In California State Parks, all features are protected, including Fungus. These are the flowers of these orgamisms. Avid collectors argue that the fruiting body is not important, as the majority of the orgamism is underground. There are several good reasons why this is harmful. #1 Removal of these by even one visitor deprives the rest of us of enjoying it. #2 The cumulative impact of millions of visitors can be devastating.(we get an awful lot of folks year round up here!) #3 LAST, but most importantly, as a food source, breeding ground, or home, fungus is important to many plants and animals. Thier survival, not ours, depends on these being available to them. Please appreciate all of the forest, but don't disturb it, for future generations enjoyment, and the forests health.

The majority of the Fungus in the Forest are Saprophytic (decomposers). Of course they are very important to the health of the Forest! They are needed to break down the duff into usable nutrients for the other plants. Some of these Fungus are seen every year, while others fruit every decade or more apart. Other interesting differences to look for are weather they have gills or pores (like sponge). Do they have a Stipe (stem) or do they use substrate (ie: tree) to lift them off the ground? They are all little factories for getting thier spores out into the air, each has their own way worked out. The Orange peel/cup fungus are facinating, they utilize water drops to splash the spores out. My heartfelt thanks to Kim Baker for the help she has given me in this area, most of the identificatin here has been her work.