Fungi Witness

Big fungi fan (all photos and IDs are my own)

[fungiwitnessed]

Chicken of the Woods 🐔 (Boston, MA)

>> Laetiporus sulphureus

A delicious find! Chicken of the woods is considered a choice edible. This one was the perfect stage for foraging since it was still young. The vibrant colors will fade with age.

Parasitic and causes a brown rot in the host tree

Found growing out of fallen oak tree

Observed on: 5/19/2024

[fungiwitnessed]

Dryad’s Saddle (Boston, MA)

>> Cerioporus squamosus

Edible polypore that is both saprotrophic and parasitic

Found growing on dead hardwood tree in mixed forest

Observed on: May 11, 2024

[fungiwitnessed]

Thin Walled Maze Polypore (Boston, MA)

>>Daedaleopsis confragosa

Parasitic fungi that causes white rot

Old fruits found growing on a fallen birch tree alongside old mossy maze polypores

Observed on: March 17, 2024

[fungiwitnessed]

Amber Jelly Roll Fungus (Boston, MA)

>>Exidia crenata

Saprobic fungi typically found on sticks. The body can dry up during warmer days and then will re-hydrate after a good rain

Found on sticks of hardwood

Observed on: March 2, 2024 and March 10, 2024

[fungiwitnessed]

Milk-White Toothed Polypore (Boston, MA)

>>Irpex lacteus

Saprobic fungi growing on branches of dead(?) cultivated fruit tree

Resupinate (‘hanging down’) polypore

Observed on: February 24, 2024

[fungiwitnessed]

Birch Polypore (Boston, MA)

>>Fomitopsis betulina

Parasitic fungi that grows exclusively on weakened birch trees and causes brown rot. The fruits can last over a year, and it is eaten by Otzi the iceman to cure intestinal parasites.

Found growing on dead birch tree

Observed on: February 24, 2024

[fungiwitnessed]

Wrinkled Coral Fungi (Boston, MA)

>>Clavulina rugosa

Mycorrhizal fungi found growing in forest floor of mixed woods

Observed on: September 30, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Oak Mazegill (Boston, MA)

>> Daedalea quercina

Saprotrophic fungi found growing on felled oak tree

Observed on: February 12, 2024

[fungiwitnessed]

Wood Blewit (Boston, MA)

>>Clitocybe nuda

Edible saprotrophic fungi with an interesting scar(?) on the cap

Found growing in leaf litter of mixed woods

Observed on: September 30, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Butterball Mushroom (Boston, MA)

>> Suillus weaverae

Edible mycorrhizal bolete fungi associated with White Pines

Found beneath an Eastern White Pine and next to Chicken Fat Mushroom

Observed on: October 1, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Wolf’s Milk (Boston, MA)

>>Lycogala epidendrum

Slime mold found on unidentified log

Immature fruiting bodies (about half an inch in diameter) are pink and matures to a brownish grey

Observed on: October 21, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Violet-Toothed Polypore (Boston, MA)

>>Trichaptum biforme

Saprobic fungi growing out of a living cherry tree

Observed on: October 1, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Viscid Violet Cort (Boston, MA)

>> Cortinarius iodes

Mycorrhizal fungi associated with deciduous trees found growing in mixed forest out of ground near unidentified log

Slimy cap

Observed on: September 30, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Deceiver Fungi (Boston, MA)

>> Laccaria laccata

Edible mycorrhizal fungi found growing out of ground in mixed forest near birch trees

Observed on: September 23, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Handsome Club Fungi (Boston, MA)

>> Clavulinopsis laeticolor

Saprotrophic fungi found growing out of ground/possibly buried wood chips near a golf course

Observed on: September 30, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Coker’s Lavender Staining Amanita (Boston, MA)

>> Amanita citrina f. lavendula

Mycorrhizal fungi with hardwoods and cedars, found growing out of ground in mixed forest near an oak tree

Often mistaken for Destroying Angels

Observed on: September 30, 2023

[fungiwitnessed]

Yellow Patches Mushroom (Boston, MA)

>> Amanita flavoconia

Mycorrhizal fungi found growing out of ground in mixed forest, near some oak trees

Observed on: September 30, 2023