Higher Fungi of the San Francisco Bay Area

Boletus is a genus of mushroom, comprising over 100 species. The genus Boletus was originally broadly defined and described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1821, essentially containing all fungi with pores. Since then, other genera have been defined gradually, such as Tylopilus by Petter Adolf Karsten in 1881, and old names such as Leccinum have been resurrected or redefined. less ↑

Cortinarius is a genus of mushrooms. It is suspected to be the largest genus of agarics, containing over 2000 different species and found worldwide. A common feature among all species in the genus Cortinarius is that young specimens have a cortina (veil) between the cap and the stem, hence the name, meaning curtained. Most of the fibers of the cortina are ephemeral and will leave no trace once gone, except for limited remnants on the stem... less ↑

Hericium is a genus of edible mushrooms in the Hericiaceae family. Species in this genus are white and fleshy and grow on dead or dying wood; fruiting bodies resemble a mass of fragile icicle-like spines that are suspended from either a branched supporting framework or from a tough, unbranched cushion of tissue. This distinctive structure has earned Hericium species a variety of common names—monkey's head, lion's mane, and bear's head are examples. Taxonomically, this genus was... less ↑

Russula emetica, commonly known as the sickener, emetic russula, or vomiting russula, is a basidiomycete mushroom, and the type species of the genus Russula. It has a red, convex to flat cap up to 8.5 cm (3.3 in) in diameter, with a cuticle that can be peeled off almost to the centre. The gills are white to pale cream, and closely spaced. A smooth white stem measures up to 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long and 2.4 cm (0.9 in) thick. First described... less ↑

Craterellus tubaeformis (formerly Cantharellus tubaeformis) is an edible fungus, also known as Yellowfoot, winter mushroom, or Funnel Chanterelle. It is mycorrhizal, forming symbiotic associations with plants, making it very challenging to cultivate. It is smaller than the golden chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and has a dark brown cap with paler gills and a hollow yellow stem. C. tubaeformis tastes stronger but less fruity than the golden chanterelle. It has a very distinctive smokey, peppery taste when raw. less ↑

Hygrocybe is a genus of agarics (gilled fungi) in the family Hygrophoraceae. Called waxcaps in English (sometimes waxy caps in North America), basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are often brightly coloured and have waxy to slimy caps, white spores, and smooth, ringless stems. In Europe they are characteristic of old, unimproved grasslands (termed waxcap grasslands) which are a declining habitat, making many Hygrocybe species of conservation concern. Elsewhere they are more typically found in woodlands. Most are ground-dwelling... less ↑

The genus Stropharia (sometimes known by the common name roundheads) is a group of medium to large agarics with a distinct membranous ring on the stipe. Well-known members of this genus include the edible Stropharia rugosoannulata and the blue-green verdigris agarics (Stropharia aeruginosa and allies). Stropharia are not generally regarded as good to eat and there are doubts over the edibility of several species. However the species Stropharia rugosoannulata is regarded as exquisitely edible when young,... less ↑

Ramaria stricta, commonly known as the strict-branch coral is a coral fungus or genus Ramaria. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, and grows on dead wood, stumps, trunks, and branches of both deciduous and coniferous trees. Its fruit body is up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall, made of multiple slender, compact, and vertical parallel branches. Its color is typically light tan to vinaceous-brown. All parts of the mushroom will bruise when handled. There are several lookalike corals that... less ↑

Lactarius alnicola, commonly known as the golden milkcap, is a species of fungus in the Russulaceae family. The fruit bodies produced by the fungus are characterized by a sticky, vanilla-colored cap up to 20 cm (7.9 in) wide with a mixture of yellow tones arranged in faint concentric bands. The stem is up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long and has yellow-brown spots. When it is cut or injured, the mushroom oozes a white latex, which has an intensely peppery... less ↑

Auriscalpium vulgare, commonly known as the pinecone mushroom, the cone tooth, or the ear-pick fungus, is a species of fungus in the family Auriscalpiaceae of the order Russulales. It was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, who included it as a member of the tooth fungi genus Hydnum, but British mycologist Samuel Frederick Gray recognized its uniqueness and in 1821 transferred it to the genus Auriscalpium that he created to contain it. The fungus is... less ↑

Astraeus hygrometricus, commonly known as the hygroscopic earthstar, the barometer earthstar, or the false earthstar, is a species of fungus in the Diplocystaceae family. Young specimens resemble a puffball when young and unopened. In maturity, the mushroom displays the characteristic earthstar shape that is a result of the outer layer of fruit body tissue splitting open in a star-like manner. The false earthstar is an ectomycorrhizal species that grows in association with various trees, especially in... less ↑

Ramariopsis kunzei is an edible species of coral fungi in the Clavariaceae family, and the type species of the genus Ramariopsis. It is commonly known as white coral because of the branched structure of the fruit bodies that resemble marine coral. The fruit bodies are up to 5 cm (2.0 in) tall by 4 cm (1.6 in) wide, with numerous branches originating from a short rudimentary stem. The branches are one to two millimeters thick, smooth, and white, sometimes with... less ↑

Stereum ostrea, also called false turkey-tail and golden curtain crust, is a basidiomycete fungus in the genus Stereum. It is a plant pathogen and a wood decay fungus. The name ostrea, from the word 'oyster', describes its shape. With concentric circles of many colors, it highly resembles Trametes versicolor, turkey-tail, and is thus called the 'false turkey-tail'. The stemless fruiting body is shell-like and grows 1–7 cm (0.39–2.8 in) high. It is tough and inedible. It grows on... less ↑

Exidia glandulosa (common names black witches' butter, black jelly roll, or warty jelly fungus) is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached branches of oak. The fruit bodies are up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide, shiny, black and blister-like, and grow singly or in clusters. Its occurrence elsewhere is uncertain because of confusion with the related species, Exidia nigricans. less ↑

Honey fungus, or Armillaria or оpenky (Ukrainian: опеньки), is a genus of parasitic fungi that live on trees and woody shrubs. It includes about 10 species formerly lumped together as A. mellea. Armillarias are long lived and form some of the largest living organisms in the world. The largest single organism (of the species Armillaria solidipes) covers more than 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) and is thousands of years old. Some species of Armillaria are bioluminescent and may... less ↑

Calvatia is a genus of puffball mushrooms that includes the spectacular giant puffball C. gigantea. It was formerly classified within the now-obsolete order Lycoperdales, which, following a restructuring of fungal taxonomy brought about by molecular phylogeny, has been split; the puffballs, Calvatia spp. are now placed in the family Agaricaceae of the order Agaricales. less ↑

Amanita gemmata, commonly known as the gemmed Amanita, jeweled deathcap or the jonquil Amanita, is an agaric mushroom of the family Amanitaceae and genus Amanita. The fruit body has a cap that is a dull to golden shade of yellow, and typically 2.5–12 cm (1.0–4.7 in) in diameter. The cap surface is sticky when moist, and characterized by white warts, which are easily detached. It is initially convex, and flattens out when mature. The flesh is white and... less ↑

Pluteus cervinus, also known as Pluteus atricapillus and commonly known as the deer shield or the deer or fawn mushroom, is a mushroom that belongs to the large genus Pluteus. It is found on rotten logs, roots and tree stumps and is widely distributed. It can also grow on sawdust and other wood waste. Being very variable in appearance, it has been divided into several varieties or subspecies, some of which are sometimes considered species in... less ↑

Rhizopogon is a genus of hypogeous Basidiomycetes. Recent micromorphological and molecular phylogenetic study has established that Rhizopogon is a member of the Boletales, closely related to Suillus. All species of Rhizopogon are ectomycorrhizal and are thought to play an important role in the ecology of coniferous forests. R. luteolus was deliberately introduced into Pinus radiata plantations in Western Australia to improve tree growth in the early part of the 20th century. less ↑

Laccaria laccata, commonly known as the deceiver, or waxy laccaria, is a white-spored species of small edible mushroom found throughout North America and Europe. It is a highly variable mushroom (hence “deceiver”), and can look quite washed out, colorless and drab, but when younger it often assumes red, pinkish brown, and orange tones. The species is often considered by mushroom collectors to be a “mushroom weed” because of its abundance and plain stature. less ↑

Tylopilus felleus, commonly known as the bitter bolete or the bitter tylopilus, is a fungus of the bolete family. Its distribution includes east Asia, northern Europe, and eastern North America, extending south into Mexico and Central America. A mycorrhizal species, it grows in deciduous and coniferous woodland, often fruiting under beech and oak. Its fruit bodies have convex to flat caps that are some shade of brown, buff, or tan, and typically measure up to 15 cm... less ↑

Suillus brevipes is a species of fungus in the Boletaceae family. First described by American mycologists in the late 19th century, it is commonly known as the stubby-stalk or the short-stemmed slippery Jack. The fruit bodies (mushrooms) produced by the fungus are characterized by a chocolate to reddish-brown cap covered with a sticky layer of slime, and a short whitish stem that does not have either a partial veil or prominent dark or colored glandular dots.... less ↑

Geastrum saccatum, commonly known as the rounded earthstar, is a species of mushroom belonging in the Geastrum genus. It is found in North America and Europe and is found growing on rotting wood. It is considered inedible by mushroomers, because of its bitter taste. It is a common mushroom, but collections are at their peak during late summer. The opening of the outer layer of the fruiting body in the characteristic star shape is thought to... less ↑

Gomphidius oregonensis, commonly known as Insidious Gomphidius is a mushroom found only in western North America, most commonly on the Pacific Coast. G. oregonensis can be distinguished by its spores which are the shortest in the genus, typically less than 14 µm long. Earlier in growth, G. oregonensis can be difficult to distinguish from other members of the genus Gomphidius, such as G. glutinosus which is the most common and widespread species. With age, the fruiting body becomes... less ↑

Clitopilus prunulus, commonly known as the miller or the sweetbread mushroom, is an edible pink-spored basidiomycete mushroom found in grasslands in Europe and North America. Growing Solitary to gregarious in open areas of conifer/hardwood forests; common under Bishop pine (Pinus muricata) along the coast north of San Francisco; fruiting shortly after the fall rains. It has a grey to white cap and decurrent gills. less ↑

Amanita constricta is a close relative of A. vaginata, A. pachycolea, and A. protecta. Commonly known as "grisettes," members of this group have greyish to brown caps, lack an annulus, possess inamyloid spores, and have a universal veil that tends to bruise ochre or reddish-brown. Amanita constricta is distinguished from the above by a distinctive, membranous volva. Unlike the typical saccate volva which is attached only at the stipe base and then expands outward to form a cup, the volva of Amanita constricta is fused to the stipe except for a flaring margin (Source: Mykoweb) less ↑

Volvopluteus gloiocephalus, commonly known as the big sheath mushroom, rose-gilled grisette, or stubble rosegill, is a species of mushroom in the family Pluteaceae. For most of the 20th century it has been known under the names Volvariella gloiocephala or Volvariella speciosa, but recent molecular studies have placed it as the type species of the genus Volvopluteus, newly created in 2011. The cap of this mushroom is about 5–15 cm (2–6 in) in diameter, varies from white to grey... less ↑

Cyathus is a genus of fungi in the Nidulariaceae, a family collectively known as the bird's nest fungi. They are given this name since they resemble tiny bird's nests filled with "eggs", structures large enough to have been mistaken in the past for seeds. However, these are now known to be reproductive structures containing spores. The "eggs", or peridioles, are firmly attached to the inner surface of this fruit body by an elastic cord of mycelia... less ↑

Boletus pulcherrimus, commonly known as Alice Eastwood's boletus or the red-pored bolete, is a species of mushroom in the Boletaceae family. It is a large bolete from Western North America with distinguishing features that include a finely netted surface on the upper third of the stem, a red to brown cap and stem color, and red pores that stain blue upon injury. Formerly known as B. eastwoodiae, the original specimen was reviewed in 1976 and found to... less ↑

Strobilurus trullisatus is one of relatively small number of mushrooms in our area that live on conifer cones. It is recognized by a pale-colored cap with pinkish tones, and a yellowish-brown stipe base. Baeospora myosura also grows on Douglas fir cones, but has a somewhat darker cap, much closer gills, and a distinctly hairy stipe base. A related species, Strobilurus occidentalis, occurs on spruce cones. Strobilurus kemptonae is an older name for this mushroom.

(http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Strobilurus_trullisatus.html) less ↑

Tricholoma imbricatum is a species of agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae. Commonly known as the matt knight, it is found in Europe and North America, where it grows on the ground in coniferous forests. Fruit bodies have a brown to reddish-brown cap up to 9 cm (3.5 in) in diameter, and a stem that is 3.5 to 4.5 cm (1.4 to 1.8 in) long by 1.0 to 1.2 cm (0.39 to 0.47 in) thick. The gills are initially whitish in color before developing reddish-brown spots. less ↑

Inocybe geophylla, commonly known as the Earthy Inocybe, Common White Inocybe or White Fibrecap, is a poisonous mushroom of the genus Inocybe. It is widespread and common in Europe and North America, appearing under both conifer and deciduous trees in summer and autumn. The fruiting body is a small all-white or cream mushroom with a fibrous silky umbonate cap and adnexed gills. An all-lilac variety lilacina is also common. less ↑

Cortinarius caperatus, commonly known as the gypsy mushroom, is a highly esteemed edible mushroom of the genus Cortinarius found in northern regions of Europe and North America. It was known as Rozites caperata for many years, before genetic studies revealed it lay within the large genus Cortinarius. The ochre-coloured fruiting bodies appear in autumn in coniferous and beech woods, as well as heathlands in late summer and autumn. The gills are free and clay-coloured and the... less ↑

Lactarius rufulus, commonly known as the rufous candy cap, is a species of fungus in the Russulaceae family. The fruit bodies have fleshy brownish-red caps up to 10 cm (3.9 in) wide, and closely spaced pinkish-yellow gills. The stem is up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long and 3 cm (1.2 in) thick and colored similarly to the cap. The species, known only from California, Arizona, and Mexico, grows on the ground in leaf litter near oak trees. The fruit bodies resembles... less ↑

Gymnopus dryophilus is a mushroom commonly found in temperate woodlands of Europe and North America. It is generally saprophytic, but occasionally also attacks living wood. It belongs to section Levipedes of the genus, being characterized by a smooth stem having no hairs at the base (in contrast to section Vestipedes). Until recently it was most frequently known as Collybia dryophila. less ↑

Boletus luridiformis, formerly known as Boletus erythropus, is a fungus of the bolete family, all of which produce mushrooms with tubes and pores beneath their caps. It is found in Northern Europe and North America, and is commonly known as the dotted stem bolete. Although edible when cooked, it can cause gastric upset when raw and can be confused where the two species coincide with the poisonous Boletus satanas, which has a paler cap. less ↑

Lactarius deliciosus, commonly known as the Saffron milk cap, Red pine mushroom, is one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales. It is found in Europe and has been accidentally introduced to other countries under conifers and can be found growing in pine plantations. Michael Kuo, primary founder of the MushroomExpert website, cites Belgian mycologist Jorinde Nuytinck who determined that the mushroom is a "genetically, morphologically, and ecologically... less ↑

Lactarius vinaceorufescens, commonly known as the yellow-staining milkcap or the yellow-latex milky, is a poisonous species of fungus in the Russulaceae family. It produces mushrooms with pinkish-cinnamon caps up to 12 cm (4.7 in) wide held by pinkish-white stems up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long. The closely spaced whitish to pinkish buff gills develop wine-red spots in age. When it is cut or injured, the mushroom oozes a white latex that rapidly turns bright sulfur-yellow. The species, common and... less ↑

Clitocybe rivulosa, commonly known as the false champignon or fool's funnel, is a poisonous basidiomycete fungus of the large genus Clitocybe. One of several species similar in appearance, it is a small white funnel-shaped toadstool widely found in lawns, meadows and other grassy areas in Europe and North America. Also known as the sweating mushroom, it derives this name from the symptoms of poisoning. It contains potentially deadly levels of muscarine. less ↑

Protostropharia semiglobata, commonly known as the dung roundhead, the halfglobe mushroom, or the hemispheric stropharia, is an agaric fungus of the family Strophariaceae. A common and widespread species with a cosmopolitan distribution, the fungus produces mushrooms on the dung of various wild and domesticated herbivores. The mushrooms have hemispherical straw yellow to buff-tan caps measuring 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in), greyish gills that become dark brown in age, and a slender, smooth stem 3–12 cm (1.2–4.7 in) long with a fragile... less ↑

Leucoagaricus leucothites, or white Agaricus mushroom, is a fairly uncommon parasol mushroom. It looks more like a normal but almost pure white commercial mushroom albeit more slender and with a longer stalk. It is distinguished by a smooth, white cap with a gently yellow center, a collar-like ring, white spores, and off-white gills in maturity. Immature specimens have pure white gills. This is a choice edible, but care must be made to distinguish this from other members of the Lepiota tribe and also the far more deadly members of the Amanita tribe. The deadly white Amanitas have a volva (a sack like appendage surrounding the base of the stem) totally lacking in this species. This is not a mushroom recommended for consumption by those without good knowledge of fungi. less ↑

Geastrum fimbriatum, commonly known as the fringed earthstar or the sessile earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus Geastrum, or earthstar fungi. First described in 1829, the species was a widespread distribution, and is found in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It is distinguished from other earthstars by the delicate fibers that line the circular pore at the top of its spore sac. less ↑

This handsome mushroom with a viscid, reddish-brown to mahogany-brown cap and brilliant yellow pores, is an exception to the rule that Boletus species have dry caps and Suillus species (slippery jacks) are viscid. The often bent stipe, yellow at the apex from tube remnants, and white mycelium at the base, are also important field characters. Aureoboletus flaviporus is know only from California.

(Source: mykoweb) less ↑

Boletus regius, commonly known as the royal bolete or red-capped butter bolete, is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Boletus found in China, Europe, and North America. B. regius has a pink cap, yellow flesh, and a reticulate pattern on the stem.Harry D. Thiers described a similar mushroom from California as B. regius, although it has yet to be shown to be the same species. B. regius in Europe does not stain when exposed to air, or stains weakly, but the California species stains blue. Both European and California specimens are considered choice edibles. less ↑

Bolbitius reticulatus grows on wood or woody debris across North America. Its cap is slimy, fragile, and deeply lined, and its spore print is rusty brown. Some forms of the species are grayish, with the slightest hint of lilac, and are reminiscent of the dry-capped, pink-spored Pluteus longistriatus. Other forms are quite purple--and intermediate forms are collected with some frequency. To add to the confusion, both grayish and purple forms sometimes develop a prominently veined-reticulate cap surface.

"Bolbitius aleuriatus" is a name that has been applied by many authors to the gray form of this mushroom, but Bolbitius reticulatus is the proper name for both forms; see the comments below for details.

(http://www.mushroomexpert.com/bolbitius_reticulatus.html) less ↑

When fully expanded, the caps are up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in diameter, and are soon cracked or fissured. Varying in colour from putty beige to dull brown, or olivaceous. The stem is usually with very little red, and is olivaceous, more yellow at the apex, and bruises brown. The flesh is pale lemon yellow or buff in the cap, and chrome yellow in the stem apex. It darkens to dark brick or vinaceous towards the base. The tubes are 13 to 20 centimetres (5.1 to 7.9 in) long, initially lemon yellow, later olivaceous, and they bruise bluish. The pores are narrow, 0.2–0.5 mm in diameter, angular, lemon yellow, and darken later. They also bruise blue. The spores give an olive-brown spore print. At microscopic level this bolete has truncate (chopped off) spores; the spore dimensions are 13–15 by 4–5 µm.
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Leucoagaricus leucothites, or white Agaricus mushroom, is a fairly uncommon parasol mushroom. It looks more like a normal but almost pure white commercial mushroom albeit more slender and with a longer stalk. It is distinguished by a smooth, white cap with a gently yellow center, a collar-like ring, white spores, and off-white gills in maturity. Immature specimens have pure white gills. This is a choice edible, but care must be made to distinguish this from other... less ↑

This puffball is inevitably described as one of the least attractive of all fungi. However, it can be interesting to section immature sporocarps to view the distinctive sac-like peridioles. At maturity, the peridioles breakdown to form the masses of spores which make this fungus unpleasant to collect. While ignored by most amateur collectors, it's worth noting that it finds use in Forestry because of its ability to form mycorrhizae with a variety of conifer seedlings, and by artists, who use it as a source for dyes. (Source: Mykoweb) less ↑