Not in mighty forests only Does the miracle unfold; Smallest chambers hold a universe, Quiet worlds of dust and gold.


E


very so often an issue of FUNGI seems to gather itself around a single idea—not by design, but


by the quiet gravitational pull of the fungi themselves. Tis time, that idea is smallness: the power of tiny structures, tiny spores, tiny gestures of life that reshape the world in ways far larger


than their scale would suggest. It feels fitting, then, that our cover features the exquisite bird’s nest fungi, those perfect miniature vessels that cradle their “eggs” with such architectural precision. In this issue, Jim Cornish takes us deep into their world, revealing how these humble cup-shaped fruiting bodies have captivated naturalists for centuries and continue to surprise researchers today. Tey are, in every sense, micro-marvels. Smallness also threads through our


exploration of Podaxis—a fungus that looks anything but small at first glance. Towering like a desert drumstick, Podaxis hides its complexity inside: spores used in traditional medicine, compounds with antimicrobial promise, and a taxonomic story that stretches across continents. You’ll find it twice in this issue—once in our Medicinal Mycology column and again in Unusual Sightings—because this strange desert dweller refuses to fit neatly into a single category. It is a reminder that fungi often defy our expectations, and that the most unassuming species can hold the most surprising chemistry. We also honor the life and legacy of


Dr. Peter H. Raven, whose work shaped modern botany and conservation. His passing marks the loss of a giant, yet his influence continues to ripple outward through the many scientists, naturalists, and students he inspired. In a moment when global biodiversity faces unprecedented pressures, his voice remains a steadying one. Tis issue also highlights the idea


FUngi PO Box 98


Batavia, Illinois 60510-9998, USA


E-mail: fungimag@gmail.com Web site: www.fungimag.com (262) 227-1243


PUBLISHER


& EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Britt A. Bunyard


PRODUCTION EDITOR Jan Hammond


CULINARY EDITOR Krista Towns


POETRY EDITOR Art Goodtimes


CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Michael Beug Alden Dirks Susan Goldhor Edward Matisoff Chase McLean


Lawrence Millman Robert Dale Rogers David Rose Mark Spear Steve Trudell Else C. Vellinga


2 FUNGI Volume 19:2 Summer 2026


of Rewild, explored in depth in our feature on the ecological importance of biotrophic fungi. Rewilding, at its heart, is a return to relationship, a return to reciprocity, and a return to the living intelligence of ecosystems allowed to heal on their own terms. Fungi are indispensable partners in that work. Tey stitch soils back together, ferry nutrients between plants, metabolize waste, and rebuild the very foundations of ecological resilience. It is no coincidence that Rewild is also the theme of this year’s 46th annual Telluride Mushroom Festival, the largest wild mushroom event in North America. In Telluride this August, thousands will gather in the San Juan Mountains to explore how fungi help us imagine—and sometimes even enact—a wilder, more connected world. It feels right that this issue joins that conversation, offering its own small contribution to the broader rewilding dialogue unfolding across science, culture, and community. I hope to see you there! Bird’s nest fungi teach us that even


the smallest cup can hold a world. Looking ahead,


MUSHROOMING Around the Globe


our next issue of FUNGI will be a


special edition on mushrooming around the globe!


IS ISSN 1941-4943 ISSN 1941-4943 SS SSN 1941 49431941-4941-4943 1941-494 149431-4943 01 01> 1> 9 771941 941 41 494005 05 005


$10.00 Summer 2026 • Issn: 1941-4943 Volume 19, No. 2 • Fungimag.com


EDITORIAL REVIEW Cathy Cripps


Montana State University Harold W. Keller


Te Botanical Research Institute of Texas


Patrick Leacock Te Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois


Lawrence M. Leonard, M.D. Portland, Maine


Michael Nicholson Oxnard College, California


David Pilz PilzWald-Forestry


Applications of Mycology Corvallis, Oregon


Bruch Reed Illinois Mycological Association


North American Mycological Association Paul Stamets


Fungi Perfecti Steve Trudell


University of Washington, Seattle Else C. Vellinga


Berkeley, California MULTIMEDIA Jesse Campbell


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