Interviews and Biographies

Fungal People, both famous and unfamiliar

Mushroom the Journal has covered a great many fungal people over the years. This page lists the profiles and interviews that are published on this site; the people are listed in alphabetical order. This includes both articles published originally in Mushroom the Journal, and John Dawson’s Who’s In a Name? series.

Clathrus archeri, the octopus stinkhorn

William Archer
William Archer, whom the octopus stinkhorn is named after

Ballou's most important discoveryWilliam Hosea Ballou
William Hosea Ballou was a self-promoting scoundrel, who nevertheless managed to discover a few important and interesting mushrooms.

The mycologists that Bondarzewia berkeleyi is named after

Bondartsev and Berkeley
The mycologists that Bondarzewia berkeleyi is named after

Lorelei in the rex woods The Quest for Phaeocollybia (and much more)
an interview with Lorelei Norvell
Lorelei Norvell discusses her route to mycology, her exploration of Phaeocollybia, and her work on the International Botanical Congress’s Committee for Fungal Nomenclature.

Cardy Raper and her husband, Red.Woman of Science: an interview with Cardy Raper
An interview with Cardy Raper, who pioneered the study of the complex genetics of Schizophyllum commune, Achlya, and other intriguing organisms. She discusses the ins and outs of how fungal DNA (and RNA!) work, and how much we have left to learn.