Cudonia circinans
Summa vegetabilium Scandinaviae 2: 348. 1849.
Common Name: none
Synonym: Leotia circinans Pers.
For descriptions see Seaver, Arora, & Siegel & Schwarz.
Scattered to gregarious in moss, thick duff, or well-rotted wood, primarily in Sitka spruce forests; locally common in the far north coast, uncommon south to Mendocino County; fall through spring.
Poisonous, potentially deadly; contains gyromitrins.
Cudonia circinans can be distinguished by its irregular-round cap that is plump when wet, smooth to slightly wrinkled underside, rubbery stipe, buff to beige coloration, and growth with Sitka spruce. Leotia lubrica is similar, but with more yellow to yellowish-green coloration and usually larger in size.
Andary, C., Privat, G. & Bourrier, M.-J. (1985). Variations of Monomethylhydrazine Content in Gyromitra esculenta. Mycologia 77(2): 259-264.
Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
Beug, M. (2015). Monomethylhydrazine Content in the Ascomycota. Mycophile 55(3): 18-19.
Beug, M.W., Bessette, A.E. & Bessette, A.R. (2014). Ascomycete Fungi of North America. University of Texas Press: Austin, TX. 488 p.
Seaver, F.J. (1978). The North American Cup-Fungi (Inoperculates). Lubrecht & Cramer: Monticello, N.Y. 428 p. (PDF)
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
Siegel, N., Mohatt, K. & Trudell, S. (2025). Mushrooms of Alaska. Timber Press: New York, NY. 572 p.
