By James Webb
About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarloaf Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park.

Rimbachia bryopila. Image courtesy of Jim Webb.

Purple Fuzz (Punctularia atropurpurescens). Image courtesy of Jim Webb.
Brushy Peaks Trail
This week, I walked the Brushy Peaks Trail and observed a wide variety of fungi in fruit, some of which I was unable to identify satisfactorily. The trail is in good condition, though it is steep in places along the top of the ridge. Among the fungi currently in fruit along the trail are Rimbachia bryopila (no common name), Purple fuzz (Punctularia atropurpurescens), Tricholoma imbricatum, Rosy polypore (Rhodofomes cajanderi), Galerina vittiformis (no common name), Golden ear (Tremella aurantica), False turkey tails (Stereum hirsutum), Coprinellus flocculosus (no common name), Coprinellus impatiens (no common name), Mica cap (Coprinellus micaceus), Jack o’ Lantern (Omphalotus olivascens), Gymnopilus sapineus (no common name), and Sulfur tuff (Hypholoma fasciculare). I also found some peculiar ascomycete fungi called Coral spot fungus (Nectria cinnabarina) growing on small hardwood branches.

Brown cup fungus (Peziza varia). Image courtesy of Jim Webb.
Canyon and Pony Gate Trails
Both the Canyon and Pony Gate Trails are in good condition, though they are very steep in places with many constructed steps. Fungi currently in fruit along these trails include the spreading Brown cup fungus (Peziza varia, shown above), Carbon balls (Annulohypoxylon thouarsianum), Miller’s osterling (Clitopilus hobsonii), Orange conifer jelly (Dacrymyces chrysospermus), Golden ear (Tremella aurantica), False turkey tails (Stereum hirsutum), Golden milk cap (Lactarius alnicola), Jack o’ Lantern (Omphalotus olivascens), split gill (Schizophyllum commune), and Gilled polypore (Trametes betulina). I also found some peculiar little ascomycete fungi (Orbilia spp.) growing on leaves and twigs.

Turkey Tails (Trametes versicolor). Image courtesy of Jim Webb.
Lower Bald, Bald, and Vista Trails
I walked the Lower Bald, Bald, and Vista Trails on January 9, 2025, and found an unimpressive number of fungi in fruit, all of which I was able to identify satisfactorily. The trails are in good condition overall, though they are steep in places, with constructed steps along the lower Vista Trail. Fungi currently in fruit along these trails include Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor, shown above), False turkey tail (Stereum ostrea), Smoky polypore (Bjerkandera adusta), Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), Western amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis), Banded mottlegill (Panaeolus cinctulus), and Common psathyrella (Psathyrella candolleana).