The hairy oyster mushroom (Panus neostrigosus or Lentinus strigosus) fruits on logs and stumps across North America and around the world. It easily catches the eye because the cap is strangely fuzzy and distinctly purplish-red when young, although the color later fades. Hairy oyster mushrooms break down dead hardwood and play a vital role in forest ecosystems. These are not edible mushrooms, but only because they don't taste good and are very tough. They are not toxic.| Mushroom Appreciation
Have you ever spotted a tiny mushroom growing directly from a pine cone? The pinecone mushroom (Auriscalpium vulgare) is a tiny treasure of the forest. It resembles a miniature periscope popping up from a buried pinecone submarine. This minuscule mushroom is easy to overlook (you really have to be looking!) and is always a treat to actually find.| Mushroom Appreciation
The chip cherry mushroom (Leratiomyces ceres) is an interesting species. No one seems to know with certainty where it originated. It grows in mulch and has a worldwide distribution, but an unknown original source. It is not an extremely common species, but when it shows up, it’s hard to miss! Its cap is a bright cherry-red (hence the name!) and it fruits in big groupings.| Mushroom Appreciation