Pacific Northwest Fungus Identification
From lichen-patched boulders in sagebrush steppe to the fertile mushroom beds of a temperate rainforest hollow, the Pacific Northwest is a haven for fungi. These plant-like organisms are some of the most prominent components to the regional ecology. Does this Spark an idea?
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Chanterelles
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Certain species of chanterelle are among the most sought-after edible mushrooms in the Northwest. Chanterelles are some of the most sought-after native mushrooms in the Northwest, not least because they are often found in large clumps and because they are relatively easy to identify. They resemble golden trumpets with flared, wavy horns and prominent ribbing.
Morels
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Morel mushrooms have a patchy distribution in the region, although they can be relatively common in highlands of the Inland Northwest, like the Blue Mountains. Their earthy color makes them far less conspicuous than chanterelles against the forest duff, though their gnome-cap appearance is distinctive.
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Other Fungi
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Tree-hanging lichens are common in the Pacific Northwest. A vast array of lichens, which have a fungal component, grow in Pacific Northwest habitats. Conifers are often festooned with wispy, shredded drapes of horsehair and old-man's-beard lichen. Identify types of corkir lichen on the bark of alder trees, which often grow in riparian thickets: They appear as pale patching against the gray trunk.
Warning
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Some mushrooms in the Northwest, as elsewhere, are toxic to humans and may even be fatal if ingested. Do not harvest or consume any mushroom unless you are sure of its identity. Taking a mushroom-ID class and conducting a spore print are good approaches for cautious identification.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images mushrooms image by Witold Krasowski from Fotolia.com lichen in tree image by Webconomist from Fotolia.com
