Fungus On Campus
- Vallen Morales
- Nov 26, 2024
- 3 min read
DISCLAIMER: Although physically handling any local fungi fruiting bodies is perfectly safe, please do not ingest any fungi (or plant) unless you are 100% sure what it is and completely positive it is safe to eat. Always consult a professional mycologist or foraging expert before eating any found fungi. Ingesting toxic fungi can cause nausea, gastrointestinal distress, liver failure, and potentially death. Be smart and be safe.
Now that it is finally autumn here at West Valley, get excited to start seeing some fabulous fungi friends around campus! Here are some of my favorite finds on campus that you should keep an eye out for!
Western Jack-O’-Lanterns (Omphalotus oliviascens) are the largest known mushrooms on our campus! I found this particular specimen in December of last year next to a large oak tree by the creek, and hopefully, I can find it again. The brilliant orange fungus can be over a foot wide and is known to glow in the dark, hence its common name. One awesome thing about this species is that it can be turned into a dye! The dye can end up either ashen purple or forest green, depending on the acidity of the solution you use. Next time I find these, I plan to test this myself.
This is a young Honey Fungus (Armillaria sp.) Last year, I found them near the bird feeder by the creek, but they can be found on almost any decaying log. The world’s largest recorded fungus is actually a type of honey fungus found in Oregon. Living underground as mycelium, that particular specimen spans for over 3 miles. This local specimen was only a few hundred little mushrooms hugging onto a tree, likely parasitizing it and eating the sugars in the wood and the roots.
I found this large Russula (Russula sp.) already being eaten by insects near the Science and Math building’s native Moon Garden! Russulas, sometimes called Brittlegills, are commonly prized as one of the few commonly edible mushrooms in the world. Still, not every mushroom classified under the genus Russula is edible—some can even make you sick. Since this mushroom was already rotting when I found it, it was impossible to identify the exact species by color alone. There is no mistaking the reddish-orange cap and thick stipe as a Russula, though!
The smallest mushrooms I have found on campus are Calhoun’s Pinwheel (Marasmius calhouniae). Located in a small shaded area by CHE, these bright white mushrooms were vivid against the damp red and orange mulch. Around a coast redwood tree (sequoia sempervirens), the fungi formed a semicircular shape. Mushrooms in the genus Marasmius are characterized by fungal marcescence — the ability to continue dispersing spores (reproducing) — after completely drying out when revived with water. [1]
These two mushrooms were inseparable! Joined at the base, these Fibercaps (Inocybe insinuata) belong to the genus Inocybe. Inocybe is of Greek origin and means "fibrous hat." I found these near the heritage oak tree on my way to the cafeteria.
False Turkeytails (Stereum ostrea) have to be the most common shelf fungus in the area. Whether wet or dry outside, they can be found on any decaying log. Stereum ostrea gets its name from the Trametes versicolor—the real Turkeytail. The most notable difference is that False Turkeytails are missing white pores on the underside.
Next time it rains, plan a nature hike a couple of days after and try to see how many different species you can find! Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit more about the hidden fungal friends on campus! Fungi are crucial for sustaining the planet's ecosystems and it’s important to learn about the world we live in.
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