Spore prints: cut off the cap of any mature mushroom and lay its gills on a piece of white paper. Prints usually take 2 – 6 hours to develop. Spores can be obtained from the print for observation under the microscope. A spore is usually a single cell.

Russula emetica (Emetic Russula)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
Gills white or creamy white
Poisonous – can be used to induce vomiting
Great abundance in winter in chaparral and mixed hardwood forest (oak, madrone, manzanita, and pine)
Folsom Lake area, California

Omphalotus olivascens (Jack o’Lantern Mushroom)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print creamy white
Gills bright yellow-orange
Poisonous
In clusters, on or around hardwood stumps, especially oak, madrone, and manzanita
Folsom Lake, California

Armillariella mellea (Honey Mushroom)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
In large clusters on stumps, logs, and living tress, or on ground growing from roots or buried wood. Found at base of manzanita.
It is a parasite on trees. Shoestring root rot. Rhizomorph strands may luminesce at night (Foxfire)
Dry Creek Road at Interstate 80, California

Maramius scorodonius (Garlic Mushroom)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
Gills white-creamy buff
Habitat on leaves, twigs, steams and debris, mostly on tan oak leaves
Smells like garlic.
Road to Lake Clementine from Auburn-Foresthill Road, California

Maramius plicatulus (Frosted Mushroom)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
Habitat among leaves, needles, and debris in woods
One of the most beautiful of all mushrooms.
Roseville, California

Amanita phalloides (Death Cap)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
Gills white
Deadly poisonous
Symptoms are delayed for six to twenty-four hours by which time little can be done. Telltale signs: (1) white gills, (2) white spores, (3) veil (skirt-like ring); and (4) white sack at base usually associated with live oaks
Folsom Lake area, California

Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushroom)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white to pale lilac
Gills white
Habitat on hardwood logs and stumps, sometimes on standing trees, rarely on conifers. Hosts include tan oak, Live Oak, cottonwood, and alders.
Bridal Veil Falls on Highway 50, California

Custoderma fallax
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
Gills white to pale pinkish buff
Habitat in mixed woods of oak and pine
Bridal Veil Falls on Highway 50, California

Stropharia ambigua (Questionable Stropharia)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print dark purple-brown to nearly black
Habitat solitary or in scattered groups in rich, dark humus.
At its best, it is one of the best looking mushrooms.
Bridal Veil Falls on Highway 50, California

Clavariadelphus pistillaris (Common Club Coral)
Basidomycete
Spore print white
Habitat on ground under hardwoods. Common, especially under oak, tan oak, and madrone.
Lake Clementine Road west of Auburn-Foresthill Road, California

Craterellus cornucopioides (Horn of Plenty)
Basidomycete
Spore print pale buff
Habitat under hardwoods, especially Live Oak, but also manzanita, madrone, and an oak
Lake Clementine Road from Auburn-Foresthill Road, California

Lycperdon foetidum (Black Puffball)
Basidomycete
Spore mass white, becoming yellow, finally dull cinnamon-brown to dark drown and powdery
Habitat scattered to many in deep woods
Bridal Veil Falls on Highway 50, California

Corpinus comatus (Shaggy Mane)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print black
Gills white to black with age
Edible and choice
Habitat solitary to large numbers, on hard ground and grassy areas, disturbed soil, especially along roads and paths
Gills digest themselves at maturity – this is called Autodigestion. Autodigestion is a method of spore dispersal and not just normal decay
Roseville, California

Corpinus lagopus (Inky Cap)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print black
Fruiting bodies only last a few hours
Autodigestion
Folsom Lake area, California

Coriolus versicolor (Many-Colored Polypore)
Basidomycete
Pore fungus
Spore print white
Pores usually white
Habitat on logs, stumps, and fallen branches of Live Oak and other hardwoods.
Can be seen on any trip through the woods.
Lake Clementine Road from Auburn-Foresthill Road, California

Helvella lacunose (Black Elf Saddle)
Ascomycete
Habitat in woods, especially pine and oaks in late Fall through early Spring
Bridal Veils Falls on Highway 50, California

Morchella sp. (Morel Mushroom)
Ascomycete
Prized delicacies
Habitat: Hard to pinpoint where they are likely to be found. The best place to look for them is on burnt ground after a forest fire.
Roseville, California

Armillaria albolanaripes (Sheathed Armillaria)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
Gills creamy to yellow
Soft cottony scales on the stem
Habitat solitary or small groups in woods
Bridal Veil Falls on Highway 50, California

Amanita calyptroderma (Coccora)
Basidomycete
Gilled Mushroom
Spore print white
Gills white to creamy-yellowish
Habitat solitary to large numbers
Common in the Fall after heavy rains
Madrone is a favorite Mycorrhizal associate.
Lake Clementine Road from Auburn-Foresthill Road, California

Bird’s Nest Fungi
Basidomycete
Fruiting body consists of tiny vase or “nest” furnished with spore balls or “eggs.”
Spores are dispersed with the aid of raindrops or animals. A single raindrop will splash the eggs out of the nest as much as seven feet away. Each egg contains the correct mating strains.
Habitat: various types or organic matter
Roseville, California