Ring of Mushrooms in the Forest (Katie Wells)
Aesthetic, squishy, and odd waldpilze or, mushrooms have made their way into pop culture, recipes and home décor all-over the world. In Germany, there seems to be an even deeper appreciation for the fungi as mushroom foraging baskets are prepped every autumn, and people set off into the forest to hunt for a plethora of species.
One of my favorite pastimes since moving to Germany in 2021, has been taking my two dogs on long forest hikes. As each year passes, my eyes have grown to notice the subtle seasonal changes in the shrubbery and the types of mushrooms and fungi that vibrantly dot my regular routes. It’s become an exciting activity to spot a new species or a peculiar cluster and to send pictures to a mushroom-loving friend living in Florida. We “ooh” and “aah” over them together, wondering what magic they possess or if they could be fairy rings.
So, here is a mini guide on mushrooms found in the Pfälzerwald, or Palatinate Forest. It might be fun to take the kids out to try identifying (not touching or eating) the mushrooms on this list. Mushrooms also make wonderful subjects for a photography walk in the woods. You might make new discoveries. It seems each year I’m surprised by new species.
“In the words of writer Terry Pratchett, “All fungi are edible. Some fungi are edible only once.””
Hair Ice, Gnomes Beard, Ice Wool (Exidiopsis Effusa)
On a frosty morning walk in the forest I spotted what looked like a giant, fluffy white caterpillar. As I got nearer to this magical creature, it appeared to be a strange formation of ice. I snapped some pictures, appreciated the beauty, and later found out I had seen a somewhat rare phenomenon. Hair ice is a peculiar thing. It’s not 100 percent fungus, nor is it simply ice. The weather conditions must be just right. Temperatures need to be below zero degrees Celsius and there must be moisture in the air for the threads of ice to form on damp, rotting wood. In these conditions, the rotting branches push water to the surface that combines with a fungus called Exidiopsis Effusa. The water and fungus combine to make delicate, wintery crystal formations. If you’re able to spot Hair Ice your lucky, as the occurrence is quite special.
Exidiopsis Effusa, Hair Ice (Katie Wells)
The Classic Fairy Tale Toadstool, Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria)
This adorable, iconic mushroom is Germany’s Glückspilz or “Lucky Mushroom,” and is a positive omen when spotted. It is believed that you will have good fortune in the coming year. It typically grows at the base of pine trees and people like to search for them around Christmastime, making them a symbol of Christmas in Germany. You can see handcrafted variations of them adorning Christmas trees, yule logs and advent center pieces. Although it is a beloved mushroom all over the world, Amanita Muscaria is poisonous, so it’s best not to pick them and to simply admire them from afar.
Amanita Muscaria, Fairy Toadstool (Katie Wells)
Old Man of the Woods (Strobilomyces Floccopus)
This odd mushroom looks a bit like a marshmallow that caught flame for too long. It grows alone and not with others of the same species and is mostly found at the base of oak trees or conifers. Although “old’ is in its name, it is far from feeble. The high quantity of melanin gives the cap of Strobilomyces Floccopus its dark color and helps protect it from harsh environments. It can even survive in areas with radiation exposure.
Strobilomyces Floccopus, Old Man of the Woods (Katie Wells)
Clustered Wood Lover, Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma Fasciculare)
Unlike the Old Man of the Woods, Hypholoma Fasciculare, are socialites and form as a large group. They are abundant in Germany and their bright sulphur-yellow caps make them easy to spot in a lush green forest. They like to feed on stumps and can also be seen in grass feeding on root systems just beneath the surface of the soil. Despite their fun color and bulbous, gummy-like appearance, this is another poisonous mushroom that is better left untouched.
Hypholoma Fasciculare, Clustered Wood Lover (Katie Wells)
Silky Rosegil (Volvariella Bombycina)
This elegant, ivory mushroom looks like a little lamp glowing in the shadowed hollows or roots of trees. It has the faint, crisp smell of a radish. However, it is advised by foraging experts not to eat them, as they are easily confused with the extremely poisonous Destroying Angel, Amanita Virosa. Volvariella Bombycina is bell shaped and has silky hair-like fibers that adorn the cap. You can find it growing on hardwoods that are weak or close to death. If you peek underneath the cap, you might find a peachy-pink color like a conch shell.
Volvariella Bombycine, Silky Rosegil (Katie Wells)
The Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota Procera)
This mushroom starts off with a rounded cap that expands as it grows. At full maturity, the cap flattens out making it look like a parasol, or if it expands outwards enough, an umbrella that has been flipped inside-out by the wind. Macrolepiota Procera has been grown for culinary purposes in Germany, although in the wild it can be easily confused with the Shaggy Parasol mushroom which causes upset stomach. These mushrooms are fun to look for because they can be all shapes and sizes. You could easily have a competition for who finds the largest and most parasol-like.
Macrolepiota Procera, The Parasol (Katie Wells)
Inky Caps (Coprinopsis Atramentaria)
Out of all the mushrooms I’ve seen on my hikes, Corpinopsis Atramentaria charmed me the most. I found them clustered as if in a happy conversation on a moss-covered tree stump. Their purplish color and inky black rims were fairytale-esque, making it easy to imagine tiny toads sheltering beneath them during a rainfall. Inky Caps vary in shape and size, though they typically look like bells. They arise after rain and start off with a light whitish-brown or grey color. The dark ring around the edges quickly overtakes the rest of the cap, turning the whole top of the mushroom a shiny, inky black by full maturity.
Coprinopsis Atramentaria,Inky Caps (Katie Wells)
