Spring is well on its way in central Florida, but a few small remnants of winter still remain. Last week when things were very windy, I concentrated my efforts on things that were down very close to the ground. That mostly meant wildflowers which are abundant now, but I also came across this small mushroom growing near the wildflowers. I have to say, I was kind of surprised to find a mushroom growing since although the weather is warm during the day, it’s still a little cool at night. We have also been pretty dry lately. Overall, not typical mushroom growing weather. It took me a little while to identify it (and please, never trust my fungi IDs and eat something you see in this blog!), but based on the photos, the range, and the season, I believe it is a scurfy twiglet (Tubaria furfuracea). They are pretty common in the southeastern United States and their peak growing season is winter. “Scurfy” refers to the scaly looking texture of the mushroom’s cap. These mushrooms are not poisonous, but are considered inedible due to their bitter taste. They tend to grow on dead wood and are most common on the forest floor on fallen branches or twigs and in garden beds that contain wood mulch. I found it very interesting to find a mushroom during what I thought were unusual weather conditions for mushroom growth, but I should have realized that where there is a niche, nature will fill it.