Red Tree Brain Fungus
Peniophora rufa · Family Peniophoraceae · Updated October 2026
830US records
29states
Augbusiest month
830 US records since 1861 (293 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Aug 15, 2026 (about 2 months ago) near Ophir, San Miguel County, CO, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from New Jersey, Minnesota and New York, and the busiest months are Aug, Sep and Apr. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Aug, Sep, Apr.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Sussex County, NJ (36) · latest Sep 28, 2019
- St. Louis County, MN (29) · latest May 10, 2026
- Ocean County, NJ (29) · latest Oct 26, 2019
- Mercer County, NJ (25) · latest May 4, 2019
- Morris County, NJ (22) · latest Jul 20, 2019
- Jefferson County, CO (19) · latest Jun 16, 2019
- Burlington County, NJ (19) · latest Oct 6, 2018
- Lake County, MN (19) · latest Oct 23, 2025
- Dane County, WI (17) · latest Jan 27, 2024
- Hunterdon County, NJ (15) · latest Aug 25, 2019
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
🍄
Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.