# Angel's Wings (*pleurocybella porrigens*)

Angel's Wings are beautiful mushrooms that look like delicate, white wings! They often grow on decaying wood, adding a magical touch to the forest floor.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests, often found on decaying wood.
- **Also known as:** Angel Wings Mushroom, Mushroom Wings, Pleurocybella

![Angel's Wings](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pleurocybella_050919low.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Strobilomyces, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pleurocybella_050919low.jpg)

## Appearance

The Angel'S Wings is a delicate, pure white to creamy white fungus, often shaped like a fan, shell, or spatula. It grows without a visible stem, directly attached to wood, and features thin, radiating gills on its underside. Its striking pale color and graceful form make it distinctive against dark forest wood.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Agaricales
- **Family:** Marasmiaceae
- **Genus:** Pleurocybella

## Interesting facts

- Angel's Wings was once thought edible but is now known to be dangerous, especially for kidneys. Wow!
- Despite its name, this fungus doesn't fly; it stays put, munching on dead trees. Wow!
- It often grows in stacked, overlapping layers, looking like a cascade of white shelves. Wow!
- Its scientific name, \*Pleurocybella porrigens\*, means "little sideways bent beautiful cap." Wow!

## Special abilities

- **Wood Wizard:** Angel'S Wings can break down dead conifer wood because it releases special enzymes, helping recycle nutrients in the forest.
- **Spore Shower:** Angel'S Wings has a fan-like shape that helps it release millions of tiny white spores, spreading new fungi widely.
- **Winter Warrior:** Angel'S Wings can grow even in cool fall and early winter temperatures, thriving when many other fungi disappear.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 0.5-2 cm
- **Edible:** poisonous
- **Size:** 2-10 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Fall to early winter
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Eastern Hemlock](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-hemlock) (*Tsuga canadensis*) — decomposes dead logs
- **Eats:** [Red Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-spruce) (*Picea rubens*) — breaks down fallen branches
- **Eats:** [Balsam Fir](https://www.snappit.app/explore/balsam-fir) (*Abies balsamea*) — recycles nutrients from stumps

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not touch or eat wild mushrooms without adult supervision.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Angel's Wings?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Angel's Wings?

0.5-2 cm

### Is Angel's Wings edible?

poisonous

### How big is Angel's Wings?

2-10 cm

### Where is Angel's Wings usually found?

Forests, often found on decaying wood.

### What does Angel's Wings grow on?

wood

### When is Angel's Wings in season?

Fall to early winter

### What color are Angel's Wings spores?

White

## Where to spot

- [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Angel's Wings: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/angels-wings)