Mushrooms That Grow on Trees in the Chicago Area.

As a mycologist who has spent years studying the diverse fungal flora of Chicago, I'm excited to share my knowledge about the fascinating world of tree-dwelling mushrooms in our urban forest. Chicago's unique blend of native woodlands, parks, and street trees provides a rich habitat for various fungi species. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the most common and interesting mushrooms you might encounter growing on trees throughout the Windy City.

Before we dive into specific species, it's essential to understand the role these fungi play in our ecosystem. Tree-dwelling mushrooms, also known as lignicolous fungi, are crucial decomposers that break down dead or dying wood, recycling nutrients back into the environment. Some species are parasitic, while others form beneficial relationships with living trees. By learning to identify and appreciate these organisms, we can better understand the health of our urban forest and the intricate web of life that supports it.

1. Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)

One of the most striking mushrooms you'll find on Chicago's trees is the vibrant Chicken of the Woods. This shelf-like fungus boasts bright yellow to orange colors and a distinctive layered appearance.

Identification:

• Clusters of overlapping, fan-shaped brackets
• Bright yellow to orange coloration, fading to pale yellow with age
• Soft and watery when young, becoming tougher with age
• No gills; tiny pores on the underside
  
  

Preferred Trees:

Chicken of the Woods primarily grows on oak trees in Chicago, but you may also spot it on cherry, beech, or eucalyptus. It's a parasitic fungus that causes brown rot in living trees and continues to fruit on dead wood.

Ecological Role:

While it can be detrimental to individual trees, Chicken of the Woods plays a vital role in forest ecosystems by breaking down wood and creating habitat for insects and other organisms.

Interesting Fact:

This mushroom gets its common name from its taste and texture, which many people compare to chicken when cooked. However, always consult an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.

2. Artist's Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)

The Artist's Conk is a perennial bracket fungus that you'll often see adorning the trunks of various hardwood trees throughout Chicago.

Identification:

• Large, shelf-like fruiting bodies that can grow up to 30-40 cm wide
• Upper surface is hard, gray to brown, with concentric zones
• White to cream-colored undersurface that bruises brown when scratched
• Can persist for many years, adding new growth layers annually

Preferred Trees:

In Chicago, you'll commonly find Artist's Conk on maples, elms, and beeches. It's also known to grow on other hardwoods and occasionally conifers.

 

Ecological Role:

Artist's Conk is a white rot fungus, breaking down both lignin and cellulose in wood. This process is crucial for nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems.

 

Interesting Fact:

The common name comes from artists using the white underside as a natural canvas. Scratches on the surface turn brown and become permanent, allowing for intricate drawings.

3. Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)

One of the most common and recognizable mushrooms in Chicago's urban forest is the Turkey Tail, known for its striking multicolored bands.

Identification:

• Thin, flexible brackets growing in overlapping clusters
• Distinctly zoned with various colors (browns, rusts, blues, whites)
• Velvety upper surface
• Tiny pores on the white to light brown underside

Preferred Trees:

Turkey Tail is not picky and can be found on a wide variety of deciduous trees in Chicago, including oak, maple, birch, and cherry. It's also occasionally seen on conifers.

 

Ecological Role:

As a white rot fungus, Turkey Tail plays a crucial role in breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. It's particularly effective at decomposing lignin, a tough component of wood.

 

Interesting Fact:

Turkey Tail has been extensively studied for its potential medicinal properties, particularly in boosting the immune system. However, always consult with a healthcare professional before using any mushroom for medicinal purposes.

4. Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Oyster mushrooms are not only delicious edibles but also fascinating decomposers found throughout Chicago's wooded areas.

Identification:

• Shell-shaped caps growing in clusters
• Colors range from white to gray or tan
• Gills run down the short, often off-center stem
• Soft, fleshy texture when fresh

Preferred Trees:

In Chicago, you're most likely to find oyster mushrooms on deciduous trees like beech, maple, and poplar. They're particularly fond of dead or dying trees.

 

Ecological Role:

Oyster mushrooms are powerful decomposers, breaking down dead wood and returning nutrients to the soil. They're also known for their ability to remediate contaminated soils.

 

Interesting Fact:

Oyster mushrooms are one of the few carnivorous fungi. They can paralyze and digest nematodes (tiny worms) as a source of nitrogen.

5. Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

One of the most unusual-looking mushrooms you might encounter in Chicago is the Lion's Mane, also known as Bear's Head or Monkey Head fungus.

Identification:

• Large, white, globular fruiting body
• Covered in cascading spines or "teeth"
• Grows as a single mass rather than a cap and stem
• Becomes yellowish with age

Preferred Trees:

In Chicago's urban forest, Lion's Mane is most commonly found on oak and maple trees, particularly on dead or dying specimens.

 

Ecological Role:

Lion's Mane is a white rot fungus that plays a crucial role in decomposing dead wood and recycling nutrients in the forest ecosystem.

 

Interesting Fact:

This mushroom has gained attention for its potential cognitive benefits. Research suggests it may have neuroprotective properties and could potentially aid in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

6. Dryad's Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus)

Also known as Pheasant's Back, this large polypore is a common sight in Chicago's parks and woodlands during spring and early summer.

Identification:

• Large, fan-shaped brackets up to 60 cm wide
• Cream to yellowish-brown cap with dark brown scales
• Short, thick stem often attached off-center
• Underside covered in pores rather than gills

Preferred Trees:

In Chicago, Dryad's Saddle is commonly found on elm, maple, and occasionally oak trees. It can grow on both living and dead wood.

 

Ecological Role:

As a white rot fungus, Dryad's Saddle breaks down lignin in wood, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems.

 

Interesting Fact:

The name "Dryad's Saddle" comes from Greek mythology. Dryads were tree nymphs, and the large, flat mushrooms were imagined as saddles they might use.

7. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Reishi mushrooms, revered in traditional Eastern medicine, can be found growing on hardwood trees throughout Chicago.

Identification:

• Kidney-shaped to circular caps with a lacquered, reddish-brown surface
• White to light brown pore surface on the underside
• Often has a lateral stem
• Annual growth, unlike its close relative, the perennial Artist's Conk

Preferred Trees:

In Chicago, Reishi typically grows at the base of oak and maple trees, though it can be found on other hardwoods as well.

 

Ecological Role:

Reishi is a white rot fungus that plays a crucial role in decomposing dead wood and recycling nutrients in forest ecosystems.

 

 

Interesting Fact:

Reishi has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years and is sometimes called the "mushroom of immortality" due to its purported health benefits.

8. Honey Mushrooms (Armillaria species)

Honey mushrooms are a group of parasitic fungi that can be found in clusters at the base of trees throughout Chicago.

Identification:

• Honey-colored caps with small scales
• Distinct ring on the stem
• Grow in dense clusters
• White spore print

Preferred Trees:

Honey mushrooms are not picky and can be found on a wide variety of trees in Chicago, including oak, maple, and elm. They're often indicators of root rot in living trees.

 

Ecological Role:

While parasitic on living trees, honey mushrooms play an important role in forest succession by weakening and eventually killing susceptible trees, creating openings for new growth.

 

Interesting Fact:

Honey mushrooms are bioluminescent, meaning their mycelia can glow in the dark. This phenomenon is known as "foxfire" and can sometimes be observed on infected wood at night.

9. Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina)

As the name suggests, this mushroom is primarily associated with birch trees, which are common in Chicago's parks and urban landscapes.

Identification:

• Hoof-shaped fruiting bodies
• Smooth, whitish to light brown upper surface
• Pore surface on the underside
• Corky texture when mature

Preferred Trees:

In Chicago, Birch Polypore is almost exclusively found on birch trees, both living and dead.

 

Ecological Role:

Birch Polypore is a brown rot fungus, meaning it primarily breaks down cellulose in wood, leaving behind the darker lignin. This process is crucial for nutrient cycling in birch-dominated ecosystems.

 

Interesting Fact:

The Birch Polypore has been used traditionally for medicinal purposes and was famously found with the Ice Man, a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Alps, suggesting its use dates back millennia.

10. Northern Tooth Fungus (Climacodon septentrionalis)

This striking fungus forms large, tiered clusters on hardwood trees throughout Chicago's urban forest.

Identification:

• Large, shelf-like fruiting bodies growing in tiers
• White to cream-colored when young, becoming yellowish with age
• Underside covered in tooth-like projections instead of gills or pores
• Annual growth, often reappearing in the same spot year after year

Preferred Trees:

In Chicago, Northern Tooth Fungus is most commonly found on maple trees, particularly sugar maples. It can also occasionally be spotted on other hardwoods like beech or oak.

 

Ecological Role:

As a white rot fungus, Northern Tooth plays a crucial role in breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients in the forest ecosystem. However, it can also be parasitic on living trees, causing heart rot.

 

Interesting Fact:

Despite its large size and striking appearance, Northern Tooth Fungus is often overlooked because it typically grows high up on tree trunks, sometimes 20-30 feet above the ground.

Conclusion

The tree-dwelling mushrooms of Chicago offer a fascinating glimpse into the complex ecology of our urban forest. From the vibrant Chicken of the Woods to the intricate Artist's Conk, each species plays a unique role in the ecosystem. As a mycologist, I'm continually amazed by the diversity and adaptability of these fungi.

Understanding and appreciating these mushrooms can enhance our connection to nature, even in the heart of the city. However, it's crucial to remember that while many of these species are edible or have traditional medicinal uses, proper identification is essential. Never consume wild mushrooms without expert verification, as some species can be toxic or even deadly.

I encourage you to explore Chicago's parks and woodlands with a newfound appreciation for these often-overlooked organisms. By observing mushrooms in their natural habitat, you'll gain insight into the health of our trees and the intricate web of life that supports our urban ecosystem.

Remember, the world of mycology is vast and ever-changing. New species are discovered regularly, and our understanding of fungal ecology is constantly evolving. Whether you're a casual nature enthusiast or an aspiring mycologist, there's always more to learn about the fascinating fungi that call Chicago home.