Coming up with creative and clever names for mushrooms can be a fun way to add some whimsy to your hobby of foraging, growing, or studying fungi. The wide diversity of mushroom types means there are endless opportunities for mushroom name inspiration. When naming mushrooms, it’s often best to consider characteristics like appearance, habitat, edibility, historical or literary references, and more. This article explores tips for brainstorming and choosing great mushroom names.
Describe Physical Appearance
One effective technique for mushroom naming is to simply describe the physical appearance. Focus on the most noticeable or defining features of the mushroom.
References to shape work well for many mushrooms. For example, Chanterelle has a vase-like or trumpet shape. Morel is reminiscent of a sponge with its deeply pitted cap. The umbrella-shaped parasol mushroom has an apt name.
Color is another straightforward option. Lactarius indigo, commonly known as the indigo milk cap, is a vivid deep blue color. The cinnamon capped psathyrella gets its name from the reddish-brown cap.
You can also name mushrooms based on distinguishing characteristics like bruising. Bolete species like the lurid bolete and the bitter bolete are named for the color changes that occur when their pores are injured.
Other descriptive names can highlight textures like the velvet foot mushroom or slimy spike cap. Or emphasize size like the giant puffball or tiny earthstar mushroom.
Refer to Habitat
Naming mushrooms based on where they grow is another effective strategy. This provides clues about ideal habitat and growing conditions.
Many mushrooms are named after the tree species they associate with like the spruce root mushroom, the chestnut mushroom, or the poplar mushroom. Others may be named for the environment like the snowbank fairy helmet found in alpine areas.
You can get creative with habitat-based names that evoke a sense of place. Mushrooms like the dune stinkhorn, swamp beacon, and fairy ring mushroom all include habitat references.
Note Edibility
Edibility is an important factor when identifying and naming mushrooms. Calling out if a mushroom is edible, poisonous, or unknown can serve as a useful warning.
Edible mushrooms tend to have more playful names like the prince, Caesar’s mushroom, or wine cap stropharia. Names that reference food like the chicken of the woods or hen of the woods also signal potentially good eating.
Toxic or poisonous mushrooms often have ominous names like the funeral bell, witch’s hat, or death cap. The food reference in the pineapple fungus or jack-o-lantern mushroom indicates they may look tempting but are not edible.
Non-edible but non-toxic mushrooms can also be given names like the inedible pixie’s parasol. Being clear on edibility helps inform safe identification and use.
Draw From Appearance in Nature
Looking to nature for inspiration is a rich source for mushroom names. Many types of fungi mimic shapes and forms seen in the natural world.
For example, chanterelle mushrooms have a vase-like shape similar to a flower. Coral fungi have branching structures that look like underwater reefs. The bird’s nest fungi resembles twigs, moss, and eggs in a nest.
The stinkhorn family of mushrooms often have names like dog stinkhorn and witch’s egg stinkhorn referring to their odd shapes. Puffballs are sometimes called devil’s snuffbox, pear-shaped puffball, or wolf farts for their round puffy forms.
Having a mushroom name reflect characteristics found in nature helps paint an image in the reader’s mind.
Make Literary or Pop Culture References
Looking to works of literature or pop culture can add an element of fun and whimsy to mushroom names.
Some mushrooms are named after figures from myths and legends, like the green elf cup. Others reference popular stories, like the hobbit’s puffball mushroom.
Naming with pop culture references results in mushrooms like the chewbacca puffball, ninja milk cap, or gandalf’s beard lichen.
Literary names can evoke famous books or authors, like the fahrenheit hawk’s wing, Emily Dickinson agaricus, or Kafka’s amanita.
When done well, naming mushrooms with creative fictional references can make identification more engaging.
Use Location References
Locations around the world offer great inspiration for naming mushrooms. You can reference cities, states, countries, regions, landmarks, and more.
Some examples include the Virginia spring agaricus, Texas yellow cap, Louisiana pink oyster, and Blue Mountains waxy cap.
Calling out locations helps situate mushrooms in areas they naturally grow. It also enables you to give a nod to mycology hotspots around the world.
When using locations, be reasonably broad or use shorthand references familiar to most readers. Naming mushrooms after hyper-local spots unknown to others should generally be avoided.
Play With Mushroom Group Names
Certain groups or families of mushrooms have traditional naming conventions you can creatively riff on.
Many boletes end in boletes or have bolete in the name like the psychedelic bolete, frosted bolete, or lilac bolete. Having this family identifier helps bolete recognition.
The same goes for gilled mushrooms which often end in agaricus or have agaric in the name. Examples are the fiery agaric, inky agaricus, or showy agaric.
Following these conventions while personalizing the descriptive first part allows your name to convey both mushroom type and unique traits.
Add Humorous or Whimsical Mushroom Names
Naming mushrooms with a playful sense of humor can make identification more fun. Whimsical names often use funny food references, rhyming, alliteration, or amusing imagery.
Food name examples include the chicken fat bonnet, cold bacon webcap, or cottage cheese mushroom. Rhyming names can include the gnarly snarly, slimy chime, or teenie weenie.
Humorous names like the grumpy russula, too much fun guy, silly willy, or ugly step child add whimsy and personality.
When done tastefully, amusing names make dry identification more engaging while still communicating key mushroom traits.
Use Comparative Mushroom Names
A creative naming approach is to compare mushrooms to other known organisms or objects. Making comparisons helps contextualize new discoveries using familiar benchmarks.
The brain mushroom got its name for its strikingly similar shape. The moonshiner’s mushroom resembles a classic moonshine jug. The comma mushroom looks like punctuation marks.
Other comparative names include the white morel cauliflower mushroom, the bleached rasp cup, or the hawk feather pholiota.
Calling out valid visual similarities expands understanding and recognition of mushroom diversity.
Key Considerations When Naming Mushrooms
While creativity is encouraged, there are some best practices to keep in mind when naming mushrooms:
– Avoid overly obscure personal references only you understand
– Stay away from inappropriate or offensive names
– Do not use names that could be dangerously misleading about edibility
– Try to be reasonably concise while still descriptive
– Emphasize uniqueness and distinct characteristics
– Consider if the name will make sense over time as understanding evolves
Following these guidelines helps craft mushroom names that are distinctive, engaging, and informative for both current and future generations of mycologists.
| Mushroom Name | Origin of Name |
|---|---|
| Blue jelly roll | Reference to bluish color and rolled cap shape |
| Sunset chanterelle | Vibrant orange color like a sunset |
| Pinecone mushroom | Resemblance to pinecones |
| Elf saddle | Found under conifers and fairy-like appearance |
| Squatters mushroom | Grows in clusters on decaying wood |
Conclusion
Mushroom naming is an artform that balances science, creativity, and descriptive language. Keep mushroom names informative yet playful. Focus on distinct characteristics and choose names that spark curiosity, delight, and intrigue. With a limitless bounty of fungi awaiting discovery, the future holds endless opportunities to invent many more clever, clever mushroom monikers.
