a couple growing on the corymbia, a eucalypt, in the back yard. I took pictures of them, but nobody at the meeting could identify them.

The society has five tracts of land in different environments so one can study fungi. Sand dunes, wet sclerophyll, dry sclerophyll, rainforest & regenerated land.

We recently had a workshop at the mycological society where we learned how to use microscopes to identify spores. The society is discussing working together with the Queensland museum to produce two books. One would be scientific with monographs on various genera. I signed up for that. The other would be a popular guide so people could recognize the most common species. The other people in the society are a joy to be with.

Fungi interact with trees, humans, insects and other living beings so you learn about them too. What's true for fungi is also true for animals, plants, protoctista and bacteria. Grab a bit of nature for yourself.

I am born again.

Problems I could not solve filled my head
So I with a new marriage did make carouse
Divorced barren reason from my bed
And took the kingdom of the fungus to spouse

Hmmm. Bringing back fond memories of mushroom shakes!

I could have gone for that before I rearranged my life, david - I used to be kept in the dark and fed on sh!t.

Mind you, these days I'm quite a fun guy :)

[Boom boom - I just had to get in first!]

And next we’ll have Fractelle saying that she is a fun gal! (;~{

Wonderful stuff David. Aren’t fungi fascinating!

They constitute a different kingdom, no longer being considered to be plants. They are major nutrient recyclers and have symbiotic relationships with all manner of plants, to the extent that those species can’t survive without them. They are enormously important ecologically, and can also be highly destructive. For example: dieback fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) in the jarrah forests and heathlands of WA.

I find fungi absolutely fascinating, but I’m not much into them, mainly because I’m so intensely into plants in particular, and also birds and rocks and ecology in general. I tried to embrace fungi, along with insects, especially butterflies and non-vascular plants, especially mosses. But my head came close to exploding!

It is good that you have found great enjoyment in being associated with a mob of fungal fogies!

Cheers

If I had of gone with my heart rather than my head, I would have been an etymologist. To this day I am still fascinated with the little buggers.

I have only every seen one job opening though. A guy at UQ wanted to go on holidays, and needed someone to look after his collection of lice while he was away. Primarily, this meant you were responsible for ensuring they got feed at regular intervals during the day. The lice were rather picky - they would only feed on fresh human blood, but feeding them was simple enough. They lived in a match box sized container. You strapped it to your arm for while, and then when they were done ensure they were all safely back their box. If you started scratching when finished you went looking for the escapee.