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Common Red Mushrooms in Alaska

Although bitterly cold in winter, the temperate summer climate of Alaska provides mushrooms with good conditions in which to thrive. Because of the clement summer conditions, mushrooms have been able to adapt to deal with the brutal winter. Although in the plant world, red generally signifies danger, not all red mushrooms found in Alaska are dangerous to humans. However, while some mushrooms maybe tasty and even beneficial to health, other mushrooms can be deadly, so great caution is advised when picking wild mushrooms.

Russula Emetica
- The Russula emetica is a red capped mushroom with white gills and stem. It is very common in Alaska, however it is also poisonous. As if the red warning coloring wasn't enough to keep you from eating it, the Russula's disgusting taste will probably stop you from swallowing it. Even if swallowed, the Russula emetica is likely to make you expel the mushroom through vomiting, as its name suggests. Identifiable characteristics of the Russula include a rigid, brittle stem and very closely spaced gills.
Amanita Muscaria
- Amanita muscaria -- also known as fly agaric -- appear just like your traditional fairy tale mushroom. They have thick white stems and bright red caps which fold all the way under and tuck in close to the stem, with little to no gills on display. They are identifiable by their deep-red caps which are often blemished with small, white fungal growths. Amanita muscaria is a poisonous mushroom, although biologists have observed squirrels hiding them in winter food stores, as well as grouse eating them, with apparently no ill affects.
Hygrophorus Miniatus
- The Hygrophorus miatus -- or vermillion hygrophorus -- is a medium-sized mushroom, between 1 and 2 inches wide and about 2 inches in length. Unlike the muscaria and the emetica, it is not poisonous and actually has a pleasant flavor when eaten. The stem to this mushroom has the same ruddy coloring as its cap which is red, sometimes fading to yellow or orange. The miniatus has pale yellow gills.
Ganoderma Lucidum
- The Ganoderma lucidum is a bracket fungus and so does not have the stem and gills of a traditional mushroom. Instead it attaches onto trees bark and derives nutrients from its host rather than directly from the soil. The ruddy, dark-red flesh of the lucidum has been used in Chinese medicine for nearly 2,000 years, but the fungus itself grows all over Asia and North America, including Alaska. Ganoderma lucidum is used as homeopathic treatments for many illnesses, including cancer.

Nature