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Mushroom Companions

Mushrooms form relationships with the with nearby trees and plants — some are mutual partners, sharing nutrients with roots, while others are parasitic, feeding on their hosts instead.  Learning how to spot your favorite mushroom's favorite tree significantly increases your chance of finding that mushroom.  

How To Identify PNW Conifer Trees

Conifer trees are generally evergreen, have needles instead of leaves, and produce cones that bear seeds.  Coniferous trees can be easier to identify throughout the year because you can frequently find fresh branches with needles or cones on the forest floor nearby.  

Pine

Pinus

Pinus ponderosa
Pine Needles In Situ
Pine Female Cone

True Fir

Abies

Abies True Fir
Abies procera naalden
Abies alba_

Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga

Douglas Fir Tree
DouglasFir_cone
Pseudotsuga menziesii

Spruce

Picea 

Spruce Tree
Spurce needles close up
Spruce cone

Hemlock

Tsuga 

Hemlock Tree
Hemlock needles no cone
Hemlock cones

Cedar

Thuja, Calocedrus, Chamaecyparis 

Cedar Tree
Cedar needles
Western redcedar cones

Cypress

Cupressus

Cypress tree 2
cypress needles close up
cypress cones 2
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