BY PEPPER FISHER
Port Angeles – There’s an effort in Washington State to introduce a bill to designate an official state mushroom.
The initiative is meant to celebrate the unique biodiversity of our corner of the world while highlighting the critical ecological roles fungi play in sustaining life and even combating climate change.
One of those leading the charge is David Rogers, founder of the annual Fungi Festival in Port Angeles. Rogers conducted a survey at this year’s well-attended festival, which was a chance for attendees to vote for the mushroom they thought best represented the Northwest. And the winner is…
“Most commonly, it’s referred to as the Matsutake, or sometimes a white Matsutake. But yeah, tricholoma murillianum is the scientific name for it. It’s unique to the Pacific Northwest region, which is one reason it was selected. They are a very unique mushroom. They have a very distinct aroma and flavor. That is kind of one of the reasons they’re really a prized culinary.”
Some of you mushroom lovers might be asking why they’re not pushing for the popular chanterelle or the morel mushroom to be our state mushroom.
“So, Oregon, they were the first to do a chanterelle. And then California, actually, also did a chanterelle for their state mushroom. So it was a big, big push to get away from doing another chanterelle, especially in the west coast. There’s so many amazing mushrooms out there. You know, there’s an estimated 2.5 million species worldwide, but we only know, or only have scientifically identified, around 150,000 of those species. So, 90% of the world’s fungi are just considered, kind of, undescribed by science at this point. Still yet to be discovered.”
Fungi, such as Matsutake, form symbiotic relationships with tree roots, increasing nutrient and water uptake while also storing significant amounts of carbon in soil, contributions that are considered critical to maintaining the health of Washington’s forests and combating the impacts of climate change.
Matsutakes, the northwest native version, show themselves in the fall, usually near hemlocks. But do your homework before venturing out, because Rogers says they can look a lot like the kind you don’t want to eat.
For more information about the bill or how to support this initiative, please contact the Olympic Peninsula Fungi Festival at pafungifest@gmail.com or 360-644-9395.
(Photo: The northwest Matsutake mushroom)