Fun Guy Mushroom Tag - Lobster

Yes, Lobster mushrooms grow in Maine. I love lobsters, both the crustacean and the fungi! So let's get this tag to Maine to mingle with his cousins.

Lobster mushrooms grow in temperate forests, primarily across North America, in areas with evergreen trees like hemlock, spruce, and Douglas fir, as well as mixed woodlands with hardwoods such as oak and poplar. They are often found after good rains and require moist, cool conditions, appearing in varied habitats from the Pacific Northwest and California to the Northeast and Midwest of the United States. Key indicators of habitat include associated plants like sword ferns, bracken ferns, and salal, and they can be located under leaf litter or pushed-up dirt. 

Geographic Distribution

• North America: 

  Lobster mushrooms are widespread in temperate forests across the United States and Canada. 

• West Coast: 

  They are abundant in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) and Northern California. 

• Northeast/Midwest: 

  They are also found in the northeastern U.S. and the Midwest in deciduous woods with oaks and poplars. 

Habitat and Ecology

• Forest Types: 

  They prefer mixed forests, including both coniferous and deciduous woodlands, and thrive in mid-aged forests, around 40 to 100 years old. 

• Environmental Conditions: 

  Moisture is crucial for their growth, so they are often found after rainfall in moist, cool conditions. 

• Tree Associations: 

  They parasitize other mushrooms, most notably Russula brevipes and some Lactarius species, which grow in association with trees like Douglas fir, hemlock, spruce, and ponderosa pine. 

Finding Lobster Mushrooms

• Look for Signs: 

  Search for the distinctive vibrant orange coloration of the mushroom, which can appear as a small orange bump on the ground. 

• Check Nearby: 

  If you find one, look for other spots where the ground might be pushed up or covered by leaf litter. 

• Associated Plants: 

  Look for associated plants like sword ferns, bracken ferns, wild blackberry bushes, and salal, as they often indicate a good habitat.