Wood inhabiting fungi in Alaska : their diversity, roles, and uses

Abstract

Wood inhabiting, rotting and/or decomposing fungi from Alaska include representatives from an assortment of fungal groups (cup, jelly, pored coral, tooth, puffball, gilled and lichenized fungi) and one fungus-like group (the slime molds). Of the more than 1,500 species recorded for North America, over 250 species of wood-inhabiting fungi have been reported from Alaska. In Alaska, more than 102 genera of gilled, shelf or bracket fungi with pores, jelly fungi, and flat paint-smear-like fungi are known. Most, if not all, of these fungi are known to fruit in Alaska national parks; however, it is important to note as most of the fungi reported here were collected in national parks, that to collect in any national park necessitates obtaining relevant permits. It is against the law to collect natural objects from national parks without the necessary permits. As with green plant species, some of these fungi are common, some rare, some large and obvious, while others are small and inconspicuous, and some are edible and others poisonous. In this presentation of research on fungi, we make several references to edibility. In so doing, we do not encourage anyone to eat fungi without first consulting a professional.

Citation

Laursen, Gary A; Burdsall, Harold H.; Seppelt, Rodney D. 2005. Wood inhabiting fungi in Alaska : their diversity, roles, and uses. Alaska park science. Vol. 4, no. 1 (June 2005): pages 18-25.