Group 1: (Adele, Alec, Janaka and Eva)'s Journal

Turkey Tail fungus, with the scientific name Trametes versicolor, have many immune-boosting properties and actually have been used by many native communities around the world as medicine. This is because the fungi is full of antioxidants which inhibits oxidation and protects are body against harmful substances. Furthermore, the fungi contain prebiotics which can help with our digestive health. Prebiotics feed the bacteria in our digestive system and thus ensure that it is strong and stable. Turkey Tails are very common in North America.

Kubala, Jillian. “5 Immune-Boosting Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushroom.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 6 Nov. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turkey-tail-mushroom.

Lepiota cristata, most known as Stinking dapperling from the Agaricaceae family, can be easily recognize by its small size, its fragrant odour and the brownish scales on the cape. Moreover, this name refers to the unpleasant smell of coal gas from this mushroom. If often grows in disturbed grounds (ditches for instance). Lepiota cristata can not be use for human's food because it is poisoning but it does not contain amatoxins or phalotoxins: The spores have very distinctive shapes, like an oval shape, and are single walled.

One of my observations was a mushroom from the genus Armillaria. In environments with the correct amount of sunlight and water, Armillaria can live for hundreds of years. Armillaria species are found on the ground and the wood of trees and the hyphae of these species combine into rhizomorphs, which are the main organ responsible for secreting enzymes to digest and absorb food. One of the most well-known applications of armillaria is root rot caused by the species, Armillaria mellea. By using its filaments to attack tree roots, the parasitic fungus spreads up the tree and through the trunk until the tree dies. By autumn, yellow mushrooms begin to grow at the base of the trees and the fungus continues to invade and ravage surrounding trees.

• Sorry, while I wrote my journal entry and submitted it, I forgot to post it on iNaturalist