Fungi in Penrose

The Penrose Area is home to an amazing variety of fungi

The Fungi season in Penrose is only in a short window of time, starting towards the end of March through April. It depends very much on the weather. Warmish days with a bit of moisture and cold nights are all part of the conditions needed to have fungi popping up.
If you are into a bit of Fungi spotting, there are many types growing in the Penrose area and too many to list but some of the interesting ones are listed here below:

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To find out more about mushrooming in State Forests, including which mushrooms are safe and unsafe to eat, click on the button below to download a guide released by the Forest Corporation

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Fly Agaricus (Amanita Muscaria)

Bright red (or orange) with white spots, very pretty but highly toxic. These can be found under pine trees.

Bioluminescent Ghost Fungi (Omphalotus Nidiformis)

This fungus actually glows in the dark and is found on the bottom of dead tree stumps. This fungus is poisonous and cannot be eaten.

Edible Fungi

There are also a couple of types of edible mushrooms that many people go foraging for in Penrose State Forest. Both Saffron Milk Caps (Lactarius Deliciosus) and Slippery Jacks grow exclusively under pine trees and are edible. Foragers are advised to practice caution when picking mushrooms as some varieties can be poisonous