There’s a bit of a celebratory stir in the science world right now, we are hitting the 50th anniversary of something major, otherworldly, a turning point in how we view the planet. It happened because of someone taking one courageous step. And that step wasn’t in space on the moon…
1969 was the year Robert Whittaker proposed that Fungi become its own Kingdom, previously mushrooms were bunched up with plants.
It so happens that 1969 was also the year of the moon landing. Overall 1969 was quite the year, Apollo 11’s mission, Woodstock, The Beatles release their final album together…but you likely won’t find anything touting the 50th anniversary of Fungi becoming their own Kingdom (until now).
The contrast to me, is incredible…
Rockets, space exploration and a step onto the moon…yet mushrooms were just graduating from ‘non flowering plants’ to something of their own. Fungi, an organism that inhabits within nearly everything on this planet but shrouded in so much mystery.
Often, when I teach, I make a point to discuss the contrast of the year 1969 with the Kingdom of Fungi and the moon landing—it seems to put it into perspective for people….”You mean when someone took a step on the moon, that’s when it become more acceptable to say fungi were not actually plants?” It wasn’t 100% widely accepted in 1969, some were scientifically on board before, some….well, they liked holding onto the older rules of Kingdom taxonomy-but 1969 was the year a more official steak was pounded in with Whittaker’s 5 Kingdom proposal which included Fungi being separate from Plant.
Now I’m not anti-space exploration (what has been accomplished is super rad and shoutout to my cousin who has worked for NASA!), but let’s bring it back to earth for a moment. I can’t help but feel funny that fungi, an organism that inhabits nearly everything on this planet is still shrouded in so much mystery…along with many other earth dwelling beings. Simply consider the technology that went into getting someone on the moon…does it make you laugh (or slap your forehead, or your bellyache?) that Mushrooms were still ‘non flowering plants’ at that time?
Most of you (if not all) that follow me have somehow been gripped by the beauty and majesty of mushrooms and fungi, or at least are intrigued enough to want to learn more. I’m so glad! I’m thankful for those who are curious enough to ask questions, share knowledge and spend time in the woods personally getting to know the often forgotten things on the forest floor.
So Congratulations Fungi! Here’s to Celebrating 50 years of Fungal Freedom from the Plant Kingdom!
PS. I created a t-shirt to help celebrate the occasion (with that awesome moon mushroom design you see above), CLICK HERE to check it out! Limited shirts available so get one for yourself and your science nerdy friends while you can!
