Michael Davis
Mushrooms come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. Orange mushrooms are one such variety and can be found in different parts of the world. Some common types of orange mushrooms include the orange peel fungus, chicken-of-the-woods, chanterelles, and the orange Mycena. These mushrooms vary in shape and size, and edibility, with some being safe to consume while others are poisonous.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Orange Peel Fungus, Chicken-of-the-woods, Sulfur Shelf, Wandering Creamsicle, Orange Mycena |
| Scientific Name | Aleuria aurantia, Laetiporus sulphureus, Marasmius vagus, Mycena sp. |
| Colour | Bright Orange, Yellow-Orange, Red-Orange, Scarlet Orange, Gold |
| Shape | Cup-shaped, Funnel-shaped, Convex-capped, Egg-shaped, Bell-shaped, Conical |
| Size | 1-10 cm wide, 12-20 mm cap diameter, 30-60 mm stipe length, 3-5 mm stipe thickness, 1 1/4- 2 3/4 in stalk length, 1/16-1/8 in stalk width |
| Texture | Fuzzy, Smooth, Slimy, Sticky, Tough, Fibrous |
| Habitat | Grows on bare clay, disturbed soil, dead stumps, logs, trees in deciduous forests, grassland, lawns |
| Region | North America, South Chile, Europe, Missouri, Florida |
| Season | November-March (West), May-November (East), June-September |
| Edibility | Edible, but difficult to collect intact |
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What You'll Learn
- Orange Mycena: small, sticky, bell-shaped, and grows in dense clusters on deciduous wood
- Chicken-of-the-woods: large, bright orange/yellow-orange, and grows on dead stumps, logs, and trees
- Wandering Creamsicle: a common lawn mushroom in Florida, with a vibrant orange cap and white gills
- Orange peel fungus: a widespread fungus that resembles orange peels strewn on the ground
- Chanterelles: small woodland mushrooms with funnel shapes, convex caps, and bright colours
Orange Mycena: small, sticky, bell-shaped, and grows in dense clusters on deciduous wood
The orange mycena, scientifically known as Mycena leaiana, is a hard-to-miss fungus. It is small, sticky, and bell-shaped, with a bright reddish-orange cap that fades to yellowish-orange. The cap is initially egg-shaped, becoming bell-shaped to conical, with a sunken centre. The cap's surface is smooth and sticky, especially in moist weather, and can range in colour from a bright, vibrant orange to a more muted, yellowish-orange hue as the mushroom ages. The gills are broad, closely spaced, and pinkish-yellow, staining orange-yellow when cut, with bright red-orange edges and a light cream inner area. The stalk is long and curved, with a tough, fibrous, and sticky texture, and dense, long, coarse hairs at the base.
Orange mycena grows in dense clusters on deciduous wood, and it is not common to see a single fruiting mushroom. The fungus is widespread across eastern North America, and a variety called M. leaiana var. australis can be found in Australia and New Zealand. The orange pigment responsible for the mushroom's vibrant hues, known as leainafulvene, has weak antibacterial activity and pronounced cytotoxic effects on tumour cells. While the orange mycena is non-poisonous, it is not edible and does not have much taste.
This mushroom species is common in identification forums because its bright colouring draws people to it. It can be differentiated from similar species by examining the cap, gills, and microscopic features. For example, Mycena luteoplannens fruits from walnuts, hickory nuts, and butternuts, and is much smaller and paler. The orange mycena has a slightly mealy smell, and the flesh is thick, watery, and white or yellowish-white. When handled, the mushroom's orange pigment will likely stain the skin.
As a saprobic fungus, the orange mycena plays an important role in breaking down the tough materials that wood is made of and returning those nutrients to the soil.
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Chicken-of-the-woods: large, bright orange/yellow-orange, and grows on dead stumps, logs, and trees
Chicken-of-the-woods is a large, bright orange/yellow-orange mushroom that grows on dead stumps, logs, and trees. It is also known as sulphur shelf, chicken mushroom, or chicken fungus. It gets its name from its similar meaty texture to chicken, and some say it tastes like chicken too. It is a polypore, meaning it disperses spores through small pores on the underside of its cap, instead of gills. It grows in large, shelf-like or fan-shaped clusters of overlapping caps, and can be found on hardwoods and conifers. It is often found on oak trees but has also been found on eucalyptus, yew, sweet chestnut, and willow trees.
Chicken-of-the-woods is easily identifiable by its bright colour and large size. It is a popular mushroom for foragers, as it is easily recognisable and edible. It can be found from early spring to late autumn, with the best time to find it being September and October. When picking chicken-of-the-woods, it is important to only pick them from dead trees or logs, and to use a sharp knife to cut them from the tree. They have virtually no stem and are smooth with wavy edges. The underside is a solid cream to yellow colour, while the top is some shade of orange, sometimes with yellow colouring on the edges.
Chicken-of-the-woods is best when young, as the mushrooms become tougher and filled with bugs as they age. They should be washed gently and then cut away and discard the tough portions at the base. They can be cooked in butter or oil over medium heat until they darken, which usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.
There are some look-alike mushrooms that can be confused with chicken-of-the-woods, such as the jack o'lantern mushroom, which is highly poisonous, and the cinnabar polypore, which is not considered edible. It is always best to ask an experienced forager or mushroom expert for help if you are unsure.
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Wandering Creamsicle: a common lawn mushroom in Florida, with a vibrant orange cap and white gills
The Wandering Creamsicle, or Marasmius vagus, is a species of mushroom that is native to Florida, where it is one of the state's most common lawn mushrooms. It is characterised by its vibrant orange cap and white gills. The gills are known as false gills as they are fused to the stem and cannot be easily removed. This is in contrast to true gills, which can be peeled off the cap or stem, as seen in the Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca mushroom.
The Wandering Creamsicle typically grows on lawns, but can also be found in deciduous forests. It fruits on bare clay or disturbed soil. The mushroom has a smooth outer surface with whitish or pale yellow edges. The orange cap is convex-shaped and measures between 1 to 10 centimetres wide. The fruiting body is cup-shaped and externally fuzzy, and often appears misshapen due to the crowding of other fruiting bodies.
The Wandering Creamsicle is generally regarded as edible, although it can be difficult to collect intact. It is important to exercise caution when consuming wild mushrooms, as many are dangerously poisonous. A similar-looking mushroom is the Omphalotus illudens, or Jack O'Lantern mushroom, which is poisonous and can be distinguished by its gills and noticeable stem.
Another orange mushroom is the Chicken-of-the-woods, or Laetiporus sulphureus, which grows in dense clusters on dead stumps, logs, and trees in deciduous forests. This mushroom has a smooth outer surface with whitish or pale yellow edges, and lacks gills and a stem. It is considered edible and is used in various dishes such as soups, stir-fries, and omelettes.
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Orange peel fungus: a widespread fungus that resembles orange peels strewn on the ground
The orange peel fungus, or Aleuria aurantia, is a widespread ascomycete fungus that gets its name from its resemblance to orange peels strewn on the ground. It was first described by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon as Peziza aurantia in 1800, with the specific epithet "aurantia" meaning "orange" in Latin. Later, in 1870, Karl Wilhelm Gottlieb Leopold Fuckel placed it in the genus Aleuria.
This fungus is characterised by its bright orange, cup-shaped ascocarps that are 1-10 centimetres (1/2-4 inches) wide. The external surface is fuzzy, and the flesh is fragile. The fruiting bodies are often misshapen due to crowding from other fruiting bodies. When disturbed, the spores produce a white spore print and scatter in visible clouds. A variety of this fungus with smaller spores can be found in the Pacific Northwest.
The orange peel fungus grows saprobically on bare clay, disturbed soil, grass, gravel, or soil, usually in compacted areas such as the side of paths. It can be found throughout North America, from November to March in the West and May to November in the East. It also grows in South Chile and Europe. While it is generally regarded as edible, it is challenging to collect intact.
The orange peel fungus can be distinguished from similar-looking fungi by its bright orange colour. Some lookalikes include the Salmon Salad Fungus (Guepinia helvelloides), which is more of a salmon pink colour, and certain species from the genus Peziza, which are brown to tan. The Scarlet and Ruby Elfcup are also similar but are bright red. While the Salmon Salad Fungus is edible, it is not particularly tasty, so confusion between these fungi is not dangerous.
It is important to be cautious when identifying and consuming wild mushrooms, as many are dangerously poisonous. For example, the Jack O'Lantern mushroom, which is similar in colour to the Chicken-of-the-Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), is poisonous and can be identified by its distinct gills and stem.
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Chanterelles: small woodland mushrooms with funnel shapes, convex caps, and bright colours
Chanterelles are small, colourful woodland mushrooms with funnel shapes, convex caps, and bright colours. They are easily identified by their false gills, which appear as wrinkles that fork and extend down the stem, and their bright yellow-orange colour. They have a fruity aroma, sometimes described as apricot-like, and a mild peppery flavour.
Chanterelles are mycorrhizal, meaning they have a symbiotic relationship with trees, and can often be found near hardwood trees such as beech, oak, maple, birch, and poplar, as well as conifers like pine and hemlock. They favour old-growth forests with moist forest floors and often appear after heavy rains.
When foraging for chanterelles, it is important to be aware of poisonous false species, such as the false chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca), which has true gills that can be peeled off the cap or stem, and the Jack O' Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus illudens), which is similar in colour but has distinct gills and a stem.
If you are unsure about the identification of a mushroom, it is always best to err on the side of caution and leave it alone, as consuming the wrong type of mushroom can lead to serious health issues. It is recommended to use a mushroom guidebook for your region or consult with an experienced mushroom forager to ensure safe and accurate identification.
Once identified, chanterelles can be prepared in a variety of dishes, pairing well with pasta, butter, and cream sauces. They can also be sautéed and frozen for later use.
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Frequently asked questions
It could be an Orange Mycena, a small, sticky, bell-shaped orange mushroom that grows in dense clusters on deciduous wood.
It could be Marasmius vagus, also known as the Wandering Creamsicle, which has a vibrant orange cap and white gills.
It could be a chanterelle, which has a dash of scarlet orange and a pinch of gold, or a cinnabar chanterelle, which is more orange in colour.
Chicken-of-the-woods is a large, bright orange to yellow-orange mushroom that typically grows in dense clusters on dead stumps, logs and trees in deciduous forests. It is edible and can be cooked in soups, stir fry or omelets.
The Jack O'Lantern mushroom is bright orange and poisonous. It has a noticeable stem or stipe and distinctive gills beneath.
