Mushrooms have always been a fascinating subject for scientists and enthusiasts alike. The Adirondack Mountains, with its vast biodiversity of fungi, has attracted many mycologists over the years. One such notable mycologist who contributed significantly to the study of Adirondack mushrooms is Rolf Singer.

Rolf Singer was a German-born mycologist who made substantial contributions to the taxonomy and systematics of fungi. He was born in Frankfurt in 1906 and received his Ph.D. in mycology from the University of Frankfurt in 1933. During his career, he worked at various institutions, including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the New York Botanical Garden.

Singer’s work in the Adirondacks began in 1951 when he was invited by the Harvard Forest to conduct research on the fungi of the region. Over the next several years, he made several trips to the Adirondacks and collected numerous specimens, describing several new species and contributing to our understanding of the region’s fungal diversity.

One of the most notable mushrooms Singer studied in the Adirondacks was the chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), a highly prized edible mushroom found throughout North America. Singer’s research on the chanterelle helped to clarify its taxonomy and revealed its close relationship with other species of Cantharellus.

Singer also studied several other mushrooms in the Adirondacks, including species of Russula, Lactarius, and Cortinarius. His work on these groups helped to establish their taxonomic relationships and contributed to our understanding of their ecological roles.

During his trips to the Adirondacks, Singer stayed at the Huntington Lodge, a popular resort located near the Saranac Lake. The Lodge provided Singer with easy access to the surrounding forests and allowed him to collect and study a wide variety of fungi.

Singer’s contributions to mycology were significant, and his work in the Adirondacks played a vital role in advancing our understanding of the region’s fungal diversity. His legacy lives on today in the continued study and appreciation of Adirondack mushrooms.

Sources:

• Singer, R. (1955). “The Cantharelloid Fungi.” Beihefte zur Nova Hedwigia, 18, 1-668.
• Singer, R. (1962). “Studies on the Agaricales of the Eastern United States.” Transactions of the Mycological Society of Japan, 3, 1-43.
• Singer, R. (1969). “New Species of North American Fungi.” Mycologia, 61(4), 803-812.
• “Rolf Singer.” Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries, accessed April 2, 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Singer.