Field Notes from a Fungi Forager: An Illustrated Journey Through the World of Pacific Northwest Mushrooms by Ashley Rodriguez

Author:Ashley Rodriguez [Rodriguez, Ashley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Star Press
Published: 2024-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Hypomyces lactifluorum

Hypomyces lactifluorum

Lobster mushroom

FAMILY: Hypocreaceae

APPEARANCE: Bright orange and red in color. The surface is smooth when young, then develops small bumps and a rough texture. You’ll likely see non-parasitized short-stemmed brittlegills (Russula brevipes, this page) growing nearby.

HABITAT: Usually growing in small groups with most of the fruiting body still covered by the duff in conifer forests.

SEASON: Late summer into fall

HERE, THE STORY TAKES A dark turn as we witness a form of fungus-on-fungus cannibalism. The lobster mushroom isn’t actually a mushroom, but the result of a fungal attack on the short-stemmed brittlegill. When the Hypomyces lactifluorum fungus infects these mushrooms, it transforms their appearance, giving them a vibrant red or orange color that resembles cooked lobster, or as I like to describe it, the color of Cheetos. It grows on and consumes the host mushroom, eventually replacing it entirely. This unique transformation and the slightly seafood-tinged scent has earned it the common name lobster mushroom.

Because of the bright color and easy-to-distinguish features, this a great mushroom for beginners to identify. It’s also perfect for getting kids out into the woods because they love the idea of one fungus eating another and the bright orange, seemingly unnatural color makes it easy to spot. You may have to root around in the dirt, though, as they first appear hidden under the duff and you may notice only a small bit of orange. After some quick digging, you’ll often uncover a fairly large mushroom. Adding to its intrigue, the lobster mushroom stands as one of the season openers of the fall fruiting months because of its ability to survive in dry conditions and its resistance to rotting. They seem to like environments where I often also find chanterelles. There’s likely moss on the ground, salal growing in abundance, and coniferous trees growing all around.

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