I'd never seen these mushrooms in the neighborhood until this year. According to MycoWeb, they are a desert mushroom. After 4 years of drought, they fit right in Los Angeles. I've seen them in the desert, where they look just like rocks. They seem to sprout about a week after a good rain, just like this one did.
Disclaimer: The Corralitas Red Car Property Blog prefers to quote reliable sources, such as CalFlora and California Poison Control on the issue of toxicity. MykoWeb is the resource everyone seems to refer to for mushrooms. The Los Angeles Mycological Society has a recommended reading list.
If you are eating your way through the Red Car Property, we DO NOT recommend you eat any plant you find in the Red Car Property neighborhood without first doing your own research.
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