• Wood decay fungi are used as mycomedicinals, mycological equivalent of herbal medicinals.
• Wood decay fungi are screened for pharmaceutical and industrial compounds.
• Wood decay fungi are favorite subjects for photographers and other artists.
• Wood decay fungi are used by hobbyists to dye wool and other fabrics
• Wood decay fungi are used by hobbyists to make paper. Many of the species contain tough, fibrous cells which, when separated, can be fashioned into ornamental paper products.
• Another reason you might want a set of keys to wood decay fungi is because these fungi cause economic loss. Forest trees and valuable landscape trees can be infected and rotted by these fungi. Knowing the species growing on a tree can help the forester determine the likely extent of loss.
  

“For any of the activities described above, it is my hope that these keys and pictures, within their limitations, will be found useful to identify many of the fungi found growing on wood.” A quote from Gary Emberger, Biology Professor at Messiah College and the person responsible for the FUNGI ON WOOD part of our website.