Plant Profile: Naematoloma fasciculare

This mushroom typically grows in forests or natural environments, often appearing in dense clusters of 20 to 30 fruiting bodies. It can be found on logs and stumps from various tree species or directly on the soil, likely due to buried wood.

While it is not advisable to consume this mushroom, its distinctively bitter flavor, along with its growth habits and preferred habitats, makes it relatively easy to recognize. There are several similar species that do not have the bitter taste and are safe to eat, so caution is essential when distinguishing between them.

Identification Guide:

CAP: The cap is yellow, orange-yellow, or greenish-yellow, smooth in texture, and can reach up to 3 inches in diameter.

GILLS: The gills are attached to the stem, initially greenish-yellow and turning purplish-yellow as the spores mature.

STALK: The stalk is slender, measuring up to 1/3 inch in thickness, and changes from yellow to a brownish-yellow hue.

ANNULUS: The annulus is thin and fibrous, leaving only a fibrous ring on the stalk.

SPORE PRINT: The spore print is purple-brown.

TASTE: The flavor is extremely bitter.