Top 20 Most Common Mushrooms in Seattle
Welcome to our mushroom enthusiast's haven! Nestled amidst evergreen forests and stunning coastlines, the vibrant city of Seattle is a fungi-lover's paradise. This region boasts an abundance of 20 common mushroom varieties, thriving in its temperate rainforest climate. Unparalleled variety, unique characteristics, and versatile culinary applications make these fungi noteworthy. Explore the world of Seattle's prolific mushrooms with us!
Most Common Mushrooms
1. 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.
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. 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.
4. Red-belted polypore
Red-belted polypore is a shelf fungus that's usually seen on aspen, birch, and various conifer trees. This perennial mushroom is known to cause the cubical brown rot in host trees. A species new to science, it was named in honor of Irene Mounce, a Canadian mycologist. 
5. 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.”
6. Orange jelly
This offensive-looking slimy body of the orange jelly (Dacrymyces chrysospermus) erupts from fissures in tree bark in the forest. The point in which the caps attach to the host plant is brilliant white, creating a stark contrast from the bright yellow, brain-shaped cap. The most common place to find this mushroom is in decaying conifer wood.
7. Questionable stropharia
The questionable stropharia is an odd-looking species that thrives in rich, wet soils along the western coast of North America. The species sports a shiny, yellow-brown cap with a white partial veil that looks almost as though it is dripping off the cap. "Questionable" is a fair title for this species, about which there are conflicting reports on edibility. Most experts recommend staying on the safe side and avoiding eating this mushroom.
8. Candlesnuff fungus
The bizarre shape of the candlesnuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon) is one that you'll never forget. Finger-like growths explode from decaying wood, and look more like stalagmites or antlers than they do mushrooms. The shaft is black at the base, fading dramatically to bright white at the tip.
9. Dyer's polypore
This shelf fungus grows annually on living coniferous trees and may kill its host if left untreated. As the name suggests, dyer's polypore can be used to produce dye for yarn in a variety of shades from yellow to orange to brown, depending on the age of the mushroom used and also the type of metal it’s processed in. It is not considered edible.
10. Witches' butter
Witches' butter (Tremella mesenterica) has an irregularly-shaped fruitbody that can be found growing on dead hardwood branches. It has a global distribution, being found in both temperate and tropical forests. Usually yellow in color, its hues may range from subdued lemon to bright canary.
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