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Latin Name:Ganoderma applanatumLocations Found:This fungus is found globally, mainly in temperateTemperate refers to a climate that's not too hot and not too cold, with moderate rainfall and distinct seasons like spring, summer, fall, and winter. You'll find temperate areas in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. It's the kind of climate where you can see a wide variety of plants and animals, including deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the fall. Learn More regions across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions.Characteristics:It's a perennial, woody bracket fungus that's flat and fan-shaped. The upper surface is brown to grayish-brown, often with a slightly lumpy texture, while the underside is white and turns brown when bruised. It's this feature that's exploited for "drawing." -
Latin Name:Hericium americanumLocations Found:Predominantly in North America, especially in the eastern parts of the continent. They are commonly found on hardwood trees, particularly on oak and beech.Characteristics:This mushroom has no traditional cap. Instead, it features cascading white spines or teeth which hang down, giving it its unique appearance. These teeth turn yellow-brown with age.
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Latin Name:Genera Nidula, Crucibulum, Cyathus, and MycocaliaLocations Found:These fungi are widely distributed and can be found worldwide, particularly in temperate regions.Characteristics:The most distinguishing feature is the nest-like fruiting body, which contains the "eggs" or peridioles. When raindrops hit the nest, the force can eject the peridioles, aiding in dispersal.
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Latin Name:Tylopilus felleusLocations Found:Found across North America, Europe, and Asia in both coniferous and broadleaf forests.Characteristics:It possesses a brown or tan cap, with white pores underneath that become pinkish as the mushroom ages. The stem is thick and may feature a network-like pattern.
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Latin Name:Laetiporus sulphureusLocations Found:It can be found widely across North America and Europe.Characteristics:This mushroom has overlapping brackets that are bright yellow-orange on top and sulphur-yellow underneath. They are fan-shaped and grow in large, shelf-like clusters on tree trunks.
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Latin Name:Pluteus cervinusLocations Found:Widely distributed across North America, Europe, and other parts of the world.Characteristics:The cap of the Deer Mushroom is convex, becoming flatter with age. It has a smooth texture, and its color can range from pale brown to dark brown, often with a radial gradient. The gills underneath the cap are free from the stem and are initially white but become pink as the spores mature.
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Latin Name:Cerioporus squamosusLocations Found:This mushroom is native to North America and EuropeCharacteristics:Its cap is broad and fan-shaped, with brown, scale-like patterns on a creamy white background, resembling the back of a pheasant. The underside reveals white pores instead of gills.
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Latin Name:GeastrumLocations Found:Earthstars can be found worldwide, but are especially common in temperate regions.Characteristics:Their star-like appearance is their most distinguishing feature. The outer layer (peridium) splits and peels back to reveal a round spore sac. The number of "arms" and how far they recurve can vary by species.
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Latin Name:Omphalotus illudensLocations Found:Predominantly in the eastern parts of North America.Characteristics:Bright orange cap, gills, and stem. Unlike true chanterelles, which they can be confused with, the Jack O’ Lantern has true blade-like gills that are sharply attached to the stem. The aforementioned bioluminescence of its gills is also a defining trait.
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Latin Name:Amanita muscariaLocations Found:Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the fly agaric can be found across Europe, Asia, and North America.Characteristics:The most notable features of the fly agaric are its bright red or orange cap adorned with white warts. It also has a white stem, gills, and a skirt-like ring.
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Latin Name:Armillaria melleaLocations Found:Honey mushrooms have a wide distribution and can be found in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.Characteristics:They usually have a yellow-brown cap that’s sticky when moist. The gills are white and sometimes produce a whitish spore print. One distinctive feature is the presence of a white, net-like pattern on the stem near the cap.
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Latin Name:Coprinellus micaceusLocations Found:This mushroom is cosmopolitan, found throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.Characteristics:The cap is bell-shaped, starting out as a deep brown and becoming tan or buff as it matures. The surface is sprinkled with glistening, mica-like particles when young. As it ages, the edges of the cap start to liquefy, turning into a black, inky substance.
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Latin Name:MorchellaLocations Found:Morels can be found in various parts of North America, Europe, Asia, and other continents. They primarily grow in temperate forests, especially in areas that have experienced recent fires.Characteristics:Morels have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges and pits on their elongated caps. They are hollow from the tip of the cap down through the stem.
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Latin Name:Pleurotus ostreatusLocations Found:Oyster mushrooms are widely distributed and can be found throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. They are particularly common in temperate forests.Characteristics:The cap is fan or oyster-shaped, often growing in a shelf-like formation on trees. It can range in color from white to gray or tan to dark brown. The gills run down a short, stubby stem, which is often not centered under the cap.
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Latin Name:Lycoperdon pyriformeLocations Found:This mushroom is widely distributed and can be found throughout North America, Europe, and other parts of the world.Characteristics:As its name suggests, the Pear Shaped Puffball mushroom has a pear-like or somewhat round shape. The outer surface is typically dotted with tiny, spine-like projections that can slough off, leaving a net-like pattern on the surface. The interior becomes filled with a mass of dry, powdery spores as it matures.
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Latin Name:Cantharellus cinnabarinusLocations Found:Red Chanterelles are primarily found in eastern North America, but they can also be found in certain parts of Europe.Characteristics:The Red Chanterelle boasts a vibrant red-orange color. Its cap is somewhat funnel-shaped, and instead of true gills, it has wrinkled, vein-like ridges on the underside, similar to other chanterelles.
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Latin Name:Coprinus comatusLocations Found:Shaggy Mane mushrooms can be found across North America, Europe, and many other parts of the world, often in urban areas as well as forests.Characteristics:The cap is white with scales that give it a "shaggy" appearance. As it matures, the edges of the cap begin to turn black and liquefy, producing an inky substance (hence the alternate name "Inky Cap"). The gills beneath the cap also turn black and liquefy.
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Latin Name:Ramaria sp.Locations Found:This mushroom is primarily found in North America and Europe.Characteristics:Straight Branched Coral mushrooms have tall, straight branches that can be densely packed. They can vary in color but are commonly yellowish, tan, or pale brown. The tips can sometimes be a different color, often a bit darker.
