Mushrooms

Including toadstool, shelf (bracket), club and coral fungus, as well as others.

To make a proper identification consult two or more resources.

Warning: I do not recommend eating wild plants or fungi as they may contain toxins or bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens that can cause bodily harm.  Consult at least two reliable resources when foraging for wild foods.  Even edible fungi can cause allergic reactions in certain individuals.  Improper identification often leads to poisoning.  Forage at your own risk.

Scarlet Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea). Found growing under redwoods. Common in leaf litter under redwood trees. Muir National Monument, California. Nov, 2009.

Pinwheel Mushroom (Marasmius rotula). Tiny mushroom growing on leaf litter. Gilled. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Green Elfcup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens). Tiny fruiting bodies on decaying wood. The fungus will stain wood with a green pigment and green wood is often indicative of the species. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Wood decaying from Green Elfcup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens). The mushroom itself is very rare to see, but the blue-green wood left from the fungus is more common. Farmington, Pennsylvania. May, 2010.

Scarlet Cup Fungus (Sarcoscypha dudleyi). This March-May fungus is eye-catching but not edible. Often on decaying wood. Raccoon Creek State Park, Pennsylvania. March, 2016.

Fairy Fingers (Clavaria fragilis). Grows on decaying leaf matter, found throughout Us, but especially east of the Rockies. Found growing under Coastal Redwoods. Muir National Monument, California. Nov, 2009.

Eastern Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis crispa). Found growing at the base or near roots of hardwoods and conifers. Similar S. spathulata variably shows creamy white layer on flabullae edges. Edible when young, cultivated often. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015

Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae). Found on decaying stump. This Ganoderma is found on hemlock, spruce and pine often destroying living trees. Large and perennial. Pore underside. Farmington, Pennsylvania. Sep, 2010.

Artist Conk (Ganoderma applanatum). A medium to large bracket fungi found growing on dead wood–often large logs and stumps. The white underside can be etched with a sharp tool to create a drawing or leave a message. Pore underside. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Artist Conk (Ganoderma applanatum). A medium to large bracket fungi found growing on dead wood–often large logs and stumps. The white underside can be etched with a sharp tool to create a drawing or leave a message. Pore underside. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

False Turkey Tail (Stereum ostrea). Found growing on decaying logs and snags. Very similar to Turkey Tail. Pored underside. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Sulphur Shelf (Laetiporus sulphureus). Also called Chicken-of-the-woods, found growing on dead trees and decaying logs. Edible when young. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Violet Polypore (Trichaptum biforme). This small fruiting body is common throughout U.S. hardwoods. Identifiable by the purplish rim. Grows on decaying wood. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Yellow-Red Gill Polypore (Gloeophyllum sepiarium). A bracket that can grow to be rather large. An orangish brown to off-white rim is almost always present. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor). Found growing on decaying logs and snags. Pored underside. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea). South Park, Pennsylvania. Sep, 2008.

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). A well-known mushroom among enthusiasts. Very edible and grown agriculturally. Grows in summer and late fall on decaying wood. North Park Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). A well-known mushroom among enthusiasts. Very edible and grown agriculturally. Grows in summer and late fall on decaying wood. North Park Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Tinder Fungus (Fomes fomentarius). Forms a shelf or series of shelves on decaying timber. The name implies its use as a fire starter. Perennial. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Tinder Fungus (Fomes fomentarius). Forms a shelf or series of shelves on decaying timber. The name implies its use as a fire starter. Perennial. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Brown Ear Fungus (Auricularia auricula). This jelly-like fungus normally grows from rotting wood. Grows from spring to fall. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Brown Ear Fungus (Auricularia auricula). This jelly-like fungus normally grows from rotting wood. Grows from spring to fall. North Park, Pennsylvania. March, 2015.

Leaf Jelly (Tremella foliacea). A distinctive fungal growth from decaying wood, usually oaks. The gelatinous appearance is actually quite firm. Edible. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha). A hard, club-like fruiting body normally found at the base of decaying trees and stumps. The finger-like fruiting bodies can apeear flat and fan-shaped or irregular. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Streaked Bird’s Nest (Cyathus striatus). These fungal fruiting bodies are cups with spore vessels in the bottom. Rain drops into the cup cause the vessels to spring outward. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

Streaked Bird’s Nest (Cyathus striatus). These fungal fruiting bodies are cups with spore vessels in the bottom. Rain drops into the cup cause the vessels to spring outward. North Park, Pennsylvania. Sept, 2015.

<Insert bad pun about fungus here>