Macrofungi
Covers mushrooms and other non-lichenized fungi that form multicellular fruiting bodies large enough to be seen with the unaided eye.
Common names beginning with O:
14 common names
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Orange-peel (Aleuria aurantia)
Description: Aleuria aurantia does indeed look like orange peels turned inside-out and scattered by a passing hiker or motorist. The inner fertile surface is a brilliant deep orange, the outer surface paler with a somewhat dandruffy texture. The spores are ellipsoid, 13--24 x 7.5--10 µm, and covered by a network of ridges. A. aurantia is very common in the fall, and is especially abundant along gravelly forest roads, in campgrounds, and at trailhead parking areas. It is one of several ascomycetes that will discharge many spores simultaneously when disturbed, producing a visible smoke-like cloud. Sometimes this can be induced by breathing on the cups, at other times it will occur on its own when the fruitbody is removed from its collecting container.
Distribution: A. aurantia is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere.
Habitat: grassy areas on disturbed soil, in gardens, and along roadsides
Substrate: On ground, in groups or clusters.
Spores: Summer and fall
Description: Aleuria aurantia does indeed look like orange peels turned inside-out and scattered by a passing hiker or motorist. The inner fertile surface is a brilliant deep orange, the outer surface paler with a somewhat dandruffy texture. The spores are ellipsoid, 13--24 x 7.5--10 µm, and covered by a network of ridges. A. aurantia is very common in the fall, and is especially abundant along gravelly forest roads, in campgrounds, and at trailhead parking areas. It is one of several ascomycetes that will discharge many spores simultaneously when disturbed, producing a visible smoke-like cloud. Sometimes this can be induced by breathing on the cups, at other times it will occur on its own when the fruitbody is removed from its collecting container.
Distribution: A. aurantia is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere.
Habitat: grassy areas on disturbed soil, in gardens, and along roadsides
Substrate: On ground, in groups or clusters.
Spores: Summer and fall
Oak oyster (Pleurotus dryinus)
Habitat: Temperate forests with a hardwood component.
Substrate: Hardwoods, especially oak and maple.
Spores: Early fall.
Habitat: Temperate forests with a hardwood component.
Substrate: Hardwoods, especially oak and maple.
Spores: Early fall.
Shoehorn oyster (Hohenbuehelia petaloides)
Small moss oysterling (Arrhenia retiruga)
Description: Arrhenia in the traditional sense includes small, thin, pliable-fleshed mushrooms that are spoon-, petal- or cup shaped, often lobed, and without a stipe or with a lateral one. The fertile surface is smooth, or bears anastomosing veins or blunt gills. They occur on soil or in association with mosses and often can hardly be seen among the mosses when dried. It is widely distributed and can be found in both urban and forested areas.
Habitat: damp woodlands, old lawns, and grasslands
Substrate: moss
Description: Arrhenia in the traditional sense includes small, thin, pliable-fleshed mushrooms that are spoon-, petal- or cup shaped, often lobed, and without a stipe or with a lateral one. The fertile surface is smooth, or bears anastomosing veins or blunt gills. They occur on soil or in association with mosses and often can hardly be seen among the mosses when dried. It is widely distributed and can be found in both urban and forested areas.
Habitat: damp woodlands, old lawns, and grasslands
Substrate: moss
Smelly oyster (Phyllotopsis nidulans)
Veiled oyster (Pleurotus dryinus)
Habitat: Temperate forests with a hardwood component.
Substrate: Hardwoods, especially oak and maple.
Spores: Early fall.
Habitat: Temperate forests with a hardwood component.
Substrate: Hardwoods, especially oak and maple.
Spores: Early fall.
Lilac oysterling (Panus conchatus)
Peeling oysterling (Crepidotus mollis)
Wood oysterling (Melanotus horizontalis)
