Sorry, it's a Suillus "Look at all these Boletes!" As an eager beginner, you spend an hour in the woods collecting what you think is going to be the meal of the year.... Sorry… it's a Suillus . It's the culinary equivalent of a wet sponge, and a maggot riddled one at that! ... Suillus luteus (from scmycoflora.org) One of the most common remarks I get from eager beginners in the fall and winter is, "look at all these Boletes!" Excited that they have just hit the mother load of culinary excellence, I remark (as many before me), "sorry… it's a Suillus ". As what a Suillus is and why it is not on par with a "true" Bolete is explained, you can see the disappointment set in. Just one of those mushroom "rights of passage" we all have to go through. You spend an hour in the woods collecting what you think is going to be the meal of the year, only to find out you have the culinary equivalent of a wet sponge, and a maggot riddled one at that! With a little time and experience however Suillus is one of our easier local fungi to ID at the genus level simply by sight. Suillus pseudobrevipes . Photo by Christian Schwarz Suillus in generic terms is a Bolete, a common reference for pored terrestrial mushrooms in our area. In scientific terms they are in the order Boletales , defacto making them a Bolete. However Suillus is not only in a different genus, they are now in their own family Suillaceae . So what do they have in common with the mushrooms in the genus Boletus that trip people up? A few things: overall stature, pores instead of gills, habitat, color (sort of) and wishful thinking… When you see literally 20lbs of light-brown capped, pored mushrooms poking through the duff in a stand of pines the mushroom fever kicks in, and what in actuality is Suillus pungens , for a few frenzied moments is the greatest haul of Boletus edulis ever. Someone once said if you listen closely you can actually hear the mushrooms laughing at you… So what makes a Suillus a Suillus and not a Boletus , Leccinum, Aureoboletus , Buchwaldoboletus , Chalciporus , Tylopilus , Xerocomellus or Xerocomus ??? Lots of things, but here are a few stand-out macro characteristics that can be applied quickly in the field. First off, commonness and sheer quantity. Suillus outnumbers Boletus by what at times seems to be a billion to one. That epic patch you just stumbled on is not Boletus , it's Suillus . If it seemed too good to be true, that is because it is. The mushroom world plays by those rules as well. Also, Suillus will fruit fall through spring, whereas the prized edible Boletes tend to in fall and early winter, and normally only for a few weeks at best. Next is the slime! With the exception of one species in Aureoboletus , none of the "Boletes" even remotely come close to the cap slime, stickiness or goo of Suillus . Those pesky glandular dots! These always confuse people, so the simplest description I can give is small, dark dots or blotches on the stem that are greasy to the touch. None of the other Boletes have these (scabers on Leccinum are more bumpy and hard). Another characteristic I go with is smell. Suillus tends to have a very fresh, almost fruity aroma. It is very pleasant and reminds people of frozen orange juice or coniferous trees. And finally the "close, but not enough" characteristics of size and color. Suillus can be big mushrooms, but Boletus are normally bigger. Suillus caps tend to be brownish, but not as brown or brick red as Boletus caps. Suillus have pores, but they are not quite like Boletus . Really after an exhaustive survey of both genera one sees there is little in common when observed at a more objective, granular level. Here is a "scientific" description we have put together on the Santa Cruz Mycoflora Project website, for those that need a bit more: Suillus is a large and cosmopolitan genus, present throughout the world (in some places due to introduction). Recognition of the genus can take some time (since they are quite variable and intergrade to some degree with other bolete genera). The fruitbodies are usually medium-sized boletes. The caps are variably colored and show many different textures (smooth and extremely viscid to dry and scaly or hairy), but most have an easily-peeled skin (unlike many other boletes). The pores are often angular or slightly irregular and sometimes radially-arranged. Inspection of the stipe is important, as almost all species show either a partial veil or greasy glandular dots (the latter trait is unique to the genus). All are mycorrhizal, occurring in almost any setting as long as there are coniferous hosts in the family Pinaceae present. In our county, these hosts are the true pines and Douglas-fir. The genus is fairly speciose in California, with diversity structured around host and habitat specialization. Many species likely are undescribed or go by misapplied names. Fruitbodies found under non-native pines should be compared directly against European references, a number of Eurasian Suillus have been recorded in other parts of the state." -- Genus: Suillus , the Santa Cruz Mycoflora Project All jokes and remarks aside, what about actually eating them? I have read in Europe they are regularly eaten and in some areas, mainly Slavic countries, they are a prized edible. Locally they are typically shunned in favor of the "real" Boletes, chanterelles, Amanitas , etc. I have eaten a few of the local species and admittedly they were not that bad. Only fresh, firm buttons were used and the cap skin and slime was pealed off. If you can, remove the pores as well. They were fried in light butter and salt and eaten by themselves. One time they were added to a basic soup. Suillus pungens in my opinion is the best tasting one, but as fate would have it is also the most slimy one! S. pseudobrevipes was not too shabby and both S. caerulescens and S. fuscotomentosus were palatable. Since during our mushroom season you are literally almost guaranteed to find Suillus at any given time, it is worth giving them a shot as an edible. If you like them you will never be out of mushrooms again! Suillus actually are an interesting fungi to study as they have a very strict preference for mychorhizal hosts and apparently have very strict parasitic companions as well. Years of field work are showing that fungi in the family Gomphidiaceae parasitize Suillus on an intimate level. If research is correct literally each species of Suillus lives with only one type of conifer and is in turn parasitized by a specific species in Gomphidiaceae ! That is pretty specialized stuff! If you pay attention in our local woods you can witness this behavior for yourself. But alas, this is knowledge just for the science geeks amongst us, and at the end of the day for the average forager Suillus will remain the mushroom world's consolation prize in the sweepstakes for Boletes. Mushrooms covered: See code Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

Fuchsi. Hygrocybe coccinea. Photo by Joshua Becker Fuchsi Joshua Becker Found in Big Basin along the Skyline-to-Sea Trail. Wet weather. Visit our Featured Fungi page on waxy caps to get more information on these lovely mushrooms: Hygrocybe laetissima (Waxy Caps) Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on December 12, 2016 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Henry Young FFSC Science Advisor Foray and ID Specialist | Willamette Valley Mushroom Society Henry moved to Salem, Oregon in 2016 from Santa Cruz. He is active with the Willamette Valley Mushroom Society teaching a mushroom ID class for members and leading forays. Henry is an amateur mycologist who has collected and studied fungi for over 40 years. He started by taking identification classes with David Arora. He joined the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz in 1986 and has been a board member since 1987. Henry attended the San Francisco State University “Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada” course taught by Dr. Dennis Desjardin and several other workshops and classes dealing with various aspects of mycology. He has been a contributor to mushroom identification for the Willamette Valley, Santa Cruz and San Francisco Fungus Fairs. His name is on the NAMA call list to help identify mushrooms in poisoning cases. In between giving classes at the Fair, he works at the identification table helping to identify mushrooms. Besides a general interest in all types of fungi Henry has a particular interest in poisonous mushrooms, ascomycetes and lichens. Henry is also a member of the Cascade Mycological Society, BAMS and NAMA and has attended several national forays. 2026 Henry Young 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Poisonous Mushrooms Sunday, January 11, 2026 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM Room 1 What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms Explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose your lunch… Show More Monday, January 12, 2026 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM Room 3 A Discussion of Poisonous Mushrooms Saturday, January 11, 2025 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Room 1 What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms We will explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM Room 3

Hygrocybe singeri, Western Witch's Hat Have you ever found a bright orange to red waxy cap, and brought it home only to find your once colorful mushroom was dingy black colored? You have found one of the blackening Hygrocybe , or the “Witch’s Hats”. ... Hygrocybe singeri. Photo by Noah Siegel They are some of our more common Waxy Caps, occuring in a wide variety of forest types; with a particular fondness for redwood or cypress duff. Our most common species is Hygrocybe singeri , recognized by its bright red, orange to yellow colors, a narrowly conical, often viscid cap, and black staining on all parts. Although the name H. conica has been used in California for fruitbodies with a dry stipe, many of these records seem to fall within the variably range of H. singeri . The joke is, you find H. conica in dry weather, and H. singeri when it is raining. However, there may be more than one species in the H. singeri complex. Hygrocybe olivaceoniger . Photo by Noah Siegel Other species of “Witch’s Hats” in California include Hygrocybe olivaceoniger ; which is a smaller species with a greenish to yellow cap, without orange-red tones. It can be difficult to distinguish from small, pale H. singeri , unless one has a range of fruitbodies. It’s an uncommon species in the North Coast redwood forest. Hygrocybe nigrescens . Photo by Noah Siegel More distinct is H. nigrescens (sensu CA), which has larger, consistently redder caps and occurrence under hardwoods. It can be common during wet years in the Sierra Nevada foothills and upper Central Valley oak zone. Hygrocybe conica grp. Found in Phil's Yard. Photo by Noah Siegel I have also seen a spring-fruiting species in the Sierra Nevada which appears to be distinct, a tiny species in Chamise duff ( Adenostoma fasciculatum ) in the foothills and one in Phil’s yard which looks closer to the European H. conica (but doesn’t match genetically). Hygrocybe singeri "alba" (Skyline 2012). Photo by Noah Siegel To make matters more confounding, species of Hygrocybe in this group can have pigmentless forms. The white form of H. singeri soon takes on a grayish cast, then blackish stains overall as it ages. Hygrocybe ( Hygrophorus ) albinellus , described from Boulder Creek appears to be a pure white form of H. acutoconica (and likely, a legit name for our western H. acutoconica ). Mushrooms covered: See code Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

The Chanterelles One of the first wild mushrooms that beginning foragers seek out is our local golden chanterelle. That is most likely because it is relatively abundant, is easy to recognize and has a reputation for being a good edible. For many years, these mushrooms went by the Latin name Cantharellus cibarius . It was only recently that the various different chanterelle species have been given their own unique names. ... Chanterelle. Photo by Yevgeny Nyden Cantherellus cibarius grp . Photo by Stan P One of the first wild mushrooms that beginning foragers seek out is our local golden chanterelle. That is most likely because it is relatively abundant, is easy to recognize and has a reputation for being a good edible. For many years, these mushrooms went by the Latin name Cantharellus cibarius . That species, however, was originally described from northern France and our early mycologists used that same name for our local version exhibiting what appeared to be the same characteristics. It was only recently that the various different chanterelle species have been given their own unique names. In a paper (2008) written by David Arora (local mycologist, author of the popular field guide, Mushrooms Demystified , and founder of the Fungus Federation) with co-author Susie Dunham, three distinct species of golden chanterelles were described. These were based upon collections from a variety of habitats, including our own local live oak/mixed woodlands. As originally described by Scott Redhead, et. al. (1997), Arora and Dunham’s descriptions confirmed that the chanterelles growing with Tsuga (hemlock) or Pseudotsuga (douglas fir) species in northern California and the Pacific Northwest are Cantharellus formosus . That species is smaller than our local version, has a slender stem, tends to grow upward in the duff rather than deeply buried, and exhibits pinkish tones in its coloration. Also confirmed in Arora and Dunham’s work was the species C. cibarius, var. roseocanus , originally described by Redhead, et. al. (1997) as an associate of Picea (spruce) species in the Pacific Northwest.This species, now referred to by most as just C. roseocanus , exhibits an intensely pigmented yellow hymenium (the spore-bearing surface). Cantharellus californicus . Photo by Ken Stavropoulosthe (from mushroomobserver.org ) Of more immediate interest to us here in central California, the last distinct golden chanterelle Arora and Dunham isolated from the DNA studies conducted on their collections was the large one we find in our local live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ) and mixed evergreen woodlands. At that point this species, shown to be distinct from other species, was unnamed. The authors named it C. californicus . As our luck would have it, that species is considered one of, if not, the largest species in the world, some specimens weighing in over one kilogram (2.2 pounds)! Although live oak is the primary ectomycorrhizal host of C. californicus , it also associates to a lesser extent with tanbark oak ( Lithocarpus densiflorus ), madrone ( Arbutus menziesii ), Manzanita ( Arctostaphylos spp. ) and several oaks found in the Sierra Nevada mountains (Shreve oak ( Quercus parvula, var. shrevei ), interior or Sierra live oak ( Q. wislizenii ) and black oak ( Q. kelloggii )). Cantharellus cascadensis . Photo by Christian Schwarz (from mushroomobserver.org ) Although not a local central California species, another golden chanterelle is C. cascadensis , a species described by Dunham, et. al. (2003) from the Douglas fir forests of the Cascade Mountains. That species has the familiar yellowish coloration on the cap surface but its hymenium is very pale, essentially white. The feature common to the inclusive group of mushrooms termed “chanterelles” is the presence of the thick, blunt, shallow and decurrent gills. With some possible exceptions, most are considered edible. They also come in a range of colors besides the golden discussed earlier: white, black, red and blue. The white chanterelle, C. subalbidus , is a common species growing with tanoak or in Manzanita mixed with knobcone pine. In my experience, it is more common north of San Francisco than locally. The black chanterelle ( Craterellus cinereus ) grows locally in mixed oak habitat solitary or in scattered groups or clusters. Personally, I have only found it when picking black trumpets ( Craterellus cornucopiodes ) especially in a tanoak habitat. It closely resembles the black trumpets in characteristics and taste but is solid versus tubular and has the shallow blunt gills versus a smooth hymenium. Neither the tiny red chanterelle ( C. cinnebarinus ) nor the blue ( Polyozellus multiplex ) grows locally so no more than this mention will be featured here. Craterellus (Cantharellus) tubaeformis . Photo by Ryane Snow (from mushroomobserver.org ) Another chanterelle worth describing is the “winter chanterelle” or “yellow foot” since we often find many of these growing on our forays to the Mendocino area north of San Francisco. These mushrooms are relatively small, have a deep funnel shape (infundibuliform) in the cap, brown to dark brown to dingy yellow-brow cap color, and a thin, flattened, orange-yellow to yellow stem. It is normally found in mossy areas, on old rotting logs and in cold, damp areas in coniferous forests and bogs. This is another common edible that can grow in large numbers and if frequently purchased by commercial mushroom buyers. For many years, this was called Cantharellus infundibuliformis and Cantharellus tubaeformis , but the name has been changed to Craterellus tubaeformis . Two other “chanterelles” deserve mention here since we frequently encounter them on our forays to the Mendocino area. Both are considered chanterelles because of the resemblance of the shallow, blunt gills to the more common species already discussed. Both are in the genus Gomphus . The first, G. clavatus (pig’s ears) is a conifer associate that grows in fused or compound clusters and is typically a light purple to purplish-tan paling in age to olive/yellowish-buff. It is considered an edible species. The other conifer-loving species is Turbinellus (previously Gomphus ) floccosus , the scaly or wooly chanterelle. These tall, trumpet to vase-shaped mushrooms have caps that are orangish to yellowish-orangish often fading in color. The gill surface is creamy, buff or yellowish. This, too, is considered an edible species like G. clavatus , but few people that I’ve met collect them for the table. May other species of chanterelles can be found in the rest of the world and are regularly collected as prime edible species. Only the west coast species have been considered for this article, however. Literature cited: Arora, D. and Dunham, S. M. 2008. A new, commercially valuable chanterelle species, Cantharellus californicus sp. nov., associated with live oak in California, USA . Economic Botany 62 (3); 376-391. Dunham, S. M., O’Dell, T.E., and Molina R. 2003. Analysis of nrDNA sequences and microsatellite allele frequencies reveals a cryptic chanterelle species, Cantharellus cascadensis sp. nov . from the American Pacific Northwest . Mycological Research 107 (10); 1163-1177. Redhead, S. A., Norvell, L.L., and Danell, E. 1997. Cantharellus formosus and the Pacific Golden Chanterelle Harvest in Western North America . Mycotaxon 65: 285-322. Mushrooms covered: See code Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

Spring Long Distance Foray Join our Spring Foray when the snow melts in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and enjoy the vernal appearance of morels, coccoras, woodland agaricus and early boletes. FFSC's first Spring Foray was in 1987, led by Brad Beebe. Brad would scout the Sierras for morels in multiple locations in April and decide a week or so prior where he would lead. It was so well received that it was established as an annual foray. This is a loose gathering for FFSC members. Everyone finds their own camping spot and hunts on their own. The only fixed event is the Saturday night potluck. Everyone meets at a designated location, brings chairs, their dish, drinks, eating gear and firewood. Everyone helps clean up and we are sure to have good food, drinks, laughter as we share our hunt stories around the fire. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

Mushroom flower. Stalked polypore. Photo by Alex Russakovsky Mushroom Flower Alex Russakovsky On a yearly trip to the Mendonoma coast that we always dedicate to the memory of Ryane Snow . Spent some days under pouring rain hunting for edibles, however not much to report. About 200 chanterelles (3 different varieties), 15 matsutake, 20 honeys, a couple of pigs' ears. Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on December 7, 2019 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Beer and Mushrooms Picnic As our stories turn to morel hunts and spring kings, we gather for a co-op potluck picnic with the Central Coast Zymurgeeks , a local homebrew group. (Wouldn't you go just to say you had MET a "Zymurgeek"??) But seriously, these people make some fine brew and cider! The überchefs of FFSC grill up a storm, and FFSC members bring main dishes and lots of mushroomy sides as well. The 2026 Beer and Mushrooms Picnic will be held on Saturday, May 16. Members can access more info below. Fried Morel Corn Fritters at Suds n Shrooms. Photo by Katherine Elvin The annual Beer and Mushrooms Picnic (formerly called "Suds 'n' Shrooms") is a great time to gather, enjoy the end of the season and the usual array of great potluck food that our excellent cooks in the FFSC provide. What's more, you'll have the opportunity to sample some fine, award-winning beers made by the excellent zymurgists (brewers) of the Central Coast Zymurgeeks. If you want to learn or share information about the art of brewing, the Zymurgeeks are extremely knowledgeable and can address your questions. Asking brewers how their beer was crafted will be greeted with enthusiasm and a detailed procedure This is a members only event. Of course members of FFSC and the Zymurgeeks may bring family and friends of all ages, and well-behaved pets on leash! Visit this website around March-April each year (or join our Google Group mailing list ) to find out when the next picnic is scheduled! As with all our potlucks, please be sure to review any specific requirements outlined in the event announcement, as well as the guidelines in our Potluck Essentials page. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

Auriscalpium vulgare. Photo by Dan Tischler Auriscalpium vulgare Dan Tischler The ear-pick or pine cone mushroom is a member of the order Russulales , making it a close relative of Russula and Lactarius species along with Stereum and Hericium . Camera Olympus TG-4 Focal L. 6mm Aperture f/3.2 Shutter Sp. 1/100s ISO 200 Flash Off Photo taken on January 19, 2019 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Weathered Morel (2014). Photo by Hugh Smith Weathered Morel Hugh Smith Formerly called Morchella elata (which is now known not to exist in North America). Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on May 18, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Wavy Caps (Psilocybe cyanescens) Psilocybe is the primary genus of hallucinogenic mushrooms, containing such famous species as Liberty Caps (P. semilanceata ), Cubes (P. cubensis), and the topic of this article, Wavy Caps (P. cyanescens ). ... Wavy caps specimens. Photo by Christian Schwarz Note from The Powers That Be: In the United States, psilocybin-containing mushrooms are classified as Schedule 1 drugs, illegal to possess, sell, transport, or cultivate. (This includes spores in the State of California.) The information on this page is provided for scientific and educational purposes only. Almost always encountered on wood chips, Psilocybe cyanescens is an aggressive ruderal species, fond of disturbance in urban areas. It is especially common in the cold, wet winter months around the San Francisco Bay. Through a combinatin of unintentional and intentional transplantation by humans and natural dispersal, it has spread widely throughout the United States. In California, it occurs at least as far south as San Diego County, although it is fairly rare south of Santa Cruz County. Psilocybe allenii is a recently-described species that is extremely similar in most respects. It is primarily differentiable by its less-wavy cap. See this link for more details: http://www.czechmycology.org/_cmo/CM64207.pdf Although only P. cyanescens and P. allenii occur with any regularity in Santa Cruz County, the further north one travels along the Pacific Coast, the more diverse the Psilocybe-assemblage becomes: P. baeocystis, P. azurescens, P. stuntzii, P. ovoideocystidiata, P. pelliculosa, and P. semilanceata all occur in this area, among those already mentioned. Main Photo: The main photo on this page shows somewhat faded specimens. Note the wavy caps and blue stains on the stipe. Spore deposit is dark purplish-gray to very dark reddish-brown. First Photo: Specimens showing the tendency of the stipe bases to bring up large chunks of substrate tightly bound with tough rhizomorphs. Note the aqua to navy-blue stains and the wavy cap margins. Second Photo: Specimens that have not yet developed much blue staining. Note the umbonate caps that are becoming wavy, chestnut-caramel colored caps, bright white stipes, and button with a silky white cortina-type partial veil near the center. Primary confusion species are other Psilocybe , but recreational users run the risk of confusing them with potentially-deadly Galerina marginata , as well as Pholiotina or Conocybe species. All of these have more fragile stipes, bright rusty-orange spore deposits, and lack strong blue staining on all parts. Galerina marginata grp. Photo: These rusty-spored wood-chip dwellers sometimes grow right alongside Psilocybe species, posing a serious danger to inexperienced recreational pickers. The softer stipe texture, lack of blue staining, and rusty spore deposit help distinguish them. P. cyanescens and its relatives are widely cultivated and collected for recreational use by a global populaton of neuronauts and other adventure-seekers. Effects of ingestion include wondrous and/or overwhelming visual enhancements/disturbances, heightened sensations, cyclical and often “swelling” feelings of ecstasy, euphoria and connection to place, people, Nature, Time, and the Universe; but can also result in feelings of fear, unease, disconnection, and loss of sense of Self. As with any psychedelic drug, personal predispositions and psychic peculiarities in combination with details of set and setting exert a heavy influence on the tone of the trip. Mushrooms covered: Conocybe tenera gr. Galerina marginata (deadly galerina, funeral bell) Pholiotina sp. Psilocybe allenii Psilocybe azurescens Psilocybe baeocystis Psilocybe cyanescens ( wavy cap) Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata Psilocybe pelliculosa Psilocybe semilanceata Psilocybe stuntzii Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

Aureoboletus (Boletus) mirabilis, Puget Sound. Photo by Yevgeny Nyden Aureoboletus mirabilis Yevgeny Nyden Aureoboletus (Boletus) mirabilis , commonly known as the admirable bolete, the bragger's bolete, and the velvet top, is an edible species of fungus in the Boletaceae mushroom family. ( Wikipedia ) I took this photo in the Olympic National Park, Washington when I was visiting the Puget Sound Wild Mushroom Show. Camera Samsung SGH-M919 Focal L. 4mm Aperture f/2.2 Shutter Sp. 1/700s ISO 1000 Flash Off Photo taken on October 13, 2013 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo