Top 20 Most Common Mushrooms in KwaZulu-Natal
Most Common Mushrooms
1. 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.
2. Golden scruffy collybia
The golden scruffy collybia (Cyptotrama asprata) produces tiny, picturesque mushrooms with caps and stems covered in even tinier bright orange spikes. The cap surface below is commonly a shade of yellow. These mushrooms smell faintly of artichokes.
3. 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.
4. Wood ear
The fuzzy surface of the wood ear (Auricularia cornea) is a distinguishable characteristic of this wood-loving mushroom. The hairy, ear-shaped body transforms in color when exposed to moisture and can range from chocolate brown to dull gray.
5. 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.
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. White-rot fungus
The white-rot fungus is known as a white-rot fungus and it's usually found growing on dead wood. When young, the mushroom is soft and leathery, but it becomes extremely tough as it matures, obtaining a funnel-shaped fruiting body.
8. Termitomyces microcarpus
Like other mushrooms in its genus, termitomyces microcarpus thrives when termites are close by, as this mushroom is dependent on the insects for the plant matter they bring after feeding on trees. The fungus also benefits the termites by breaking down the organic matter the insects need to survive. Therefore, termitomyces microcarpus is usually found growing near termite mounds, specifically those found near bamboo.
9. Mica cap
The bell-shaped mica cap mushrooms grow in clusters on wood debris and stumps, from spring to autumn. The caps appear wet and inky once they mature and begin to release spores. At that point, they can be boiled with cloves to create a useful black ink.
10. Cartilage lichen
Fructicose lichen cartilage lichen showcases an extraordinary ability to thrive in various habitats, from arid deserts to moist woodlands. Unique to cartilage lichen, it has a symbiotic relationship with both fungi and algae, with each benefiting the other. Intriguingly, cartilage lichen can capture atmospheric nutrients, even in the most nutrient-poor environments.
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