Michael Davis
Lobster mushrooms are easy to identify due to their unique characteristics. They are bright orange or red and broadly vase-shaped with dirty, cracked tops. They have no gills, a hard, rough exterior, and a dense, hard inside that is white to orange-white. They are often found under conifer trees, especially cedar trees, and are usually surrounded by a ring of fine white powder. Lobster mushrooms are considered a great mushroom for beginner foragers because they are easy to identify and have a low risk of being mistaken for poisonous mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Bright orange to reddish-purple |
| Shape | No stem, no clearly defined cap, no gills |
| Cap | Irregular, lighter in colour on top |
| Flesh | White, tends to brown when old |
| Habitat | Under ferns, Douglas fir, and maple trees |
| Season | Mid-to-late summer, July to October |
| Growth | In clusters of 2 or 3, with others up to 5 metres away |
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What You'll Learn
- Lobster mushrooms are bright orange to reddish-purple in colour
- They have no stem, no clearly defined cap, and no gills
- They are often found in clusters of 2-3, with others growing up to 5 metres away
- Lobster mushrooms grow under ferns, Douglas fir, and maple trees
- They are parasitic ascomycetes, infecting Russula and Milkcap mushrooms
Lobster mushrooms are bright orange to reddish-purple in colour
Lobster mushrooms are often found in tight clusters of 2 or 3, with others growing up to 5 meters away. They often appear in the same area year after year and can be marked for future foraging trips. They can be found from July to October, depending on local and weekly weather conditions, and are typically found in habitats with loose forest floors that allow them to push up from below. They are often found under conifer trees, especially cedar trees, and their bright colour makes them stand out from the forest floor.
When identifying lobster mushrooms, look for an orange-to-red colour, similar to a burning ember or the colour of a freshly cooked marine crustacean, which gives the mushroom its name. The top of the cap is often a little bit lighter in colour, and they can sometimes have partial white splotches or even be completely white. As they age, they get darker red and can develop touches of purple.
Lobster mushrooms are safe to forage and only infect edible fungi species. However, it is important to cook them thoroughly before consuming and to avoid old or rotten specimens. It is always recommended to get outside confirmation from multiple sources when identifying mushrooms.
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They have no stem, no clearly defined cap, and no gills
Lobster mushrooms are bright orange to reddish-purple in colour and solid, with no stem, no clearly defined cap, and no gills. They are often found in clusters of two or three, with others growing up to five meters away. They are parasitic ascomycetes, a type of parasitic mushroom that creates spores through special sacs on their outer surface. This Hypomyces mold attacks host species such as Russula and Milkcap mushrooms, which have stems, distinct caps, and gills. The parasitic process transforms the host, rendering it unidentifiable.
Lobster mushrooms are easy to identify due to their distinctive texture, large size, and bright colour. They are often found under conifer trees, particularly cedar trees, and their preferred host is Russulla brevipes. When searching, look for flashes of orange in the undergrowth and spots of fine white powder. Lobster mushrooms often grow in similar locations year after year, so marking the spot is helpful for future foraging.
The caps of lobster mushrooms are always irregular due to the parasitizing fungi warping and manipulating its host. Instead of gills, they have a ridged surface that won't bend or move to the touch. The inner flesh of a fresh specimen is usually pure white, while older mushrooms tend to brown or develop an orangey hue.
Lobster mushrooms are considered a great choice for beginner foragers as they are relatively easy to identify and only infect edible fungi species. However, it is important to cook them thoroughly before consuming, avoid old or rotten specimens, and only eat a small amount initially to ensure they don't cause any adverse reactions.
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They are often found in clusters of 2-3, with others growing up to 5 metres away
Lobster mushrooms are relatively easy to identify and are considered a great mushroom for beginner foragers. They are often found in clusters of 2-3, with others growing up to 5 metres away. Lobster mushrooms will often appear in the same area year after year, so make a note of the location when you find some. They can be found from July to October, depending on local and weekly weather conditions. They are unlikely to grow at very high or low altitudes.
Lobster mushrooms have a distinctive texture, large size, and bright colour. Their bright red or orange-red coloration makes them stand out from the forest floor. They can be found under ferns, Douglas fir, and maple trees. In British Columbia, lobster mushrooms can grow in diverse habitats, but are usually found under conifer trees. They are one of the few edible mushrooms that can grow in large numbers under cedar trees.
Lobster mushrooms are the result of a parasitic fungus, Hypomyces lactifluorum, which grows on two otherwise inedible species, Lactarius piperatus and Russula brevipes, rendering them delicious. The caps of lobster mushrooms are always irregular due to the parasitizing fungi warping and manipulating its host. The gills are non-existent, replaced by a ridged surface. The inner flesh of a fresh specimen is pure white, sometimes with an orangey hue, and tends to brown when old or rotting.
Lobster mushrooms can be identified by their bright orange to reddish-purple colour, with no clearly defined stem or cap, and no gills. They often begin to enlarge beneath the soil surface, causing them to lift a layer of topsoil or leaf litter, resulting in bulges on the topsoil known as "shrumps". When searching, keep an eye out for flashes of orange in the undergrowth and spots of fine white powder.
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Lobster mushrooms grow under ferns, Douglas fir, and maple trees
Lobster mushrooms are a safe choice for foragers as they are easy to identify and infect only edible fungi species. They are parasitic ascomycetes, a type of parasitic mushroom that creates spores through special sacs on their outer surface. The Hypomyces mold attacks Russula and Milkcap mushrooms, turning them into something entirely different. The host species become unidentifiable, with no stems, clearly defined caps, or gills.
Lobster mushrooms are often found in forests with spruce, hemlock, and
When searching for lobster mushrooms, look out for flashes of orange in the undergrowth, as they are often encrusted in an orange-to-red color when in their prime. Keep an eye out for spots of fine white powder, which are the spores that form when they mature. They often grow in tight clusters of 2 or 3, with others growing up to 5 meters away. They grow from mid-to-late summer, and heavy rainfall can result in a large fruiting of lobster mushrooms about a week later.
Lobster mushrooms are relatively abundant in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, where they occur in coastal habitats and along the cascade range. They are also found in California, mostly on the western side of the northern Coast Range, from Sonoma County and up.
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They are parasitic ascomycetes, infecting Russula and Milkcap mushrooms
Lobster mushrooms (Hypomyces lactifluorum) are parasitic ascomycetes, a type of parasitic mushroom that creates spores through special sacs on their outer surface. This Hypomyces mold attacks specific host species, transforming them entirely. The Lobster fungus specifically infects Russula (Russula sp.) and Milkcap (Lactarius sp.) mushrooms, which are common-looking fungi with stems, distinct caps, and gills.
The Russula and Milkcap mushrooms serve as the preferred hosts for the Lobster parasite. During the parasitic process, the host mushroom is physically altered, resulting in a "new" mushroom that is unrecognizable. The mature Lobster mushroom is bright orange to reddish-purple, solid, and lacks a stem, a clearly defined cap, or gills. This distinct appearance makes Lobster mushrooms relatively easy to identify, even for beginner foragers.
Lobster mushrooms are found in wooded areas, often near Russula brevipes or Lactarius species growing in conifer forests, particularly under ponderosa pine in the American Southwest and Pacific Northwest. They tend to grow in clusters, with others located up to 5 meters away, and can be found from July to October, depending on local weather conditions. Heavy rainfall followed by warm weather creates favorable conditions for their growth.
While Lobster mushrooms are widely consumed and considered safe for foraging, it is important to cook them thoroughly before eating. As with all mushrooms, avoid consuming old or rotten specimens, and only eat a small amount the first time to ensure no adverse reactions. Additionally, although no instances of toxicity have been recorded, field guides caution against consuming Lobster mushrooms with unknown hosts, as there is a hypothetical risk of parasitism on toxic fungi.
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Frequently asked questions
Lobster mushrooms are bright orange to reddish-purple. They are named after the vibrant red of the freshly cooked marine crustacean.
Lobster mushrooms can be found in forests, growing under ferns, Douglas fir, and maple trees. In British Columbia, they are usually found under conifer trees.
Lobster mushroom caps are irregular, with no gills, only a ridged surface. The gills are non-existent as a result of the parasitizing fungi warping and manipulating its host.
Lobster mushrooms are relatively easy to identify and hard to mistake for another mushroom. They are bright in colour and have a distinctive texture and large size. They often grow in tight clusters of 2 or 3, with others growing up to 5 metres away.
