Diario de ela49524

Although I have lived in Juneau for a very long time I haven’t ever encountered this mushroom before. When doing my research on it, its history was very interesting to say the least. Some facts and identifiers for this mushroom is that it grows directly from the ground, its caps are bright red or yellow, the warts you see on it can actually disappear due to rain, and the stem is very thick. According to Alan Bergo from Forager Chef, “fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is a famous mushroom known around the world. It's also one of the only mushrooms I know that has psychoactive effects, and is potentially poisonous, as well as edible” (ForagerChef.com) if you were going to eat it Bergo stresses on not eating it raw! Instead he recommends that you dry it out completely, then boil it in water for tea or they can simply be eaten dried however, this would only be used as a narcotic. “Muscaria is edible and a documented, traditional food in Japan. But, the tradition is only said to be found in a small area around Ueda” (ForagerChef.com) although Bergo himself has made miso soup with these mushrooms.
Another interesting influence these mushrooms caused. “The collection, preparation, and use of fly agaric mushrooms (Amanita muscaria) were central to many northern European and Asian peoples’ winter solstice celebrations and ceremonies” (U.S. Forest Service) which influenced clothing that some wore when doing a ritual with them such as shamans. “Coats and pants were red with the collar and cuffs trimmed with white fur and topped off with black boots… collected the fly agaric mushrooms in a special sack… the shaman would return to his village and enter… through the smoke hole on the roof” (U.S. Forest Service) thus many believe this is what started the creation of Santa Claus. I definitely recommend visiting the Forest Service website on these mushrooms as they also include a video from BBC that dives into more detail about them!

Work Cited:
Bergo, Alan. “Amanita Muscaria: A Poisonous, Hallucinogenic, Edible Mushroom.” Forager, 31 Mar. 2024, foragerchef.com/amanita-muscariafly-agaric/.
“U.S. Forest Service.” Forest Service Shield, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/flyagaric.shtml. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Skunk cabbage is all around us here in Juneau. It thrives in our rainforest and gets its name from its distinct smell. It attracts insects such as beetles, flies, gnats, and bees which pollinate it. In its early stages of growth its roots become a good spring food for bears and its leaves are a perfect snack for deer! However, most animals tend to stay away since it can cause a burning sensation when they eat it. Even for humans this cabbage is inedible due to its crystals of calcium oxalate. To identify this plant you can look at its leaves which grow two to four inches long, has a hood-like leaf (spathe) that encloses a spike made up of petalless flowers (spadix). Its main colors are yellow and green. In the winter time these plants can warm themselves up to 70 degrees, melting the snow around it and producing berry-like fruit that contains seeds which will germinate into more shrunk cabbage. When they begin to die their leaves will decompose quickly due to their high water content. Within the information that I could find about this plant it seems that Native Americans used it for medical purposes such as for headaches and coughs. However, it was sold as a drug called dracontium in the 1800s. Personally I have never used this plant for anything but I can attest to its smell which is very strong! If you’ve ever walked around Auke Lake, keep an eye out for them because they are everywhere!

Works Cited:
Sudan, Robinson. “U.S. Forest Service.” Forest Service Shield, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/Lysichiton-americanus.shtml. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.
“Skunk Cabbage.” National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Skunk-Cabbage. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.
“Skunk Cabbage.” ALASKA.ORG, www.alaska.org/advice/skunk-cabbage. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.

On our last day of complete sun shine in Juneau I went on a nature walk and came across this little red squirrel! I could only get one photo of him because he was so quick to run up the tree he was sitting next to. This species of squirrels can be found occupying forest habitats such as our rainforest! They average eleven to thirteen inches in length (this including their tail) and their reddish color is what causes them to stick out from other squirrels that might be in the area. They also live up to five years, however their predators which consist of owls, and hawks always keep an eye out for them. My experience with them is very limited even though they are very abundant here. They are very territorial so I tend to keep walking when I see one.

“Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus).” Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus) Species Profile, www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=redsquirrel.main. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.

While out walking behind my old highschool I came across a plant called Yarrow. I have seen these plants before scattered throughout the wetlands here in Juneau and have heard they can be good for treating wounds. When I saw it on my walk I knew I could take this opportunity to dive into what the plant itself does or is. Its scientific name is Achillea Millefolium which comes from “Achilles, who used plant extracts to treat soldiers’ wounds in the battle of Troy. The name milfoil comes from its Latin name “millefolium” meaning “a thousand leaves”” (U.S. Forrest Services). It can also grow up to 3 feet tall and come in many colors although rare. Typically they have no branches except for at the top which also has compact clusters of one or more flower heads that are yellowish white. This plant can often thrive with minimal water and sun which is why they can be so abundant here in Alaska. When this plant is used recreationally it is for decoration, and for arrangements. However, Indigenous groups often crush them and use them to apply to wounds and burns, creating teas out of their dried leaves to soothe headaches, colds, and fevers. In addition to this, they could also be used for rashes and stomach disorders when steeping the leaves. My interaction with them has always been to admire their beauty and use them as decoration; however, this plant has a strong impact in history that I encourage everyone to dive into such as their collection by Lewis and Clark during their Expedition in the year, 1806!

Sources:
Rey-Vizgirdas, Edna. “U.S. Forest Service.” Forest Service Shield, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/achillea_millefolium.shtml. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.
“Plant Database.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin, www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACMI2. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.

On a hike on the Perseverance Trail I came across some blueberry bushes. After doing some research on the history of them I discovered that the blueberry species are the most dominant Alaskan shrub. They can be found high up in the mountains, along trails, or at sea level. The shrubs' height can range from four inches to thirteen inches high! Blueberries are pollinated by bees and once they begin to blossom it will take about forty to sixty days for it to ripen. As it begins to ripen the blueberries go through color phases! From bright green to green white to greenish pink and finally, as we all know it must be a dark hue of blue before we eat them because this tells us when it is ready to be eaten aka ripe! For these to populate their surrounding area, cross pollination has to occur meaning each blueberry shrub is a little different. So the next time you are going berry picking you might want to look a little closer at their colors and characteristics! Furthermore, here in Alaska they play an important role to not only the Indigenous community but to the locals as well. Throughout history they would typically be picked and dried either for consumption, decoration, or other. They could also be eaten, or used as dyes for wool and fibers. Personally I usually just pick them to eat right off the bush, bake desserts with, decorate dishes with, or use them for watercolor paintings!

Works Cited:
sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/blueberries#:~:text=Flowering%20occurs%20in%20early%20spring,and%20also%20used%20for%20baking.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueberry#:~:text=Wild%20blueberries%20reproduce%20by%20cross,flowers%20and%20the%20eventual%20fruit.

https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-blueberry