Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi. They are widely distributed and can be quite colorful. They also can be quite deadly.

	Artist Fungus Ganoderma applanatum The artist fungus grows on dead trees. The surface is quite soft and can be scratched easily. You can thus draw a picture. The surface will then turn tan and the lines set.
	Fly Amanita Amanita muscaria This is a toxic variety. Check out the description on the Bay Area web site. This speciman was found in pines in Colorado. Photo by Grace Korlath.
	White Coral Fungus Ramariopsis kunzei The fungus is widely distributed. This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in June.
	Giant Puffball Calvatia gigantea The Giant Puffball occurs in the midwest in the fall. I have seen these in rather dry years as well. This is a tasty variety of mushroom. As you can see by the picture of the puffball next to my granddaughter, Abby, the Giant Puffball gets rather large. To cook the puffball, you cut it into finger size stripes, dip in egg and flour, and then saute. Warning. If the puffball has a stem through the flesh, do not eat. Also, if the meat is not white, you should not cook them.