With about 14,000 described mushrooms currently inhabiting dank forest floors, decaying tree trunks, and dung piles, there are bound to be some strange-looking varieties:
Lion’s Mane
The “strings” are actually spines that grow from a single point on the mushroom and cascade down like the yarn of a mop head.
Indigo Milk Cap
This bluish-purple beauty oozes an indigo-colored “milk,” aka latex, when the mushroom is cut or broken open.
Fly agaric
This mushroom has a bright red cap with white spots and is often featured in fairy tales and folklore.
Bleeding Tooth Fungus
Consider it the stuff of horror movies. It comes with a bright red cap and “teeth” that ooze a blood-red fluid, giving it a striking appearance.
Coral fungus
It has a branching, coral-like structure and comes in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, and red.
Turkey Tail
Its colors—sometimes rust-brown, grey, or black—vary based on its age and location.
Golden chanterelle
This mushroom has a beautiful golden-yellow color and a distinctive funnel-shaped cap.
