February Foraging Forecast

Learn wild, edible mushrooms fruiting in Central Texas after rain.

WOOD BLEWIT Collybia species, formerly Lepista, Clitocybe

  • Distinct lilac to purple-pink color

  • Grows in and decomposes leaf duff

  • Light pink to white spores

  • Great in breakfast tacos

As the weather stays cool, look out for the edible Wood Blewit, Collybia nuda or tarda species (formerly Lepista and Clitocybe.) This distinct lavender-colored mushroom is found from fall through spring and fruiting in hardwood leaf duff which is decomposes. Fresh wood blewits are great with eggs in breakfast tacos. As they get older they become more tan and iridescent colored on the cap and taste bitter. I throw the older wood blewits my compost leaf pile because they are such great decomposers and will colonize and grow in hardwood leaf litter.

Look-alikes: Be warned because there are deadly, poisonous look-alikes in the Cortinarius or webcap family that grow in similar conditions. It's important to do a spore print AND also confirm the ID with an expert. The spores of the wood blewit are light pink to white and the spores of Cortinarius mushrooms are rust colored. See our blog post with lots of photos and details to help you identify this mushroom.


OYSTER Pleurotus ostreatus

  • Color can vary white, tan and gray

  • White to cream gills, run down stem

  • Cap fan shaped, 2"-8" across, white spores

  • Grows in clusters and decomposes hardwood

  • Delicious meat replacement in all types of cuisines

Look-alikes: Southern Jack-o-lantern, Omphalotus subilludens which is toxic and orange to brown in color.


WOOD EAR: Auricularia species

  • Grows in clusters on decaying hardwood after rain

  • Cap is wavy, ear-shaped to irregular, 1-4" and > 1/4" thick

  • Jelly texture and lacks gills or pores

  • Produces white spores

  • Absorbs flavors, great in soups, contains protein, iron, calcium and phosphorus

Edibility: Wood ear mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that wood ear has anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.

Look-alikes: Amber Jelly, Exidia recisa which is also edible.


TURKEY TAIL Trametes versicolor

  • Variable coloration, distinct striping pattern

  • Grows in overlapping clusters on logs and stumps

  • No gills, pores are small and round, white to light brown

  • Tough, leathery flesh

  • Medicinal and can be brewed into a tea, broth, or extracted into a tincture.

Look-alikes: False turkey tail. or Stereum ostrea and is non-toxic. Mushroom Expert has a useful check list to determine if it is true medicinal turkey tail.



Become a member and learn more about wild mushroom foraging in Texas!

Membership benefits include early access and discounts to walks, workshops, and more. Your membership helps support the larger community! Tag us to get help with ID and add your observations to iNaturalist.org. If you are trying a new mushroom, confirm the ID with an expert, then try a small amount to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction. Texas Mushroom Identification Facebook group is great for quick responses and ID help. Also, don't forget to add your finds on the Mushrooms of Texas project on iNaturalist.

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