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The Forum: The Mysterious Kingdom of Fungi

Discussion & Talk

Hygrocybe Psittacina by Jens H. Petersen-MycoKey

20/04/2013 GMT

The Mysterious Kingdom of Fungi

BBC World Service - The Forum, The Mysterious Kingdom of Fungi

The surprising tough and ecological building substance that could reshape our world

The underground battles as fungi fight to feed themselves, the thousands of useful species out there which we have yet to discover, and innovative mushroom furniture.

Put any prejudices about poisonous toadstools and mould in damp corners out of your mind: this week’s Forum explores fungi as an extraordinarily tough and ecologically friendly building substance that could reshape our world. Plus the hundreds of thousands of species of fungi that have yet to be named and studied: some of them may hold vital clues on how to cure diseases or solve environmental problems. Bridget Kendall is joined by fungal ecologist Lynne Boddy, Danish mycologist and photographer Jens Petersen, and San Francisco-based artist, chef and fungal furniture-maker, Phil Ross. Hygrocybe Psittacina Photo: © Jens H. Petersen

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