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Mycological Societies of the World Foreningen til Svampekundskabens Fremme
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MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETIES OF THE WORLD
FORENINGEN TIL SVAMPEKUNDSKABENS FREMME The Danish Mycological Society, or the 'Society for the Advancement of Knowledge of Fungi', was established in 1905. Its original purpose was to encourage the consumption of wild fungi by the public, which had not been a traditional activity for Denmark. The aims have since expanded so that conservation and protection are now regarded as more important areas of activity. The Society has been most influenced by the late Prof N F Buchwald, a board member from 1927-1977, Russula olivacea, a logo basand chairman for 25 years. The original journal ed on a drawing by (7) Winge contained notes on Danish fungi but in 1932, Buchwald became editor-in-chief of a new journal, Friesia (Nordisk Mykologisk Tidsskrift), which continued until 1987. In 1980, the Society introduced the journal Svampe, produced twice a year, and its success led to a doubling of the membership to around 1800 within a few years. Svampe is designed to include short articles of mycological interest, both popular and scientific, but concentrating on accounts of Danish macrofungi, to include keys and colour illustrations (photographs and water-colour paintings). The following groups have been covered (with English summaries): Camarophyllopsis (5 spp), Camarophyllus (6), Dacrymyces (6). Dermocybe (23), Ganoderma (6), Hericiaceae (5), Hygrocybe (33), Inonotus (6), Lentinellus (4), Leptonia (36), Panaeolus (9). Additional contributions have covered edible fungi, poisonous fungi, fungi used for dyeing yarn, fungi in houses, and applied uses of fungi. Most of the income from Membership subscription is used to finance Svampe, but other activities include over 100 day forays, 'open house' identification evenings every Monday throughout September-October, identification courses, and overseas excursions. Each year lectures are held in the spring both in Copenhagen and Arhus, and a 'mushroom day' is held on the last Saturday in February, which includes lectures, general assembly and a social evening, and is usually attended by 100-150 Members. A recently published 'Red Data List' on macrofungi, including colourphotographs of extinct or decreasing species, has led to considerable public interest. It lists almost 900 species, categorized as 'extinct' (6%), 'endangered' (16%), 'vulnerable' (44%), and 'rare or potentially vulnerable' (34%). The Society thereby performs an educational role to the public supplying knowledge on the availability of edible species and the needs for conservation. Address: PO Box 102, DK-2860 S0 borg, Denmark. Chairman: J Albertsen. Subscription rate: DKr 95.00 (includes Svampe).
H Knudsen &- J Vesterholt
MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETIES OF THE WORLD
FORENINGEN TIL SVAMPEKUNDSKABENS FREMME The Danish Mycological Society, or the 'Society for the Advancement of Knowledge of Fungi', was established in 1905. Its original purpose was to encourage the consumption of wild fungi by the public, which had not been a traditional activity for Denmark. The aims have since expanded so that conservation and protection are now regarded as more important areas of activity. The Society has been most influenced by the late Prof N F Buchwald, a board member from 1927-1977, Russula olivacea, a logo basand chairman for 25 years. The original journal ed on a drawing by (7) Winge contained notes on Danish fungi but in 1932, Buchwald became editor-in-chief of a new journal, Friesia (Nordisk Mykologisk Tidsskrift), which continued until 1987. In 1980, the Society introduced the journal Svampe, produced twice a year, and its success led to a doubling of the membership to around 1800 within a few years. Svampe is designed to include short articles of mycological interest, both popular and scientific, but concentrating on accounts of Danish macrofungi, to include keys and colour illustrations (photographs and water-colour paintings). The following groups have been covered (with English summaries): Camarophyllopsis (5 spp), Camarophyllus (6), Dacrymyces (6). Dermocybe (23), Ganoderma (6), Hericiaceae (5), Hygrocybe (33), Inonotus (6), Lentinellus (4), Leptonia (36), Panaeolus (9). Additional contributions have covered edible fungi, poisonous fungi, fungi used for dyeing yarn, fungi in houses, and applied uses of fungi. Most of the income from Membership subscription is used to finance Svampe, but other activities include over 100 day forays, 'open house' identification evenings every Monday throughout September-October, identification courses, and overseas excursions. Each year lectures are held in the spring both in Copenhagen and Arhus, and a 'mushroom day' is held on the last Saturday in February, which includes lectures, general assembly and a social evening, and is usually attended by 100-150 Members. A recently published 'Red Data List' on macrofungi, including colourphotographs of extinct or decreasing species, has led to considerable public interest. It lists almost 900 species, categorized as 'extinct' (6%), 'endangered' (16%), 'vulnerable' (44%), and 'rare or potentially vulnerable' (34%). The Society thereby performs an educational role to the public supplying knowledge on the availability of edible species and the needs for conservation. Address: PO Box 102, DK-2860 S0 borg, Denmark. Chairman: J Albertsen. Subscription rate: DKr 95.00 (includes Svampe).
H Knudsen &- J Vesterholt