Amanita spp.
Fly agaric, Death cap, Destroying angel…

• Common species: A. muscaria, Amanita sect. Vaginatae
• Habitat: forest, mycorrhizal
• Spore Print: white
• Gills: free, pale white
• Local Look-alikes: Agaricus

Some Amanita are DEADLY POISONOUS!

A. muscaria is often considered the quintessential mushroom with its red cap and white warts. I have never seen it while mushroom hunting in Eastern SD but it is found frequently in Western SD.

The ONLY Amanita I have personally found near Sioux Falls, SD is an Amanita in section Vaginatae. Many Amanita are distinguished by their terrestrial growth and a volva at the stem base. I know very little about this genus but all beginning mushroom hunters should at least be aware of it!

Clitocybe spp.

• Common genera: C. odora Collybia odora, Clitocybe eccentrica
• Habitat: saprobic in tree litter
• Spore print: white
• Gills: attached or running down stem

This is a genus that I frequently find in the summer at places like Good Earth State Park and Newton Hills.

Leuco… never mind

• Common genera: Macropsalliota americana, Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus
• Look-alikes: Agaricus spp.

Apparently the genus Leucoagaricus is now deprecated per link. Species in the genus Leucocoprinus generally have lanky stems with a white ring, white gills, and white spore print.

Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus is unique in that it has a maroonish cap with a darker circle at the center.

Marasmius spp.
Parachute & Fairy Ring mushrooms

• Common species: M. oreades, M. rotula, M. siccus, etc
• Habitat: forest & urban, saprophytic
• Spore Print: white
• Gills: usually distant
• Local Look-alikes: Mycena, Rhizomarasmius, Conocybe

These mushrooms are generally quite small and tough. M. siccus and M. rotula are usually found in the forest on hardwood debris. Some species will shrivel up in the dryness then rehydrate in the rain.

M. oreades is generally much bigger and found growing on well fertilized lawns. This “fairy ring mushroom” easily makes my top 3 list of tastiest mushrooms to forage and eat here in Sioux Falls, SD. BUT! New mushroom hunters must use caution as I have found poisonous genera such as Conocybe and Panaeolus growing near M. oreades fruitings.

Mycena spp.
Common Bonnet, many other common names!

• Common species: M. haematopus, M. galericulata, M. acicula, M. leana, etc
• Habitat: forests, saprophytic
• Spore Print: white
• Gills: attached
• Local Look-alikes: Marasmius, Clitocybe, small Pluteus, LBM’s

The main species shared here are the colorful ones as these seem to get the most attention. Many Mycena are seen as “little boring mushrooms” and not given much attention. They are generally found growing on decaying logs and forest litter.

M. haematopus is quite unique because the stem looks like it is bleeding when cut.

Oudemansiella spp.

• Common species: O. megalospora, O. radicatae
• Habitat: wood saprobe (usually appears terrestrial)
• Spore Print: white
• Gills: attached (notched), distant

The easiest way to distinguish this very common mushroom is from its relatively long (and very straight!) stem with a tapering taproot. The cap is usually wrinkled and sticky.

In my opinion, there are a lot of confusing things happening with the naming of mushrooms in this genus. Some books call this Xerula, others Hymenopellis, but iNat says the correct name is Oudemansiella.

Russula spp.

• Common species:

Under construction

Schizophyllum commune

• Spore Color:

Under construction

Boletinellus merulioides
Ash Bolete

• Habitat: near ash trees (read more!)
• Pore surface: yellow, many cross veins
• Spore color: olive brown

This is one of the few terrestrial mushrooms with a cap and pores that I frequently find in South Eastern South Dakota. During peak season you can harvest these by the bucket-load for eating. I once found one hiding under my neighbor’s deck that was much larger than my hand!

Large Shelf Mushrooms

• Common species: Ganoderma applanatum, Cerioporus squamosus, Ischnoderma resinosum, Laetiporus sulphureus, Fuscoporia gilva, etc.
• Habitat: forest, saprophytic or parasitic
• Spore color: varies

G. applanatum, commonly known as the artist’s conk, is one of the few mushrooms that are easy to find in the winter (it is a perennial). That is why all mushroom hunters in the Upper Midwest should be able to ID it!

L. sulphureus, or chicken of the woods, is one of my favorite edible mushrooms and the bright orange/yellow colors make it easy to find when they are in season.

Cerioporus squamosus is possibly the biggest mushroom that grows in South Dakota. I have found specimens large enough for my children to use as a bed. Many mushroom hunters, myself included, eat this species.

Phellinus igniarius has some studied medicinal uses including protecting the liver from alcohol damage, helping diabetics regulate blood sugars, and amplifies the effect of nicotine. (source = ultimate-mushroom.com, not the best reference but I hope to look into this further!)

Fuscoporia gilva; I have found this many times but can never remember the name. Writing here for future reference. P. schweinitzii is fuzzier and grows on conifer wood.

Mushrooms with Maze-shaped Pores

• Common species: Fomitopsis quercina (Daedalea), Daedaleopsis confragosa
• Spore color: white
• Look-alikes: Gloeophyllum sepiarium

With any good field guide the uniquely shaped gills should make identification relatively straight forward.

Polypores (common name)

• Common species: Cerioporus squamosus, Neofavolus alveolaris (P. mori), Lentinus arcularius, Picipes badius…
• Habitat: forest, saprophytic or parasitic
• Spore color: white

I don’t know what all these crazy mycologists are trying to do to the genus Polyporus, but I remember ALL of the mushrooms in this list sharing the same genus name. Now? They are all different…

Cerioporus squamosus is possibly the biggest mushroom that grows in South Dakota. I have found specimens large enough for my children to use as a bed. Many mushroom hunters, myself included, eat this species.

Irpex lacteus
Milk-White Toothed Polypore

• Habitat: Saprobe on fallen branches and hardwood logs
• Spore color: white

This VERY common mushroom is found year-round by mushroom hunters of the Upper Midwest. Although Michael Kuo at MushroomExpert.com calls the spore surface “pores” I think they look more like teeth and even the common name uses the word “Toothed”. Sometimes these grow small shelves but more often they lay flat against their chosen substrate.