The fungi kingdom is remarkable in its diversity of its species. Fungi are responsible for the creation of numerous life-saving drugs, including penicillin, antibiotics, and more. While some are also great additions to the cooks kitchen to add flavor and texture to dishes, others are known to cause infections: athlete’s foot and ringworm, and some so toxic that it can lead to death if ingested.

There are so many that are visually captivating and come in an assortment of sizes, shapes, and colors. Especially in the mushroom family.

1. RHODOTUS PALMATUS

The Rhodotus palmatus is known as the wrinkled peach for its similarities to the fruit and its pinkish grooves on the cap and short pink gills underneath. These mushrooms need a wet and dry environment to fully develop.

Found in central parts of the United States and England, these mushrooms are fairly rare and listed as a threatened species.

2. SARCOSCYPHA COCCINEA

The Sarcoscypha Coccinea is shaped like a cup with a vibrant red interior. It’s commonly referred to as the scarlet cup or the scarlet elf cup. The cup can grow up to 1.5. inches wide and the scarlet red interior fades to an orange as the mushroom ages.

This mushroom is found on every continent except Antarctica. It grows in damp regions on decaying branches or logs or among dead leaves on the forest floor.

3. AMANITA MUSCARIA

The Amanita Muscaria looks like an enchanting fairytale mushroom. Not to be fooled by its innocent appearance, this fungus is known to cause psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties. This mushroom varies in coloration. Red mostly in the west and deep south of North America, orange in the Midwest and east, and yellow mostly in the east.

Commonly referred to as the fly agaric or fly amanita for its use to inebriate and kill flies.

4. LACCARIA AMETHYSTINA

The Laccaria Amethystina, commonly known as a the amethyst deceiver, is a small mushroom between 3/4 of an inch to 2.5 inches across. It grows in bare or mossy soil and is often found on woodland floors amongst leaves. Found both in coniferous and deciduous forests, it tends to prefer growing around beech trees.

This mushroom doesn’t maintain its purple hue forever. As it ages, it starts to brown at the stem until it reaches its cap. Although edible, it is commonly mistaken for a similar in appearance poisonous mushroom called the lilac fibrecap.

5. HYDNELLUM PECKII

The Hydnellum Peckii, commonly known as the bleeding tooth fungus, has quite a gory appearance. The sap makes the mushroom look like it’s bleeding from pores. Other nicknames it has been referred to is Strawberries and Cream mushroom or the Devil’s tooth.

Although scientists aren’t entirely sure what the seeping liquid is (don’t worry, it’s not really blood) they do know it gets it color from a pigment found within the mushroom. It only oozes the sap when young and turns beige as an adult. Safe to eat but has a very bitter taste.

6. CLAVARIA ZOLLINGERI

The Clavaria Zollingeri is a coral fungi, or otherwise known as a clavarioid. This fungus appears to look like a grouping of small purple antlers. It is commonly found in eastern North America and likes to grow on beds of moss below oak and hickory trees.

This fungus is commonly referred to as the violet coral or the magenta coral. The antlers are actually tubes on the fungus and grow up to 4 inches tall. They make for a beautiful and unusual looking fungus.

7. ENTOLOMA HOCHSTETTERI

The Entoloma Hochstetteri has an iconic look and is a native species to New Zealand. The local Māori named the mushroom werewere-kokako because of the similarities in coloration with the kōkako bird.

This mushroom only grows about an inch across the top of the cap. It ranges in hues from dark blue to light blue to gray. Although small and delicate looking, this mushroom is not edible.

8. ASEROE RUBRA

The Aseroe Rubra is a star-shaped fungus. It has been referred to by a variety of aliases, such as the anemone stinkhorn, sea anemone fungus, and starfish fungus. It’s commonly found throughout Australia in grassy areas or in mulch. It’s stinky attributes attracts flies to help spread its spores.

Growing up to just under 4 inches tall, the surface of the mushroom is often covered in brownish slime.

9. CLATHRUS RUBER

The Clathrus Ruber is more commonly known as the latticed stinkhorn mushroom, although it doesn’t much resemble a mushroom at all. It also doesn’t carry an earthy scent like most mushrooms, but instead smells similar to rotten meat.

Found in North American coastlines, the Mediterranean, and Europe - the smell of this fungus attracts flies to help spread its spores. The captivating color and shape only appears as the mushroom matures from a young white-button shape.

10. CLAVULINOPSIS SULCATA

The Clavulinopsis Sulcata is another form of coral fungi. It is easily recognized by its vibrant pinkish-orange fingers. Often found on littered forest floors of plants and leaves. First identified in South Africa, it also grows in North America, Asia, Eastern Australia, and New Zealand.

11. PANELLUS STIPTICUS

The Panellus Stipticus mushroom doesn’t have any special features during the day. It grows on trees and logs and is beige-shell shaped mushroom growing only 1 to 3 centimeters wide. At nighttime is when its true uniqueness shines by becoming a bioluminescent mushroom. This mushroom is found in Europe and the Pacific Northwest, but the glow-in-the-dark variety can only be found in eastern North America.