Can You Identify at Least 11 Types of Fungi?

Estimated Completion Time
6 min
Can You Identify at Least 11 Types of Fungi?
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About This Quiz

If all you know about fungi is that they cause athlete's foot or ringworm, you're missing out. One of the five kingdoms of life, fungi include around 150,000 known species and an estimated 5 million more just waiting to be classified. While the name comes from the Latin for mushroom, fungi range from those umbrella-capped mushrooms you see in storybooks to nearly microscopic single-celled organisms and so much more. 

While non-scientists might be tempted to lump most fungi in with plants—after all, they both mostly grow in the dirt—fungi actually split off from plants around a billion years ago, so they've had plenty of time to evolve, forming unique species with their own distinct properties compared to plants.

But why should you care about fungi at all? First, they play a critical role in the decomposition process, reclaiming the minerals left behind by dead plants and animals and returning them to the earth. Second, they have formed symbiotic relationships with many plants and animals, helping one another survive in tough conditions. Third, various forms of fungi have long been used to treat illness and maximize human health, both in the form of traditional folk cures and modern medical treatments like chemotherapy. Finally, many fungi are edible, and are simply delicious, serving as the perfect side or even a main course in some recipes.

Think you can identify at least 11 species of fungi? Prove it with this quiz!

White Button Mushroom
Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Moment/Getty Images
The fungus shown here makes up 90% of all mushrooms consumed in the U.S. Do you know what it's called?
Bleeding Tooth
White Button Mushroom
Wolf's Milk
Blue Milk Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Officially named Agaricus bisporus, White Button Mushrooms or Common Mushrooms are one of the most widely-consumed fungi in the world, especially in the United States. If you plan to forage for these fungi, however, beware; they look eerily similar to the poisonous Deadly Angel species when you see them in the wild.

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Shiitake
JohnGollop/E+/Getty Images
Can you name this mushroom, which goes by the scientific name Lentinula edodes?
Yellow Fieldcap
Elegant Sunburst Lichen
Shiitake
Fly Agaric
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Native to eastern Asia, Shiitake mushrooms are hugely popular in Asian cuisine. They may be known as donko in Japan or Black Forest mushrooms when used in Chinese dishes. This fungi is umbrella-shaped, ranges from light tan to deep brown and has a sturdy white stem.

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Oyster Mushroom
seraficus/E+/Getty Images
You won't find a pearl within this fungus, but you might notice its distinct smell, which is often compared to bitter almonds or licorice.
Oyster Mushroom
Latticed Stinkhorn
Magic Mushroom
Caesar's Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pleurotus ostreatus, or Oyster Mushrooms, feature a fan-shaped cap and a thick, short stem. They range from gray to brown, and their caps measure between 2 and 10 inches across. Widely used in cooking, especially in Asian dishes, these mushrooms are also useful at reducing air and soil pollution, similar to the way oysters help minimize water pollution.

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Portabello Mushroom
Chris Ted/Photodisc/Getty Images
When you allow a Brown Cremini to age, you get the type of fungus shown in this image.
Turkey Tail
Flower Pot Parasol
Black Witches' Butter
Portobello Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thick and meaty Portobello Mushrooms are a popular burger substitute for vegetarians. They aren't a unique species but are simply Cremini Mushrooms that have been allowed to age until they reach 4 to 6 inches in diameter and darken to a deep brown.

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Chanterelle
fotolinchen/E+/Getty Images
Think you can name this edible fungus with a fruity scent and peppery flavor?
Chanterelle
Lion's Mane
Dung Cannon
King Trumpet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the most popular wild mushrooms, Chanterelles feature a funnel or cup shape and comes in shades of orange, white and yellow. You can identify them by taking a peek underneath - their gills run almost all the way down the stem. This fungus grows wild in many parts of Europe and North America.

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Death Cap
Helen Stonhill/Moment/Getty Images
All fungi fans should be able to identify this species, which goes by the scientific name Amanita phalloides.
Dead Man's Fingers
Lizard's Claw
Train Wrecker
Death Cap
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beware of the Death Cap, a fungus that is poisonous even when cooked. Consuming just half of a small Death Cap is enough to kill an adult, and the majority of mushroom poisoning deaths are linked to this species. You can spot Death Cap by its greenish top and honey-sweet smell.

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Wolf's Milk
WikiCommons by H. Krisp
When this fungi is young, it produces a thick pink paste when cut or damaged. Do you know what it is called?
Wolf's Milk
Rounded Earthstar
Bleeding Tooth
Lobster Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wolf's milk, or Lycogala epidendrum, is a small form of fungus consisting of cushions with a rough or warty texture. Each cushion is less than half an inch in diameter and ranges from pink to brown. The fungus gets its name from the thick pink paste found inside when the fungus is newly formed.

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Enoki
Teresa Lett/Moment Open/Getty Images
What is this fungi, whose scientific name is Flammulina velutipes and which is often found in soups and salads in Japanese cuisine?
Pecan Truffle
Enoki
Dead Man's Fingers
Shitake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hugely popular in Japanese dishes, Enoki, or Enokitake comes in both farmed and wild varieties. Farmed Enoki is long, thin and white, while wild versions are much darker, shorter and thicker.

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Blewit
Marie Velde/Moment/Getty Images
Choose the correct name for this species, which goes by the name Clitocybe and has a distinctive, citrus-like scent.
Death Cap
Oyster Mushroom
Blewit
Blue Milk Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are two main species of Blewit — Wood and Field — and while both are edible, this fungus can trigger allergies in some people. Blewit has a strong flavor, a citrus-like scent and comes in shades ranging from tan to light purple.

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Death Cap
Helen Stonhill/Moment/Getty Images
This fungus with the gumdrop-like look only grows in the tropics, but takes its common name from the fact that it's hugely popular with gardeners.
Chicken of the Woods
Horse Mushroom
Turkey Tail
Flower Pot Parasol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Its official name is Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, but you can call it the Flower Pot Parasol. This fungus starts off bright yellow but fades as it ages. It has a smooth cap with grooved edges, and while it only grows wild in the tropics, many gardeners grow this species in greenhouses, which has helped it earn its common name.

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Giant Puffball
WikiCommons by gailhampshire
Found in temperate regions around the world, can you identify this fungus that can grow as large as a human head?
Anemone Stinkhorn
Giant Puffball
Elegant Sunburst Lichen
Yellow Fieldcap
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it's young, the Calvatia gigantea, or Giant Puffball, has pure white edible flesh. Over time, the fungus grows as large as 20 inches in diameter, but its flesh becomes inedible as streaks of brown or green develop. This species grows in forests and meadows within temperate zones, and some very large Puffballs can weigh as much as 40 pounds.

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Crimini Mushroom
billnoll/E+/Getty Images
Sometimes known as an Italian mushroom, the fungus shown here is often sold as a Baby Bella. Know what it's called?
Coral Fungi
Enoki
Wolf's Milk
Crimini Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Crimini mushrooms are just the brown version of the Common White or Button Mushroom. In fact, all common mushrooms were brown until 1926, when a Pennsylvania farmer was able to develop a pure white hybrid. When the Cremini is allowed to grow to maturity, the resulting large, meaty mushroom is known as a Portobello.

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Maitake
Larissa Veronesi/Moment/Getty Images
Remember the name of this fungus, which is sometimes called Hen-of-the-Woods, and grows all over the northeastern U.S.?
Blusher
White Button Mushroom
Maitake
White Dunce Cap
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Maitake, or Hen-of-the-Woods, grows in clusters along the base of trees, a characteristic of bracket fungi. Sometimes known as the Signorina or Sheepshead Mushroom and called the Grifola frondosa by scientists, Maitake has scalloped edges and can range from tan to deep brown.

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Morel
kcline/E+/Getty Images
Wild varieties of this edible fungus are incredibly valuable, but only if you can identify them correctly! Know what they are called?
Black Witches' Butter
Morel
Portobello Mushroom
Blewit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Morchella, or Morel Mushrooms, are so tough to farm that the wild species is a highly sought-after delicacy. You can recognize the Morel by its honeycomb shape and blonde to gray coloring. When added to food, Morels lend a meaty, nutty flavor, but beware of false morels — which are reddish-brown or purple and have folds rather than a true honeycomb.

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Horse Mushroom
WikiCommons by Salix
Scientists call it Agaricus arvensis, but what common name is used to refer to this fungus, which has a smell like anise?
Horse Mushroom
Chanterelle
Fly Agaric
Lizard's Claws
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Agaricus arvensis, or the Horse Mushroom, has a thick cap measuring 4 to 10 inches across. It ranges from white to yellow, and the white gills underneath darken over time to red or brown. While you may be able to spot this mushroom thanks to its anise odor, you could also look for signs of bruising — because when the Horse Mushroom is damaged, the bruised or cut area appears yellow.

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Field Mushroom
WikiCommons by Andreas Kunze
You can find Agaricus campestris all over the world, including in North America, but do you think you can recognize the common name of this edible fungus?
Enoki
Field Mushroom
Oyster Mushroom
Dead Man's Fingers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nicknamed the Pink Bottom, the Field or Meadow Mushroom grows on a stem up to 4 inches tall. The cap is white and ranges from 2 to 4 inches across, while the girls underneath fade from pink to brown over the years. While you can eat this fungus, use caution, as it closely resembles some toxic species.

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King Trumpet
annick vanderschelden photography/Moment/Getty Images
It has an umami taste when cooked, and is the largest of all the Oyster Mushroom varieties. Think you can guess what it's called?
Ink Cap
Gem-studded Puffball
King Trumpet
Cremini
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Popular in Asian cuisine, the Pleurotus eryngii — also known as the King Trumpet or French Horn — has a small tan cap sitting atop a very thick white stem. Unlike most mushroom species, the stems on the King Trumpet are relatively firm, so they are frequently eaten along with the cap.

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Latticed Stinkhorn
PaoloBis/Moment Open/Getty Images
A European native that now grows 'round the globe, can you identify this fungus that sort of looks like a round red cage?
Destroying Angel
Latticed Stinkhorn
Caesar's Mushroom
Chicken of the Woods
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Latticed Stinkhorn really earns its name, because it has a strong smell of rotten meat! Known among scientists as Clathrus Rubber, this fungus is made up of interlocking branches that form a ball or oval roughly 8 inches in diameter. Commonly pink or red, it starts off as a white or gray egg-shaped structure before transforming into its familiar lattice design.

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Yellow Fieldcap
WikiCommons by Stu's Images
When it's young, this fungus resembles an egg, but it develops a typical mushroom — style cap over time. Can you identify this species, which is also known as Bolbitius titubans?
Yellow Fieldcap
Turkey Tail
Flower Pot Parasol
Dung Cannon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yellow bolbitus or Yellow Fieldcap is an inedible mushroom — mostly because it usually grows on animal dung or fertilizer. It starts as a yellow egg-shaped form before flattening out to form a yellow cap atop a white stem.

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White Dunce Cap
WikiCommons by Tony Gay 2011
In the right conditions, this fragile fungi can appear suddenly on your lawn in a single summer day, but do you know what it's called?
Elegant Sunburst Lichen
Shitake
Coral Fungi
White Dunce Cap
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Conocybe apala is commonly called White Dunce Cap because it looks a lot like the typical headgear seen on those students sitting in the corner of the classroom. The hood-shaped top is silver or cream in color, concealing red or rust-colored gills underneath. In the summer, this fungus with its tall, thin stem can quickly take over a lawn.

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Bleeding Tooth
WikiCommons by H. Krisp
Hydnellum peckii just might be one of the grossest-looking fungi you could stumble across in a forest. Think you can guess its common name?
Lion's Mane
Anemone Stinkhorn
Bleeding Tooth
Octopus Stinkhorn
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We don't blame you if you run away screaming after stumbling upon this fungus in the woods. Known as the Bleeding Tooth Fungus, this species ranges from white to beige and releases a thick red liquid that looks a lot like blood. Despite its look, it isn't actually poisonous, but it's so bitter you probably wouldn't want to eat it.

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Fly Agaric
brytta/E+/Getty Images
If you've ever seen a mushroom in a classic fairytale storybook, it probably looks like Amanita muscaria, which is more commonly known as this.
Ink Cap
Fly Agaric
Shaggy Mane
Pink Bottom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fly Agaric gets its name from the fact that it was once used as a pesticide to keep house flies in check. Though it looks like something out of a fairytale thanks to its red cap with white spots, this species is incredibly toxic to humans, so steer clear if you happen to spot one.

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Train wrecker
WikiCommons by Hagen Graebner
Scientists call it Neolentinus lepideus, but railroad enthusiasts have given this nickname to the fungus shown in this image.
Gem-studded Puffball
Death Cap
Train Wrecker
Golden Jelly Fungus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Because it commonly grows on wooden railroad ties, Neolentinus lepideus has earned the nickname Train Wrecker. While this cream or brown mushroom isn't exactly poisonous, it's known for leeching chemicals out of the ground or nearby wood, which can make it toxic to humans if consumed.

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Magic Mushroom
labuda/E+/Getty Images
What is this fungus, which has been used in religious and cultural ceremonies for thousands of years?
Magic Mushroom
Chicken of the Woods
Dung Cannon
Coral Fungi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fans of Psilocybin Mushrooms may simply call them 'shrooms, but they are more commonly called Magic Mushrooms. Thanks to psychoactive compounds found in this fungus, it has been used in religious ceremonies since the days of ancient Egypt. Rock art from the Stone Age also shows ancient people imbibing, as do stone sculptures from pre-Colombian South America.

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Black Witches' Butter
Diane Seddon Photography/Moment Open/Getty Images
Also known as Jelly Roll fungus, can you name the species shown here — which looks like it is just ripe for adding to a brew or potion?
Blue Milk Mushroom
White Button Mushroom
Morel
Black Witches' Butter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Black Witches' Butter, or Exidia glandulosa, consists of gelatinous blobs that grow in clusters. While black when moist, they shrink and fade to brown when they dry out. And while they are tasteless — not to mention unappetizing — you can safely consume this fungus in most cases.

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Reishi Mushroom
Roel Meijer/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images
Do you know the name of this edible fungus, which goes by the scientific name of Ganoderma lucidum?
Oyster Mushroom
Lion's Mane
Reishi Mushroom
Magic Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Known as Reishi Mushrooms in Japan and Lingzhi Mushrooms in China, Ganoderma lucidum is consumed both in cuisine and in many traditional medicines. You can spot this fungus thanks to its kidney-shaped red cap, as well as a unique lack of gills on its underside.

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Lizards Claw
WikiCommons by Jackson Nugent
Known as a delicacy when the fungus is young, this species grows more bitter and less edible with age. Can you identify it?
Caesar's Mushroom
Lizard's Claw
Latticed Stinkhorn
Giant Puffball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lizard's Claw or Lantern Stinkhorn has a unique shape, even for a fungus. It consists of a red stem with a series of arms, which can join together to form a single spike or peel away from one another to spread into a star shape. Despite its odor, which resembles sewage or rotting flesh, this fungus is considered a delicacy when it is young.

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Anemone Stinkhorn
WikiCommons by Bernard Spragg. NZ
You can probably guess why it's known as starfish fungus, but can you remember the common name of the strange species shown in this image?
Horse Mushroom
Gem-studded Puffball
Anemone Stinkhorn
Elegant Sunburst Lichen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aseroe rubra, or Anemone Stinkhorn has a sturdy white stalk, a red, star-shaped cap ... and a gross layer of brown goo coating the top. If its appearance isn't enough to scare you, breathe in deep to take in its dead animal scent.

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Rounded Earthstar
WikiCommons by JJ Harrison
What is this fungus, which is officially named Gaestrum saccatum — and which probably wouldn't look out of place in a sci-fi flick?
Chanterelle
White Dunce Cap
Death Cap
Rounded Earthstar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite looking like something George Lucas dreamed up for the moon of Endor, Rounded Earthstar is actually a real fungus found right here on Earth. It consists of two layers, including an egg-like inner layer and an outer layer that separates and spreads away from the egg-like center to form a flower-like surrounding.

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Dung Cannon
WikiCommons by Sava Krstic
This fungus gets its name from the speed at which it launches its spores. Know what it's called?
Octopus Stinkhorn
Dung Cannon
Coral Fungi
Shitake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sorry cheetahs, but Pilobolus crystallinus is the fastest organism on Earth. This fungus is only around 1 inch high, but it shoots its spores at speeds up in excess of 240 mph. When animals consume these spores, the fungus grows on the creature's waste, earning this species the very appropriate name Dung Cannon.

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Chicken of the Woods
Stuart McCall/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images
Named for the fact that this edible fungus tastes like a popular protein, this species appears like a series of shelves on the trunk of a tree. Think you know its name?
Chicken of the Woods
King Trumpet
Lion's Mane
Portabello Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chicken-of-the-Woods or Laetiporus grows along the trunk of a tree like a series of shelves or brackets. This fungus, which ranges from yellow to orange, gets its name from the fact that some say it tastes like chicken, but beware that it can also cause an allergic reaction in some people.

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Slime Mold
Ursula Sander/Moment Open/Getty Images
Guess the name of this fungus impersonator, which has an appearance that many compare to dog vomit.
Train Wrecker
Wolf's Milk
Slime Mold
White Button Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though it isn't usually classified as a fungus anymore, Slime Mold was considered part of the Fungi Kingdom for so long that many still mistakenly misclassify it. Made up of single-celled organisms that can live alone or join together, Slime Molds start off yellow before turning hard and gray, then crumbling into a fine brown powder.

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Turkey Tail
Kryssia Campos/Moment Open/Getty Images
No, it doesn't have tryptophan in it, despite its name, but can you guess what this fungus is commonly called?
Shaggy Mane
Turkey Tail
Flower Pot Parasol
Golden Jelly Fungus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It might look like the backside of a wild bird, but Turkey Tail Fungus doesn't taste like fowl, though it is edible. This species, which goes by the scientific name Trametes versicolor is easy to spot because it features concentric circles of color along the top, which has wavy edges and a velvety texture.

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Gem-studded Puffball
Valter Jacinto/Moment/Getty Images
It's officially labeled as Lycoperdon perlatum, but what name are casual fungus fans more likely to use when referring to this species?
Lizard's Claw
Oyster Mushroom
Blewit
Gem-studded Puffball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lycoperdon perlatum, or Gem-studded puffball, consists of a round head and a fat white stalk. Despite its name, the bumps on the head of this fungus are made up of spikes, spores and warty projections. Though this species is edible, it looks an awful lot like some toxic fungi, so should only be collected by experts.

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Golden Jelly Fungus
Laszlo Podor/Moment/Getty Images
You probably don't want to spread this fungus on your biscuit, but can you take a guess at its common name?
Death Cap
Golden Jelly Fungus
Fly Agaric
Morel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Golden Jelly Fungus, or Tremella mesenterica, is a gelatinous yellow or orange clump that grows on newly-fallen branches or dying trees. Found all over the world, it shrivels up during dry spells, only to moisten back up after periods of rain, giving it a Jell-O-like appearance.

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Blue Milk Mushroom
WikiCommons by Dan Molter
Found all over the world, this common fungus has a striking appearance. What is its name?
Blue Milk Mushroom
Magic Mushroom
Black Witches' Butter
White Dunce Cap
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thanks to its purple or blue hue, it's hard to confuse the Blue Milk Mushroom, also known as Indigo Milk Cap, with other fungi. Not only is the exterior of this species blue, but it also oozes a blueish-liquid or paste when damaged. It's found all over the world, and yes, this fungus that scientists known as Lactarius indigo is edible.

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Coral Fungi
WikiCommons by I. G. Safonov
Clavarioid fungus is known for its peppery flavor — and for the fact that it looks like something out of a scene from "The Little Mermaid." Think you know its common name?
Latticed Stinkhorn
Giant Puffball
Coral Fungi
Magic Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It looks like the coral you find under the sea, but Coral Fungi actually grows right here on land. Its ridged branches grow in clumps or spires within forests or any mossy area. This species consists of vibrant colors like blue, red or pink and is almost always edible if you're looking to add a pop of color to your dish.

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Caesar's Mushroom
Nora Bo/Moment Open/Getty Images
Guess the name of this species, which people have been consuming for thousands of years.
Blewit
Caesar's Mushroom
Chanterelle
Portobello Mushroom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Said to be a favorite of ancient Roman rulers, Amanita Caesarea is casually known as Caesar's Mushroom. It has a smooth orange cap over yellow gills and stem, and while this species is edible, it closely resembles the Fly agaric, which is most definitely not edible for anyone looking to live another day.

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Lion's Mane
John Dreyer/Moment Open/Getty Images
When you see this species, it's often a signal that the tree it's growing on is beginning to rot. Can you ID it?
Lion's Mane
King Trumpet
Chicken of the Woods
Yellow Fieldcap
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The long spines of Lion's Mane or Bearded Tooth fungus droop down in a large clump to resemble a mane or beard of hair. Officially known as Hericium erinaceus, the presence of this fungus is usually a good sign that the tree it is growing on is dying or dead. Considered a gourmet delicacy, this fungus grows in North America, Europe and Asia.

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Elegant Sunburst Lichen
WikiCommons by Tigerente
Found on every continent on Earth but Australia, name this fungus used by archaeologists and scientists to date layers of rocks.
Elegant Sunburst Lichen
Destroying Angel
Train Wrecker
Bleeding Tooth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Xanthoria elegans, or Elegant Sunburst Lichen, grows on every continent but Australia, including Antarctica. While it's impressive for its bright orange to red coloring, this fungus is also used to date rock and soil layers — largely because it only grows about half a millimeter each year during its first century of formation.

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