Mushrooms and Other Fungi

Natural History of Toronto's High Park / Plants of Toronto's High Park

Mushrooms and other organisms such as slime molds are neither plants nor animals, but rather belong to a kingdom of their own: Fungi.

Bird's Nest Fungus

This tiny fungus is Crucibulum laeve, Bird's Nest Fungus. Those 'eggs' are tiny capsules called peridioles filled with spores. A falling raindrop splashes the peridioles through the air. Once they land on nearby vegetation they may release their spores in the air or be accidentally eaten by grazing herbivores who can transport the spores via their stomachs to a new place. Another totally appropriate name for this type of fungus is 'splash cups'.

Source: High Park Nature Centre newsletter, Aug. 30, 2018

Pigskin Poison Puffball (Scleroderma citrinum)

The Pigskin Poison Puffball (or Common Earthball) is a mycorrhizal fungi, meaning it has a symbiotic relationship with the trees in the forest. The fungi connects with the roots of the trees and exchanges water and minerals in return for carbohydrates. Both the tree and the fungi benefit from this relationship.

This fungi has quite the name, so let’s break it down! The “Pigskin” refers to the fungus’ outer surface, which is yellow-brown and has a scaly texture reminiscent of a football (American style, often called a “pigskin”). As for “Poison”, there have been some conflicting reports about whether or not this fungus is truly poisonous. However, it is generally regarded as inedible, largely due to the toxins it contains.

Pigskin Poison Puffball. Photo: Andrew Yee

Giant Puffball, Calvatia gigantea. Photo: Bob Yukich

So what about the word “Puffball”? well, once the fungi reaches maturity, the skin of the fruit body will rupture leaving a large and odd shaped opening. From this opening, the spores inside (which have a dusty consistency) can be dispersed by the rain, the wind, or by a group of kids with the High Park Nature Centre, who are excited to see the small and dark puffs of spores shoot out of the fungi.

Source: High Park Nature Centre blog August 13, 2019, article by Haya Aldoori.

A Personal View on Mushrooms

Adapted from an interview of Richard Aaron by the High Park Nature Centre.

Why do you love mushrooms?

There is a certain air of mystery about mushrooms. They can pop up overnight and are found in a surprising variety of places such as on trees, leaves, twigs, dung, animal hooves, etc. Some mushrooms even form partnerships with plant roots. Plus mushrooms come in a bewildering variety of colours, shapes, and sizes. Some even smell like cucumber, radish, curry, anise, watermelon rind, shellfish, maraschino cherry, and a range of other odours. All these things make mushrooms very intriguing to me.

What are some of the amazing fall mushrooms that you have seen in High Park?

High Park has many interesting species of fungi, including corals, birds nests, earthstars, polypores, and giant puffballs. But perhaps my most amazing find in High Park was the Netted Stinkhorn (Dictyophora duplicata) I found more than a decade ago. Not only does it have a unique shape, but it has a really awful odour that flies are attracted to. The flies inadvertently help to spread the spores.

Can you describe the funkiest mushroom you have ever seen?

I’ve seen many remarkable mushrooms and other fungi over the years, but certainly the fungus I saw growing out of a dead cicada would be in my top five. Other top contenders would be several species that glow in the dark, and another that packs its spores into balls and shoots them out like a cannon.

Know any good mushroom jokes?

Question “How many mushrooms does it take to change a light bulb?”

Answer “Zero! They like to grow in the dark.”

Agaricus species. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Entoloma species. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Ganoderma applanatum. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Cantharellus cinnabarinus. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Daldinia concentrica. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Grifola frondosa. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Gyrodon merulioides. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Laetiporus sulphureus. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Ischnoderma resinosum. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Pholiota. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Trametes versicolour. Photo: Katarina Marjan

Amanita virosa - Destroying Angel. Photo: Bob Yukich

Shelf Fungus. Photo: Karen Yukich

Fungus. Photo: Karen Yukich

Puffball. Photo: Fred Patterson

Dacrymyces chrysospermus. Photo: Giovanna Asaro

Amanita muscaria var. guessowii. Photo: Giovanna Asaro

Agaricus sp. Photo: Giovanna Asaro

Laccaria sp. Photo: Giovanna Asaro

Sources

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Mushrooms and other organisms such as slime molds are neither plants nor animals, but rather belong to a kingdom of their own: Fungi.

Bird’s Nest Fungus

This tiny fungus is Crucibulum laeve, Bird’s Nest Fungus. Those ‘eggs’ are tiny capsules called peridioles filled with spores. A falling raindrop splashes the peridioles through the air. Once they land on nearby vegetation they may release their spores in the air or be accidentally eaten by grazing herbivores who can transport the spores via their stomachs to a new place. Another totally appropriate name for this type of fungus is ‘splash cups’.

Source: High Park Nature Centre newsletter, Aug. 30, 2018

Pigskin Poison Puffball (Scleroderma citrinum)

Pigskin Poison Puffball. Photo: Andrew Yee

Giant Puffball, Calvatia gigantea. Photo: Bob Yukich

Source: High Park Nature Centre blog August 13, 2019, article by Haya Aldoori.

LOOK BUT DON'T PICK!

Foraging or collecting for study are not permitted in High Park.The injury and removal of plants in public parks, forests and ravines is prohibited by the Toronto Parks Bylaw, Chapter 608. Learn why you should leave what you find in natural areas.