Natural History Wanderings

Bay  Nature reported

The soils beneath our feet teem with fungi. The mycelia-networks of rootlike hyphae that form the actual fungal organism-are interwoven and conjoined with tree roots underground. During the winter months, rain spurs the matrix of mycelia to develop fruiting bodies: mushrooms. These caps emerge from the duff in a great variety of shapes and colors.

Public parks are great places to spot varieties of mushrooms. But beware: most parks in California restrict or outright forbid mushroom collecting; in some parks, the fines can be considerable. Furthermore, those untrained in the proper identification of California’s approximately 300 species should take care, as more than a few are toxic if eaten. However, there are no penalties-and many rewards-for admiring these evanescent beauties in their natural settings. Here is, by county, a list of some sites recommended by local fungophiles for good mushroom viewing.

Read on baynature.org/article/finding-the-fungi/