The woman scientist and artist who revolutionized the study of mushrooms
2 days ago
- #Mary Banning
- #fungi metaphor
- #mycology
- Tree roots and rhizomes are metaphors for connections, but fungi offer a richer metaphor with their interconnected hyphae and interdependence.
- Mary Banning, a self-taught mycologist, documented Maryland's fungi in detailed watercolors and descriptions despite gender barriers.
- Banning's unpublished manuscript and specimens are now part of the New York State Museum's collection, influencing current mycological research.
- Her work, including naming new species, was recognized through her correspondence with Charles H. Peck, a prominent mycologist.
- The exhibition 'Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms' highlights her contributions and the enduring relevance of fungi as a metaphor for interconnectedness.