Fungi are not plants, they are members of their own Kingdom, and they include mushrooms, truffles, fungi that form lichens, rusts, smuts, molds, and more.
They do not include slime molds or water molds (like potato blight), neither of which are true molds.
For a bit of history, a preliminary list was created in 1996 by Dr. C.B. Wolfe, Jr., based on names read from specimen labels in herbaria and funded by the Wild Resource Conservation Program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
However, at that time, there were just under 87,000 known species of fungi in the world, and now, 30 years later, that number has increased to 155,000 known and 2-3 million species estimated to exist.
Advances in DNA analysis techniques have revolutionized modern taxonomy, making this the perfect time for a revamp of the fungi species list.
The current list is curated by Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program staff and members of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey Mycological Technical Committee and is derived from records that have been identified by experts with a modern understanding of taxonomy, as well as specimens that have been inspected at the genetic level through DNA barcoding.
The list should not be considered complete, as taxonomy evolves and new species are discovered.
Anyone with a smartphone or computer can interact with this list on the website to filter for lichens, macrofungi, microfungi and nonnative status, and view species by scientific or common names.
Click Here for the Pennsylvania Fungi List.
While this list includes introduced, nonnative species, the Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council adopted a new list of the introduced fungi that pose distinct concerns and qualify as invasive.
This list is not regulatory (i.e. possession of these species carries no legal penalty) but helps increase awareness and provides information.
It’s important to acknowledge that some pathogenic (disease-causing) fungi like chestnut blight and the white nose syndrome fungus are not devastating just because they cause disease, but because they’re new introductions to our ecosystems and our native plants and animals haven’t had time to build up defenses against these species.
Additionally, invasive fungi aren’t just pathogens – some mushrooms – whether poisonous or edible, wood-rotting or mycorrhizal with trees – can also be introduced and compete with native fungal diversity or stand as a new poisonous species that foragers must learn and contend against.
Fungi can be introduced along with nonnative plants and animals or through the movement of wood or soil, and some nonnative fungi are cultivated and could escape from farms or from home grow kits.
While some nonnative plants become banned for commercial sale eventually, to prevent the spread of invasive species, consumers should investigate whether the plant or mushroom spawn they’re considering purchasing is native to their state to make an informed decision.
Reporting invasive species via iMapInvasives or iNaturalist can also help scientists track their spread.
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the US Fish and Wildlife & Wildlife Services and public and private funders.
(Photos: Golden Oyster Mushroom - Pleurotus citrinopileatus - by Hannah Huber; Liverwort Navel - Loreleia marchantiae - by Noah Yawn,)
(Contributed by the PA Natural Heritage Program; Written by Hannah Huber, Conservation Mycologist, Western PA Conservancy.)
Resource Link:
-- PA Biological Survey Releases Digital Booklet On The Importance Of Fungi [PaEN]
[Posted: March 12, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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