David Arora
Encyclopedia
David Arora is an American
mycologist, naturalist
, and writer. He is the author of two popular books on mushroom identification, Mushrooms Demystified
and All That the Rain Promises and More...
.
Arora first developed an interest in wild mushrooms
while growing up in Pasadena, California
and organized his first mushroom collecting group while in high school. He began teaching about wild mushrooms in the early 1970s while living in Santa Cruz, California
. Arora has traveled extensively throughout North America and the world, photographing and hunting mushrooms
and learning about the mushroom gathering traditions
and economies of different cultures.
Mushrooms Demystified was first published in 1979 and was republished in a revised and substantially expanded edition in 1986. Though Mushrooms Demystified encountered some initial resentment and negative reviews among academic mycologists when it first appeared, the mushroom key and descriptions in this work are highly regarded and the book is recommended by a number of mycological authors. The smaller All That the Rain Promises and More... followed in 1991.
In addition to his field guides, he has written several articles on amateur and commercial mushroom hunting, its role in the economic development of rural communities, and about conflicts related to conservation
issues related to mushroom hunting.
Arora has also authored or contributed to several papers on fungal taxonomy. In 1982, he co-authored an extensive description of the stinkhorn
species Clathrus archeri
, documenting its first known appearance in North America, an extensive fruiting of this species in his home town of Santa Cruz. In 2008, he was primary author of two papers that provided a taxonomic revision of the California golden chanterelle and of several species in the Boletus edulis
complex found in California. The California golden chanterelle was described as a distinct species, Cantharellus californicus
, while several California porcini species were described as distinct species or subspecies, Boletus edulis var. grandedulis, Boletus regineus (formerly describes as Boletus aereus
), and Boletus rex-veris
(formerly described as Boletus pinophilus
).
The mushroom Agaricus arorae
is named after David Arora. In his book All that the Rain Promises and More..., Arora notes that it "'bleeds' readily like its namesake when cut," a reference to the tendency of some Agaricus
species (including A. arorae) to "bleed" or stain red when cut or bruised. In 2004 Arora left his long time home of Santa Cruz and moved north to Mendocino county settling near the coastal town of Gualala, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mycologist, naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, and writer. He is the author of two popular books on mushroom identification, Mushrooms Demystified
Mushrooms Demystified
Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi is a mushroom field and identification guide by American mycologist David Arora, published in 1979 and republished in 1986....
and All That the Rain Promises and More...
All That the Rain Promises and More...
All That the Rain Promises, and More... is a wild mushroom identification and field guide by American mycologist David Arora and published in 1991 by Ten Speed Press in Berkely, California...
.
Arora first developed an interest in wild mushrooms
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
while growing up in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
and organized his first mushroom collecting group while in high school. He began teaching about wild mushrooms in the early 1970s while living in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. Arora has traveled extensively throughout North America and the world, photographing and hunting mushrooms
Mushroom hunting
Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking, and similar terms describe the activity of gathering mushrooms in the wild, typically for eating...
and learning about the mushroom gathering traditions
Traditional knowledge
Traditional knowledge , indigenous knowledge , traditional environmental knowledge and local knowledge generally refer to the long-standing traditions and practices of certain regional, indigenous, or local communities. Traditional knowledge also encompasses the wisdom, knowledge, and teachings...
and economies of different cultures.
Mushrooms Demystified was first published in 1979 and was republished in a revised and substantially expanded edition in 1986. Though Mushrooms Demystified encountered some initial resentment and negative reviews among academic mycologists when it first appeared, the mushroom key and descriptions in this work are highly regarded and the book is recommended by a number of mycological authors. The smaller All That the Rain Promises and More... followed in 1991.
In addition to his field guides, he has written several articles on amateur and commercial mushroom hunting, its role in the economic development of rural communities, and about conflicts related to conservation
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
issues related to mushroom hunting.
Arora has also authored or contributed to several papers on fungal taxonomy. In 1982, he co-authored an extensive description of the stinkhorn
Stinkhorn
The Phallaceae are a family of fungi, commonly known as stinkhorn mushrooms. Belonging to the fungal order Phallales, the Phallaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are especially prevalent in tropical regions. They are known for their foul smelling sticky spore masses, or gleba, borne on the...
species Clathrus archeri
Clathrus archeri
Clathrus archeri , commonly known as Octopus Stinkhorn, is indigenous to Australia and Tasmania and an introduced species in Europe and North America. The young fungus erupts from a suberumpent egg by forming into four to seven elongated slender arms initially erect and attached at the top...
, documenting its first known appearance in North America, an extensive fruiting of this species in his home town of Santa Cruz. In 2008, he was primary author of two papers that provided a taxonomic revision of the California golden chanterelle and of several species in the Boletus edulis
Boletus edulis
Boletus edulis, commonly known as penny bun, porcino or cep, is a basidiomycete fungus, and the type species of the genus Boletus. Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere across Europe, Asia, and North America, it does not occur naturally in the Southern Hemisphere, although it has been...
complex found in California. The California golden chanterelle was described as a distinct species, Cantharellus californicus
Cantharellus californicus
Cantharellus californicus, sometimes called the mud puppy or oak chanterelle, is a fungus native to California, USA. It is a member of the genus Cantharellus along with other popular edible chanterelles. It is generally similar in appearance to C. cibarius and C...
, while several California porcini species were described as distinct species or subspecies, Boletus edulis var. grandedulis, Boletus regineus (formerly describes as Boletus aereus
Boletus aereus
Boletus aereus is a bolete, an edible mushroom frequently consumed in the Basque Country, Navarre, France and Italy. It is commonly known as ontto beltza in Basque, porcino nero in Italian, and tête de nègre in French...
), and Boletus rex-veris
Boletus rex-veris
Boletus rex-veris, commonly known as the spring king bolete, is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Boletus found in western North America. The large, edible fruiting bodies known as mushrooms appear under pine trees, generally in May to June. It has a pinkish to brownish cap and its stem is often...
(formerly described as Boletus pinophilus
Boletus pinophilus
Boletus pinophilus, commonly known as the pine bolete or pinewood king bolete, is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Boletus found throughout Europe. The large, edible fruiting bodies known as mushrooms appear under pine trees, generally in summer and autumn...
).
The mushroom Agaricus arorae
Agaricus arorae
Agaricus arorae is a moderate-sized, forest-dwelling mushroom that exhibits distinctive color changes. It fruits early in the mushroom season. Unique within the Agaricus genus, the mushroom's cap cuticle turns yellow when exposed to a base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. In the...
is named after David Arora. In his book All that the Rain Promises and More..., Arora notes that it "'bleeds' readily like its namesake when cut," a reference to the tendency of some Agaricus
Agaricus
Agaricus is a large and important genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with possibly over 300 members worldwide...
species (including A. arorae) to "bleed" or stain red when cut or bruised. In 2004 Arora left his long time home of Santa Cruz and moved north to Mendocino county settling near the coastal town of Gualala, California.
External links
- DavidArora.com
- "The Mushroom Hunters" by Leonie Sherman, San Francisco Chronicle, April 30, 2006.
- "Taxonomic Corrections and Issues in Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd. Ed." by Nathan Wilson, Else C Vellinga, and others, Collective Source (website), September 2, 2007.