Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon?)

Candlesnuff Fungus on a log in Admiralty Park

Photo Credits: Amelia Lim

Scientific Name: Xylaria hypoxylon
Common Name: Candlesnuff Fungus, Candlestick Fungus

The Candlesnuff Fungus can be recognized by the elongated blackened branches with white tips that typically grow in clusters on rotting logs.

The Candlesnuff Fungus is not considered as edible. Although not known to be poisonous, the small size and tough texture deters consumptions.

Yellow Earthballs (scleroderma sinnamariense)

Yellow Earthballs in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Photo Credits: Amelia Lim

Scientific Name: Scleroderma sinnamariense

Common Name: Yellow Earthball, Egg yolk puff

Tough puffballs with greyish-black interiors are sometimes called earthballs to differentiate them from softer puffballs. Distributed throughout the world, various species are used as ectomycorrhizal species to promote growth of tree seedlings.

Mature Yellow Earthball in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

The peridium (outer wall), which may be smooth or warted, is very thick and tough. At maturity it splits irregularly over the upper part to reveal the dark gleba underneath.

Earthballs are not known to be edible.

Tropical Cinnabar Bracket Fungus (Pycnoporus sanguineus)

Scientific Name: Pycnoporus sanguineus
Common Name: Tropical Cinnabar Bracket Fungus

Related links: LSM4254 Taxonomy page

Tropical Milk Cap (Lactifuus sp.)

Tropical Milk cap from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Photo Credits: Amelia Lim

Scientific Name: Lactifuus sp.
Common Name: Tropical Milk Cap

Milk cap is a common name for fungi from Lactifuus, Lactaria and Multifurca species, and can be distinguished from other mushrooms by the white latex 'milk' produced from the gills when dropped or bruised.

White Latex 'milk' under cap when bruised

Lactifuus are generally found in the tropics as well as in Australia and New Zealand.

Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis)

White Jelly Fungus on a log

Photo Credits: Shawn A. Tan

Scientific Name: Tremella fuciformis

Common Name: Snow Fungus, White Jelly Fungus, White fungus, Snow Ear, Silver Ear Fungus

As its name suggests, the snow Fungus is a white jelly like fungus that can often be spotted growing on dead wood. It is wide spread in the tropics, and is a popular fungus to cultivate and sell. The Snow fungus is commonly used in dishes and in Chinese Medicine and even in some cosmetic products in China and Japan.

Dried Snow Fungus sold in Medicinal and dried goods Shops

Snow fungus dessert

Snow Fungus with wolfberry drink by Nutriwell

WARNING: ALTHOUGH IT IS CLASSIFIED AS EDIBLE, FUNGI MAY ABSORB TOXINS AND POLLUTION FROM THE ENVIRONMENT OR RESEMBLE CLOSELY TO POISONOUS SPECIES , AND THUS SHOULD NOT TO BE EATEN UNLESS 100% SURE IT IS SAFE.

Carnival Candy Slime Mold (Arcyria denudata)

Cotton Candy Slime mould fruiting bodies in Windsor Park

Photo credits: Amelia Lim

Scientific Name: Arcyria denudata
Common name: Carnival Candy Slime Mold, Cotton candy Slime mould

Although once classified as a fungi, slime molds (phylum Myxomycetes) are no longer considered as true fungi.

Although they can be easily identified by their iconic pinkish-red colour and fruiting bodies that resemble cotton candy when mature, it spends most of its life as single cells or as a boring white slime (plasmodium stage). As long as food is abundant, these slime molds exist as single-celled organisms, but when food is in short supply, many of these single-celled organisms will congregate and start moving as a single body in the form of a slime. It is sensitive to the environment in the slime stage.

The slime mold is able to move about only in the plasmodium place, moving to suitable spots before maturing. In fact, Slime molds have been known to be very intelligent, navigating mazes accurately despite the lack of a brain.

Commonly found on injured trees and decaying wood, the Carnival Candy slime mold feed on the bacteria, yeast and other fungi that are commonly found in dead plant matter. They help to contribute to the decomposition of dead vegetation.

Dead Man's Fingers (Xylaria sp.)

Dead Man's Fingers taken from a log at Windsor Park (venus loop)

Photo Credits: Amelia Lim

Scientific name:Xylaria sp.

Common name: Dead Man's Fingers

Although a common inhabitant of the forest floor, the dead man's fingers is not commonly seen in Singapore. The dead man's fingers is usually spotted growing on decaying wood and logs. It can be identified by elongated upright stromata resembling fingers.

They may come in a variety of shapes, although the body is usually clubbed shaped and resembles burnt wood.

Bridal Veil Mushroom (Phallus indusiatus)

Bridal Veil Mushroom taken at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Photo Credits: Amelia Lim

Scientific name: Phallus indusiatus
Common names: Bridal Veil Mushroom, bamboo fungus, bamboo pith, long net stinkhorn, crinoline stinkhorn or veiled lady

The Bridal Veil Mushroom belongs to the family Phallaceae, or more commonly known as Stinkhorns. The fungus can be identified by its iconic delicate lacy "skirt", or indusium, which hangs from beneath its cap. Doesn't it resemble a bride's veil? Stinkhorn fungus usually produce a putrid rotting smell that attract flies and other insects to help disperse its spores contained in the greenish-brownish slime on the cap.

Jade Web soup with Bamboo pith

Dumplings wrapped in Bamboo pith

Bamboo Pith sold in markets

When cultivated and cleansed properly, the Bridal Veil Mushroom is considered edible, and is featured in many Chinese cuisines, where it is stir-fried or added into chicken soups. Don't be surprised if you see them in Asian markets, as they are also commercially grown and sold as cooking ingredients. The mushroom is known to be rich in protein, carbohydrates and dietary fibre, and contains many bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properities. It has also been used in Chinese medicine.

WARNING: ALTHOUGH IT IS CLASSIFIED AS EDIBLE, FUNGI MAY ABSORB TOXINS AND POLLUTION FROM THE ENVIRONMENT OR RESEMBLE CLOSELY TO POISONOUS SPECIES , AND THUS SHOULD NOT TO BE EATEN UNLESS 100% SURE IT IS SAFE.

The Bridal Veil Mushroom is distributed in many places throughout the tropics beyond Asia. It usually grows on Wood where it breaks it down to return the nutrients back to the environment.

Fluted Bird's Nest Fungus (Cyathus striatus)

Fluted Bird's Nest Fungus spotted growing on Wood chips in Coney Island Park

Scientific name: Cyathus striatus

Common name: Fluted Bird's Nest Fungus

A uniquely shaped fungus which closely resembles the miniature bird's nest with eggs, this fungus species can commonly be seen growing on wood chips present in the Mulches around Singapore. 

Although many fungi species use wind to disperse spores, the bird's nest fungus often uses raindrops to propel the spores out of the nest and further away.

The nest is commonly known as the peridium, and the spores are kept in the Peridole, within the purse.

When raindrops hit the nest, the droplet pushes the purse out, where it attaches to a near by surface and releases the spores.

Scaly Rust Gill (Gymnopilus sp.)

Scientific name: Gymnopilus sp.

Common name: Scaly rust gill

Uncommonly seen in Singapore, the Scaly rust gill can be seen growing on wood. It may even appear to grow from the ground if the wood is buried. The common name comes from the scales on the top of the cap and the rust coloured spores that cover the gills. 

Gymnopilus can be spotted by their unique orange-rust coloured spores, that seem to easily cover surfaces around them. There are approximately 200 species of Gymnopilus in the world, making it difficult to identify down to species level.

Many species of Gymnopilus contain hallucinogens, which can cause a sensation of high and induce hallucinations, and can be considered a magic mushroom.

The scaly rust gill looks similar to Pholiota sp. and Galerina marginata, which are both poisonous.

Sweet Osmanthus Ear Fungus (Dacryopinax spathularia)

Sweet Osmanthus Ear Fungus spotted growing on a log at Coney Island Park

Photo credits: Amelia Lim

Scientific name: Dacryopinax spathularia

Common name: Sweet Osmanthus Ear Fungus, 桂花耳；guìhuā'ěr

Commonly called the Sweet Osmanthus Ear fungus, this fungus can commonly be spotted on dead logs around nature parks of Singapore including Coney Island Park and Hay Dairy Nature park.

The common name of this fungus comes from the resemblance to the Osmanthus flower petals. It is commonly spatula shaped, and bright yellow to orange in colour when fresh, and may look darker (orangey-red) in colour when it is dry. It has a jelly like texture, and is commonly known as a type of jelly fungus. 

flowers of the fragrant Osmanthus plant

When cultivated properly, the Sweet Osmanthus Ear Fungus is edible.

Vegetarians may recognize this fungus from a vegetarian dish Buddha's delight, where this fungus is commonly included. 

Buddha's delight dish

WARNING: ALTHOUGH IT IS CLASSIFIED AS EDIBLE, FUNGI MAY ABSORB TOXINS AND POLLUTION FROM THE ENVIRONMENT OR RESEMBLE CLOSELY TO POISONOUS SPECIES , AND THUS SHOULD NOT TO BE EATEN UNLESS 100% SURE IT IS SAFE.

Welcome to the World of Fungi 🍄

Neither plants nor animals, Fungi are a unique and different organism all together. The fungi world, made up of almost 100,000 species and counting are amongst one of the most widely distributed organisms in the world.

They come in many shapes and forms, and play different roles in the environment and in our human society. Yet despite their prevalence and importance, the Fungi world is commonly neglected and forgotten, especially in the tropics and in Singapore.

Lets explore the amazing world of Fungi in Singapore!