From decomposition to nutrient cycling, fungi play some of the most unusual and critical ecological functions. More than 95% of of vascular plant species rely on fungi for nutrients through mycorrhizal relationships with fungi. Despite our growing understanding of fungi and its ecological roles, we have described only about 5% of the fungi species worldwide.
The Vermont state fungi is the bear’s head tooth mushroom (Hericium americanum), which was officially designated in May 2024. Students from Windham Elementary and Compass Middle School led the effort to select this mushroom, citing its unique appearance, edibility, potential medicinal properties, and its ability to be found and cultivated in the state’s forests. Photo by iNaturalist Grace Bartel.
The Vermont Fungi Scientific Advisory Group (FSAG) and other contributors are just beginning to develop our understanding of fungal diversity within the state and document macro-fungi that are rare and of conservation concern.
To date, there is no official list of fungi species for Vermont. Our goal is to document the fungal diversity within the state in order to get a clearer picture of what species are present and how they are distributed across the state, and what patterns may be present their populations across Vermont’s natural communities. Help us discover Vermont’s Fungi!
