Voodoo dolls have long been associated with dark magic and witchcraft. These small, handmade dolls are often depicted as having pins stuck in them, which supposedly cause harm or inflict pain on the person the doll represents. However, in recent years, voodoo dolls have gained popularity on Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade and vintage items. Etsy is a platform that allows sellers to create their own online shops and sell their products to a global audience. Many sellers on Etsy offer a wide variety of handmade items, including voodoo dolls. These dolls are typically made from cloth or felt and are often adorned with detailed stitching and embellishments.
As it is currently described, H. conica is found on the ground under hardwood and conifer trees in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. You can find the Witch’s Hat across North America fruiting from early summer through fall, or fall through winter in warmer climates like California. There are usually a few to many of these mushrooms scattered around a small area, so if you see one make sure to look around for more! 1,3
I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest.
These dolls are typically made from cloth or felt and are often adorned with detailed stitching and embellishments. On Etsy, you can find voodoo dolls in various shapes, sizes, and designs. Some sellers offer traditional voodoo dolls, complete with pins and other accessories.
Witch hat mushroon
In keeping with a Halloween theme, this month's fungus is the witch's hat mushroom, Hygrocybe conica, also known as Hygrophorus conicus (more on the taxonomy later). With its orange color and witch hat shape, this mushroom is a natural for Halloween. This fungus is common this time of year in coniferous and mixed conifer/hardwood woods-- we took this picture of mushrooms collected by Bernadette O'Reilly in a mixed pine and scrub red oak forest a couple weeks ago. At least here in the midwestern USA, the further north you go, the more likely you are to find Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus specimens. Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus species are reportedly mycorrhizal with both hardwoods and conifers, although I've yet to see definitive proof. They certainly are difficult to culture, indicating that there's something (essential nutrients?) missing in "normal" media.
You may have learned this species as Hygrophorus conicus, but for many year there Hygrocybe has been segregated from Hygrophorus. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest. In the field the distinctions between the genera are pretty clear, with a few exceptions. A third genus Camarophyllus, is also segregated out by some. These genera are placed in the family Hygrophoraceae because of their waxy gills and mycorrhizal habit. My students often have trouble with "waxy." I tell them to think of waxy here as the consistency of soft candle wax, not of hardened cold candles.
These genera, once all placed in the genus Hygrophorus, are now separated from one another on the basis of microscopic characters, primarily the arrangement of the hyphae in the gill trama. The gill trama is the flesh of the gills, underneath the outside layer of basidia and basidiospores. To determine the arrangement of the trama, you should look to see how the hyphae grew out from the center of the mushroom toward the outside. In Hygrocybe the gill trama hyphae are parallel to subparallel. In Hygrophorus the trama is divergent. The arrangement of the trama is considered by most agaricologists to be a very important character at the generic level. In the picture to the left, you can see the parallel trama of Hygrocybe conica and the divergent trama of Hygrophorus russula. The origin of each gill section is to the right, and the end of the gill of each section is to the left. The basidia are borne on the outside of the gills, showing up as a dark, dense area in these sections.
However, lumper that I am, I did not believe the distinction was valid until I went to a foray in 1997 in the mountains of New Mexico and saw many species of Hygrophorus there (we don't have very many of these species in our area). Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe are quite different in stature and overall appearance. Hygrocybe species tend to be more brightly colored and much smaller, although there are some bright white Hygrocybe species bigger than any Hygrophorus I've ever seen. Hygrophorus species tend to have more muted colors and are much larger. If you are a "lumper," you might still consider that all these species belong in a single genus, Hygrophorus. Bill Cibula (now retired from NASA) worked on the carotenoid pigments in these genera many years ago, although little of it is yet published. Someone also needs to work on the DNA of these organisms. Taxonomy is often a matter of opinion anyway.
There are many other species of Hygrocybe , ranging in color from red to yellow to orange to white. To the left is Hygrocybe psittacina, the parrot mushroom, so named because of the green color fading out to yellow as it ages. There are many other species of Hygrocybe that may litter the ground, especially in conifer areas.
Below is Hygrophorus russula, our most common Hygrophorus in the midwestern USA. The epithet names comes from the superficial similarity of its fruiting bodies to those of Russula. Note the more muted coloration compared to the Hygrocybe specimens. You probably can't tell from this picture, but these specimens are ten times larger than any of the Hygrocybe species pictured on this page. However, there certainly are a wide variety of colors and sizes represented in each of the genera. Be on the lookout for them in your area.
I hope you enjoyed learning something about Hygrocybe conica. And I hope you have a Happy Halloween. Maybe you should incorporate a mushroom into your Halloween costume? I'd love to see a picture if you do. I'll even include it online if you give me permission to do so.
- Tremella mesenterica, witch's butter.
- Claviceps purpurea, cause of the plant disease ergot and likely factor in the Salem Witch Trials
- Omphalotus olearius, the Jack-O-Lantern Mushroom.
A spore print is the pattern produced when a mushroom is allowed to drop its spores onto a surface. Spore prints are taken to assess the color of a mushroom’s spores.
Others offer more whimsical and lighthearted versions, such as voodoo dolls in the shape of animals or with colorful patterns. While some people may still view voodoo dolls as symbols of dark magic and witchcraft, others see them as novelty items or even as works of art. Etsy provides a platform for sellers to share their unique creations with a global audience, allowing buyers to find and purchase voodoo dolls that suit their taste and preferences. It's important to note that the practice of using voodoo dolls to harm or manipulate others is not condoned or supported by Etsy or its community guidelines. The dolls sold on Etsy are intended for decorative or symbolic purposes only and should be used responsibly and respectfully. In conclusion, voodoo dolls have made their way onto Etsy, where they are sold by independent sellers to a wide range of buyers. These dolls come in different styles and designs, offering something for everyone. Whether you view voodoo dolls as dark or whimsical, Etsy provides a platform for sellers to showcase and sell their creations to a global audience..
Reviews for "Voodoo dolls and the law: Understanding the legal implications"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the voodoo doll I purchased from this Etsy shop. The craftsmanship was subpar and the stitching was coming apart in several places. It also looked nothing like the picture advertised on the website. I reached out to the seller to express my concerns but never received a response. I would not recommend buying from this shop if you're looking for a high-quality voodoo doll.
2. John - 1/5 stars - This voodoo doll shop on Etsy left a lot to be desired. The doll I received was smaller and flimsier than expected, and the materials used felt cheap. I attempted to return it, but the seller had a strict no-refund policy. It seemed like the seller was more interested in making a quick buck than providing a satisfactory product and customer service. Avoid this shop if you're looking for a reliable and well-made voodoo doll.
3. Emily - 1/5 stars - I had a terrible experience with this Etsy shop. The voodoo doll I ordered arrived damaged and poorly packaged. When I contacted the seller to ask for a replacement or a refund, they were extremely unhelpful and dismissive. It felt like they didn't care about the quality of their products or their customers' satisfaction. I ended up having to spend additional money to get a better voodoo doll from another seller. Save yourself the hassle and avoid this shop.