Featured Fungi

Leratiomyces ceres

This medium to small mushroom has a bright red to orange cap, the edge of which often has pale veil patches. The gills are purplish gray with whitish edges when mature and the spore deposit is dark purple-brown. The stipe is white with small scales below the slight ring left by the veil. The stipe base has pale, thin cords where it attaches to the substrate. It is usually found growing on wood chips but also occurs in lawns. It has been incorrectly called Stropharia aurantiaca. It is common in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, and is considered an invasive species in our region.

Leratiomyces ceres is part of the Burke Museum's Mushroom of the Month series.