The photos shown here were taken by Katrina Sharon during our January 29,2016 Oak Ambassador fungi and lichens training hike with our favorite fun-guy guide Dennis Sheridan. A word of caution: Do not ever eat a mushroom unless you're absolutely sure of its identity. Dennis shared that there are about 400,000 different kinds of mushrooms worldwide; roughly 10% are edible, 5% are poisonous. The ones in between? Not too tasty but not poisonous. Never touch, sniff or eat mushrooms unless you have expertise in mycology or you are guided by someone who does.
Updated February 7,2016
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The January 29,2016 Oak Ambassador fungi and lichens training hike bunch with our guide Dennis Sheridan
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| Western Jack O'Lantern mushroom at the base of the old twisted valley oak trunk. This interesting mushroom is poisonous - do not confuse this with the chanterelle mushrooms! - and has the unusual ability to glow in the dark due to its bioluminescent spores. |
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| We found many of these small, delicate Mycena sp. mushrooms along the first leg of the oak trail. |
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| This mushroom and the one below belong to the Genus Lepiota. Beware, many members of this genus are highly poisonous. |
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| What a beauty! This colorful mushroom is a member of the Genus Boletus. Notice in the photo below that it has pores instead of gills. |
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| Rubbing the pores of this Boletes mushroom causes an instant color change from tannish orange to blue. |
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| More picture of Boletes |
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| This black beauty is an unknown fungus. Dennis reminded us that in science it's okay to say, "I don't know." We can use our best science sleuthing skills to try to find out. |
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| Take a look and you'll see why these are called Turkey Tails! |
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| Another picture of the Western Jack O'Lantern mushroom. |
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See those tiny white droplets in these photos? This is a Lactarius sp., named for the milky latex exuded by the gills.
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| More pictures of the Meadow Mushroom |
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| More turkey tails on an oak stump |
