Finding and Identifying Toxic Sulfur Tuft Mushrooms (Hypholoma fasiculare) at Point Reyes

Sulfur Tufts are bright eye-catching cap and stem mushrooms that tend to grow in large clusters on decaying wood. When immature, they are strikingly colorful ranging from a vibrant orange to highlighter/neon yellow verging towards greenish. As they age, the caps expand and become darker, appearing more brownish orange to a bleached out white, but with dark smokey gills underneath. Like many other yellow/orange wood-decay mushrooms, they have a strong reaction to UV light. These mushrooms contain fasiculols, steroid-like molecules which can be quite toxic when consumed. The onset of symptoms is usually 5-10 hours after consumption, manifesting as severe GI upset, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, excessive urination, and collapse. Neurological symptoms like paralysis and impaired vision have been recorded. Symptoms usually resolve on their own within a few days. Thankfully these mushrooms are extremely bitter and thus are not usually consumed. Although there are very similar looking Brick Top Mushrooms (Hypholoma lateritium) which are edible. Sulfur Tufts can also be mistaken for magic mushrooms (Psilocybe sp.) or honey mushrooms (Armillaria sp.) by inexperienced foragers.

[@wanderingstar1111]

Very cool & informative video about sulphur tufts!

[@Shepherd4now]

Hey man, I'd love to forage with you and learn some as we go! I'm a skilled photographer and am willing to hold a camera! I'm back and forth currently moving from San Jose to Mendocino County.

[@Shepherd4now]

Btw, the current videography is great, just offering to be useful 😊

[@FascinatedByFungi]

Thanks I appreciate the offer! I'm super busy working on my book right now, but maybe later in the year.

[@adamsshaws9417]

If I may ask what's your region

[@FascinatedByFungi]

Point Reyes is a state park in Marin county California