Top 20 Most Common Mushrooms in Alberta

The thallus of this lichen is described as foliose, having the aspect of leaves, although the central portions of the thallus may appear nearly crustose. It is small, typically less than 5 cm (2 in) wide, with lobes less than 2 mm (0.08 in) broad, appressed to loosely appressed. The upper surface is some shade of orange while the lower surface is white, corticate, with short, sparse hapters (an attachment structure produced by some lichens). The vegetative propagules called soredia and isidia are absent, although apothecia are common. It has been described as possessing swollen, orange-yellow thalli (in streams), compact orange thalli (on boulders) or dark orange-red thalli on the driest rock faces. The variety X. elegans var. granulifera, characterized by having isidia-like vegetative propagules, has been reported from Greenland and Spitsbergen.

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.

The mushrooms of this species grow in such tight clusters that they may cover fallen trees and stumps almost entirely in a brownish, puffy coat. Pear-shaped puffballs appear all around the northern hemisphere on decaying hardwoods from fall through winter.

The lichen camp is crusty, light gray to greenish and toxic green when wet. Striking are the pink-colored fruit bodies (Apothecia), which sit with a narrowed base or short-stalked. Likelihood of confusion exist in particular with the Rosa Kopfchenflechte (Dibaeis baeomyces, fruiting body also pink, but clearly stalked).

Vulpicida pinastri usually has few, broad, irregular lobes whose edges are lined with yellow Bortensoralen. On the underside, the lichen is pale yellowish with few rhizins. Fruit bodies (Apotheciens) are very rarely trained and then have a brown disc with bearing edge. The unicellular spores are ellipsoidal to almost spherical. The yellow color is caused by the highly toxic vulpinic acid in the marrow, which probably serves as a feeding protection against snails.

Rusty gilled polypore(Gloeophyllum sepiarium) is a fungus most commonly found on dead pieces of conifer wood, and it is a common visitor to lumberyards. The growing zone on the fruiting body is easily demarcated by its yellow, orange or white coloring, resembling a strip along the outside of the structure. This species is considered inedible.

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.

The vividly-colored fruitbodies of cedar-apple rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) might be mistaken for flowers, from a distance. Upon closer inspection they can be identified as fungal growths attacking the fruit of cedar trees. Their microscopic spores can travel up to an astounding 5 miles when carried on the wind and infect cedars quite far away, weakening the trees as they grow.

As 'Aspen' in its common name implies, the aspen oyster mushroom grows exclusively on dead aspen trees (the Populus genus). This oyster mushroom has a pleasant aroma, reminiscent of almond or anise. Like all oyster mushrooms, the aspen oyster mushroom can be used for dyeing wool, paper and fabrics.

Fairy ring mushrooms may dry out completely in the sun, but will “resurrect” during the next rain and regain their ability to make new spores. This is due to a sugar called trehalose which protects their cells. They appear in lawns and fields, sometimes in “fairy ring” configurations.