Post by james81 on Aug 8, 2013 2:13:28 GMT -6
Mycocraft: Conk/Shelf Fungi
Mycocraft = The act of using fungi in arts & crafts.
Conk/Shelf Fungi are my favorite mushrooms to look for in the woods, mainly because they can be found pretty much anywhere and at anytime as most of these types of fungi are perennials. The majority of these fungi are wood-like, and in some cases, the layers in the shelf can be counted to estimate its age much like counting the rings in the stump of a tree. Also since they are wood-like, and can be found to be quite large sometimes, be prepared to carry a heavy load out of the forest. Conks work to decompose dead, dying, and injured trees, so these are the kinds of trees you will want to look for, and a lot of times you will find multiple conks growing off of the same tree. So if you enjoy arts & crafts, and can find a use for these, you may never leave a woods empty handed ever again!
The most common conk used in mycocraft is the Artists Conk (Ganoderma applanatum) [ABOVE]. This conk can reach enormous sizes if the conditions are right, and until recently the largest I had come across was one that was 19 inches across. However just the other day I was wandering a forest and came across a monster that was 27 inches across. These conks are treasured for their white undersides that make a unique canvas for etching, burning, painting, etc., which is why they are called Artists Conks. You can do a simple search on eBay or Google for 'Artists Conk' or 'Mushroom Shelf', and you will find many kinds of different works. Most of the time I turn these in to wall decor. These can be found on deciduous and conifer trees.
Another common shelf to find especially in forests with Poplar and/or Birch Trees is the Tinder Polypore (Fomes fomentarius) [TOP OF POST]. It can be found growing on deciduous trees like the Birch and Poplar but also Maple, Beech, Hickory, and Cherry. Since there tend to be on the smaller side, I normally craft them into refrigerator magnets. When attempting to use polyurethane on these mushrooms it will turn the beautiful light colored caps a dark dull grey color. However, if you apply a coat of clear drying Mod Podge glue over the caps before lacquering the mushrooms, they will keep their colors [ABOVE].
One that is a little rarer to come across, at least it has been for me so far, is the Cracked-cap Polypore (Phellinus rimosus). These can reach decent sizes, the largest I've come across was about 11 inches. The cool thing about these mushrooms is that their underside appears to change color depending on the angle you look at it under the light [PIC ABOVE]. These are another mushroom that I would craft in to wall decor, and smaller ones I've crafted into night-lights.
One more that I like to use in my mycocrafting is the Maze Polypore which has a couple different variations such as the Thin-maze Flat Polypore, Mossy Maze Polypore, and Thick-maze Oak Polypore [PIC ABOVE]. Some of them that I've found that were 4-6 inches across I've used in wall decor and magnets, but I really enjoy using the Thick-maze in artworks as coral [BELOW].
These are just a few of the types of different conks or shelf fungi you will come across in the forests and just a few ideas to get you started. People who do taxidermy enjoy using these as habitat decor, and some of the conk/shelf fungi are even used for medicinal purposes. People have even made mushroom paper from conks, so the uses for these mushrooms are abundant. But like all mushrooms, they are subject to insects, especially the Artists Conks which the boring Fungus Beetle seems to prefer. If your conks are pristine the best way to dry them is to let them air dry under the sun or to keep them in a place with low humidity. However if you suspect they may be infested, and sometimes just the safest route, is to bake them in the oven. I usually bake them for a few hours at 150F to ensure all critters are eliminated, as I have stored them to dry without baking a few times only to find them full of holes. If you do bake them, be sure to check on them hourly so they don't burn!
I have been away for while and felt it was over due for a post, especially since it was I that requested a section for arts & crafts. I hope you all enjoyed it! Good luck mushroom hunting!
