The genus name Gyromitra comes from two Greek words: gyros – circle or ring (as in gyroscope) mitra – headband or turban, later the bishop’s headdress (mitre, mitre joint) The “false morels” were traditionally all placed in Gyromitra, including brain-shaped, saddle-shaped, and disc-shaped species. Recent molecular work has split them into several genera (Maublancomyces, Paragyromitra,…
Identifying Cottonwood Trees How to find black cottonwood for early-season mushroom hunting in the PNW Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) is one of the most important trees for early-season mushroom hunting in Western Washington. While our region is dominated by conifers, cottonwoods grow along rivers, streams, and lake margins — and they’re among the first trees…
Fungus vs. Mushroom What’s the Difference? People use “fungus” and “mushroom” interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. A fungus is the entire organism. A mushroom is just one part of it — the reproductive structure that pops up above ground to release spores. It’s like the difference between an apple tree and an apple….
Toadstool is an informal, folk term for a mushroom, usually one with an umbrella-like cap on a central stem, and often one that is inedible or poisonous. It has no scientific meaning and does not refer to any specific mushroom or group of mushrooms. Since about 1800 the word has been “popularly restricted to poisonous…
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