Thursday, February 3, 2011

Mushrooms at Point Lobos


Point Lobos, a park close to Carmel, in Northern California (or more like close to the middle) used to be a major whaling and abalone fishing location. Located at the whale migration path, if was ideally situated for killing whales, a sad and brutal operation (just look at the weapons in Point Lobos' whaling museum).

Nowadays, the park with stunning views of the ocean is a major destination for tourists. We were lucky to get wonderful weather in January. Additionally to the picturesc views, many mushrooms were sprouting in the woods. Why do people kick pretty mushrooms when they see them? If you can identify a mushroom, please leave a comment, and I'll annotate!
                                                                                                                                                               






Pretty, earmushroom like!
Is it a Phaeolus schweinitzii?










The yellow version of the Fly-agaric (Fliegenpilz). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_agaric











Dark cap, white stem, gills












Death cap? I don't think so, there were many parasols in the area.













Another fly agaric.













Very pretty cluster.











And yet another fly agaric.













And finally, a bolite (Steinpilz).



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3 comments:

  1. Dorte HFebruary 4, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    I am far from a mushroom expert, but I have made a bit of research lately because I have a fictional character who considers himself an expert. I think they are beautiful and fascinating, and I´d also take pictures rather than kick them about.

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  2. UrsulaFebruary 4, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    I stopped even trying to collect mushrooms after Chernobyl, because northern European mushrooms were contaminated (accumulation of radioactive caesium especially in the skin). Now, in California, there are no such concerns, but the mushrooms are different. Difficult to know whether they are good for eating.

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  3. Osnat HerzbergJuly 16, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    Are you sure that the white mushroom is the amanita ocreata? It should have a ring at the bottom and a ring underneath the cup, in contrast to the edible champignon that has only a ring at the top. But I can't see from the photo.

    The boletus is certainly edible, and the cluster of three looks like it may also be boletus.
    Best regards,
    Osnat.

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