Top 20 Most Common Mushrooms in Whittier
Welcome to our guide to the Top 20 most common mushrooms in Whittier. Renowned for its verdant parks and trails, Whittier offers an ideal habitat for a variety of fungus species. It's a mycology hotspot, boasting numerous native mushroom species that capitalize on the city's fertile environment. Delve into our comprehensive guide to uncover the outstanding varieties of mushrooms thriving in this region.
Most Common Mushrooms
1. 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."
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Bright cobblestone lichen
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. Redlead roundhead
This colorful mushroom grows most commonly on woodchip mulch and in sandy pine forests of coastal areas around the world. The redlead roundhead is believed to have originated in Australia. It may look pretty enough to eat, but don’t; it is bitter, toxic, non-digestible, and likely to cause an upset stomach.
7. 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.
8. 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).
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. Milky conecap
A delicate little fairy-tale-looking mushroom, the milky conecap shows up in moist woodlands, fields, and lawns. The species' common name refers to its deep and pointed cap, which looks much like a garden gnome's hat. While the species is not known to be toxic, it is too small and delicate to bother with for culinary purposes.
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