Why Fungal Diversity Survey?
The word Mycoflora in our name had become a challenge. “Flora” is a term from botany - the study of plants. Fungi are their own kingdom - but as long as they get lumped in with plants they will not get the recognition, attention and protection they deserve. As an organization championing the special place of fungi in the world we needed to stand up for them - starting with our name.
We’ve expanded our mission. Our focus used to be just sequencing and vouchering - rest assured, this has not changed. But there’s a greater opportunity out there. More people are sharing observations of fungi on citizen science platforms than ever before, but not all of them are of sufficient quality to be useful to scientists and conservationists. We’ve made it our goal to increase the number of high quality, identified observations of fungi in North America by training observers and providing identification. Find out more here.
We equip citizen and professional scientists with the tools to document the diversity and distribution of fungi across North America.
To increase awareness of the critical role of fungi in the health of our ecosystems and allow us to better protect them in a world of rapid climate change and habitat loss.
We aim to engage all levels of mushroom lovers who want to contribute basic knowledge about fungal diversity and distribution.
Deep Funga Blog
What's in a name? Unlocking the mystery behind a strongly-scented waxy cap
- 22 September 2020The smell of Russian leather! That is how the rather plain looking white “Hygrocybe” russocoriaceus is described and how it is supposed to be identified in the field. Indeed, the name russocoriaceus...
Welcome to FunDiS: A new organization for a new fungal future
- 08 August 2020We’ve been hinting at it for a while and today, the day has finally come. The North American Mycoflora Project is evolving: new name, new logo and an expanded mission. Say goodbye to the North...
Fantastic Funga: Why Language Matters
- 15 July 2020The vocabulary of mycology is one that reveals the way in which fungi have been traditionally treated in classification. Under old systems in which two kingdoms were recognized, plants and animals,...
