Umstead Fungi

Fungi play an integral role in the natural processes of decay in the forests at William B. Umstead State Park.  After a good rain, you can see a lot of mushrooms popping up out of the ground.  Hiking in the rain isn't for everyone, but if you don't mind getting a little wet, during and right after a good rain in the summer is the best time to see mushrooms in the park.  If you come across mushrooms in the park, please don't disturb and leave for others to enjoy and don't ever try to eat wild mushrooms.

Mushrooms:

American Caesar's Mushroom (Amanita jacksonii) have bright red and orange mushrooms.

Chicken of the Woods or Sulfur Shelf mushroom (Laetiporus sulphureus) is edible and considered a delicacy by some.

Berkeley's polypore (Bondarzewia berkeleyi)

Ringless honey mushrooms (Armillaria tabescens) are parasitic to the trees that they grown on.

Indian oysters (Pleurotus pulmonarius) fruit readily in the humid Piedmont summers and can put on big shows on well-decayed logs after rain or high humidity.

Golden trumpets (Xeromphalina campanella) can explode in huge numbers when conditions are right and completely carpet a well-rotted stump.

I'm not real good at identifying mushrooms and fungi, but here are a few more pictures of some beautiful mushrooms I've captured in the park.

External Links:

NC State Parks website: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/william-b-umstead-state-park