Fantastic fungi and where to find them
5 amazing fungi that you can find in your backyard
Fungi are one of the most fascinatingand diverseforms of life on our planet, but also one of the least studied. A study by mycologist Meredith Blackwell estimated that there are as many as 5 million species of fungi globally, but only a fractionhavebeendescribedby scientists.Whilemycologists (fungi scientists)across the worldareworkingto find and catalog these undiscovered species,some common fungi can be found in many different places, even your own backyard!
Witch's Butter (Tremella mesenterica)
Thiswrinkly fungus comes in many different shades of yellow and orange. It is often found growing onwood, whether it be a live tree, fallen log, or even a fence post. In the Middle Ages,this fungus was often found growing on wooden household fixtures like door frames and fence posts. People at the time believed this was a sign that your home had been cursed by a witch. The only way to lift the “curse” was to prick the fungus and drain the liquid from inside.Witch’s butter can be foundon all continents except Antarctica.
Dog Vomit Slime Mold (Fuligo septica)
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This fascinating findis technically not a fungus, but we want to show it off anyway!Slime molds are a type of protist, meaning that their nucleus is enclosed within a cellular membrane, but they are unrelated to other plants, fungi, or animals. For many years, scientists believed that slime molds were a type of fungi, but that thought was discarded with further scientific analysis. The dog vomit slime mold received its colorful name from its appearancesimilar tothat of, well, dog vomit.In its early growth stages, the slime mold appears bright yellow in color and can grow very rapidly. A mature member of this species willappear drier and have a dusty orange color.The dog vomit slime mold, also known as the scrambled egg mold, is found almost worldwide and is commonly seen inareas with mulch, particularly after heavy rain.
Orange Peel Fungus (Aleuria aurantica)
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You may think that someone left their orange peel on the ground, but this isactually afungus!This deceptive fungus is often found inclusters in wooded areas. It is named for its distinct similarity to an orange peel.These bright orange spots in the forest can be found throughout North America, though it is primarily seen during the summer months.
Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
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As one of the most well-known fungus speciesin the media, the fly agaricbringsto mindimages of wildlife taking a rest, using the mushroom as a stool or hiding underneath its bright red top. However, the truth is far frompicture-perfect.The fly agaric is toxic to humans and can cause severe illness if ingested.The typical red fly agaric is seen more in the western United States, whileanorange-yellow variety might be seen in the eastern United states.These mushrooms are a friendly reminder that no matter how beautiful amushroom mayappear,it could be hiding a sickening secret!
Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)
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Giant puffballs are one of the most well-known species in the puffball family.They are the largest members of the puffball family as well, with some growing larger than a basketball!Puffballs get their name from the way they distribute their spores to reproduce. When a puffball reaches maturity,its skin willcrack and release billions of spores into the surrounding area. These mushrooms often appear to be“resting” in both open and wooded areas, which leads many people to believe they are abandoned sports balls.Giant puffballs have been observed across the continental United States, but they seem to be more densely populated east of the Mississippi River.
Tips for finding and identifying fungi in your area:
Use local weather and habitat type to guide your search.
Season, recent weather, and habitat type maymake a difference in what types of fungi you may find. Many fungi feed on decomposing matter, so fallen logsare usually a hot spot for one or more different kinds of fungi. Fungi also enjoy moistareas, so searching one or two days after a heavy rain may produce different results than going during a dry period.
Usefield guides to help youidentify a fungus.
Field guides come in manyforms! You may prefer to use a bookor pamphlet provided by a trusted source like a local or national park. Others may usefield identification cell phone apps likeiNaturalistto get an initial identification of a fungus.
Nevereat a mushroomfound in the wild if you are not an expert.
Many mushrooms contain toxins that can cause severe illness or even death if consumed.According to a 2021publication from the Center for Disease Control, in 2016 alone, over 1,300emergency roomvisitsand 100 hospitalizations were the result of accidental mushroom poisoning.
Story Tags
Biodiversity
Fungi
