Mushrooms of Muir Woods

Fairy parachutes growing on a moss covered log. Keep an eye out around Redwood Creek for these

NPS

What is a mushroom’s favorite thing to bring camping? S’pores!

Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of a fungus. Their job is to release spores to produce the next generation of fungus. They live for a short time and decay. The bulk of the organism is actually underground. It is made up of many root-like threads called hyphae. Many hyphae form a vast network called mycelium.
Mycelial networks produce mushrooms to produce spores so the fungus can reproduce. Think of the mycelium as the tree and mushrooms as the apple! 

Mycelial networks can also connect with the roots of trees and shrubs forming a mutualistic relationship. These relationships are beneficial to both the trees and the fungus. Mushrooms are vital to the health of the ecosystem at Muir Woods, and they also add color and charm to this dazzling forest.

 

A Redwood Rooter mushroom growing in redwood duff.

Stephanie Weinstein/ NPS

Caulorhiza umbonata 

Common name: Redwood Rooter

Description: Very common, and found scattered or solitary beneath redwood duff. Disc is smooth, sometimes upturned or wavy. Buff brown-to tawny brown disc. Cream colored gills.

Ecology: You’ll find these early to mid-winter. These are one of the few species of fungi that you’ll find fruiting under redwood trees. Saphrophytic lifestyle decomposing (link to decomposers) decaying organic matter. These mushrooms look small, but the majority roots beneath the surface. It forms a taproot-like structure that can extend over 10 cm below, hence the name Redwood Rooter. 

 

Cherry red waxy caps growing among sorrel in redwood duff.

NPS

Hygrocybe laetissima

Common name: Cherry-Red Waxy Cap

Description: Found scattered beneath the redwood duff. Scarlet to bright red cap. Gills that are whitish to yellow then pinkish and red with age. Yellow stripe with reddish base and surface covered in vertical striations.

Ecology: Very common in Muir Woods in January and February.

 

A lion’s mane mushroom growing on a tree. Notice the brownish ends signifying this is an older mushroom.

NPS

Hericium erinaceus

Common name: Lion’s mane

Description: Easily identified with drooping white spines that hang like a cluster of icicles. Turns yellowish-brownish as it ages. 

Ecology: Found on living hardwoods from late fall to mid-winter. Sapophytic lifestyle and parasitic (link. 

 

Fairy parachutes growing on a moss covered log. Keep an eye out around Redwood Creek for these.

NPS

Marasmiellus candidus

Common name: Fairy Parachutes

Description: Small,  shining white or translucent white. Gills are few and far between, also white.

Ecology: Often seen on twigs and logs throughout Redwood Creek. Grows on decaying hardwoods, usually in large groups. 

 

Fly Agaric mushroom growing on the forest floor. They form mycorrhizal relationships with hardwood trees.

NPS

Amanita muscaria

Common name: Fly Agaric or Fly Amanita

Description: Your classic mushroom! Bright red to scarlet red cap, has warts that are usually white. Long white stalk. 

Ecology: Solitary or scattered, sometimes in large rings throughout the forest. Poisonous, best avoided. Mycorrhizal (link later) in hardwood forests. 

 

Along with the mushroom species pictured above, there are over 200 species of mushrooms here at Muir Woods! This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here is a larger species list of some other mushrooms you can find within this enchanting redwood forest: 

• Death cap (Amanita phalloides)

• Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

• Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)

• Scarlet Waxy cap (Hygrocybe coccinea)

• Honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea)

• Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus spp.)

• Pine cone or ear pick fungus (Auriscalpium vulgare)

• Slippery jacks (Suillus spp.)

• Brittlegills (Russula spp.)

• The prince (Agaricus augustus)

• Jack o lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olivescens)

• Chanterelles (Cantharellus sp.)

• Parrot Mushroom (Hygrocybe psittacina)

• Gem-studded Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)

*It is important to note that mushroom foraging is not allowed at Muir Woods. Please use the information provided only as a resource about the kind of fungi that can be seen in the park. This information is not intended as an identification guide. It is not enough for identifying wild mushrooms to forage. Identifying wild mushrooms can be extremely difficult and can be deadly if done incorrectly. Please take only pictures of the beautiful mushrooms you see at Muir Woods. Let’s leave the fungi alone to continue their role in breaking down vital nutrients to nourish the redwoods. 

For Further Reading:

Arora, David. Mushrooms Demystified: a Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi. Ten Speed Press, 1986.

“Fun Guide: Coolest, Weirdest Fungi to Spot in the Golden Gate National Parks.” Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, 31 Jan. 2019, www.parksconservancy.org/article/fun-guide-coolest-weirdest-fungi-spot-golden-gate-national-parks.

Katsaros, Peter. Familiar Mushrooms. Knopf, 1998.

“See All M.O.M.s Hygrocybe Laetissima (Waxy Caps) (by Noah Siegel).” When It Rains, It Spores, 22 Jan. 2016, ffsc.us/MOM/2016/Waxy.

Stamets, Paul. Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World. Ten Speed Press, 2005.