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Program Description
About this event:
Presentation by Kathie T. Hodge, Associate Professor of Mycology
Cornell University
Mushrooms are truly wondrous things, but some of them sure do make a lot of trouble. This presentation is about the troublemakers - poisonous mushrooms. Mushroom poisons affect the hapless people who eat them in various ways, depending on the poison. Knowing which mushroom was eaten can really help a doctor decide how to help a patient, and help a patient understand their situation. In assisting with mushroom identification in poisonings of humans and dogs over the years, I’ve learned some things. I’ll share mushroom poisoning stories and tips in this colorful presentation and talk suitable for all audiences.
Prof. Hodge is a big fan of poisonous and parasitic fungi, but would never wish them on anybody. Her research addresses a delightful portfolio of molds that either kill bugs, make toxins, or eat our food before we can. Her classes about fungi in all their helpful and hurtful forms include a big, popular class called 'Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds,' and a small, popular class called 'Mushrooms of Field and Forest.' An expert on fungal diversity, she runs a Herbarium of preserved fungi—maybe the 3rd or 4th largest in the US. She helps out in cases of mushroom poisoning by identifying the mushroom species to help inform treatment.
