Category: Mushrooms and Fungi

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/10/24 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: beside Wolomolopoag St. Common Name: Black-staining Polypore Scientific Name: Meripilus sumstinei Comments: These two large fungi were growing by a large stump. One of them was beginning to turn black. More Information: Maryland Biodiversity

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 7/1/23 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: trail off Billings St. Common Name: Crown-tipped Coral Fungus Scientific Name: Artomyces pyxidatus Comments: This is one of the few coral fungi found on decaying wood. The crown-like tips of the branches are unlike those of any of the other coral fungi. Seek (the free cell phone app) readily identified it. More Information: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 9:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Rust Fungus Scientific Name: genus Pucciniaceae Comments: Rust fungus is a plant disease. This rust fungus was growing on buckthorn leaves. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/6/21 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Near the footbridge over Beaver Brook near the outbound train station Common Name: Bear’s Head Tooth Fungus (a.k.a. Lion’s Mane or Comb Tooth) Scientific Name: Hericium americanum Comments: While driving very slowly along the dirt road from the outbound train station parking lot to the footbridge over Beaver Brook, I almost drove past this […]

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/17/20 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Ringless Honey Mushroom Scientific Name: Armillaria tabescens Comments: These ringless mushrooms extended almost all the way around the tree. WARNING: This is NOT a beginner’s mushroom. Never eat any wild plant unless you are 100% sure that you have identified an edible species. More Information: The Foraged Foodie

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/9/20 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Parasol mushroom Scientific Name: Macrolepiota procera Comments: iNaturalist says this is a parasol mushroom. I thought they had rounded caps, but I do see some flat tops when googling. This was large – maybe 5″ to 6″ in diameter. Very pretty. More Information: Mushroom-Collecting.com

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/7/20 Observation Time: 5:45 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Lakeview & Morse Common Name: Brittle Gill Mushroom Scientific Name: Russula pulchra Comments: Wikipedia lists an enormous number of Russula species, so I am not certain of this identification. More Information: Mushroom Expert

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/7/20 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Lakeview & Morse Common Name: Chicken of the Woods Scientific Name: Laetiporus sulphureus Comments: These relatively small specimens were growing on a dead oak tree. Chicken of the Woods can grow to very large size. They are edible, but it is wise to refrain from eating any wild-harvested food unless […]

Observer: Lonnie Friedman Observation Date: 7/11/20 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red Chanterelle Mushroom Scientific Name: Cantharellus cinnabarinus Comments: Red chanterelles are fungi native to eastern North America. They are members of the genus Cantharellus along with other chanterelles. They are named after their red color, which is imparted by the carotenoid canthaxanthin. They are edible, fruiting […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/13/20 Observation Time: 5:55 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Platterful Mushroom Scientific Name: Megacollybia rodmani Comments: Platterful mushrooms appear after May and June rains. It had rained heavily two days earlier. This one was growing on a rotting log beside the trail. More Information: Mushroomexpert.com Top view:

Observer: Lonnie Friedman Observation Date: 5/30/20 Observation Time: 5:00 pm Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Oyster Mushroom Scientific Name: Pleurotus ostreatus  Comments: This oyster mushroom was growing on a log. I believe it to be edible, but I did not dare test that hypothesis! More Information: Wikipedia Here’s the first photo taken 5/30/20: To confirm the identification, I returned the following afternoon and took these […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/19 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: near footbridge over Beaver Brook Common Name: Yellow Patches Mushroom Scientific Name: Amanita flavoconia Comments: Amanita flavoconia, commonly known as yellow patches, yellow wart, orange Amanita, or yellow-dust Amanita, is a species of mushroom in the family Amanitaceae. It has an orangish-yellow cap with yellowish-orange patches or warts, a yellowish-orange annulus, and a white to […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Botanical Trail Common Name: Witch’s Butter Fungus Scientific Name: Tremella mesenterica Comments: Although the species appears to be growing on wood, it is actually a parasite on the (usually hidden) mycelium of a crust fungus. More Information: MushoomExpert.com

Observer: Hana Jenner Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: on a log beside a trail near Brook Road Common Name: Crown-tipped Coral Fungus Scientific Name: Artomyces pyxidatus Comments: This is one of the few coral fungi found on decaying wood. The crown-like tips of the branches are unlike those of any of the other coral fungi, thus making this species relatively easy to […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/19 Observation Time: 11:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Turkey-tail Fungus Scientific Name: Trametes versicolor Comments: This could also be false turkey-tail lichen. I neglected to inspect the underside to see if it had pores. More Information: Edible Wild Food

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/15/18 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Amanita mushroom Scientific Name: Amanita sp. Comments: The genus of this mushroom is probably Amanita, but it’s hard to say which of the numerous species of Amanita this is. Mushrooms of the genus Amanita account for most mushroom-related deaths. More information: MushroomExpert.com

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 7/30/2017 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Rattlesnake Hill, Sharon Common Name: Red Chanterelle mushroom (a.k.a. Cinnabar Chanterelle mushroom) Scientific Name: Cantharellus cinnabarinus Comments: Sought after edible mushroom with slight peppery taste and slight apricot aroma. DON’T EAT WILD MUSHROOMS UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THEY ARE NOT POISONOUS! More Information: The Mushroom Forager

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/20/15 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag (near boat ramp) Common Name: Puffball mushroom Scientific Name: Genus: Calvatia, Bovista and others Comments: There are many kinds of puffballs. Some are edible and some are poisonous. More Information: eattheplanet.org

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/12 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Viscid Violet Cort mushroom Scientific Name: Cortinarius iodes Comments: This striking violet mushroom has a watery sheen. More Information: American Mushrooms

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/22/13 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: King Phillip’s Rock area Common Name: Sulphur Shelf Mushroom Scientific Name: Laetiporus sulphureus Comments: Sulphur shelf mushrooms are reportedly edible, but never eat a mushroom you find in the woods unless you are absolutely sure it is not poisonous. More pictures of sulphur shelf mushrooms can be seen at: http://hicksroad.com/html/stumpfun.htm. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/12 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Russula mushroom Scientific Name: Russula spp. Comments: I don’t know which species of Russula this specimen happens to be. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Constance Keegan Observation Date: 10/1/10 Observation Time: Daytime Observation Location: By a large oak tree in my yard on Moosehill Pkwy Common Name: Maitake mushroom Scientific Name: Grifola frondosa Comments: Also called “hen of the woods,” G. frondosa should not be confused with Laetiporus sulphureus, another edible bracket fungus that is commonly called “chicken of the woods.” Like all polypores, the fungus becomes inedible when older, because […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/17/10 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Lingzhi mushroom Scientific Name: Ganoderma tsugae Comments: This mushroom specimen was growing in the tamarack (larch) grove in my back yard. It is probably growing on a root, as it was growing on the ground right next to a big tamarack tree. Since tamaracks are coniferous, this specimen is presumably Ganoderma […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/26/12 Observation Time: 2:05 p.m. Observation Location: Near the train station tennis courts by Beaver Brook Common Name: Honey Mushroom Scientific Name: Armillaria mellea Comments: Honey mushrooms are a plant pathogen and cause Armillaria root rot in many plant species. They appear around the base of trees they have infected. The symptoms of infection appear in the crowns of infected trees as discolored foliage, […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/30/10 Observation Time: 6:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Fly Agaric mushroom Scientific Name: Amanita muscaria Comments: Mushrooms of the genus Amanita account for most mushroom-related deaths. See: http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/var012.htm