# Let's play Name That Fungus! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429 "2002-06-17T00:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/1 "2002-06-17T00:23:59Z")
I have a house plant that I purchased a few years ago in California. I am currently in New Jersey. I’m not sure if it matters, but the plant has been sitting in front of a window that we frequently open. Anyway, last week the soil sprouted little things that looked like yellow Barbapapas. Curious, I let one grow. In a few days it grew to about three inches and looked distinctly mushroom-like (like a morel, actually) except it was bright acid yellow and the cap was covered in yellow spores. I picked it and broke it open and it smelled like a mushroom too. There are more growing in the pot, some of which are dark green, and the soil is covered with what looks like mold in the same yellow. Any clue what it is? ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/2 "2002-06-17T00:39:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Suo Na \* > \*\*Any clue what it is? \*\* WAG, but i’m sure it’s something that shouldn’t be there ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/3 "2002-06-17T00:43:10Z")
Is that [with or without the Toucan](http://wwwusers.imaginet.fr/~mhp/) ? ---
**Author:** ![caracal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caracal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caracal)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/4 "2002-06-17T00:49:25Z")
[these folks](http://home.teleport.com/~lndscape/identification.htm) seem like they would help. I wish I could play myself, but the only experience I have with mushrooms is, uh, well…anyway, try that link. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/5 "2002-06-17T00:50:53Z")
It might be a [yellow slime mold.](http://www.herb.lsa.umich.edu/kidpage/slimemold.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/6 "2002-06-17T01:09:35Z")
Nope, it doesn’t look like slime molds. I might check it with the pet fungus people (caracal’s link) if another one grows. I’m not sure how much longer I want to keep them around, though. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/7 "2002-06-17T01:31:07Z")
This, by any chance? > **[California Fungi: Leucocoprinus birnbaumii](https://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Leucocoprinus_birnbaumii.html)** > > Photographs and descriptions of the Mushrooms and other Fungi of California, USA > [@](#): > > This diminutive mushroom, typically found on the soil of potted indoor plants, is easily recognized by a bright-yellow (when fresh, it fades rapidly in the sun), finely-scaled, bell-shaped, striate cap, thin, collar-like annulus, and free, yellowish gills. A close relative is Leucoprinus cepaestipes which has a white, striate cap and fruits outdoors on well rotted wood chips or in grass under conifers. It’s native to California, too. ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-name-that-fungus/114429/8 "2002-06-17T01:47:49Z")
We may have a winner here. I don’t think it came all the way from California with us, because it’s never grown on this plant before, but if it’s native to the east coast then it might just be the same one. Thanks.