fungiphile

plural fungiphiles · alternative fungophile

1. A person who likes to collect, cook or eat wild mushrooms.

   In addition to the enjoyment of hunting and the pleasure of new mushroom discoveries, the cryptic association of fungi with the decaying dead lends to the search a certain mystique that inspires the avid fungiphile.

   1999, Jack S. States, Mushrooms and Truffles of the Southwest, page 11

   2 more examples

   Where I live, in Santa Cruz, California, one of the highlights of the fall season is the “Fungus Fair,” sponsored by the city museum and the Fungus Federation, where exotic mushroom dishes are sampled by thousands of eager fungiphiles.

   2002, Christopher Hobbs, Medicinal Mushrooms: An Exploration of Tradition, Healing, and Culture

   For the past few years, Kroeger and his network of fungiphiles have been putting up posters in infected neighborhoods. The BC Centre for Disease Control sends out his warnings in press releases, and he sets up a booth at street events in order to warn anyone willing to listen that death caps should be left alone.

   2019 February 9, Craig Childs, “Death-Cap Mushrooms Are Spreading Across North America”, in The Atlantic

   Synonyms: mycophile

2. Any organism (typically a bacterium) that selectively inhabits a fungus.