There are over 200 species of fungi at Muir Woods like these brown mushrooms growing out of this wet, moss-covered log. .
Stephanie Weinstein/ NPS
You may come to Muir Woods and think of mushrooms as just a humble pizza topping. Maybe they’re a little slimy and unappetizing. Or, you may be a mystical mushroom expert. You’ve come after a winter rain, ready to experience all the wonderful forms the fungi in this forest have to offer. Whatever your enthusiasm level, with over 200 different species of fungi, you have a myriad of choices to be drawn to. During the winter rainy season, when it rains, it spores!
What are fungi?
Contrary to popular belief, fungi are not plants! They’re actually more closely related to animals! Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that make up their own Kingdom. Fungi include molds, yeast, mildews, and the popular mushroom! Fungi are some of the most widely distributed organisms on Earth and are very important to the environment at Muir Woods National Monument. Fungi play many different roles in the forest like acting as decomposers, parasites, and mycorrhizal fungi.
