"But moist, forested Oregon-and the Cascadia ecoregion more broadly-has always been a "fungal paradise," according to mycologist Noah Siegel, coauthor of a 2024 guidebook, Mushrooms of Cascadia, that covers over 750 species. "They come in pretty much every single color possible and range from minuscule tiny little mushrooms that are a millimeter across to the Noble Polypores, which can be five feet across," Siegel says. "All of that is right under your nose, in the forest around you." It's truly a wonderland out there."
"The mushroom is just the reproductive part of a larger fungus. For most species, the bulk of the organism is a network of microscopic strands of cells called hyphae that are interwoven in the soil or plant tissue. That's why harvesting mushrooms is sustainable: It doesn't kill the organism. It is akin to picking an apple off a tree. A long-running study on chanterelles in Mt. Hood National Forest confirms that harvest doesn't reduce the number of mushrooms that appear in the following years."
Cascadia's moist, forested landscapes host an exceptionally diverse fungal community with species ranging in color and size from minuscule mushrooms to multi‑foot polypores. Mushrooms are the visible reproductive structures; the main organism exists as hyphae networks in soil or plant tissue. Harvesting fruiting bodies generally does not kill the organism, making foraging comparable to picking fruit from a tree. Long-term research on chanterelles and regulated harvest limits indicate that responsible picking does not reduce future mushroom abundance. Foraging provides accessible outdoor recreation and a deeper ecological connection but can feel daunting for beginners without guidance.
Read at Portland Monthly
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