Edible Mushrooms

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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 thenHydnum 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
EdibleI have a little info on fall oysters. First they grow single many times. Sometimes in bunches of 2 or 3 as seen in photo. But unlike regular oysters that can grow in larger stacked groups. Rarely will you see more than 3 late fall oysters in a group. Also there is usually 1 in an area. they dont come in great numbers... They have a thicker look than regular oysters and the edges curl down. no poisionous look alikes in north america. - description by Eliandco