Top 20 Most Common Mushrooms in Uttarakhand
Most Common Mushrooms
1. Yellow-footed micropore
The scientific name of the yellow-footed micropore (Microporus xanthopus) translates to “tiny-pored yellow foot.” Its short stem is usually yellow, leading up to a concave, funnel-like cap. The species is common in all the tropics of the world outside of the Americas. The striated, multi-hued caps grow largest in wet, darkly-shaded locations.
2. Turkey tail
The distinctively-striped turkey tail fungus grows on stumps and logs all over the forests of the northern hemisphere. It is, in fact, probably the most common species you will find. That doesn't mean this mushroom is plain, however; each cap is uniquely patterned. Look for bands of alternating textures as well as color.
3. False parasol
Though the false parasol appears unassuming, the species is famous—or, infamous—for its toxicity. It looks unfortunately similar to Agericus campestrus, a commonly eaten mushroom, but the false parasol can be distinguished by its highly unusual green spore print. Although they are no good to eat, they can be pretty to look at. The species may grow in ring-shaped groups in meadows and on forest floors in what are sometimes called "fairy circles."
4. Indigo milk cap
This gorgeous species is unlike any other. The indigo milk cap, a member of the often-drab russula family, is deep blue in color. Like other milk caps, it bleeds a latex-like substance when cut or damaged, but instead of the usual white this species bleeds deep blue.
5. Star bearer
Star bearer is a unique parasitic mushroom that grows on other decaying mushrooms in the Russula or Lactarius genera. Those mushrooms can be parasitized by other species, but star bearer is unique, as it releases a coating of spores that may appear similar to puffball mushrooms, which is referenced by the scientific name of this mushroom, Asterophora lycoperdoides.
6. Favolaschia manipularis
7. Fan-shaped jelly-fungus
Just as its Latin and the common English names suggest, the fan-shaped jelly-fungus (Dacryopinax spathularia) is a fan-shaped or spatula-shaped jelly-like mushroom. It commonly grows in wood cracks and it sometimes even appears in the cracks of the processed wood and lumber. Despite the word "jelly" in its name, the fan-shaped jelly-fungus is not considered edible.
8. Common fieldcap
Easily confused with other small, brown mushrooms, the common fieldcap is one of few that grows in springtime in various countries around the world. It appears in groups in pasture land, lawns, and other open, grassy areas. And there are many poisonous mushrooms that look extremely similar.
9. 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.”
10. 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.
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