Top 4 Most Common Mushrooms in Zomba
Most Common Mushrooms
1. Anemone stinkhorn
The anemone stinkhorn (Aseroe rubra) looks like a creature straight from the depths of the ocean…or perhaps a horror movie! This Australian native starts fruiting with a white, egg-like ball that breaks open to reveal bright red tentacle-like fingers that spread toward the sky with radial symmetry and the odor of rotting meat. It has spread to tropical and sub-tropical areas around the world and is potentially poisonous.
2. Stinky squid
Stinky squid is known for the foul-smelling slime that it is coated in during its growing period. This mushroom is easy to spot in woods and urban areas due to its red, elongated arms that resemble a squid’s tentacles, giving the mushroom its name "stinky squid."
3. 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.
4. Orange pore fungus
The wide, prominent pores of the orange pore fungus (Favolaschia calocera) make it appear as if a honeycomb has been attached to the side of a decaying log. This distinctive species originated in Madagascar and spread on shipped lumber around the globe. It grows so well that it is considered invasive in some regions, out-competing local fungi.
