There's a fungus among us

November 20, 2001 6:30 AM

There's a fungus among us - more than one, actually. And because fungi are ubiquitous, it's no surprise that they enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner as much as we do.
posted by iceberg273 (9 comments total)

nice to know you are never alone.
posted by asok at 7:00 AM on November 20, 2001

Was the mycologist at the holiday dinner talking turkey or was he just a fungi to be around!
posted by marc-hamilton at 7:21 AM on November 20, 2001

Just knowing that there's such a thing as Tofurkey is going to ruin my whole day.
posted by anapestic at 7:23 AM on November 20, 2001

Liberty taking liberties! Or, the bird's just looking for fun, Gus!
posted by Carol Anne at 7:31 AM on November 20, 2001

as Sinatra would say ... W, How's yer bird?
posted by webchick at 7:43 AM on November 20, 2001

hee hee...mushrooms are indeed ubiquitous this time of year (the start of mushroom season was last weekend where I live).

And if you know what you are doing, many fungi can go the way of the bird* on Thanksgiving Day. For instance, my husband and I found the key ingredient for our stuffing right in our own backyard.

*(not the bird Carol Anne just linked to, mind you :-)))
posted by webchick at 7:44 AM on November 20, 2001

Ustilago zeae-maydis is "Corn smut"? I didn't know vegetables were so...frisky....
posted by adampsyche at 7:53 AM on November 20, 2001

>Ustilago zeae-maydis is "Corn smut"?

According to Smuts On The Internet :-))), "Ustilago zeae-maydis" causes "corn smut". What's more, huitlacoche ("corn smut") is a bonafide delicacy...

"Huitlacoche is corn smut, a type of fungus that invades the growing ears of corn, causing the kernels to swell into gray or blue-black masses. Farmers take vigilant measures against it in the United States, and home gardeners throw away "smutty" ears in disgust. Mexican cooks consider huitlacoche their truffle."

(my husband, who boldly identifies the fungi in our yard, also introduced me to my first wild-mushroom enchilada :-)
posted by webchick at 8:52 AM on November 20, 2001

Ever since my friend explained to me how when you eat a mushroom, the mushroom is also eating you, just not as successfully, I've been very wary of the little bastards.
posted by Hildago at 3:56 PM on November 20, 2001