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Are Morels In Danger In The Eastern United States: Dutch Elm Disease and Emerald Ash Borer Effects

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There are two diseases that have affected and are currently affecting eastern North American trees, which might put morels in danger. These aren’t the only trees morels grow under or with, but they are an important part of morel ecology and ultimately, their lifespan and ability to regenerate. What will happen to morels if we

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Tender Nesting Polypore: Identification, Lookalikes, and Toxicity

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The tender nesting polypore is a soft, fleshy fungus with a warm cinnamon-orange color that blends right into the dead branches it grows on. It’s easy to walk past without noticing. It isn’t edible, it’s actually toxic, but it has a long history of being used to make natural dyes. It produces some beautiful purples.

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Crimped Gill Fungus: Identification, Lookalikes, and Uses

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The crimped gill mushroom (Plicaturopsis crispa) is a cute, little shelf fungus that grows in dense, overlapping tiers on dead wood across North America. Its fan-shaped caps look a lot like other small bracket fungi, but underneath, there is a surprise waiting. Instead of “normal” gills, pores, or a smooth surface, there is a network

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Candlesnuff Fungus: Identification, Lookalikes, and Uses

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In autumn, candlesnuff fungus show up on rotting hardwood stumps — you might see tiny black stalks with white powdery tips growing in dense clusters like a handful of spent matches. These are candlesnuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon), and they are very common in North America. These mushrooms aren’t edible; they’re too small and have no

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Black Witch’s Butter & Warlock’s Butter: Identification, Edibility, and Lookalikes

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Finding black gelatinous blobs scattered across dead logs can be a little unsettling. They’re slimy and a bit gross, like someone dropped grape jelly on a branch or tried to coat it in tar. There are two species of black jelly-like fungi, appropriately named black witch’s butter (Exidia glandulosa) and warlock’s butter (Exidia nigricans). These

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Black Jelly Drops: Identification, Lookalikes, and Edibility

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When you find Black Jelly Drops (Bulgaria inquinans), you may think you’ve discovered someone’s black licorice gumdrop stash in the forest! These fungi are jet-black, rubbery discs that cluster on the bark and wood of fallen oak logs and look, for all the world, like the candy that gives them their common name. Black jelly

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Purple Jellydisc Fungus Identification Guide: Foraging, Lookalikes, and Edibility

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Are you ready for this weirdo for-sure-an-alien fungus? Purple jellydisc (Ascocoryne sarcoides) is absolutely bizarre and a little creepy with its purple blobs of jelly oozing from rotting wood. While this seems strange enough, the purple jellydisc is actually even more eccentric because it literally shape-shifts throughout its life and, when mature, can be quite

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Dog’s Nose Fungus: Identification, Lookalikes, and Edibility

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The dog’s nose fungus (Camarops petersii) is for sure one of the most bizarre-looking fungi species found in the woods. This fungus has an uncanny resemblance to an actual dog’s nose: the surface is black, wet, shiny, and covered with tiny pimples, just like the snouts of the real thing. Maybe this is Mother Earth’s

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Oyster Rollrim Mushroom: Identification, Lookalikes, and Edibility

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The oyster rollrim mushroom (Tapinella panuoides) is a common species across North America. It looks quite a bit like the edible oyster mushroom (Pleurotus) and often gets confused with it. This mushroom will cause gastrointestinal distress if eaten, though, so you don’t want to make that mistake. It isn’t deadly poisonous, but you will seriously

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Why Doesn’t Cooking Make Poisonous Mushrooms Safe To Eat

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Cooking is not a good or trustworthy way to make poisonous mushrooms safe to eat. Believing that cooking can remove toxins is a very dangerous mindset and can lead to life-threatening consequences. Many of the most dangerous mushroom toxins are heat-stable. These heat-stable toxins can survive boiling, frying, baking, drying, and even pressure cooking. In

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Jelly Baby Mushrooms: Identification and Lookalikes

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Minuscule jelly baby mushrooms (Leotia species) look like tiny gummy candy mushrooms popping up from the forest floor. They’re also called jelly bellies because they look unnervingly like the little candies. Don’t pick them up and eat them, though! They’re not dangerous, but you’d be in for an unpleasant texture surprise. They’re gelatinous and rubbery,

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Snowy Waxcap Mushroom: Identification, Lookalikes, and Edibility

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The all-white, aptly named, snowy waxcap mushroom (Cuphophyllus virgineus) grows across North America in fields, lawns, and wooded areas. It is a pretty adaptable species with a very distinct look. Snowy waxcaps are edible and have a slightly nutty flavor when cooked. These mushrooms do have some tricky lookalikes, so be very diligent in your

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Bitter Oyster Mushroom: Identification, Lookalikes, and Edibility

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The bitter oyster mushrooms look a lot like a baby oyster mushrooms, the delicious edible ones! Don’t get your hopes up, though—this is the bitter oyster mushroom, and it’s not a true oyster at all. Plus, it tastes pretty terrible. Still, the bitter oyster mushroom (Panellus stipticus) has its own claim to fame: it glows

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Mock Matsutake: Identification, Edibility, and How to Differentiate it from True Matsutake

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Mock matsutake, also known as False Matsutake, can be confusing to identify. It closely resembles the true matsutake and often grows in the same places, but it is not the highly sought-after pine mushroom. In North America, the two main mock matsutake species are Catathelasma ventricosum and Catathelasma imperiale. These are mostly separated by region,

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The Mushroom Lifecycle: A Beginner’s Introduction To How Mushrooms Grow

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Many people see mushrooms as simple organisms, but they are anything but that. The mushroom lifecycle is complex, fascinating, and something every forager and enthusiast should understand. Part of finding and foraging mushrooms is also learning their growth process, so you know when to look and what to look for, and at what stage a

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Poison Pie Mushrooms: Identification, Lookalikes, and Concerns

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The poison pie mushroom (Hebeloma crustuliniforme) is an especially dangerous species due to its deceptively ordinary appearance. Don’t let bland looks fool you, though. This mushroom is trouble. In some places, these mushrooms are known as “fairy cakes” because they like to grow in vast fairy rings. This also draws attention to them and increases

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