mycology (2009-10-02)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [mI-'ka-lê-ji]

Definition: The study of mushrooms and other fungi or the growth of fungi in a particular region, such as the mycology of my back yard.

Usage: We are all mycologists enough to know that mushrooms cure a grumbling stomach if sautéed lightly in butter with a few onions. However, few know that they offer an alternative to war with Iraq! According to mycologist Paul Stamets, mushrooms can clean up toxic spills, cure deadly diseases, and even break down the chemical warfare agents produced by Saddam Hussein. Read about it at http://salon.com/tech/feature/2002/11/25/mushrooms/index.html then write your congressman.

Suggested Usage: In case you have never thought of mushrooms as a fungus, consider the Italian word for mushroom, "fungo." Whether this is the origin of the word for practice fly balls hit before baseball games is unknown. Mushrooms are actually the fruit (or sex organs if you prefer) of a fungus network that grows in the ground beneath them. By the way, the plural of "fungus" in English is "fungi" ['fên-jee]. The person who occupies himself with mycology is a mycologist. The adjective is "mycological" and the adverb, "mycologically."

Etymology: From Greek mykes “fungus” + logos “word, reason” + the nominal suffix. The same root is used in the names of antibiotics made from other types of fungus, e.g. streptomycin, mitomycin, erythromycin, and so on.