Each year, winter rains bring a variety of mushrooms out at Midpen preserves. Mushrooms come in all shapes, colors and sizes — some coral fungi have branching orange fingers, some tiny Mycena species are no bigger than an ant and some wax caps come in a rainbow of colors from green to yellow to red. All fungi are important members of their ecosystems. As decomposers, they help to break down waste!
The vast diversity of fungi in the preserves is amazing, but it is important to remember that some mushrooms are deadly poisonous. Picking and eating wild mushrooms can kill you! Mushroom collecting is not allowed anywhere in Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Please leave mushrooms alone for other visitors to see, and for the safety of you and your family. If you want more tips on how to find and photograph mushrooms in an ecologically sensitive manner, check out the link below!
Fungus Species Spotlight
Get an in-depth look into some of the most iconic and unique fungus species that can be found in Midpen preserves. Click on a fungus species to learn more about it!
