When you think of mushrooms and other fungi, you might picture the portobello mushrooms in the produce section or white fuzzy mold. But there are far more varieties out there and in many different colors, from bright yellow slime molds to dainty purple forest mushrooms. Here's our list of the world's most colorful mushrooms and other fungi: 1.
Mushrooms can be quite toxic and should be avoided in nature unless you know what you are doing. The characteristic color of mushrooms is an iconic light brown but they can be many colors including yellow, orange, red and black. The vivid yellow of these mushrooms come from two variations of the pigment birnbaumin.
Some other pigments that can lead to varying shades of yellow include the betalains, sclerocitrin and chalcitrin. The Mushroom Color Atlas was born in the thick of the pandemic. Having retired from teaching, she saw it as an opportunity to provide an online educational resource about how to work with and use mushrooms for color.
In this dynamic Mushroom Color Atlas, explore the colorful universe of fungi through the spectrum of colors from dyeing with mushrooms. In mushrooms, carotenoids absorb blue light and reflect yellow, orange, or red wavelengths, giving the mushroom its warm tone. Melanins are another class of pigments, imparting brown, black, and sometimes gray colors to mushrooms.
As a mushroom enthusiast, I find the diverse colors of mushrooms to be aesthetically pleasing. Whether it's the striking contrast of white oyster mushrooms against dark growing substrates or the deep purple hues of amethyst deceiver mushrooms found in the wild, each color variation adds visual appeal to culinary dishes and natural environments. Enter the Mushroom Color Atlas, and you can discover the 'beautiful and subtle colors derived from dyeing with mushrooms.' Featuring 825 colors, each associated with different types of mushrooms, the interactive atlas lets you appreciate the broad spectrum of colors latent in the fungi kingdom.
Orange mushrooms are easily confused with red or yellow varieties. Proper identification requires looking at gill color, spore print, habitat and other distinguishing factors. Beautiful mushrooms in many different colors.JUMP TO: MAIN INDEX -- WOW -- WILD & WONDERFUL.