You won't see these mushrooms often in Polish forests. They look like they're from another planet.

According to data from the State Forests, Poles collect up to 100,000 tons of mushrooms each year. The value of these natural treasures is estimated at nearly 700 million złoty. Many families gather as much as 30 kilograms of mushrooms during the season. Afterward, the harvest must be dried and the jars filled. For some, it's a true ritual, repeated with relish every year.

The Weirdest Polish Mushrooms. They Look Like They're From Another Planet

The 2025 mushroom picking season has started quite well, thanks largely to abundant rains and the prevailing moisture in the forests. Chanterelles, butter mushrooms, bay boletes, boletes, birch boletes, and parasol mushrooms are now abundant.

But the question is, have you ever seen an amethyst mushroom, a lion's mane mushroom, or a cordyceps mushroom in person? These three mushrooms offer such extraordinary sights that they evoke images of science fiction movies and the fauna of distant, imaginary planets.

Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a rare and protected species, much more popular in Asia. It is used in traditional medicine in distant lands, although it can also be used in conventional medicine. Research is ongoing into its usefulness, including in treating neurological problems.

The lion's mane gets its name from its appearance as a hanging, white group of icicles. It resembles the fur that grows on trees. However, this appearance is seen primarily on dead plants, especially beeches and oaks.

Amethyst Laccaria amethystina, on the other hand, is distinguished by its purple, "cosmic" color. Interestingly, it is edible. Unfortunately, it loses its beautiful color when cooked. It can be found in damp deciduous and coniferous forests, often in large groups against a background of green moss and fallen leaves.

The strangest of the three is undoubtedly the cordyceps militaris. It grows on insect larvae in the form of thin, orange pillars. This parasite causes the death and mummification of its host. In Poland, it is listed on the Red List of Polish Plants and Fungi. It may be threatened with extinction in the future.

Gallery: Space Mushrooms Found in Poland. Read also: They Searched for Mushrooms in the Forests of Greater Poland. They Found Them "In Front of the Office." Read also: These Mushrooms Resemble Chanterelles. Foresters Warn of Poisonous "Doppelgangers."