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Mushroom Spotlight

Throughout the year we highlight one mushroom that can be found in WNC. This is in an attempt to help members or guests learn our local mushrooms. It will also be noted whether the mushroom is edible, ill advised, or poisonous.

Peziza phyllogena

Photo credit: Mike Hopping The common brown cup mushroom of springtime, found growing on rich woodland soil or decaying wood, is imaginatively known as the Common Brown Cup, or Peziza phyllogena...

Mycena haematopus

Photo credit: Mike Hopping In wet conditions when things are a little boring, mushrooms growing from decomposing hardwood logs might be worth a look. One small species, Mycena haematopus, the...

Boletus separans

Photo credit: Mike Hopping The lilac bolete, Boletus separans, formerly Xanthoconium separans, is associated with woodland oaks. It’s medium to large in size, has a dry, lumpy cap that starts...

Cantharellus cinnabarinus

Photo credit: Mike Hopping What Cantharellus cinnabarinus, the cinnabar chanterelle, gives up in size is often redeemed by quantity. Troupes of these tasty little guys inhabit dampish, hardwood...

Stropharia rugosoannulata

Photo credit: Mike Hopping Stropharia rugosoannulata, the Wine-cap or King Stropharia, is often cultivated but also grows wild in disturbed soils or wood chips. The dry, wine- colored cap soon...

Morchella punctipes

Photo credit: Mike Hopping Half-free morels, Morchella punctipes, aka M. semilibera, resemble black morels until you notice that the completely hollow stalk is attached part-way, but not all the...

Baorangia bicolor

Baorangia bicolor, formerly Boletus bicolor, was thought to differ from the poisonous Boletus sensibilus by lacking a curry smell. Not necessarily, according to Michael Kuo. Boletus sensibilus...

Gyroporus cyanescens

The bluing bolete, Gyroporus cyanescens, isn’t the commonest thing in the woods, but it is memorable. That pale, scruffy mushroom with the matted top suddenly turns intense blue wherever it’s...

Entoloma vernum

Entoloma vernum, the springtime Entoloma, is a probably poisonous, woodland lookalike for the marginally edible deer mushroom. Both species have gills that brown with age and a pink spore print...

Flammulina velutipes

AKA: Velvet foot OK folks, I’ve been rudely awakened from my winter hibernation by having both arms firmly twisted. It seems some folks want another mushroom of the month. Have a look...

Naematoloma sublateritium

AKA: Brick caps Well we’re getting to the famine season fungally speaking, but if one looks carefully there is still food out there. A brisk late autumn walk could yield a brick cap bonanza. I...

Polyporous umbellatus

By this point everyone knows this is the time of year to look for those large fleshy “hen of the woods”. So you’re out searching around those large old oaks and you spot one. You kneel and pick it...
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