The Fun in Fungi?

Tall Psathyrella

December 4, 2025. One killed, twenty hospitalized in Monterey County, officials say.

 

With a headline like that these days, we expect a shooting or extreme weather event. The reality is a bit more prosaic. The death, another person in need of a liver transplant, and the rest in the hospital, were all caused by wild mushroom poisoning. With the early rains and warm temperatures, we're seeing an explosion of mushrooms this year. Many people, especially young children, see a mushroom and think, "Hm. That looks good to eat." While only 2-4% of mushroom species are toxic, I, for one, would much rather buy my mushrooms at the grocery store.

 

So far this season, I've identified 10 different species of mushrooms here in South Monterey County, including oak-loving Gymnopus, tall Psathyrella (pictured above), meadow mushroom (the ones that form fairy rings in your yard), and silky pinkgills. Although they are quite interesting to look at and none are poisonous, all are listed as causing stomach upset. So they won't kill you, but you might wish you hadn't partaken.

One mushroom you will not be tempted to eat is the dead man's foot, Pisolithus tinctorius. According to mycologist Bryce Kendrick, Pisolithus tinctorius is sometimes called "the ugliest fungus in the world". It looks just as gross as the name suggests. Despite its appearance, it grows in a mutually beneficial relationship with native trees.

 

Beyond questionable culinary choices, fungi play an important role in the ecosystem. The mushroom we see on the ground is merely the fruiting body of a vast underground system of root-like mycelium. Since mushrooms lack chlorophyll, they often get food by forming symbiotic relationships with plants. Mycorrhizal fungi break down organic matter and provide nutrients to their host plant, receiving simple sugars in return.

 

Mycorrhizae allow connected plants to share not only resources but also chemical signals about threats like pests and diseases. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben is a fascinating foray into how trees communicate with each other through what is referred to as the "wood wide web".

 

Believe it or not, California has an official state mushroom—the California Golden Chanterelle. And why not? We have a state flower (California poppy), bird (quail), animal (grizzly bear), amphibian (red-legged frog), reptile (desert tortoise), fresh water fish (golden trout), marine fish (garibaldi), insect (dog-face butterfly), fruit (avocado), vegetable (artichoke), and tree (redwood). We even have a state dinosaur—Augustynolophus morrisi. Now, thanks to AB261, California has its very own state mushroom.