What kind of mushroom did I find in the United States?

If you spend time outside, you’ve probably asked this question at least once. Mushrooms are incredibly common in the United States, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Believe it or not, there are THOUSANDS of different types of mushrooms that live in the United States. Since it would be nearly impossible to write about them all, I focused on the most common types that are seen.

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER eat a mushroom you find. There are many poisonous types, and some species will kill you. So stay safe, and don’t eat any wild mushrooms unless you are with a mycologist (mushroom expert)!

75 COMMON MUSHROOMS in the UNITED STATES:

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#1. Turkey-tail Mushroom

• Trametes versicolor

Identifying Characteristics:

• Caps are up to 8 cm (3 in) long and 5 cm (2 in) wide.
• Rings of different colors decorate the tops, ranging from black to shades of brown and white.
• They often grow in a stacked pattern, which makes them look like roof tiles.

This species is one of the most common mushrooms in the United States!

Turkey-tail typically grows on logs of deciduous trees. It’s found in mature forests where dead trees on the forest floor make a perfect environment for this fungus.

This multicolored fungus is easy to spot thanks to the concentric rings of different colors on its caps. The growing pattern of Turkey-tail is also recognizable by the way it grows in a stacked pattern that looks like roofing tiles.

Like many mushrooms, Turkey-tail is used in Eastern medicine and as an herbal supplement. However, wild specimens should NOT be consumed or handled, and supplements containing this mushroom are not FDA-approved.

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#2. Common Greenshield Lichen

• Flavoparmelia caperata

Identifying Characteristics:

• This lichen grows in roughly circular patterns with wavy edges.
• The coloring is pale green to yellowish.

Common Greenshield Lichen is technically not a mushroom, but instead, it is a lichen. Lichens are complex organisms made up of both fungi and algae. The combination of these two types of organisms allows lichens to live in diverse climates, ranging from cool, dry areas to warmer regions with humid weather.

As a result, you can find Common Greenshield Lichen across the United States. It most often grows on tree bark, although you might occasionally find it on rocks. Look for a rounded, pale-green growth with wavy edges.

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#3. Fly Agaric

• Amanita muscaria
  

Identifying Characteristics:

• Caps are 8–20 cm (3–8 in) in diameter.
• The stalks are 5–20 cm (2–8 in) tall.
• These mushrooms have the typical looks of a “toadstool” with a bright white stalk and red, white-spotted cap.

I think this is the CUTEST mushroom in the United States! 🙂

Fly Agaric looks just like the mushrooms found in Mario video games.

These mushrooms are considered toadstools, which are usually poisonous to humans. Fly Agaric is no exception. This fungus can cause hallucinations, low blood pressure, nausea, loss of balance, and in rare cases, death. If you ingest it, you should seek medical treatment immediately.

Luckily, Fly Agaric is a very conspicuous fungus in its fully-grown form. However, young mushrooms can be mistaken for other edible types, so you should steer clear of eating any wild mushrooms. 

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#4. Dryad’s Saddle

• Cerioporus squamosus

Identifying Characteristics:

• The cap is 8–30 cm (3–12 inches) across and up to 10 cm (4 in) thick.
• It has a thick stem, and the cap is generally white or off-white with brown scales on top.
• They grow in clusters of up to three mushrooms stacked on top of one another like tiles.

Look for this mushroom in the United States near fallen trees.

Dryad’s Saddle is typically most abundant in spring. If you’re looking for Morel mushrooms, you may find this variety since their fruiting periods (when the fungus produces an above-ground mushroom) are about the same.

This species is important in forest ecosystems because it helps to decompose dead trees, creating new rich soil. However, it occasionally becomes a parasite on living trees as well. 

Although Dryad’s Saddle is considered nonpoisonous, it can easily be confused with other deadly mushrooms. Unless you have experience with wild mushrooms, you should never eat or handle one.

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#5. Splitgill Mushroom

• Schizophyllum commune

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 1–4 cm (0.3–1.6 in) wide.
• They are pale white or gray and grow in stacked clusters that resemble shelves.
• As its name suggests, the gills of this mushroom are spaced apart like individual threads.

Splitgill Mushrooms in the United States thrive on decaying trees during rainy periods.

These tough, leathery mushrooms were once thought to be nonpoisonous. However, recent research shows they’re often linked to fungal infections of the lungs. Symptoms can include breathing problems, prolonged cough, and other respiratory ailments.

Interestingly, this is one of the few mushrooms that grow abundantly in tropical weather. It thrives in heat and humidity thanks to its rubbery, tough structure. Fleshy, sponge-like mushrooms quickly rot, whereas this species lasts much longer.

Even though Splitgill Mushrooms are not poisonous, it’s best not to consume any you find in the wild. The unprocessed fungus can cause lung infections, and this mushroom can be confused with more dangerous species. 

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#6. Chicken of the Woods

• Laetiporus sulphureus

Identifying Characteristics:

• The shelf-like caps are 5-60 cm (2-23.5 in) across and up to 4 cm (1.5 in) thick.
• Their coloring is a strikingly bright yellow, sometimes with an orange or pink center.
• They grow in a stacked shelf pattern of fan-shaped caps on the sides of trees.

Chicken of the Woods grows on a variety of hardwood trees. Usually, it thrives on dead trees, although it occasionally parasitizes mature living trees.

Many people eat this mushroom in the United States and Europe.

However, you should never eat this mushroom if you found it in the wild. Uncooked, it can cause an upset stomach and is unpleasant in texture. Plus, it can be confused with other poisonous varieties that can cause unpleasant symptoms or even permanent injury and death.

Unfortunately, it’s often confused with Laetiporus huroniensis, a poisonous mushroom that causes fever and vomiting. It’s best to purchase your Chicken of the Woods mushrooms from an expert forager and leave wild specimens alone!

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#7. Crowded Parchment

• Stereum complicatum

Identifying Characteristics:

• Individual caps are about 2 cm (0.8 in) across.
• This fungus grows in clusters of irregularly shaped semicircles, circles, and crescents.
• Its coloring is varying shades of brown and orange. It resembles crumpled pieces of paper.

Crowded Parchment is commonly found on dead oak trees. This inedible mushroom in the United States helps with breaking down dead trees. It’s easily recognized by the way it resembles crumpled paper.

However, despite being easy to find, this is one mushroom you’ll want to leave alone. While it isn’t considered poisonous, Crowded Parchment is often found near jelly fungus or algae, which can harm humans.

Instead of handling this mushroom, take photos to appreciate its complex structure. 

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#8. Pear-shaped Puffball

• Apioperdon pyriforme

Identifying Characteristics:

• The cap portion is 1.5-4.5 cm (0.6-1.8 in) wide by 2-4.5 cm (0.8-1.8 in) tall.
• Their coloring is off-white with brown spots that are dense toward the middle of the cap and spread out at the edges.
• Most specimens are pear-shaped, but they are often spherical as well. They grow in clusters of 4-10 caps.

Look for these mushrooms in the United States on rotting logs.

Pear-shaped Puffballs are commonly found during their long fruiting season, which lasts from July to November. They are nonpoisonous.

However, Pear-shaped Puffballs look similar to several dangerous species of poisonous mushrooms. For example, a lookalike called the Earthball mushroom can cause gastrointestinal distress, fever, and eye infections.

It’s better to purchase Pear-shaped Puffballs from an expert or forage with someone who knows what they’re doing. If not, you may end up sick. 

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#9. Violet-toothed Polypore

• Trichaptum biforme

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 1-7.5 cm (0.4-3 in) wide.
• Their shape is an irregular semicircle, similar to a seashell.
• The coloring of this fungus is shades of brown with violet, purple, or lavender rings near the edges.

If you spot a mushroom in the United States that looks like a clamshell, it’s likely a Violet-toothed Polypore! This species can be identified by its shell-like shape and striped purple coloring. It grows in stacked clusters on rotting logs.

Interestingly, Violet-toothed Polypore is known to only grow on decaying aspen and poplar trees. So, if you live near a forest with those species, you’ll likely find this mushroom!

Keep pets away from this species, as it’s particularly poisonous for dogs. It can cause stomach problems and dehydration. Violet-toothed Polypore is also inedible to humans.

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#10. Green-spored Parasol

• Chlorophyllum molybdites

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are  8-30 cm (3-12 in) in diameter.
• This mushroom is white or off-white with irregular brown spots and warts.
• The gills are visible around the edges of the top and very prominent on the underside.

This is the most frequently eaten poisonous mushroom in the United States!

Green-spored Parasols bear an unfortunate resemblance to several edible fungi, which means it’s often eaten by mistake. In addition, this fungus causes severe stomach symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and colic. 

Unfortunately, this mushroom is common on lawns and in pastures, which puts children and pets are at greater risk for poisoning. Please keep them away from these mushrooms! 

Green-spored Parasols grow directly from the ground instead of from tree logs or other decaying wood. We recently had a cluster pop up after we had new mulch put down. The spores are often present in soil or mulch and can remain dormant until the next fruiting season. 

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#11. Oyster Mushrooms

• Pleurotus ostreatus

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 2–30 cm (0.8–12 in) wide.
• They are fan-shaped with thick stalks and grow in a stacked pattern or irregular clusters.
• Their coloring is often white or off-white, sometimes with a light purple or gray wash.

You can find Oyster Mushrooms in the United States both in the wild and on farms.

These mushrooms are often used as food and are commercially farmed worldwide. In fact, they were first cultivated in Germany during World War I to mitigate hunger because of rationing. As a result, you can find these mushrooms in most grocery stores, so eat those instead of a wild variety!

Something most people don’t know is that Oyster Mushrooms are carnivorous! This species eats nematodes that you might know as roundworms. They paralyze and consume the nematodes as a source of protein and nitrogen. Additionally, Oyster Mushrooms help to decay dead trees. 

Pearl Oyster Mushrooms are also dried and used as a leather-like material or compressed into a wood substitute to make furniture. Mycelium, which is the fiber that gives Oyster Mushrooms their structure, is incredibly strong and resilient. Check out this page for more info!

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#12. Honey Mushroom

• Armillaria mellea

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 3-15 cm (1-6 in) in diameter.
• They range in color from buttery yellow to light brown.
• This species grows in large clusters of shelf-like caps.

Honey Mushrooms in the United States are considered tree parasites.

These “plant pathogens,” as they’re sometimes called, grow into the roots, bark, and wood of living hardwood and conifer trees. Their rhizomes (the “underground” parts of the fungus) leach nutrients from the wood, slowly killing the tree. The mushrooms themselves often sprout from the base of infected trees. 

Unfortunately, there’s no way to effectively kill Honey Mushrooms without killing the tree they infect. Eventually, the tree will become so weak from the spreading rhizomes that it dies and eventually falls.

Honey Mushrooms look very similar to several poisonous varieties, so it’s best to steer clear of these mushrooms and don’t try eating one! 

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#13. Shaggy Mane

• Coprinus comatus

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) wide and 6–20 cm (2.3–8 in) tall.
• Their coloring is white when they first emerge, slowly turning black as their scales lift.
• These mushrooms grow directly from the ground as single caps or clusters.

It’s easy to see how Shaggy Mane Mushrooms in the United States got their name!

These tall, slender mushrooms have distinctive scales that make them look like they’re covered in shaggy hair. They often grow in suburban yards or fields straight from the ground.

Shaggy Manes definitely have some “yuck” factors. They’re called Ink Caps because their black gills liquefy and leak down the mushroom to release its spores. Additionally, the entire mushroom will “auto-decay,” digesting itself into a dark liquid within hours of being picked.

Shaggy Manes look very similar to poisonous mushrooms that are found in the United States. Leave these mushrooms where you found them, and never eat them!

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#14. Ringless Honey Mushroom

• Desarmillaria caespitosa

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 2.5-10 cm (1–4 in) wide.
• Their coloring is light brown to pale yellow with white stalks.
• These mushrooms often grow in large clusters.

Ringless Honey Mushrooms in the United States are often confused with other species.

For example, they look similar to Honey Mushrooms (Armillaria mellea), except they don’t have a dark ring around the stalk. Unfortunately, they also imitate the Galerina Mushroom, which is deadly if ingested.

Ringless Honey Mushrooms are parasitic to the trees on which they grow. Eventually, the tree will stop producing leaves and die due to the fungal infection. They will infect various trees, from conifers to broad-leafed hardwood trees. 

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#15. Hairy Curtain Crust

• Stereum hirsutum

Identifying Characteristics:

• Caps are 1–4 cm (0.4-1.6 in) wide.
• The coloring is pale yellow to brown and sometimes green where lichen or algae forms.
• This fungus grows as a series of crescent-shaped tiled caps from dead trees.

The aptly named Hairy Curtain Crust often appears as a crusty growth on dead trees. Its caps have short, spiky hairs that fall off as the fungus matures, leaving a wavy-edged cap that’s easy to identify.

Hairy Curtain Crust often forms “brackets” or semicircular growths from dead trees and branches. This fungus also infects live peach trees, although it’s much more common on dead trees.

It’s best to leave this fungus where you find it for several reasons. First, it isn’t edible. Hairy Curtain Crust can cause stomach issues and fever if ingested by humans or animals.

Second, this mushroom serves an important purpose in its natural environment – decay! Dead trees need to decay so that their nutrients can be returned to the forest soil, and this fungus speeds up that process significantly.  

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#16. False Turkey-tail

• Stereum ostrea

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are  1–7 cm (0.4–2.8 in) wide.
• Their coloring is a mix of brown and red shades.
• These mushrooms have a shell-shaped cap that grows in stacked clusters.

If this mushroom in the United States reminds you of others you’ve seen, you aren’t alone! False Turkey-tail gets its name from its resemblance to Turkey-tail Mushrooms, another widespread variety. But, despite their similar appearance, they don’t have much in common.

While Turkey-tail is often used as an herbal supplement, False Turkey-tail is completely inedible. In addition, it can cause stomach pain and cramping.

They’re also part of completely different classes within the Fungi kingdom, with almost no genetic relation. For example, False Turkey-tail is a plant pathogen that infects live trees and grows from their bark. Eventually, this fungus weakens the tree to the point of falling over. Then, the mushroom will completely decompose the dead wood.

Like any wild mushroom, you should avoid handling or ingesting False Turkey-tail. It can cause fungal infections and stomach discomfort, and if you misidentify it, you may come in contact with an even more dangerous variety. 

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#17. Witch’s Butter

• Tremella mesenterica

Identifying Characteristics:

• Fruiting bodies can be up to 7.5 cm (3 in) in diameter.
• The shape is irregular, gelatinous, and brain-like. 
• This fungus is typically bright lemon-yellow.

This is one of the WEIRDEST mushrooms in the United States!

Witch’s Butter, which gets its name from its unusual shape and color, completely differs from what most people picture in a mushroom. It has an irregular, ridged appearance that looks like brains and a jelly-like texture that trembles and vibrates if disturbed. Additionally, its coloring is bright yellow, unlike most mushrooms that blend in with their environment.

If the appearance of Witch’s Butter wasn’t strange enough, it also has fascinating properties that set it apart. During dry weather, this fungus dries and shrivels into a leathery mass. Then, when it rains, it fully revives back into its original state!

Look for this strange fungus on dead tree limbs that are still attached to trees or recently fallen branches. It will grow on any deciduous tree but is most prevalent on red alder.

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#18. Mica Cap

• Coprinellus micaceus

Identifying Characteristics:

• The bell-shaped caps are 1–2.5 cm (.5–1 in) in diameter when new and expand up to 5 cm (2 in) as they open.
• These mushrooms grow in dense clusters of bell-shaped caps with long, thin stems. The caps have grooves that run vertically, giving them the appearance of a head of straight hair.
• Their coloring is grayish brown.

This unassuming mushroom has a creepy talent – it can self-destruct! Mica Cap autodigests within a few hours of being picked, meaning its flesh turns from a spongy white structure into an inky black liquid. Yuck!

Mica Cap is usually found in clusters at the base of deciduous trees in mature forests. This mushroom’s less-than-appetizing qualities are just one reason I recommend never eating wild mushrooms. Additionally, there’s a high likelihood of ingesting a poisonous mushroom by mistake. 

If you see Mica Cap in the wild, it’s best to take a picture of the fascinating clusters and then leave it be. After all, if you pick it, you’re likely to be covered in gross black goo!

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#19. Common Puffball

• Lycoperdon perlatum

Identifying Characteristics:

• Mature specimens are 1.5-6 cm (0.6 to 2.3 in) wide by 3-10 cm (1-4 in) tall.
• Their coloring is white to off-white, with spines and warts that are varying shades of brown.
• The shape varies from pear-shaped to spherical with a wide stalk.

It’s easy to find Common Puffball Mushrooms in the United States.

These distinctive fungi grow in gardens, yards, roadsides, and forest clearings. They’re easy to find because of their large size and bright white coloring. Common Puffballs also have an unusual covering of spiky warts on their surface, setting them apart from other types of puffballs. 

Even though these mushrooms are considered nonpoisonous, it’s important to use caution when handling wild mushrooms. You shouldn’t eat any mushroom that hasn’t been identified by an expert because of the risk of misidentification. For example, the Common Puffball can easily be confused with immature Amanita mushrooms, which are poisonous and sometimes even deadly.

In addition, spores contained in the Common Puffball’s warts are released with handling. These spores can cause severe lung inflammation, resulting in cough, wheezing, or trouble breathing. Dogs are particularly susceptible to this symptom, so be careful not to let your pet play near Common Puffballs.

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#20. Dyer’s Polypore

• Phaeolus schweinitzii

Identifying Characteristics:

• Caps can grow up to 25 cm (10 in) across.
• Their coloring varies by specimen: yellow, green, orange, brown, and red are all common. Usually, concentric rings of different colors decorate the tops.
• This mushroom grows as a stack of irregular flat disks.

Look for this mushroom in the United States near conifer trees.

Even though it’s a tree pathogen, Dyer’s Polypore often looks like it’s sprouting right out of the ground. This is because it often grows from the root system of a tree instead of its bark. It sort of looks like a stack of badly made pancakes. 🙂

Dyer’s Polypore gets its name because this mushroom is an excellent source of natural dyes! Its coloring varies significantly by the specimen, and it can be used to create green, yellow, gold, or brown dyes.

Although it’s useful as a dye source, this mushroom should never be eaten. Use caution when handling these fungi to avoid eye and skin irritation. 

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#21. Deer Mushroom

• Pluteus cervinus

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps range from 3–12 cm (1-4.8 in) in diameter
• They have a typical mushroom shape, with a round, umbrella-like cap, and a short, thin stalk. As this mushroom matures, its cap expands and becomes convex.
• The coloring is most commonly medium brown but can range from off-white to dark brown.

Look for Deer Mushrooms in the United States on rotten logs, roots, and tree stumps. It’s a common variety in most forests. This fungus got its name from its typical coloring, similar to that of a white-tailed deer. It has a velvety-looking texture, like a deer’s fur as well. 

Although this species is technically nonpoisonous, it’s not commonly gathered for eating. It has a bitter taste and an unpleasant rubbery texture. You’re better off with grocery-store mushrooms instead! 

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#22. Orange Jelly Spot

• Dacrymyces chrysospermus

Identifying Characteristics:

• Complex groups of caps grow up to 6 cm (2.4 in) across.
• The coloring is vibrant orange-yellow.
• This fungus has an irregular, wavy shape and often looks like goop stuck to a tree.

Orange Jelly Spot isn’t technically a mushroom in the United States!

Even though it looks like a mushroom, this species is just a fungus. As you can see, it gets its name from its unusual shape and color, which completely differs from what most people picture in a mushroom. In fact, it looks more like a bright orange brain than anything else! Orange Jelly Spot also has a jelly-like, wobbly texture.

You can find this strange fungus on dead conifer trees like pine and spruce. It was originally discovered in New England but has a worldwide distribution! Most people probably go their whole lives without knowing this oddity exists, but if you keep an eye out in the woods, you’re likely to find it. 

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#23. Red Chanterelle

• Cantharellus cinnabarinus

Identifying Characteristics:

•  Caps are 1-4 cm (0.4-1.6 in) wide.
• The coloring is typically bright pink to red.
• Their shape is similar to an umbrella that’s been blown up by the wind. A long stalk leads to a wide cap that’s slightly convex.

Look for Red Chanterelle mushrooms in mixed forests.

Thanks to their bright coloring and unique shape, they aren’t difficult to find! These mushrooms are prized for their beautiful red hue.

However, be cautious with these, as well as any wild mushroom. Because they can be easily confused with poisonous species, you should check with an expert before handling any mushroom you come across.

Red Chanterelles are similar to the more common Chanterelle mushroom but usually more delicate and slightly smaller. You’ll likely find both species growing together since they favor the same environment.

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#24. Artist’s Bracket

• Ganoderma applanatum

Identifying Characteristics:

• Caps can be 3–30 cm (1-12 in) wide × 5–50 cm (2-20 in) long and up to 10 cm (4 in) thick.
• New specimens are white but quickly turn a dark reddish-brown as they mature.
• Their shape is similar to a fan, and these mushrooms grow in a shelf-like formation individually or in groups.

This is one of the largest mushrooms in the United States!

Artist’s Bracket caps are hard to miss, as they grow directly out of tree trunks and are too large to overlook. They’re tough and woody, and the surface of this mushroom often feels like leather.

Artist’s Bracket gets its name from a peculiar property of its white underside. You can scratch designs and pictures into their surface, and the picture remains as the mushroom dries. Here’s an example!

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#25. Eastern American Jack-O’-Lantern

• Omphalotus illudens

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 3-20 cm (1-8 in) wide.
• Their coloring is bright orange to pale yellow.
• These mushrooms have a typical toadstool shape, thick stalk, and a large, flat cap.

You might find it odd that a mushroom is named after a popular Halloween decoration. However, once you learn more about Eastern American Jack-O’-Lantern mushrooms, you’ll quickly start to understand!

First, the coloring of this fungus is remarkably similar to bright orange pumpkins. Imagine a leering face on the cap, and you’ll see what I mean.

But probably the most interesting similarity between Jack-O’-Lanterns and this mushroom is that they both glow in the dark. That’s right! Eastern American Jack-O’-Lantern Mushrooms have a bioluminescent chemical that allows them to glow green in the dark. It’s thought that this glowing green light attracts insects, which then distribute the mushroom’s spores.

Although photo evidence of this phenomenon exists, it can be hard to witness for yourself. Every year, amateur mushroom foragers try to find Eastern American Jack-O’-Lanterns and bring them home to a dark room, only to be disappointed when their mushrooms don’t glow. It could be that the fungus isn’t fresh, or they’ve misidentified it. Either way, don’t be surprised if you find this mushroom but don’t see it glow.

Use caution when handling this mushroom. Eastern American Jack-O’-Lanterns are poisonous to humans and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps if ingested.

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#26. Sulphur Tuft

• Hypholoma fasciculare

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are  2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) in diameter.
• Their coloring is light yellow but darkens to greenish as they mature. 
• This fungus grows in clusters of long-stalked, bell-shaped mushrooms.

Look for Sulphur Tuft Mushrooms in the United States on fallen logs, tree stumps, and buried roots in deciduous forests. This fungus is hardy and thrives in many environments. In fact, you can often find Sulphur Tufts even in places where other mushrooms won’t grow.

They look similar to some varieties of edible mushrooms, but you should resist the urge to handle or eat Sulphur Tufts. They are poisonous to humans, whether raw or cooked. This fungus causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, kidney disease, and in rare cases, death.

Sulfur Tufts have proven useful in forestry conservation. They outperform many other kinds of mushrooms, so they can be used to “push out” parasitic fungi that harm trees, like Armillaria ostoyae, which is sometimes called the “humongous fungus.”

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#27. Summer Oyster Mushroom

• Pleurotus pulmonarius

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 5-20 cm (2-8 in) wide.
• They are white or off-white, with a smooth appearance above and orderly gills below.
• These mushrooms grow in stacked clusters that look like shelves on the trunks of trees.

This is the most-cultivated type of oyster mushroom in the United States.

It grows particularly well in warmer climates, which allows for a better growing season than other mushroom varieties. Because there is less need for climate control to keep these mushrooms fresh and growing well, you’ll often find them in the grocery store or at farmer’s markets!

However, it’s best to stick to the supermarket instead of eating wild specimens. Oyster Mushrooms are incredibly easy to misidentify, and it only takes one poisonous mushroom to cause horrible discomfort or death.

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#28. Yellow Patches

• Amanita flavoconia

Identifying Characteristics:

• The caps are 5.5-11.5 cm (2.2-4.5 in) long.
• Their coloring is bright orange to yellow, with a yellow and white stem.
• This mushroom typically erupts as a single toadstool-shaped growth.

If you come across a yellow mushroom that looks more like a cartoon, you might have found this variety! Yellow Patches are large toadstool-like mushrooms with bright orange or yellow caps. They have prominent yellow warts.

Although its toxicity hasn’t been confirmed, it’s assumed to be poisonous because this mushroom is a part of the Amanita family. Therefore, it shouldn’t be handled or consumed. Instead, take a picture and impress your friends with your knowledge of common fungi!

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#29. Candleflame Lichen

• Candelaria concolor

Identifying Characteristics:

• Single lobes of this lichen are less than 1 cm (0.4 in) wide, but they can cover enormous surface areas, including entire trees.
• The coloring is golden yellow to yellow-green.
• This lichen has a branch-like appearance, similar in shape to coral.

Candleflame Lichen is technically NOT a mushroom in the United States.

Instead, lichens are complex organisms that involve a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae. The mutually beneficial relationship allows lichens to survive in habitats that would kill fungi and algae independently.

For example, Candleflame Lichen can be found anywhere from arid deserts to wet conifer forests. It’s one of the most widespread lichens in the world! Look for this lichen on trees, where it attaches to tree bark and slowly spreads.

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#30. Blewit

• Lepista nuda

Identifying Characteristics:

• Their caps are 4–15 cm (1.6–6 in) in diameter.
• The coloring ranges from pinkish-purple to lilac. Overall, it has a gray-brown cast.
• This mushroom has a long, woody stem and flat, wide caps. The gills are prominent and straight, extending the length of the underside.

Blewit, also commonly known as Wood Blewit, is a common mushroom with an unusual appearance! Although mostly whiteish-brown, the gills are often pink to purple and older specimens have a lilac cast.

They’re well-known for the strong odor they produce, which many describe as similar to frozen orange juice concentrate. That’s not a smell I often associate with fungi. 🙂 Look for this mushroom on forest floors, where it grows best in rotting leaf litter.

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#31. Peach-colored Fly Agaric

• Amanita persicina

• Domed caps are usually peach or pale red with pale yellow or tan warts.
• Gills are creamy with a pale pinkish tint, crowded, and unattached to the stem.
• The stem is fragile, narrower at the top, and yellow to white.

This stunning mushroom wasn’t recognized as a species until 2015!

Previously, scientists believed it belonged to the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) species.

Peach-colored Fly Agarics are woodland mushrooms that grow in the United States beneath oaks and pines. They share a mycorrhizal association or type of symbiotic relationship with these trees. Sometimes, you may spot just one mushroom, but they often grow in groups.

As beautiful as they are, these mushrooms are best left alone. Peach-colored Fly Agarics have neurotoxic and hallucinogenic properties, which can cause dizziness, blurred vision, hallucinations, and other unpleasant symptoms.

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#32. Yellow Mustard Polypore

• Fuscoporia gilva

• Caps are semicircular, lumpy, and irregular and grow like shelves from a tree or log.
• They have a velvety texture and are dark yellowish or reddish-brown, eventually becoming black.
• You can identify them by their mustard-yellow edges and purplish or light-brown pores on their undersides. 

Yellow Mustard Polypore mushrooms grow on hardwood trees or logs in the forests of the United States. They’re directly attached to the log and have no stem. Sometimes, you may find just a single mushroom, but they more often grow in overlapping clusters.

These mushrooms mostly grow on dead wood but can also be parasitic feeders on living trees, usually oaks. They cause a white rot of the tree’s sapwood.

Culinary enthusiasts won’t love Yellow Mustard Polypores, as they’re tough and corky, but some foragers pursue them for their medicinal value. You may also see these mushrooms listed under their former name, Phellinus gilvus.

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#33. King Bolete

• Boletus edulis

• Tannish-brown caps that look a bit like hamburger buns.
• Their large, whitish stems are sometimes club-shaped or bulging in the center, with white flesh inside and a net-like pattern near the top.
• Mature mushrooms may weigh over two pounds.

Foragers and chefs revere these kings among mushrooms for their delicious flavor. You may have had them before; they’re usually called porcini mushrooms in cooking.

Another name, penny buns, refers to their bun-like appearance and unique sourdough aroma. Along with their delicious flavor, the size of mature King Boletes makes them quite a meal.

They regularly weigh over two pounds, and one record-breaking mushroom found in Scotland in 1995 weighed in at over 7 lbs! If you want to find these mushrooms in the United States, you’ll have to get out in the woods. King Boletes are a forest species, often growing in groups of two or three beneath conifer or deciduous trees. They form beneficial relationships with these trees and have even been shown to help saplings survive unfavorable conditions.

Be extremely careful when looking for these mushrooms: King Boletes have some toxic lookalikes like Bitter Boletes (Tylopilus felleus).

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#34. Hoof Fungus

• Fomes fomentarius

• The smooth caps are shaped like a horse’s hoof and vary from silver-gray to almost black with a yellowish, cream, or ochre edge.
• Their undersides are a light gray-brown with tiny pores, and the flesh is cinnamon-brown, corky, and fibrous.

This fungus grows on dead and dying hardwood trees.

It infects the trees through broken bark and causes white rot.

Hoof Fungus is sometimes called Tinder Fungus because is was used to create a spongy material called amadou. This material is an ideal tinder for catching sparks from striking flint and steel to light a fire. The 5,000-year-old mummy Ötzi the Iceman carried four pieces of Hoof Fungus. Scientists believed they were probably for tinder.

Amadou from these mushrooms also has many other uses, mostly as a durable textile to make hats or other accessories. Today, anglers use patches made from amadou to dry their fishing flies.

Herbalists also use Hoof Fungus medicinally, and some research has indicated it has antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. However, most foragers won’t find it appetizing. Hoof Fungus has a slightly fruity smell and an acrid taste.

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#35. Desert Shaggymane

• Podaxis pistillaris

• Cap is scaly or shaggy, whitish to pale brown, and oval when young, becoming cylindrical as it ages.
• White or brownish, woody stems attached to the caps and buried in the sand at the base.
• The cap’s interior is filled with gill-like plates, which start off whitish and mature to brown before turning into a black powder.

As its name suggests, this unusual mushroom tolerates very dry habitats in the United States!

Desert Shaggymane grows in fields, wastelands, and arid deserts.

While they don’t look very similar, Desert Shaggymanes are related to Puffballs and have a similar reproductive strategy. As the interior of the Desert Shaggymane Cap matures, the outer layer begins to shred, releasing the black spore powder within.

This odd-looking mushroom has some equally odd uses. While it’s not poisonous, people don’t generally eat Desert Shaggymane. Historically, people have used it to dye textiles and as a fly repellent. Some Australian aboriginal people also used the Desert Shaggymane as a hair dye and body paint.

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#36. Yellow Cobblestone Lichen

• Acarospora socialis

• Coloring may be yellow-green, shades of yellow, or bleach white.
• Grows up to four inches wide.
• Lichen has a cracked, broken, or cobblestone-like appearance.

These colorful lichens look a bit like cracked yellow paint.

Yellow Cobblestone lichens usually form on rock, including sandstone and granite, but are occasionally seen on soil. They can tolerate all sorts of light conditions and grow on flat surfaces or even vertical rock.

Yellow Cobblestone Lichen is known as a pioneering species, meaning it will be the first species to colonize bare rock. Like other lichens, it produces a mild acid that slowly breaks down rock, forming soil and paving the way for other plants to grow.

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#37. Schrenk’s Red-belted Conk

• Fomitopsis schrenki

• The cap is woody and fan-shaped, with a smooth surface and a bumpy edge.
• Look for the color pattern: whitish-orange at the base, true orange or brown in the center, and creamy-white at the edge.
• The underside is light yellow or white with pores.

Schrenk’s Red-belt Conk is a newly isolated species!

Until genetic research in 2019, scientists thought this mushroom was identical to the Red-belted Conk (Fomitopsis pinicola).

Like other conk mushrooms, this species grows on trees or logs. They prefer coniferous trees and rarely grow on hardwoods.

Interestingly, Schrenk’s Red-belted Conk and other Fomitopsis species can be used to make paper. Their flesh has the same fibrous quality as wood.

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#38. Lobster Mushroom

• Hypomyces lactifluorum

• They create a bright orange covering that slowly encases the host mushroom.
• The surface is hard and dotted with tiny pimples.
• Eventually, they change the shape of the host mushroom, often becoming contorted or twisted.

Lobster Mushrooms technically aren’t mushrooms!

They’re parasitic ascomycete fungi that grow on specific types of mushrooms.

Usually, they colonize Milk Caps (Lactarius spp.) or Brittlegills (Russula spp.). These types of mushrooms depend on their symbiotic relationships with host plants and trees. Therefore, depending on the specific host species, you’ll find them growing on the floor of deciduous, coniferous, or boreal forests.

Scientists have even found that they slowly replace the host mushroom’s DNA!

When they parasitize these mushrooms, they change their appearance and flavor. In addition to having a color similar to the shell of a cooked lobster, these mushrooms also have a seafood-like flavor. Foragers prize them for their unique taste and firm texture.

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#39. Elegant Sunburst Lichen

• Rusavskia elegans

• It forms small colonies up to 2.5 inches across.
• The body is leaf-like and divided into small lobes.
• The color may be yellowish-orange, bright orange, or dark reddish-orange.

Elegant Sunburst Lichen is more than just a beauty to look at!

This was the first species scientists used for lichenometry, or using a lichen’s presumed growth rate to estimate the age of exposed rock faces. Archeologists, paleontologists, and geologists, in particular, use this method to estimate how old the specimens they find might be.

Elegant Sunburst Lichen is widespread, growing on rocks in humid and dry climates. Pay special attention to rocks that birds or rodents perch on because their droppings provide the lichen with the extra nitrogen it needs to thrive.

Its color may vary depending on where you find it. Elegant Sunburst Lichen is often a lighter yellowish-orange when growing in creeks. On rocks that are out of the water, it tends to be bright orange; in dry areas, it may darken to reddish-orange.

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#40. Devil’s Urn

• Urnula craterium

• Goblet-shaped mushrooms that are closed when young and open as they mature.
• The inside and outside are tough, rubbery, and brownish-black.
• They have a thick, blackish stalk covered with hairs.

Devil’s Urn mushrooms grow on dead and decaying wood in oak forests in the United States.

They are commonly found growing singly or in small groups on dead oak branches partially buried in the soil. These dark and creepy mushrooms look like black or dark brown grapes when they’re young but open into goblet shapes to release their spores as they mature.

They’re an essential part of the forest ecosystem. As they feed on the dead wood, they help break it down and release its nutrients into the soil.

While Devil’s Urns aren’t edible, dedicated foragers often watch for them. Coveted morel mushrooms usually pop up when Devil’s Urns mature and open, so they can be a helpful sign for mushroom hunters!

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#41. Lion’s Mane

• Hericium erinaceus

• This fungus is a clump of dangling white spines over 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) long.
• They may become brown or yellow with age.
• There is no real cap or stem.

These unusual-looking mushrooms are a rare treat to find in the United States.

They form in late summer or fall, usually on dead or dying hardwood trees, though they occasionally grow on living trees. Generally, you’ll spot them on oaks and beeches, but they often grow high up in the trees, so they are easy to miss!

Lion’s Mane’s interesting appearance has also earned it many other common names. You may also hear these mushrooms called Bearded Tooth Fungus, Bearded Hedgehog, Old Man’s Beard, or ‘Yamabushitake,’ meaning ‘mountain priest mushroom.’

These mushrooms are fun to see and popular with foragers. They have a mild, seafood-like flavor and are commonly used in traditional medicine. Legend has it that Buddhist monks once used Lion’s Mane tea to enhance their focus for meditation.

Unfortunately, Lion’s Mane populations are believed to be declining due to habitat destruction. In the UK, they are one of only four mushrooms with the highest legal protection for endangered species.

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#42. Lace Lichen

• Ramalina menziesii

• They have a lacy fishnet structure that hangs from the twigs and bark of trees.
• Yellowish-green or gray-green but becoming dark green when wet.
• The netting is usually thick in sunny regions and thinner in foggy areas.

As soon as you see Lace Lichen, you’ll understand its name.

It’s unlike any other lichen in the United States. Depending on where you live, you may find Lace Lichen growing on different plants and trees. It can grow on oaks, spruces, hemlocks, shrubs, and even cacti!

Despite its delicate appearance, Lace Lichen is an important resource for wildlife. Birds use it to build nests, and it’s an important food source for deer in some coastal areas. Humans also use Lace Lichen in various ways. Historically, Native Americans used it for ceremonial purposes or as a sanitary material.

Perhaps most interestingly, it has also played an important role in monitoring air quality. As Lace Lichen derives most of its resources from the air, its chemical makeup can help researchers determine if harmful pollutants exist in an area where it’s found.

This strategy was used to identify high lead concentrations in the 1970s due to leaded gasoline emissions. More recently, researchers have found higher concentrations of monomethylmercury (MMHg) from coastal marine fog. These high concentrations are passed onto deer feeding on the lichen and eventually apex predators like cougars.

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#43. Western Giant Puffball

• Calvatia boonian

• Round or flattened with no stalk.
• The mushroom is white or tan and covered with plaques or large, pointed warts.
• Mature mushrooms are 12 to 28 inches (30 to 72 cm) across.

Western Giant Puffballs are among the largest mushrooms in the United States!

Thankfully for foragers, they’re edible too. Mushroom hunters often liken them to tofu. These puffballs are edible when their inner flesh is still completely white. As they mature, their flesh becomes yellow or greenish, eventually turning to powdery, olive-brown spore dust. Once their flesh has changed color, these mushrooms are no longer safe to eat.

Western Giant Puffballs may grow singly or in groups. They sometimes grow in circles, often called “fairy rings.” In this case, the mushrooms are usually part of an extensive fungus network underground. The mushrooms, or fruiting bodies, form at the circle’s edge as the fungus spreads outwards.

These mushrooms grow on the ground in open, sunny areas like fields, forest clearings, trail edges, and roadsides.

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#44. Yellow Map Lichen

• Rhizocarpon geographicum

• Flat patches of this lichen grow adjacent to one another, creating a map-like effect.
• The surface is yellow to yellowish-green and bumpy.
• A black line of fungal hyphae borders the lichen.

Yellow Map Lichen may be the world’s longest-living lichen.

Scientists estimate some Yellow Map Lichens growing on East Baffin Island in Canada are 9,500 years old! Those in the Alaska Brooks Range may be even older; some individuals may be 10,000 to 11,500 years old.

Yellow Map Lichen grows on exposed rock surfaces in mountainous areas with clean air. It doesn’t tolerate air pollution, so it’s a good indicator of air quality.

This unassuming little species has played an important role in modern science. Researchers often use it in lichenometry to calculate the age of exposed rock surfaces based on the lichen’s growth.

Yellow Map Lichen has also been to space! Scientists sent it up in a capsule, exposing it to space conditions for ten days. Upon its return to Earth, the specimen displayed little sign of damage or change, proving it’s a tough species capable of withstanding harsh conditions.

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#45. Bristly Beard Lichen

• Usnea hirta

• This lichen varies in shape from drooping strands to upright, densely branched, shrubby tufts.
• It’s pale and may be grayish-green, yellowish-green, or blackish-gray.
• It’s stiff when dry but limp when wet.

Bristly Beard Lichen is one of the most widespread and recognizable lichen species.

It usually grows in open coniferous or mixed forests where it can receive plenty of sunlight.

Bristly Beard usually grows on dead and dying trees. It prefers acidic bark, so it mainly grows on coniferous trees, though it occasionally grows on deciduous species like birch or even on rock surfaces.

Like many lichens, Bristly Beard is sensitive to air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen compounds. It also bioaccumulates heavy metals. Researchers have found it to be a suitable species for monitoring air pollution. Historically, Bristly Beard lichen was used as a medicinal herb, a source of vitamin C, and a natural dye for textiles.

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#46. Viscid Violet Cort

• Cortinarius iodes

• When young, the cap is bright purple and bell-shaped, but it flattens, becomes streaked, and fades to lilac or even white or yellowish as it ages.
• The stem is violet or purplish, slightly bulbous at the base, and solid with purple or rusty fibers on the upper stem left behind by the mushroom’s partial veil.
• The entire mushroom is coated in a shiny slime.

The Viscid Violet Cort is one of the most beautiful mushrooms in the United States.

This little purple gem grows on floors of moist, deciduous forests, including bog edges and swampy areas. It forms mycorrhizal relationships with deciduous trees, particularly oaks.

You may spot Viscid Violet Corts growing singly or in small groups. They usually fruit in late summer or early fall. Head to the woods after a good rain to try and spot these mushrooms.

The Viscid Violet Cort isn’t highly toxic but isn’t generally recommended as an edible mushroom. It’s also nearly identical to a closely related species, Cortinarius iodeoides. Licking the slime off the cap is the only way to identify them without a microscope. Cortinarius iodeoides has bitter slime. We don’t recommend it, though!

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#47. Lumpy Bracket

• Trametes gibbosa

• The mushrooms are leathery, thick, and bumpy, with elongated, tube-like pores on their underside.
• They are white or grayish with a pinkish tinge near the edge.
• Young fungi have a downy upper surface but lose their down as they age and often become coated with green algae.

Lumpy Brackets are essential to the nutrient cycle in deciduous or mixed forests.

They’re one of the species that help break down dead wood. They grow on stumps, logs, and dead deciduous trees, most frequently on beech trees. They cause white rot in the wood.

Unlike many seasonal mushrooms, you can usually find Lumpy Brackets year round. They grow singly or in groups, and their striking white fan-shaped brackets can be easy to spot even from a distance.

Lumpy Brackets aren’t poisonous but are too tough to make a decent culinary mushroom.

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#48. Golden Reishi

• Ganoderma curtisii

• The caps are semicircular or kidney-shaped, with a shiny, lacquered upper surface.
• Their coloring is usually red or orange in the center with yellow and white edges.
• They usually have a stem, but not always.

This mushroom found in the United States is a beauty!

Its shiny upper surface, red or orange, surrounded by an outer zone of yellow and white, resembles the setting sun.

Golden Reishi is best known for its medicinal value. Like other Reishi species, it shares the name “lingzhi” or “mushroom of immortality” in traditional Chinese medicine. This fungus has been used for everything from treating infections and fighting cancer to regulating diabetes and making cosmetics.

Normally, you’ll spot this mushroom in deciduous or mixed forests. It grows on dead hardwood trees, helping to break down the woody material. Golden Reishi will occasionally parasitize living trees by growing from their wounds.

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#49. Christmas Lichen

• Cryptothecia rubrocincta

• This lichen forms roughly circular patches.
• Its coloring is pale or mint green with a red outer ring.
• The older section of the patch is often covered in small red granules, which sometimes make the entire lichen appear red from a distance.

Christmas Lichen is one of the most eye-catching lichens in the United States.

It gets its name from its stunning outer red ring and green inner color.

No other North American lichen displays such flashy coloring, so it’s great for beginners to identify. To find it, you’ll need to visit subtropical and tropical areas. Unlike some lichens, it rarely grows on rocks; instead, it grows on the bark of hardwood trees. It’s most common in sea-level forests that receive good sunlight.

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#50. Hairy Hexagonia

• Hexagonia hydnoides

• The roughly semicircular, thin cap is densely covered with dark brown or almost black hairs.
• The underside is brown to dark brown with tiny pores.
• Its flesh is rusty brown.

This shaggy-looking mushroom grows in deciduous forests in the United States.

It grows on dead or decaying wood singly or in small groups. It causes white rot in the wood, helping break down woody material in the forest’s nutrient cycle.

Although it’s normally covered in small, hair-like structures, older mushrooms may be bald. To identify them, look at the mushroom cap and find the hairs or small black dots where the hairs used to be.

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#51. Latte Bracket

• Trametes lactinea

• The caps are fan-shaped with zones of brown, tan, and white.
• The upper surface is uneven.
• The underside is white or cream with tiny pores and may become brown with age.

The Latte Bracket is one of the many mushrooms found in deciduous forests in the United States. It may grow singly, but you’ll often see it colonizing dead hardwood in clusters.

Like the more well-known Turkey-tail, the Latte Bracket is used medicinally.

Researchers have found that Latte Brackets have antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytostatic (slows cancer), and genoprotective properties.

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#52. Column Stinkhorn

• Clathrus columnatus

• The young mushroom resembles a whitish chicken egg, which splits as it matures to give rise to three to five arms.
• The arms are orangish or red, hollow, spongy, soft, pocketed, and joined at the top.
• This mushroom produces a brown spore slime on the arms’ inner edges.

This species might be the weirdest-looking mushroom in the United States.

Creative minds have also given these unusual mushrooms several other fun common names, including “devil’s dipstick” and “stinky squid.”

The “stinky” part of their name is true; you’ll sometimes smell these mushrooms before you see them. Some folks mistake the smell for carrion or feces before finding the source. Reportedly, Charles Darwin’s daughter hated these mushrooms and habitually used their scent to seek and destroy them.

The foul odor has a purpose, though. It attracts small flies who land in the brown spore slime and help spread the spores. Column Stinkhorns grow in woodlands and open, disturbed areas, often near woody debris. Usually, they grow from the ground, but occasionally, they grow from stumps or even living trees.

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#53. Wolf Lichen

• Letharia vulpina

• This lichen forms a small, highly branched, shrub-like structure.
• Its coloring is bright yellow or yellow-green.

This lichen grows on trees and branches in coniferous forests. Unlike some lichens that are essential food sources for wildlife like deer, Wolf lichens are toxic.

It gets its name from a dark history. Historically, people dried and powdered Wolf Lichen and sprinkled it on meat to poison wolves and foxes. People have also used Wolf Lichen in less harmful ways. Modern researchers have found that powdered Wolf Lichen can prevent slugs and snails from invading your garden. Lightly dusting dried Wolf Lichen can deter these pests. Some Native American groups also used Wolf Lichen medicinally or to create yellow dyes.

However, it’s probably best to leave Wolf Lichen where it is. Colonies of this beautiful species may live for thousands of years, but it’s dwindling in some areas as it is sensitive to air pollution.

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#54. Northern Red Belt

• Fomitopsis mounceae

• The cap is fan-shaped and often shiny with bands of brown and red. The edge is white or pale yellow.
• The underside is white or yellow and covered with pores, and the flesh is woody and brown.

The Northern Red Belt is easy to find in the United States.

It usually grows on dead conifers, though it occasionally grows on hardwoods and sometimes parasitizes living trees. It’s an essential mushroom to the nutrient cycle in many North American forests. As it grows, it causes brown cubical rot, which helps decay the woody material.

These perennial mushrooms can be found at any time of year. When young and just emerging from a tree, they look like white bumps, as if someone stuck marshmallows to the tree!

They often darken as they age, and their surface grows bumpy and uneven. The older caps are sometimes more domed and hoof-shaped than flat and fan-like. Older mushrooms have been known to grow to 18 inches (45.72 cm) wide and 7 inches (17.78 cm) deep.

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#55. Hooded Sunburst Lichen

• Xanthomendoza fallax

• This lichen grows in small rosettes up to 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) wide.
• The rosettes are leaf-like, appear wrinkled, and are divided into branches.
• They’re usually yellowish-orange, reddish-orange, orange, or greenish-yellow.

The Hooded Sunburst Lichen is a common species in the United States.

Its color varies somewhat with its habitat. In areas of deep shade, it’s often greenish-yellow, while in partial shade, it may be yellowish-orange to orangish-red, and in full sun, it can be deep orange.

This lichen thrives on the bark of hardwood trees, particularly elm or oak trees. However, it’s adaptable and grows on other hard surfaces, including cemetery stones, large rocks, or even bones.

Hooded Sunburst Lichen often reproduces asexually. The tips of the lichen’s lobe curl around to expose crescent-shaped slits that open and release packets of young lichen. These packets are then dispersed to colonize other surfaces.

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#56. White Jelly Fungus

• Ductifera pululahuana

• This fungus forms a mass of irregular, gelatinous, whitish globs.
• It feels wet and jelly-like on the surface but is surprisingly dense and brittle.
• Older specimens may discolor, turning brown, yellow, pink, or purple.

White Jelly Fungus is also called Pale Jelly Roll.

These squishy-looking fungi grow in deciduous forests in the United States.

We may think we know a lot about our forests, but scientists still don’t fully understand jelly fungi’s life cycle or their role in our woodlands. They seem to help break down rotted wood but specialize in wood that’s already partly decomposed.

It’s common to find White Jelly Fungus growing on partially rotted logs, lacking bark, that lay on the ground. Though it’s fun to see, this species isn’t edible like some other jelly fungi relatives.

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#57. Giant Puffball

• Calvatia gigantea

• It forms a huge, smooth ball up to 20 inches wide and may develop irregular cracks with age.
• There is no stem, just a rootlike attachment at the base.
• Its coloring is white to pale yellow outside with a pure white interior.

Giant Puffballs are among the largest mushrooms in the United States.

One record-breaker found in Londonderry, New Hampshire, was more than 8 feet wide and weighed 48 pounds!

These huge, marshmallow-like mushrooms usually form in sunny, open areas such as pastures, meadows, and deciduous woodlands. You’ll find them singly or in small groups in late summer and autumn.

These mushrooms spread effectively, too. Once mature, their inner flesh turns into powdery spores, which they split open to release. One Giant Puffball may release up to seven trillion spores! Sometimes, these spores are “puffed” out of the mushroom by raindrops or animals bumping them.

The Giant Puffball is a prized edible mushroom noted for its incredible size. It’s only edible when young. As this mushroom ages and the spores develop, the interior becomes yellow or greenish and may cause stomach upset. If you choose to forage for it, be 100% sure of your identification. People have mistaken young, deadly, Destroying Angels (Amanita bisporigera) for Giant Puffballs.

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#58. Orange Mycena

• Mycena leaiana

• They are small, sticky, and reddish to light orange with bell-shaped caps.
• Their gills are attached to the stem and are pinkish-yellow but stain orange when cut.
• They have long, fibrous, sometimes curving orange stems.

These mushrooms may be tiny, but they’re usually easy to spot in the United States!

Orange Mycena are brightly colored and prolific, often fruiting in large groups. They’re frequently crowded, with multiple stems coming from one spot.

A key identifying feature is that they form on deciduous trees and branches. You can also help confirm their identity by touching one. The orange color will come off onto your fingers! These mushrooms aren’t poisonous, but they’re not edible, so be sure to wash your hands well afterward.

While Orange Mycena aren’t edible mushrooms, they may have interesting medicinal properties. Researchers have found that their compounds may have antibacterial and anticancer properties.

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#59. Crown-tipped Coral Fungus

• Artomyces pyxidatus

• It has a many-branched, rough-textured, coral-like structure with a very short, thin stalk.
• The tips can be compared to a crown or the turrets of a tiny castle.
• They are yellowish but become tan or pink as they age.

Crown-tipped Coral Fungi are some of the most intriguing-looking mushrooms in the United States.

As their name suggests, the tips of these fungi wear little crowns, which can help distinguish them from other coral fungi.

To find these mushrooms, spend some time in the woods between June and September. Crown-tipped Coral Fungi form on dead trees, logs, and fallen branches of deciduous trees singly or in small groups. They get their nutrients from the rotting wood and help break down the material to return it to the forest cycle.

Unlike many other coral mushrooms, Crown-tipped Coral Fungus is edible. Foragers love its unique peppery flavor. Just make sure you have the right mushroom! Other coral fungus species may cause stomach upset.

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#60. Scaly Ink Cap

• Coprinopsis variegata

• The cap is an elongated bell shape with a wooly white or yellow veil that breaks up to form scaly patches, revealing a smooth, grayish surface.
• The stem is thick, hollow, whitish, and may have a cottony ring near the base.
• The gills begin as white but mature to a dark purplish-brown before turning into a slimy substance.

Scaly Ink Caps usually grow in deciduous forests, but occasionally, you may spot them in backyards, parks, or similar areas. They grow on dead, rotting hardwood. Occasionally, the wood is below the surface, like old roots, giving the appearance that the mushrooms are growing from the soil.

These mushrooms form singly or in clusters and change over time. When they first emerge, they have oval caps that gradually become flattened. Their veil breaks into scales and separates to reveal more of the smooth gray cap beneath.

When mature, their gills transform into a black goo, giving them the name ink cap.

Inside of the black goo is the mushroom’s spores. As their somewhat creepy appearance suggests, Scaly Ink Caps are toxic and have a bitter, unpleasant flavor. They contain a compound called coprine. In addition to being potentially carcinogenic, coprine is known to cause alcohol intolerance.

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#61. Cedar Apple Rust

• Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae

• Juniper trees infected with this fungus will have brown spherical galls that sprout bright orange, gelatinous horns.
• Rosaceous (apple) trees infected with this fungus will have yellow, orange, or brown spots on the upper and lower surface of leaves and fruit and thick, orange, hair-like structures on the underside of leaves. 

This unusual fungus has a unique reproductive process!

It requires two hosts to complete its life cycle: a juniper and a rosaceous species. It often infects eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) and an apple or crabapple tree.

In the spring, the galls or teliospores form on the junipers. Then, gelatinous orange telial horns emerge after warm spring rains. These horns germinate and produce basidiospores, which float two to three miles on the wind to infest rosaceous species.

The spores create the spots seen on rosaceous leaves. Those spots produce spermatia, a sticky substance carried by insects to fertilize the fungus. The fungus then grows through the leaf to form hair-like structures called aecia that produce aeciospores, which are blown back to juniper species.

If this seems confusing, think of it like this: the galls are like kids who live on juniper trees. When they grow up, they move out and live on apple trees, where they have their own kids. Then, they send their kids back to juniper trees to grow up. 🙂

The galls on juniper species are probably the easiest to spot.

A heavily infested tree can look like it has been decorated with orange bobbles. Unfortunately for farmers and gardeners, apple trees often suffer from apple rust, and there isn’t a suitable treatment, so infected trees must be destroyed.

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#62. Golden-eye Lichen

• Teloschistes chrysophthalmus

• The lichen body usually has a tufted, shrub-like shape with flattened branches and a central piece attached to the surface.
• It’s greenish-gray to bright orange.
• It has abundant bright orange fruiting bodies that are circular with spiny projections around the rim.

This lichen has an extensive range and usually grows in temperate areas. Golden-eye Lichen does best in humid, well-lit areas, and it’s often found near shorelines or in coastal areas.

Golden-eye Lichen grows on trees and branches and uses various host species, including White Spruce, Balsam Fir, Quaking Aspen, Magnolia, Bur Oak, and Red Oak.

Despite its extensive range and variable habitat, it’s often localized and rare.

Sadly, this lichen is threatened in some areas. It’s affected by climate change, habitat loss, and wildfires.

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#63. Flowerpot Parasol

• Leucocoprinus birnbaumii

• The caps are bright yellow oval or bell-shaped and fade to white and flatten with age.
• The slender stalk is slightly enlarged at the base and covered with bright yellow powder.
• The gills are yellowish-white and free from the stalk.

Don’t be surprised to find this mushroom in your house!

As their name suggests, they commonly grow in flowerpots, including those holding your houseplants. You can also find them in warm, moist areas like greenhouses and compost piles.

Don’t worry, though; these mushrooms aren’t eating your plants. Flowerpot Parasols feed on decaying organic matter, helping to break it down into soil. They commonly occur in overwatered plants and can be difficult to eliminate.

While they aren’t a problem for the plants, you should remove any mushrooms, especially if you have young children or pets. These brilliant yellow mushrooms are toxic.

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#64. Tree Lungwort

• Lobaria pulmonaria

• The lichen body is leafy with roughened ridges and smooth depressions on the upper surface.
• The underside is tan with short, velvety hairs.
• The upper surface changes color with the habitat and weather and may be bright green when wet or brown, gray, or tan when dry.

This North American Lichen gets its name from an old medical theory.

The doctrine of signatures, which dates back to the 1500s, claimed that the body of this lichen roughly resembled the shape of lungs and was, therefore, good for treating lung ailments. Today, it’s still used in cough syrup in some countries.

Lungwort grows on trees and rocks in humid areas. It’s an important food source for deer and moose; chipmunks and birds use it as nesting material. This species can be exciting to see today because it mainly occurs in old mixed coniferous and deciduous forests. Its process of capturing nitrogen from the also requires a specific pH, making it a good indicator of air quality.

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#65. Birch Polypore

• Fomitopsis betulina

• The mushroom is a hoof-shaped white, grayish, or tan bracket that flattens and becomes more gray and brown with age.
• The flesh is white, and the underside is covered with tiny pores.
• They only grow on birch trees.

This mushroom only grows on birch trees!

It parasitizes living trees, usually infecting those previously weakened by disease or injury. It slowly kills them and continues to fruit on them as they rot away.

Birch Polypore has a long history of human use. Its applications have included antiseptic, antifungal, and parasite treatment. It has also been used as a strop to sharpen razors, tinder, and mounting material for insect collections.

A birch polypore was found around the neck of Ötzi the Iceman, the 5,000-year-old mummy.

Researchers believe he might have been using the birch polypore to treat a parasite called whipworm, which can be killed with polyporenic acid, a compound found in Birch Polypore.

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#66. Common Sunburst Lichen

• Xanthoria parietina

• The lichen body has flattened lobes and is usually less than 3.1 inches (8 cm) wide.
• The upper surface may be yellow, orange, or greenish-yellow.
• The lower surface is white.

Unlike most lichens, Common Sunburst Lichen is highly tolerant of pollution.

It can survive heavy metal pollution and thrives with nitrogen pollution. Its preference for high nitrogen means it often grows near bird droppings and farmland. Scientists believe that industrial and agricultural development has caused Common Sunburst Lichen to spread locally in some areas.

Common Sunburst lichens may look different in different light conditions. The lichen’s body is thicker in sunny areas, protecting the algae within from intense light. It may also change color, becoming green in shady areas but more yellowish or orangish in sunny areas.

In coastal areas, this lichen grows on rocks or stone walls. Inland, it grows more often on trees.

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#67. Painted Suillus

• Suillus spraguei

• The cap is convex but flattens with age.
• The upper surface is yellow to yellow-orange and covered with pink to brownish-red scales, which fade with age.
• Underneath, the coloring is yellow.

These colorful North American mushrooms usually grow around the base of pine trees.

They dot the forest floor, often in clusters or groups beneath stands of pines. They’re typically easy to find because their color stands out amongst the bed of brown needles.

Painted Suillus and other Suillus species are sometimes known as “slippery jacks” because their caps are slimy when wet. Despite this odd texture, foragers often select these mushrooms for their flavor, nutritional value, and ease of identification. Native Americans, including the Ojibwe of the Greats Lake Region, often harvested these mushrooms for food.

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#68. Black Knot

• Apiosporina morbosa

• This fungus forms rough black growths on the twigs or branches of trees in the Prunus genus, such as cherry, plum, apricot, and chokecherry.

You may have spotted this unusual fungus without realizing what it was.

Black Knot resembles a clod of dirt or droppings on a twig or limb. This fungus was first detected in Pennsylvania in 1821 and, after spreading across North America, was a significant problem in plum and cherry orchards in the late 19th century.

The fungus first shows as olive green in the spring and spreads spores to infect nearby trees as they mature. The spores infect trees at wounds or shoots. Black Knot usually occurs on twigs and smaller limbs. It can disfigure trees and affect young trees’ health and productivity by causing foliage to wilt and shoots to die. Occasionally, Black Knot forms on the main tree and can kill a tree when it girdles the main trunk or large limbs.

Fortunately, orchardists can effectively manage Black Knot today by pruning affected limbs.

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#69. Bushy Beard Lichen

• Usnea strigosa

• The body has a bushy, shrub-like form.
• Each stalk has many short, hair-like branches growing from it at right angles.
• Usually, it’s pale green to greenish-gray.

This lichen grows primarily on oak trees. It thrives best on old trees and bark and usually grows on the branches rather than the trunk.

If a tree has a colony of Bushy Beard Lichen, it may indicate that the tree is sick. This lichen prefers a good amount of sunlight, and its appearance can suggest that a sick tree isn’t putting on as much foliage. However, its growth can also be a good sign for the environment because this species is susceptible to air pollution, so seeing it around means you’re probably breathing clean air!

Like other Usnea species or beard lichens, Bushy Beard Lichen has been used as food and medicine. It contains high levels of vitamin C and usnic acid, which has potent antibacterial and antifungal properties.

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#70. Hemlock Varnish Shelf

• Ganoderma tsugae

• The fan-shaped cap has a shiny reddish-brown upper surface with concentric furrows and a white margin.
• It has whitish flesh and a whitish underside that browns with age.
• It may be attached directly to the tree or have a stalk.

This mushroom is also called the Hemlock Reishi. As its names suggest, it’s most commonly found on Hemlock trees but occasionally on other conifers. It may grow solitary or in overlapping clusters.

Hemlock Varnish Shelf mushrooms are edible but not the tastiest. You can saute and eat the white outer margin on young mushrooms. However, in general, they tend to have tough and corky flesh.

While they’re not a choice culinary mushroom, Hemlock Varnish Shelf mushrooms have medicinal properties. Many herbalists collect them for teas and tinctures. While the jury is still out, some modern research on mice has shown that these beautiful mushrooms may have anti-tumor properties.

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#71. Rosette Lichen

• Physcia millegrana

• The lichen body is usually gray or gray-green and somewhat ruffled.
• It may have dark brown disc-like fruiting structures.
• The underside is pale with coarse reproductive structures.

Rosette Lichen is one of the only lichen species you’ll find in urban areas of the United States!

Unlike many lichen species, it is highly tolerant of air pollution.

Rosette Lichen is a pioneer lichen species. It is among the first to colonize young trees and branches and occasionally forms on rocks. From there, it starts to break down its host’s surface material and create a hospitable environment for other plants and fungi.

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#72. Common Ink Cap

• Coprinopsis atramentaria

• The cap is bell-shaped and usually shiny gray or brownish, though occasionally it may be pinkish.
• The gills are crowded and free of the stem. They start off white before turning gray, then black, and finally become an inky liquid.
• The stem is long, narrow, smooth, and white or off-white with a skirt-like ring near the base.

This species is a common mushroom in the United States, also called the Inky Cap or Tippler’s Bane.

It’s widespread and commonly springs up in small clusters in lawns, vacant lots, pastures, and other grassy areas from spring until autumn.

Common Ink Cap has even been observed fruiting through asphalt and tennis courts! Though it looks like it’s growing from the soil, it actually originates from buried, dead wood. Its name refers to its gills, which dissolve into a black, spore-filled goo as part of its reproduction.

At one time, this “ink” was used to make writing ink for important documents. The spores could be detected under a microscope, helping to guard against forgery.

The Common Ink Cap is sometimes listed as an edible mushroom. However, consuming alcohol within 48 hours before or after eating this mushroom can cause severe poisoning. Even using alcohol-based skin care products may cause a reaction.

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#73. Oakmoss

• Evernia prunastri

• A pale or sage green shrub-like lichen with branches that grow out from the base.
• The branches are flat and strap-like.
• It often grows in clusters that form large clumps.

Oakmoss is a common North American lichen.

As its name suggests, it primarily grows on oak trees but will also grow on pines and firs.

This lichen is widely used by humans! In southern and central Europe, Oakmoss is harvested commercially. The compounds in Oakmoss are extracted and used in perfumes.

Herbalists and foragers also harvest Oakmoss. It’s a starchy food source, and the acids it contains may have some antibacterial properties. If you find this lichen in the wild, remember that Oakmoss grows very slowly. What you harvest in a few seconds may take decades to grow back.

In Central Italy, Oakmoss is also used to monitor pollution. Scientists check Oakmoss samples for bioaccumulation of zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium, and copper in urban, rural, and industrial areas.

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#74. Questionable Stropharia

• Stropharia ambigua

• The cap is large, rounded, yellow, and slimy.
• The gills may be attached to the stem or pull away and mature from whitish to pale gray and then purplish-gray.
• The stem is narrow, straight, and whitish, with a shaggy base.

Questionable Stropharia grows in leaf litter and dead woody material in rich, moist, cold forests. It often grows beneath conifers but will also colonize spaces beneath alders and other hardwoods. Questionable Strphoaria may be solitary or form in loose clusters.

There are conflicting reports about whether Questionable Stropharia is edible or poisonous.

For now, we think it’s best to enjoy this elegant mushroom for its looks.

People often think that the name Questionable Stropharia came from this edibility conundrum. However, it likely came from the need to clarify where to place this species during the original description.

Charles Peck originally named this species Hypholoma ambiguum in 1889, noting that it shared many Hypholoma and Stropharia characteristics. Later, scientists were able to move the mushroom firmly to the Stropharia genus, but the ambiguous (or questionable) part of the name stuck.

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#75. Shield Lichen

• Parmelia sulcata

• The lichen body is silvery or gray-green with dish-like lobes.
• The lobes have a network of sharp ridges and depressions and appear like hammered metal.
• The lower surface is black.

Shield Lichen, or Hammered Shield Lichen, is one of North America’s most common species.

This is partially because it is more tolerant of air pollution than many other lichen species.

Additionally, it grows on various tree species and will also grow on rock. The only requirement for this lichen to thrive is somewhat open areas where it can get enough light.

Native Americans used Shield Lichen medicinally and to make reddish-brown dye. The Métis people reportedly used it to soothe teething babies.

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Do you want to know about common animals in the United States?

• The 50 MOST Common Birds in the United States!

• 45 Common SPIDERS Found in the United States!

• 50 Common SNAKES That Live in the USA! (ID Guide)

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Which type of mushroom is your favorite in the United States?

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