The casual observer can see about 40 - 50 different types of mushrooms or fungi at the Garden over the course of the season. Mushroom authority Gary Lincoff ,who taught mushroom identification at NYBG for years, compiled the following list of mushrooms he observed at NYBG for his mushroom blog.

Mushrooms observed on the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden (since 2010). [A great many mushrooms were reported on the grounds of the NYBG early in the 20th Century, but very few of these have been seen recently.]

CUP FUNGI

Aleuria aurantia (Orange peel Cup)

Apiosporina morbosa (Black knot of Cherry)

Hypomyces chrysospermus

Hypoxylon fragiforme

Hypoxylon sp. (black)

JELLY FUNGI

Dacryopinax spathularia

Exidia recisa (Smooth Wood-ear)

Tremella mesentica (aurantia) (Witch’s butter)

CORAL FUNGI and TOOTH FUNGI

Clavicorona pyxidata

Clavulina cristata

Ramaria stricta

Hericium erinaceus

CRUST and PARCHMENT FUNGI

Plicaturopsis crispa

Punctularia strigoso-zonata

Stereum complicatum

Stereum hirsutum

Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail)

POLYPORES

Antrodia albida

Ganoderma curtisii (Blue Reishi)

Ganoderma lucidum complex

Grifola frondosa (Maitake, Hen of the woods)

Inonotus dryadeus

Irpex lacteus

Ischnoderma resinosum

Laetiporus sulphureus (Chicken mushroom)

Meripilus sumstinei

Oligoporus caesius

Phaeolus schweinitzii (Dye polypore)

Polyporus squamosus (Dryad’s saddle)

Spongipellis pachyodon

Trametes gibbosa

Trametes hirsuta

Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail)

Trichaptum biforme (Purple edged polypore)

Tyromyces chioneus (White cheese polypore)

BOLETES

Boletus campestris

Boletus chrysenteron

Boletus subtomentosus

Boletus subvelutipes

Leccinum scabrum

Suillus americanus

Suillus granulatus

Tylopilus sordidus

GILLED MUSHROOMS

Agaricus arvensis complex

Agaricus placomyces (Yellow foot Agaricus)

Agaricus subrufescens

Agrocybe dura complex

Agrocybe erebia

Agrocybe pediades

Amanita citrina

Amanita crenulata

Amanita “virosa” (bisporigera) (Destroying angel)

Amanita volvata complex

Armillaria mellea complex (Honey mushroom)

Armillaria tabescens

Clitocybe nuda (Blewit)

Conocybe lactea

Coprinus atramentarius (Alcohol inky)

Coprinus disseminatus

Coprinus micaceus (Mica inky-cap)

Coprinus plicatilis (Japanese parasol inky-cap)

Crepidotus applanatus

Entoloma abortivum

Galerina autumnalis

Gymnopilus penetrans

Gymnopilus spectabilis complex (Big laughing gym)

Gymnopus sp.

Hebeloma sp.

Hypholoma fasciculare (Sulfur-tuft)

Hypholom lateritium (sublateritium) (Bricktops)

Hypsizygus tesselatus (Stalked oyster mushroom)

Lepitoa cristata

Marasmius sp.

Micromphale sp.

Mycena alcalina

Mycena corticola (tiny, white)

Mycena inclinata

Mycena sp. (dark cap, gray gills)

Inocybe spp. (Fiber caps)

Panaeolus foenisecii (Lawn mower’s mushroom)

Panaeolus “subbalteatus” (cinctulus) ?

Pholiota aurivella

Phyllotopsis nidulans

Pleurotus ostreatus

Pluteus cervinus (Fawn mushroom)

Psathyrella candolleana

Psathyrella velutina (Velvety psathyrella)

Psilocybe cyanescens (Magic mushroom)

Russula aerugininea

Russula mariae

Russula pectinatoides

Russula silvicola

Russula spp.

Schizophyllum commune

Stropharia rugosoannulata (Wine cap)

Tubaria sp.

GASTEROMCYETES

Calvatia gigantea (Giant puffball)

Crucibulum laeve (Bird’s nest fungus)

Cyathus olla complex

Lycoperdon curtisii

Lycoperdon perlatum

Lycoperdon pyriforme (Pear-shaped puffball)

Mutinus elegans (Red-headed stinkhorn)

Phallus hadriani (Green-headed stinkhorn)

Pseudocolus fusiformis

Scleroderma cepa

Scleroderma citrinum

Scleroderma polyrhizon (Earthstar false puffball)

Dr. Roy Halling, Curator Emeritus of Mycology, has some favorite locations on the NYBG grounds to look for mushrooms after a significant rainfall. His life’s work has been studying mushrooms. “I want to know what they are, where they grow, and how they are related to each other," he explains. Roy’s top three spots are Twin Lakes, the bottom of Azalea Way, and the Arthur and Janet Ross Conifer Arboretum. The bases of pines and oaks are the best places to look for mushrooms because of the symbiotic relationship between the roots of these trees and mushrooms.

Of course, there are many, many mushrooms, and most are poisonous to humans. Roy notes “Fungi are the primary organisms responsible for recycling. They are nature’s recyclers.

 

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- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service