Fungi Enthusiasts Seek Rare Mushrooms and Lichens in California

A growing community of scientists and amateur researchers work to protect the overlooked and threatened world of fungi.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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In California's Napa County, fungi enthusiasts like Jessica Allen and Jesse Miller of the California Lichen Society scour the landscape in search of rare mushrooms and lichens. While they didn't find the elusive Manzanita butter clump, the group was captivated by the dazzling array of lichen species they discovered. Fungi play an essential role in ecosystems, contributing an estimated $54 trillion to the global economy, but only about 6% of the estimated 2.5 million fungal species have been documented. Conservation efforts, aided by citizen scientists, are working to better understand and protect these overlooked lifeforms as they face threats from climate change, habitat loss, and overharvesting.

Why it matters

Fungi are critical to the health of ecosystems, yet they have been largely neglected by conservation efforts despite facing increasing threats. The work of groups like the California Lichen Society is helping to fill the knowledge gap and drive efforts to protect rare and endangered fungal species.

The details

Jessica Allen, a fungi scientist, was searching for the rare Manzanita butter clump mushroom when she became distracted by the dazzling array of lichens on a nearby rock. Lichens are a type of fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with algae or cyanobacteria. Allen and her colleague Jesse Miller, president of the California Lichen Society, are part of a growing community of people fascinated by the "wondrous and mystical world of fungi." While only about 155,000 of the estimated 2.5 million fungal species have been documented, citizen scientists and amateur mycologists are playing a key role in conservation efforts by documenting fungal diversity and identifying threatened species.

  • The Manzanita butter clump mushroom was last seen in California's Napa County two years ago.
  • The California Lichen Society field trip took place on January 24, 2026.

The players

Jessica Allen

A fungi scientist and mycologist for NatureServe, a hub for biodiversity data throughout North America. She is helping to accelerate and support fungal conservation efforts in the U.S. and Canada.

Jesse Miller

The president of the California Lichen Society, an organization that brings together lichenologists and amateur lichen enthusiasts to study and protect these overlooked lifeforms.

Gregory Mueller

The co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's fungal conservation committee, who coordinates global efforts to protect fungi.

Nora Dunkirk

A botanist and mycologist at Portland State University's Institute for Natural Resources, working to document vulnerable plant and fungi species to aid conservation efforts.

Larry Cool

A chemist and amateur lichenologist who has been interested in lichens for over 50 years, after learning they can be used as natural dyes.

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What they’re saying

“It's so easy to get distracted, but there's so many lichen!”

— Jessica Allen, Fungi Scientist

“That was a good rock.”

— Jesse Miller, President, California Lichen Society

“Lichen are more than the sum of its parts and are mysteriously unpredictable. I get a lot of pleasure seeing the incredible variety of creation.”

— Larry Cool, Amateur Lichenologist

“It just keeps your brain in that place where you're saying 'Wow!' all the time. 'That's cool!' And that's my favorite place for my brain to be.”

— Ken Kellman, Amateur Lichenologist

What’s next

Scientists and conservation groups will continue to monitor the populations of rare and endangered fungal species, like the Manzanita butter clump mushroom, and work to better understand the threats they face from climate change, habitat loss, and other human impacts.

The takeaway

The growing community of fungi enthusiasts, both professional scientists and amateur mycologists, are playing a vital role in documenting the incredible diversity of fungi and driving efforts to protect these overlooked but essential lifeforms. Their passion and dedication is helping to fill critical knowledge gaps and ensure the long-term health of ecosystems that depend on fungi.