Mushrooms Found in New Jersey

Mushroom Abundance

• Thanks to the cataloging and documentation efforts of members of the New Jersey Mycological Association, nearly 600 species of mushrooms have been identified as recent as 2010 in New Jersey. People head out on "forays" throughout New Jersey state and county parks, as well as fields, forests and nature preserve areas to find and collect species of mushrooms growing there. Since poisonous mushrooms are plentiful and deadly, members and individuals hunting mushrooms on their own should never eat a mushroom until it is identified as safe.

Basidiomycetes

• Basidiomycetes are by far the most prevalent species of mushroom found in New Jersey. These mushrooms are typified by their pedestal-like structure, gills and pores. Edible strains of these mushrooms, such as Agaricus bisporus, are commonly sold in grocery stores and added to pizzas. The very toxic and deadly Amanita bisporigera has been spotted in New Jersey, as well as the highly popular and edible Morel variety: Morchella esculenta.

Ascomycetes

• Ascomycetes are a large species of fungi of more than 15,000; however, most ascomycetes are molds, yeasts and mildews which don't flower into fruiting bodies recognized as mushrooms. Saddles and cup fungi are two such mushrooms belonging to the ascomycete species. The only way to determine whether a mushroom belongs to the ascomycete family, as opposed to the basidiomycete family, is by viewing it under a microscope. Types found in New Jersey include Arcyria cinerea, Bisporella citrina, Galiella rufa, Leptoa lubrica and Xylaria polymorpha.

Myxomycetes

• Myxomycetes, or slime molds, are also found throughout New Jersey. Myxomycetes don't look like other mushrooms but they are sporangia -- pinkish to brownish balls or "puffs." They grow on rotting wood and leaves. Cerationmyxa fruticulosa, Didymium nigripes and Tubifera ferruginosa are a few of the strains found in New Jersey.