Welcome to MRDBID

In the beginning, there was only a plan to eliminate the paper clutter. Where am I on identifying this mushroom? Where are my notes? Why can't I recall the mushrooms I have observed in the past? Dare I say easily? And, so this project began.

This website is a tool for storing and organizing data for mushrooms that you observed and/or collected. Hopefully, it will provide a process that simplifies storing and retrieving your mushroom specimen data in order to compare it to other mushrooms that you and others have observed. Once your initial information is stored in the database, you can edit it as needed and add more character details as you discover them.

The fact you observed a mushroom means you have some visual, time and location data. That is enough to start. You name this specimen "something" that is meaningful to you, like "1_wrj" or "2_wrj", etc. with comment "brown mushroom - backyard". Or include the date, such as 1_wrj_11_24_2024_ganoderma or do whatever works for you.

There you go. A beginning. Any clear photo with measurements is a plus. Use coins if a ruler is not handy.

If you did not retrieve a specimen, when you get to the option of selecting where a specimen is currently located (preserved and stored), you can select "Observation Only - No specimen collected".

If nothing more, now you know when and where you saw "it." This time next year, you may see it again, same place?

This is not a "key" identification process, like https://www.mushroomexpert.com. You can use MushroomExpert.Com and/or other identification experts to match up your specimen data that is stored here. In the future, perhaps enough positive identifications will result in a match within the mrdbid.com database.

Again, a specimen need not be collected to be entered here. These entries will be recorded as an "observation", not a "specimen".

PS The "Trees" link began from photographs of the informational signs at Blakely State Park, Baldwin County, Alabama. It is the beginning of a tool for identifying the trees associated with mushrooms. Note: "Trees" was in, then out, but is in the long term plan.

About Images: I am not a photographer, an artist, or a scientist. My goal in observing or collecting specimens is to provide documentation of its facts that can be preserved for any future study. Good photographs with measurements make that possible.

This website's upload process will reduce some pictures in size, if needed. Otherwise, any editing, cropping, etc. should be done before uploading.

As part of the specimen collection process, my intention is to take the best picture I can from the beginning following a plan like outlined in the "Citizen Science How To Take Scientifically Useful Observations" link below.

The most useful pictures will clearly document mushroom characters and measurements, along with surroundings (trees, etc.). If this is successfully done, anyone looking at the collection of pictures can confirm the data at any future date.

This website is not a "field guide". You need to collect pictures and information where mushrooms are found, then transfer the data one time here for your records.

Where to begin?

If you do not know where to start, click on this link: Citizen Science How To Take Scientifically Useful Observations

After completing the form in the field, take a picture of it with your specimen. Notice the measurements on the form. Then, once home and when you get around to it, add the data and the pictures you took of the specimen, including this form, to your specimen list. You then have it to refer to online wherever you are, and update as needed while you identify your specimen.

You will get better with practice. Yes, a microscope helps and is not that difficult to learn to use, along with various chemicals to test reactions.

Live and learn. And measure.