More than 200 varieties of mushroom were on display at the Devonian Botanic Garden on Sunday, as the Alberta Mycological Society held a unique exposition.

The goal was to showcase the various roles the fungi play in our lives, from culinary inspiration, to medicinal qualities, to preserving local ecosystems.

“They are probably the most fascinating organisms,” said Roland Treu, who studies the spore-bearing fruit at the University of Athabasca.

“They are kind of mysterious.”

With a generous fall of rain this year, a rich array of mushrooms have popped up across the province. But experts have a warning for backyard harvesters – some species are poisonous.

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