Wild Mushroom Expo

The Wild Mushroom Expo is an annual event held in Alberta presented by the Alberta Mycological Society.
Mushrooms from across the province are gathered to be displayed on moss beds, cooked as samples by a local chef, and used as inspiration for our local creatives to sculpt, paint, and shape for our art contest! There are displays for medicinal, edible, and poisonous fungi, as well as informative displays for those interested in growing their own fungi! Educational presentations occurred throughout the day, as well as guided mushroom walks for those interested in seeing what one of our forays is like!

Wormwood

Scientific Name: Artemisia absinthium

Plant Family: Asteraceae

Part Used: Leaves, flowers and roots

Actions: Antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiparasitic

Energetics: Slightly cooling and drying

Preparations: Capsule, tablet, infusion, tincture, alcoholic beverage (Absinthe)

Cautions: The active ingredient is thujone which can be toxic in large doses or with prolonged use. Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Medicinal Uses: Digestive bitter also used for indigestion, gas, bloating and for expelling parasitic worms such as roundworms or pinworms.

Historically used as a strewing herb and as Absinthe – an anise-flavoured distilled spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium, anise, sweet fennel, coriander seeds, hyssop, angelica roots and sometimes lemon balm and spearmint.

In 18th century literature, Absinthe is known as as The Green Fairy (la fée verte).