Top 20 Most Common Mushrooms in Davis

1. 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.

2. Lace lichen

Lace lichen stands out for its net-like, pendulous structure, making it easily distinguishable from others. It's not a mushroom but a lichen, a unique partnership between fungi and algae. Living mainly on oak trees, it's considered a sensitive air quality indicator. Its presence often indicates good air quality, since it's sensitive to pollutants. This lace lichen plays a vital role in its ecosystem, providing shelter and food for numerous species.

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. Western jack-o'-lantern mushroom

The western jack-o'-lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olivascens) may be the most visually striking mushroom of the forest during day and night. During the day, brilliant large orange flat caps grow from both the ground and decaying stumps. At night, these mushrooms may glow in the dark, depending on location and maturity.

5. Yellow fieldcap

Yellow fieldcap can be found across Europe and North America, with dung patties or heavily-manured fields being its favorite fruiting habitat. The species sometimes goes by the common name Yellow Fieldcap because its young cap sports a bold yellow or golden hue (that color often fades as the mushroom cap matures and flattens). Yellow fieldcap is not know to be edible.

6. Hairy curtain crust

This clustered, overlapping fungus is found all over the world, and is considered native across both the northern and southern hemispheres. Both its common name, hairy curtain crust, and its scientific name, Stereum hirsutum, aptly describe its most obvious features: it is quite tough (stereum) and the younger fruitbodies are notably hairy (hirsutum).

7. 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.

8. Chicken-of-the-woods

Chicken-of-the-woods is a brightly-colored polypore related to the famed Chicken-of-the-Woods (Laetiporus sulphereus). The species are so closely related, that it was not until the 2000s that mycologists considered them to be distinct. Unlike its famed relative, the species is not considered a choice edible - there are conflicting reports as to its edibility, with some probable cases of gastrointestinal distress noted.

9. 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.

10. Golden ear

The golden ear can be encountered in an unusual time of the year – winter. It is considered a parasitic fungus, as it tends to grow on the fruiting body of other fungi, particularly the Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum). When wet, the golden ear has a gelatinous structure, but in dry weather, it becomes tougher and crust-like.

11. Blewit

The blewit mushroom grows in fallen leaves in autumn and winter, sometimes appearing in ‘fairy ring’ circles. It can be used to make a green dye when chopped and boiled in an iron pot. The scientific name, Lepista nuda, derives from Latin words meaning “bare goblet,” a reference to the shape and texture of the mushroom.

12. Birch mazegill

Birch mazegill(Lenzites betulina) is commonly found on decaying coniferous or deciduous woods. While its natural color is a yellowish brown, it may sometimes appear green due to its propensity to host algae. It is considered to be inedible on account of its tough and leathery texture.

13. 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.”

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. Sulphur tuft

The sulphur tuft grows on rotting wood of all types of trees; it is a particularly efficient decomposer of hardwoods. The mushrooms appear from spring to autumn and are often so tightly packed that they interfere with each other’s shape. This poisonous mushroom can cause temporary paralysis, distorted vision, and stomach pain if consumed.

16. Cramp balls

Most commonly found on the surface of dead or dying oak trees, the pathogenic fungus cramp balls(Annulohypoxylon thouarsianum) is seen as an indicator of the health of any individual oak. The rapid proliferation of Sudden Oak Death, a blight increasingly common in the northwestern United States, has led to an increase in appearance of this fungus there.

17. Leratiomyces percevalii

Leratiomyces percevalii mushrooms grow on the Pacific coast from summer to winter. They are frequently seen in urban areas, on woodchips, grassy fields, and waste areas, or along the sides of roads and trails. Very little is known about the edibility of this species, so don't risk it!

18. Golden milk-cap

Sporting a subdued yellow cap with an indentation in the center, the golden milk-cap is often found growing near oaks. They look similar to other milkcaps and russalas, but can be distinguished by a quirky characteristic: when cut, the species bleeds a thick, milky-white, latex-like substance. Golden milk-caps are not toxic but they are incredibly bitter and so are considered inedible.

19. Veiled polypore

If you've ever gone on a walk through the woods where dead conifers are present, there's a good chance you've seen a veiled polypore. The fungus' name comes from the fact that it's pores are "veiled" by a rounded piece of tissue. Indeed, rather than growing in sheet-like formations like other polypores, the veiled polypore can be nearly spherical. These mushrooms are especially prevalent in pine stands that have been ravaged by fire or beetles.

20. Hare's foot ink cap

The entire visible lifespan of the delicate hare's foot ink cap occurs within twenty-four hours. Growing in leaf litter and woodchip mulch, they spring up in hairy egg shapes before flattening out into smooth, black-ribbed bowls. Their scientific name Coprinopsis lagopus comes from Greek words meaning “hare’s foot living on dung.”

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