Will Washington name a state fungi?

OLYMPIA – Like mushrooms sprouting in the forest after a rainstorm, the effort to name an official state fungi popped up again Wednesday, generating a new round of bad puns.

The Evergreen State College students association wants the Legislature to name the pine mushroom, also known as Tricholoma murrillianum, as the official state fungi, in recognition of its cultural significance to Washington’s Asian American population and contributions to forest health.

“The state of Washington does not have an official state fungi,” Rep. Laurie Dolan, D-Olympia, told the State Government, Elections and Information Technology Committee Wednesday. “We have an official everything else.”

She said the bill is about both fun, and fungi.

A similar bill passed the committee last year, but never got a vote in the full House. Rep. Morgan Irwin, R-Enumclaw, asked if there would be a “cap” on mushroom puns, but followed it quickly by asking if the bill has the support of the morel majority.

A committee vote on the bill, and possibly more puns, is expected in the coming days.