Acknowledgments: Te authors thank Jim Essig and


Tony Zavodnik from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for their assistance at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park and the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for supporting studies to better understand and utilize Minnesota’s extraordinary fungi.


A bird’s nest in the tropical rainforest of Brazil made up of Marasmius rhizomorphs. Photo courtesy of Neomia Kazue Ishikawa.


exploratory structures are used to find new substrates for nutrient exploitation and provide protection from environmental stress, combative antagonistic fungi, insects, toxic substances, and even provide protection from UV light. Species developing rhizomorphs tend to be abundant in their ecosystems; Armillaria in temperate forests, Polyporus-like species and the Horsehair fungi in subtropical and tropical ecosystems. We know a lot about the biology and ecology of Armillaria from decades of studies but little to no information on the rhizomorphic tropical fungi. We are continuing our investigations to learn more about these intriguing fungi and their significance in tropical ecosystems.


Baskets (top photos) made by Yanomami Indigenous women from the Maturacá community in the tropical rainforest of Brazil using black rhizomorphs in different weaving patterns for decoration. An enlargement photo of a basket (bottom) showing the shiny black rhizomorphs used to weave the basket.


Winter 2022 FUNGI Volume 15:1 31


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