Kids and legislators alike celebrate Vermont's new state mushroom (updated)

[sl8]

https://www.vermontpublic.org/show/vermont-edition/2024-05-15/kids-and-legislators-alike-celebrate-vermonts-new-state-mushroom
(11:05 min. audio at link)

Kids and legislators alike celebrate Vermont's new state mushroom

By Mikaela Lefrak
Published May 15, 2024 at 3:32 PM EDT



Bobmundorff / INaturalist
As of May 2024, bear's head tooth is officially Vermont's official state mushroom.

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In early May of this year, Vermont became the sixth state to officially designate a state mushroom: bear's head tooth, a white, long-toothed mushroom indigenous to Vermont.

Democratic state rep. Michelle Bos-Lun of Westminster, an avid forager and former teacher, led the charge to codify a state mushroom. On Vermont Edition, she said the bill created an opportunity "to help get people interested in mushrooms, which will get them in the woods, get them active, and get them caring about our world."

[...]

Charles and George Pelton of Windham, both seven, participated in the vote. They told Vermont Edition that the mushroom looks like a "fuzzy tooth" or a waterfall, and it stands out for three different reasons.

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Bos-Lun took her young lobbyists to the Montpelier statehouse to present on the mushroom in committee. They also had the chance to meet with Gov. Phil Scott by Zoom. She said the process helped bring legislators together.

[...]

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From February:

2:11 min.

Vt. students push to have bear’s head tooth designated state mushroom

WCAX-TV Channel 3 News
Feb 12 2024

Vt. students push to have bear’s head tooth designated state mushroom

[...]