Mycology

Mycology is the study of Fungi, one of the most diverse and least understood kingdoms. Fungi include mushrooms, yeasts, and molds, and our collections focus particularly on mushrooms and their allies (Agaricomycetes).  

The collection started in 2016 with the arrival of the first curator of Mycology at NHMU and, although small, the collection is growing rapidly. The collection is global in scope and also represents the diversity of organisms in Utah. 

Natural history museums call their fungus collections fungaria, and our fungarium is a part of NHMU’s Garrett Herbarium. Our fungarium can be browsed and searched via Mycoportal and is available for study by researchers around the world. Current research projects undertaken by our curator and his team can be found at the Dentinger Lab website. 

Our fungarium includes specimens from Cameroon, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Viet Nam, and all over North America. We keep our specimens dried in archival boxes, stored in the climate-controlled collection cabinets at NHMU. The collection grows in three ways: 1. our own field work and foraging, including University of Utah student work; 2. Donations from citizen scientists; and 3. Exchanges with other fungaria.  

For help with mushroom identification, contact the Mushroom Society of Utah. If you are interested in mushroom foraging and contributing to the science of mycology, contact the North American Mycological Association and the Mycological Society of America. If you have a poisoning enquiry, please contact the Utah Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.