The fungal collections date from the 1880's and consist of approximately 100,000 specimens, excluding the lichens. About 10% of the specimens are of Minnesota fungi; the remainder are from North America and elsewhere. Intensive scientific investigation of Minnesota fungi occurred from about 1885 to 1910 supported by the Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota. Collections made between 1910 and 1960 focused on plant disease fungi. Renewed interest in documenting fleshy fungi began in the 1960's and has expanded in recent years with the increased emphasis on the analysis of biodiversity.

     The fungal collections were split about 1925, with part moving to St. Paul for the use of the plant pathologists in their herbarium (MPPD) and the remainder remaining in the University Herbarium (MIN) in Minneapolis for floristic studies. With the move of the University Herbarium to St. Paul in 1972, the two collections were housed in different buildings. Beginning in 1999 the collections have been combined with support from the Legislative Commission for Minnesota Resources, which has also made possible the development of this database, archival mounting of Minnesota fungal specimens, and archival cases for the transferred specimens.

     The collection is noteworthy for its coverage of the basidiomycetes, especially the rusts (Uredinales) and its growing collection of Minnesota mushrooms. There are also substantial holdings of ascomycetes and slime molds. The rust collection includes the E.W.D. Holway collection of North and South American species, and crop disease and other specimens collected in association with the USDA Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, formerly the USDA Cereal Rust Laboratory. About 750 MPPD collections, mainly of fleshy fungi, have been destroyed through improper curation in the past; a list is available from the curator. Recent fleshy fungal collections are mostly well documented, including description, color photos, and spore prints.

Fungal Diversity and Distribution in Minnesota:

     Both the diversity and the distribution of Minnesota fleshy fungi are still very imperfectly known. The number of fungi expected to occur here is about 9000, based on the number of vascular plant species native to the state and the ratio of fungi to vascular plants for well documented parts of Europe. New county distribution records are readily obtained by collectors, but major range extensions, including first reports of species for North America, or undescribed species may be collected or determined through study of the herbarium collections. Thus, this database is intended as an aid to documenting the fungi of Minnesota, and not as the final word on the Minnesota fungal flora.

     Biogeographic studies of fleshy fungi are still at an early stage in their development. Minnesota contains a number of fleshy species with limited distributions, including several midwestern endemics, as well as three species presently known only from the state, Psathyrella cystidiosa, P. rhodospora, and Suillus weaverae. These species and several other mushrooms which are rare or occur in sensitive habitats are on Minnesota's List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species. Several management areas have been moderately well explored for fungi: Afton State Park, Cloquet Forestry Center, Cedar Creek Natural History Area, Itasca State Park, and Nerstrand Woods State Park, but no area in the state has been fully explored for larger fungi.