[steo]

While all of these mushrooms are considered edible, this does not mean that you don't have to use caution in your identification. Learn your Keys to identifying mushrooms by studing Field guides and learning from other hunters.
In addition to your field guides, DR. Michael Kuo's Mushroom Expert site is a great resource....Frank

Bricktops: Naematoloma sublateritium - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.

A late fall shroom, found in clustered growth on deciduous (oak,maple,etc) logs. Usually a brick red color cap, with purplish-gray gills. Very good to eat, but caution needs to be given on identification.
A purple-brown sporeprint is key. - description by miker




Lions Mane or Bears Tooth: Hericium erinaceus - photo by Steo
Edible

The lions mane, is a white beard-like mushroom growth, that likes living on just about dead decidous trees. The beard when examined more closely looks like long white spines, & is found in late summer into fall If this shroom is beginning to turn yellow, leave it. They will have a bittery taste then. - description by miker





Aborted Entoloma: Entoloma abortivum (left) and Pear-Shaped Puffball: Morganella pyriformis (right) - photo by Steo
Edible

The aborted are in the bag.
Yes, there are a lot of edible mushrooms but you should always do a spore print and know 100% with out a doubt the exact mushroom you have before eating it. Not all mushrooms can produce a spore print like these two. Actually you can get a spore print from a puffball but if wait until they produce spores they are no good to eat. Always try a small sample and wait till the next day to make sure you aren't alergic or anything. Always keep a fresh sample in the fridge just in case you need to show a doc what you ate. I know this has been said time and again but I don't want anyone to just use these pictures as a guide to what is edible. Know the ones that are poisonous before you venture on. - description by Steo


Blewits: Lepista nuda - photo by Steo
Edible

The Blewit is a lilac to purple capped mushroom, with purplish gills, and a thick stem, usually very wide at the base of the stem.
Spore print is pinkish buff. Another choice late fall shroom. - description by miker




Velvet Foots: Flammulina velutipes - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.

The velvet foot is a late fall mushroom, that grows on soft wooded decidous trees (elm, poplar, aspen etc).
It's better for a new hunter to leave it alone and not picked, unless you are with a seasoned hunter that truely knows the differences between it and other poisonous species. - description by miker





Shaggy Manes: Coprinus comatus - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.

Some of the inky family can make you wish you paid better attention it identification before picking and eating.
However when you are sure of your Shaggy Maine ID, they are very easy to find in the fall. Just look in the yards as you drive. Should be picked in button stage (unopened) and used imediately. They do not keep well.
- description by Steo







Meadows or Pink Bottoms: Agaricus campestris - photo by Steo
(Color hues in this photo is misleading)
Edible with caution.

The Meadow mushroom, is a shroom that lives up to its name being found in meadows, grassy areas, old school yards etc. This white capped mushroom has pink gills when young, and brownish-deep purple gills when older. Spore print is dark chocolate brown. The meadow is usually a fall mushroom, with occasional fruitings in the late spring. It must meet the above color criteria! Remember that No Mushroom with a white cap and whitish-grey gills are to be added to your collection. - description by miker



Brown Honey or Stumper: Armillaria gallica - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.







Yellow Honey or Stumpers: Armillaria mellea - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.







Hen of the woods: Grifola frondosa - photo by Steo
Edible

Found in the Fall, usually at the base of a distressed oak. Fan shaped, grey brown pedals. Reminds me of the feathers on a chicken's back. Can be very large. White stalk. One of my favorites. - description by Judy







Oyster mushroom: Pleurotus ostreatus - photo by Steo
Edible

Found mostly in spring and early summer. Must get them quick, they will get buggy fast. They grow mostly on dead Aspen trees. A very sharp knife tied to a very long stick is often needed to reach those high ones in the tree.





Chicken of the woods: Has 2varieties. Laetiporus cincinnatus (this picture)- photo by Steo
Edible

The other variety Laetiporus sulphureus,
is more orange with yellow instead of white pores
and is much more common. - description by Steo




Reddening Lepiota: Lepiota americana - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.







Deer or Fawn mushroom: Pluteus cervinus - photo by Steo
Edible







Chicken Fat: Suillus americanus - photo by Steo
Edible







Woodears: Auricularia auricula-judae - photo by Steo
Edible







Gilled Bolete: Phylloporus rhodoxanthus - photo by Steo
Edible







King Bolete: Boletus edulis - photo by Steo
Edible







Green Quilted Russula: Russula virescens - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.







Purple-gilled Laccaria: Laccaria ochropurpurea - photo by Steo
Edible







Angel Wings: Pleurotus porrigens - photo by Steo
Edible







Short-stalked Suillus: Suillus brevipes - photo by Steo
Edible







Red Cracked Bolete: Boletus chrysenteron - photo by Steo
Edible







Orange-Latex Milky: Lactarius deliciosus - photo by Steo
Edible







Man on horseback or Canary Trich: Tricholoma flavovirens - photo by Steo
Edible








Sweet Tooth: (two varities) Hydnum repandum & Hydnum umbilicatum - photo by Steo
Edible

Hydnum umbilicatum is much smaller then Hydnum repandum, but both are great!
This is one mushroom I really wish I could find more of. - description by Steo




Shaggy Parasol: Macrolepiota rhacodes - photo by Steo
Edible with caution.









Lobster Mushroom: Hypomyces lactifluorum - photo by Steo
Edible







Black Trumpets: Craterellus fallax & Craterellus - cornucopioides - photo by Steo
Edible







Dryad saddles or Pheasant backs: Polyporus squamosus - photo by Steo
Edible
A spring and summer mushroom growing on wood, usualy decaying stumps or blowdowns.
Best when picked in very young stage. About 2 or 3 inches diameter. You can cut off the edges of some larger, and use just the edges. These get tough when old. I think they get a bad rap on taste because too often they are old specimums people try to use. While they are not my favorite, I do like them tossed in while a roast is cooking. - description by Frank
______________________________ _
(Also called, Hawk's Wing)
Time of year found: Spring and fall.
Where: On dead logs and woods.

Key features: Dryad's saddle is a polypore mushroom, with hawk wing like surface patterns and colors (white and brown), underneath it has yellowish white surface with lots of pores, pores are large enough to see. When mature it has a bitter taste and rubbery texture (because this mushroom feeds itself with cellulose) even though it's edible when young many mushroomers doesn't bother collecting them. Some says it has a smell similar to watermelon rind, however i didn't notice this since i never thought of smelling a watermelon's rind.

Alternative uses: I've read some people collect this mushroom, dry it and then grind to use as seasoning for soups. - description by MariosMushrooms






Late Fall Oyster: Panellus serotinus - photo by Steo
Edible

[Frank]

A Great help steo!
Thank you.

[Frank]

1. Bricktops: Naematoloma sublateritium
2. Lions Mane or Bears Tooth: Hericium erinaceus
3. Blewits: Lepista nuda
4. Velvet Foots: Flammulina velutipes
5. Shaggy Manes: Coprinus comatus
6. Meadows or Pink Bottoms: Agaricus campestris
7. Brown Honey or Stumper: Armillaria gallica
8. Yellow Honey or Stumpers: Armillaria mellea
9. Hen of the woods: Grifola frondosa
10. Oyster mushroom: Pleurotus ostreatus
11. Chicken of the woods: (2 varieties) Laetiporus cincinnatus & Laetiporus sulphureus
12. Reddening Lepiota: Lepiota americana
13. Deer or Fawn mushroom: Pluteus cervinus
14. Chicken Fat: Suillus americanus
15. Woodears: Auricularia auricula-judae
16. Gilled Bolete: Phylloporus rhodoxanthus
17. King Bolete: Boletus edulis
18. Green Quilted Russula: Russula virescens
19. Purple Laccaria: Laccaria ochropurpurea
20. Angel Wings: Pleurotus porrigens
21. Short-stalked Suillus: Suillus brevipes
22. Red Cracked Bolete: Boletus chrysenteron
23. Orange-Latex Milky: Lactarius deliciosus
24. Man on horseback: Tricholoma flavovirens
25. Sweet Tooth: (two varities) Hydnum repandum & Hydnum umbilicatum
26. Shaggy Parasol: Macrolepiota rhacodes
27. Lobster Mushroom: Hypomyces lactifluorum
28. Black Trumpets: Craterellus fallax & Craterellus cornucopioides
29. Dryad saddles or Pheasant backs: Polyporus squamosus
30. Late Fall Oyster: Panellus serotinus

[Frank]

Hi I need your help helping others.

I need a short paragraph for each of the mushrooms listed above, not crossed out, listing

time of year found,
where (tree and etc.),
Key features like spore prints, color, shape, gills and etc.
and any cautions about poison look-a-likes.

I prefer first hand knowledge in your own words, rather than copying Audubon or kuo's site.
Yes I know a lot of the info will be similar or same. But I would prefer first hand knowledge from hunters like yourselves and in your own words. That is easier for new hunters to grasp at first. then as they ask questions, they will become more informed and slowing learn the more technical aspects of hunting and identifying.

If you are very familiar with any of these, please write up a basic info paragraph for me.

I'm working on all these pics of Steo's in one post, but I'd like something to go with each photo's. It will be a great addition to the learning center.

Just reply to this thread with the name of the mushroom,
and then your short paragraph stating the basics.

Many Thanks.

[MariosMushroom]

Dryad's Saddle (Pheasant Backs, Hawk's Wing)

Time of year found: Spring and fall.

Where: On dead logs and woods.

Key features: Dryad's saddle is a polypore mushroom, with hawk wing like surface patterns and colors (white and brown), underneath it has yellowish white surface with lots of pores, pores are large enough to see. When mature it has a bitter taste and rubbery texture (because this mushroom feeds itself with cellulose) even though it's edible when young many mushroomers doesn't bother collecting them. Some says it has a smell similar to watermelon rind, however i didn't notice this since i never thought of smelling a watermelon's rind.

Alternative uses: I've read some people collect this mushroom, dry it and then grind to use as seasoning for soups.

[Frank]

Thanks Mario, got it added.

[Jochs]

Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)

Time of year found: Late Spring, Fall, Winter in Southeastern States.

Where: Lawns, in woodchips, often in large clusters. I have had experience finding these growing in the grass within ten feet of Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in an arboretum. This mushroom is found throughout North America. This mushroom has the ability to push up through asphalt.

Key Features: This cylindrical member of the Inky Cap Family has a scaly cap that liquifies as it matures, producing an inky substance. Eventually, only the stalk remains as the gills liquifies. Gills are nearly free from stalk, and are white, becoming black and inky as the mushroom matures. The spore print is black. The white stalk has small fibers in the center. The cap is about 1-2 inches wide, and 2-6 inches long, white with reddish brown scales when young before the cap liquifies.Look for a ring on the lower part of the stalk from the veil.
The cap of this species is cylindrical, while other inky caps have a bell or conical shape. Common sense tells me not to drink alcohol with this mushroom.


Uses: It is a choice edible, and should be collected fresh. They can be used in cream-based soups, or sliced lengthwise and cooked and served like asparagus.

[Bachflock]

King Bolete: Boletus edulis (aka porcini)

Time of year found: Late summer, early fall

Where: "Think Christmas" is what led me to find my first. Spruce and similar evergreen trees. Open areas in and around. Some grass but not overrun. Doesn't seem to like competition from heavy ground foliage.

Key Features: Reticulation on the stem. Reticulation being small raised lines. Upon close inspection you will see a network of reticulation that is rather pronounced as it gets closer to the step. Cap is generally medium rust to a medium brown in color. The underside of the cap will be white in fresh specimens and has pores, not gills. If underside of cap is not white it is either old or a similar looking bolete. In mature/fresh specimens the cap can be described as the top half of a hamburger bun.

Caution: Be on the look out for the Bitter Bolete, Tylopilus felleus! In my personal experience these two look VERY similar with one distinguishing characteristic, the underside of this the bitter is typically hued with pink not white. Also the reticulation on the bitter seems to be a bit rougher and not as clearly defined as if someone drew it there. While the king is very tasty the bitter is just that, very bitter. Also, the bitter seems to tolerate heavier ground cover (aka competition) better than the king.

Uses: It is a choice edible, and should be collected fresh. They dry well for future use when sliced and dehydrated. Fresh used in pasta dishes, along side steak, many many uses.