ANN ARBOR—Welcome to the world of Earth Stars, Fairy Rings, Fungal Shotguns, Terminators, Giant Puffballs, Ant Gardens, and Launching Pads—all fungi. Mushrooms and fungi in general can both cure and cause disease. They determine what plants grow in yards and forests and keep the planet from being buried in waste. And they can be fun.

More information about such fungi as “Penicillin: Moldy Miracle” and “Caterpillar Fungus: A Traditional Medicine” can be found at “Fun Facts About Fungi,” a Web site created and maintained by the University of Michigan’s Herbarium that includes experiments, puzzles, games, and more fun facts about those “growths” that come from the “Hidden Kingdom.”

By accessing the page at http://www.herb.lsa.umich.eduM, the visitor is introduced to a number of opportunities to explore the world of fungi including the databases and collections, of the U-M Herbarium, links to other resources, and, of course, Fun Facts where you can watch mushrooms grow, solve puzzles, and create your own experiments.

Created by Robert Fogel, U-M professor of biology and curator of the U-M Herbarium’s fungus collection, “Fun Facts About Fungi” provides a treasure trove of information for the just curious to the more advanced mycologist through illustrations, photographs, explanations, and helpful hints on where to find even more about fungi.

For more information about fungi or the U-M Herbarium’s Web page, contact Fogel at rfogel@umich.edu.

Penicillinhttp://www.herb.lsa.umich.eduMRobert Fogelrfogel@umich.edu