Top 20 Most Common Mushrooms in Albania

1. Common orange lichen

Common orange lichen was selected in 2006 by the United States Department of Energy as a model for genomic sequencing. Its widespread dispersal and bright yellow-orange color give the lichen its common name. It is primarily found growing on rocks, walls, and tree bark.

2. Jelly ear

The distinctive jelly ear grows mainly through winter and spring, mostly on the dead trunks and branches of elder trees. It occurs around the world and is often cooked into dishes in Asian countries. This ear-shaped jelly mushroom is often available in stores both fresh and dried.

3. Shaggy mane

The shaggy mane mushroom is commonly found in North American and European grasslands. Some peoples foraged for its young egg-shaped caps, but it has more recently been found to be a bioaccumulator of heavy metals, meaning it pulls toxic metals up from the soil where it grows. As a result, shaggy manes should not be eaten. The mushrooms usually appear in clusters or “fairy rings.”

4. Big sheath mushroom

These large white mushrooms bloom all over cleared, harvested fields, as well as pastures and roadsides. The scientific species name comes from Greek words meaning “glue” (glioio) and “head” (cephalus), in reference to the sticky surface of this mushroom’s cap. The big sheath mushroom looks so similar to the poisonous Deathcap and Destroying Angel mushrooms that it should always be left alone.

5. Devil's urn

The devil's urn (Urnula craterium) is a black or brown cup-shaped fungus. The species' tough, cracked outer layer and dark coloration may give it a scorched appearance. Devil's urns tend to grow in clusters and are usually found adorning fallen branches and rotting logs. Though the species is not edible itself, gatherers keep an eye out for it, as it usually fruits at about the same time as morels.

6. Fly agaric

In Northern Asia and Europe, fly agaric grows under trees near the winter solstice and is collected for ritual use tied to the season. Its characteristic shape and coloring are still ubiquitous in many European fairy tale illustrations and Christmas traditions. It is highly toxic.

7. Magpie inkcap

The magpie inkcap is a striking and poisonous species of inkcap that can be found in Europe, Australia, and North America. The species has an egg-shaped cap that is typical to inkcaps, but its coloration sets it apart; white spots or splotches adorn a solid, dark brown or black background, reminiscent of the coloration of a magpie.

8. White dapperling

White dapperling mushrooms grow in scattered groups across open fields in the northern hemisphere. They can occasionally cause toxic reactions in humans, and their similarity to extremely poisonous lookalikes like Deathcap and Destroying Angel make them hazardous to handle.

9. Dryad's saddle

A familiar sight to spring morel hunters, dryad's saddle is noteworthy for its large size, striking scales, and watermelon-like smell. Similar to other mushrooms in the bracket fungi family, dryad's saddle can be used to make paper. Younger mushrooms are better suited for this purpose due to their smaller and more consistent fibers.

10. Cobalt crust

Cobalt crust is located year-round on dead hardwood trees. It is a very thin crust fungus that has a waxy effect when wet. Cobalt crust is immediately identified by its brilliant cobalt blue hue, giving rise to its common name. As the fungi age, the color turns to a near-black shade.

11. Peach leaf curl

The pathogenic fungus Taphrina deformans causes a plant disease called peach leaf curl. It afflicts peach and nectarine trees, causing reddish patches on new spring leaves, which become puckered and distorted as they grow, coated with the fungus. An affected tree is likely to grow more slowly and produce less fruit because of the reduced leaf functionality.

12. Blusher

The blusher mushroom is so named because it “blushes” to a pinkish red color when cut or bruised. It is found in many countries around the world, although it may not be native to the southern hemisphere. It contains a hemolytic toxin that can cause anemia if eaten.

13. Bronze bolete

The bronze bolete is originally described from Europe. For many years, the species is thought to be present in North America as well, until molecular studies have shown that the North American counterpart, named Boletus regineus, was actually a different species. The bronze bolete is often found during hot and dry summer days. The specific Latin epithet "aereus" means "fitted with bronze" and it refers to the color of its velvety cap.

14. Oakmoss

Evernia prunastri grows shrubby on trees. The yellow-green lichen grows up to 10 cm. It consists of up to five millimeters wide shrubby branched bands with a light underside. At the edges of these open dusty (Sorale). Apothecias (with shiny brown disc) are rarely formed.

15. Split gill

Split gill(Schizophyllum commune) can be found across the globe. Uniquely, it is the only mushroom species known to display the capability to retract by movement. It is considered inedible, although not necessarily toxic. Furthermore, it is not recommended to smell this species, as the spores are capable of sprouting and growing in nasal passages.

16. Chicken of the woods

Chicken of the woods is very noticeable in hardwood forests, appearing in clusters on standing tree trunks in bright orange and yellow hues that sometimes last through the entire winter. It is a parasite that causes an unfortunate brown heart rot, and is considered a particularly troublesome pest of Yew trees. If the fruitbodies can be seen, the tree is likely already beyond saving.

17. Parasol

Found in clearings and grassy areas in late summer, the wild parasol mushroom has a snakeskin-patterned stem. The brown spots on its cap make it look a bit shaggy, but that name is reserved for its poisonous counterpart, the Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes). You can distinguish the two by the stems: the latter has a smooth stem and red flesh inside.

18. Girded webcap

The scientific name "Cortinarius trivialis" is a bit deceptive - this mushroom species is sturdy and sizable, not trivial or diminutive. Though it sports a fair amount of variability in color, girded webcap almost always has a slimy cap and a thick, shaggy stalk. The species can be found in temperate forests across Europe and North America; in the latter location, it commonly associates with quaking aspen.

19. Tinder fungus

This large, tough shelf fungus can be found attached to birch, beech, and sycamore trees. It gets its common name, tinder fungus, from the fact that it burns quite slowly and can thus be used effectively for lighting fires. Dried pieces can also be a useful desiccant. A piece of this fungus was found in the possession of Otzi the Iceman, indicating that its usefulness has been known for millenia.

20. Suillus collinitus

Suillus collinitus is a mushroom that grows in a symbiotic relationship with pine trees, particularly the Aleppo pine. This fungus is sometimes introduced to young pine trees to help them to become established in poor soils. It was listed as an endangered species in the United Kingdom, but its 'vulnerable' classification was removed from that nation's Red Data List in 2006.

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