For this workshop, J.R. will give a PowerPoint presentation on how one goes about mushroom identification, primarily focusing on the variety of macroscopic (i.e. visible without a microscope)
characteristics of typical mushrooms. After the presentation, we will practice using dichotomous keys to the identification of certain mushrooms that will be available at the Fair. First we will work through one or two species as a group, then you will have the opportunity to work in smaller groups while J.R. is in the room.
Ideally, everyone will have access to an identification guide that has keys. The best choice is California Mushrooms by Desjardin, Wood, and Stevens. Other options are the second edition of
Mushrooms Demystified by Arora or Mushrooms of Cascadia by Beug. If you have one of those books (or can borrow or buy one ahead of time), then please bring it to the workshop. There are other mushroom guides that might work, but only if they have
dichotomous keys
Blair received his Bachelor’s degree at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and obtained his Master’s degree at San Francisco State University in 1999 studying with the accomplished mycologist, Dr. Dennis Desjardin. His thesis was Fungi Associated with Arctostaphylos in Northern California. Since that time he
has been an active member of the Mycological Society of San Francisco. He served a two-year term as President and was their Fungus Fair chairperson for five years. He has taught mushroom identification workshops for mycological societies and outdoor education programs for many years. He was a lecturer of biology at SFSU for 21 years until his retirement in 2020. He was the director of the Sierra Nevada Field Campus for a dozen years.
Workshop
Mushroom Identification Workshop
Learn how to:
The Mycological Society of San Francisco has been hosting 1 or 2 Fungus Fairs each year since 1969. Fairs have been held in San Francisco County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and Marin County. Historical information is available about previous Fungus Fairs: