15 of the World’s Funkiest Fungi

When it comes to the natural world, fungi are (truly) in a kingdom all their own. They help humans brew tasty beverages like beer, they recycle compounds from dead plants and animals, and they provide nutrients for trees. Of course, there are others that destroy food crops and kill any humans who accidentally ingest them. You never know what you’re going to get with fungus. In celebration of their weird and wonderful world, here are 15 fungi that will blow your mind (some of them in a literal sense).

1. Shoestring Fungus (Armillaria ostoyae)
2. Black Witches’ Butter (Exidia glandulosa)
3. Bleeding Tooth Fungus (Hydnellum peckii)
4. Glow-in-the-Dark Mushrooms (Mycena chlorophos)
5. Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
6. Dung Cannon (Pilobolus crystallinus)
7. Red Yeast Rice (Monascus purpureus)
8. Wavy-Capped Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybe cyanescens)
9. Gem-Studded Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)
10. Bird’s Nest Fungus (Crucibulum laeve)
11. Octopus Stinkhorn (Clathrus archeri)
12. Almond Mushroom (Agaricus subrufescens)
13. Slime Mold (Stemonitis Axifera)
14. Reishi Mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum)
15. Red Coral Fungus (Ramaria araiospora)

Shoestring Fungus (Armillaria ostoyae)

Hidden underground in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest lives a creature so large it makes the blue whale look small. Meet the Humongous Fungus, the world’s biggest living organism. This four-square-mile patch is mostly hidden from view (a few odd mushrooms pop up here and there), but its impact is, well, humungous: this type of fungus causes root disease and kills conifers across North America.

Black Witches’ Butter (Exidia glandulosa)

This blister-like fungus grows on decaying logs and fallen branches, looking flat and rougher in dry conditions and swollen after rain. Despite its unappetizing appearance, the fungus is edible—though you might want to add some seasoning.

Bleeding Tooth Fungus (Hydnellum peckii)

One of the more disgusting-looking fungi of the world might cause concern for hikers who stumble across it. But the red liquid oozing out of it isn’t blood—it emerges due to guttation. This process causes rapidly growing or metabolizing plants to excrete excess fluids [PDF]. For the bleeding tooth fungus, the fluid happens to be bright red.

Glow-in-the-Dark Mushrooms (Mycena chlorophos)

Plenty of fungi exhibit bioluminescence, but this particular species from Southeast Asia is the oldest known example. What makes it give off that eerie green glow? In 2015 scientists discovered a compound called hispidin, an antioxidant that undergoes a chemical reaction to create a glowing light.

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)

Do you prefer your poultry in the form of nuggets, drumsticks—or maybe as fungus? This edible mushroom tastes like—you guessed it—chicken. It’s bright yellow and has no gills (the fine, black material you may have noticed on the underside of portobello mushrooms). But watch out for a variation of this mushroom growing on conifers, since they’re a different species and might cause poisoning. 

Dung Cannon (Pilobolus crystallinus)

Considering fungi are immobile, being the fastest creature on Earth might seem impossible. But when it comes to the speed of its spores, the dung cannon is indeed the fastest organism: The fungus launches its crystalline spores at an acceleration rate of 1.7 million meters per second squared—faster than guns and even rocket ships. 

Red Yeast Rice (Monascus purpureus)

Moldy rice might not sound like an ideal element of a meal, but the mold Monascus purpureus actually makes a popular fermented food with possible medical uses. In addition to being eaten, red yeast rice is also sold as a supplement to decrease cholesterol. 

Wavy-Capped Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybe cyanescens)

These mushrooms might look innocuous, but they pack a potent dose of psilocybin, a chemical that causes distorted perception, hallucinations, and intensified emotions. In 2001, scientists found 100,000 of the mushrooms growing along a racetrack in England. These fungi have also made the news for their potential in treating mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. 

Gem-Studded Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)

Though this member of the puffball family resembles an anemone shell, it’s actually covered in detachable spiny warts. In urban areas it can be found near trampled ground and around curbs. It is edible, but foragers should be particularly careful, since lookalike species include the pigskin poison puffball and the deadly destroying angel.

Bird’s Nest Fungus (Crucibulum laeve)

Fungi in the family Nidulariaceae, like Crucibulum laeve, have fruiting bodies that look like tiny birds’ nests complete with “eggs,” which are really structures called peridioles containing the fungi’s spores. The spores are dispersed when raindrops splash into the “nests.” These miniscule fungi grow on rotten wood and plant matter.

Octopus Stinkhorn (Clathrus archeri)

This woodland fungus is a native of Australia and New Zealand that has since spread throughout the world. It grows around leaf litter, decaying stumps, and woodchips. Its “fingers” are aromatic (hence its common name) and meant to attract flies, which then carry its spores away with them. 

Almond Mushroom (Agaricus subrufescens)

These mushrooms were cultivated in the 19th century and were popular in North America. More recently they’ve been cultivated in Brazil and Japan. The almond mushroom is also thought to combat cancer by stimulating the immune system, though there haven’t been enough studies yet to prove its efficacy. 

Slime Mold (Stemonitis Axifera)

You’d think a slime mold would look, well, slimy, but in this case it’s actually more like hair. The furry brown strands are sporangia growing on top of thin, black stalks. For years, slime molds were thought to be fungi, but they’re actually multicellular amoebas whose spore structures mimic those of fungi. 

Reishi Mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum)

Chinese civilizations have cultivated reishi mushrooms for medicinal purposes for more than 2000 years. They treat everything from bacterial infections to cancer (though studies are ongoing to see just how effective the mushrooms actually are). But more recently, mycologist Philip Ross found an alternative use for them—as building material. Their root-like mycelium is strong, waterproof, and fire-resistant. The mycelium bricks were even used to build towers at MoMA PS1 in New York.

Red Coral Fungus (Ramaria araiospora)

Coral fungi are aptly named for their resemblance to coral, and they grow all over the world. Red coral fungus is a beautiful pinkish color that turns green when sprinkled with iron salts. It’s also eaten and sold in markets in Mexico and Guatemala.

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A version of this story was published in 2017; it has been updated for 2025.