Troll’s Knoll Forest
Park Map
Find the Troll’s Knoll mushroom patch, a moss-covered turtle, and information about the specific trees in the park
Mushrooms of the Troll’s Forest
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Never eat a wild mushroom without proper identification by someone familiar with potential look-alikes
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This mushroom patch contains a variety of fungi that help to decompose dead plant material, and return their nutrients to the soil
Troll’s Mushroom Patch
A small mushroom patch on the north end of the park includes some commonly cultivated mushroom species
Mushrooms are created by fungi that spend most of their time living quietly underground or inside wood as fine, white threads known as mycelium.
When conditions are just right, the mycelium will create mushrooms on the surface in order to disperse spores.
When spores land on a suitable food source, they will begin to grow as a new mycelial colony.
Pleurotus ostreatus
Oyster
One of the most commonly cultivated, and also wild foraged mushrooms. Like most cultivated species, it is a wood-lover and is found in the wild growing on dead trees and stumps.
Stropharia rugosoannulata
King Stropharia
Also known as the garden giant, this mushroom grows on a range of substrates getting its nutrition as both a primary and secondary decomposer.
Hericium erinaceus
Lion’s Mane
One of 4-5 Hericium species in the US, lion’s mane typically grows from the side of logs and stumps. It grows as a tight rounded pom-pom
Ganoderma lucidum
Reishi
Reishi is a woody polypore mushroom that is cultivated for use in teas, tinctures, and powders. The PNW is home to other Ganoderma species including G. oregonense, and G. applanatum.
Other Common Urban Mushrooms
Below is a selection of wild mushrooms that might be found in urban parks like the Troll’s Knoll. This list includes edible and toxic mushrooms. Many of these mushrooms are decomposers and are often found on dead logs, grass, compost and wood chips. Others are only found growing with specific trees like pine, Douglas fir, or birch.
Amanita muscaria
Fly Agaric
This conspicuous mushroom associates with a wide variety of trees and is found broadly distributed throughout the city. It is generally considered inedible or toxic.
Chlorophyllum olivieri
Olive Shaggy Parasol
One of a few similar-looking Chlorophyllum species that can be found throughout urban areas. ‘Shaggy’ refers to the tufts of cap tissue. While edible, it does contain compounds that cause gastic upset in some. It also has a close relative with green spores that is toxic.
Trametes versicolor
Turkey Tail
An extremely common polypore mushroom found on logs and stumps. Bands of alternating colors, and tiny pores on the underside help distinguish this from similar-looking mushrooms
Coprinus comatus
Shaggy Mane
This mushroom is often found in disturbed areas. When young the cap has slightly fully, uplifted tufts of tissue. As it ages the cap ‘melts’ into a black ink.
Coprinopsis lagopus
Hare’s Foot Inkcap
Commonly found in gardens and mulch, and might only be visible for a day before the cap dissolves into ink.
More Coming This Week
Trees of the Troll’s Knoll Forest
Deciduous Trees
Deciduous trees are those that lose their leaves in the fall. The Troll’s Forest has 13 different deciduous species including cottonwood, oak, cherry, apple, and maple
Black Cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa
Black cottonwood is one of the most popular trees in the park and is native to the western US. The genus Populus also includes aspen and poplar trees.
Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Cherry
Prunus
Cherry Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus
Cork Oak
Quercus suber
English Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Maples
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Oak
Quercus
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Sumac
Rhus
Coniferous Trees
Coniferous trees are trees that have cones. They are typically evergreens and do not lose their leaves in the fall. Many conifers have leaves that are long thin needles however others like western redcedar have wide, scaly leaves.
Austrian Pine
Pinus nigra
Douglas Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Juniper
Juniperus communis
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Scot’s Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Shore Pine
Pinus contorta
