Tricholoma matsutake is a highly esteemed ectomycorrhizal fungus that forms mutualistic associations with coniferous trees, particularly species within the Pinaceae.

Utah: Boletus edulis, also known as the ‘porcini mushroom.’ Vermont: Hericium Americanum, known as the bear’s head tooth fungus. Massachusetts, Missouri, and New York have all proposed the idea.

And the fungus used to pass along the venoms are native to those lands too, and might not have much of an impact here. “We don’t know these African fungi would work well in America — a ...