WILD MUSHROOMS An Introductory Presentation by Pam McElroy and Anna Russo Lincoln County Mycological Society FIELD GUIDES • Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora • All That the Rain Promises, and More by David Arora • Field Guide to Mushrooms from National Audubon Society • Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest by Steven Trudell & Joe Ammirati Mushroom Identification Traits • Gills/Pores/Teeth: What sort of spore- producing structures do you see? How are they attached? • Stalk description: Note the size, shape, color of stalk, and whether it is solid or hollow. • Spore color: Extremely important for ID. Identification Characteristics • Bruising when touched: Does the mushroom change color or bleed any liquid when it is sliced in half or grasped firmly? • Habitat: Anything about the surrounding area, including trees, temperature, soil, moisture. • Time of year: certain mushrooms fruit during certain times of the year • Cap description: Like the stalk, note all physical characteristics of the cap. • Smell and taste: Great amount of information The Good Guys……….. Edible, delicious, delectable…….what’s not to love? The bad guys………. • Like the little girl with the curl, when mushrooms are good, they are very, very good……….and when they are bad, they are dreadful! • There are some DEADLY mushrooms….and you can’t tell which ones unless you educate yourself. Let’s take a look at some of the “bad boys” of the mushroom world. • Before you even consider eating a wild mushroom that you have picked, you MUST know the poisonous ones. • In mycological circles, we say “There are old mushroom hunters, and there are bold mushroom hunters, but there are very few old, bold mushroom hunters.” If in doubt, throw it out! Amanita phallioides (“Death Cap”) • Gilled • White spore print • Volva, usually buried in ground (from universal veil) • Partial veil on stalk • Habitat: in woods or on lawns, near trees Amanita virosa (“Destroying Angel”) • Gilled • White spore print • Volva, usually buried in ground (from universal veil) • Partial veil on stalk • Habitat: in woods or on lawns, near trees Amanita muscaria (“Fly agaric”) • Gilled • White spore print • Bulbous base with concentric rings on bottom • Habitat: on ground under spruce, pine and birch • Hallucinogenic Amanita pantherina (“Panther Cap”) • Gilled • White spore print • Very bulbous base and narrow ring • Cap ranges from bronze to dark brown color Galerina autumnalis (“Deadly Galerina”) • Gilled • Spore print: rusty-brown • Habitat: on rotting wood and debris of both hardwood and softwood Poisonous Agaricus species (“The Lose Your Lunch Bunch”) • Gilled, at first pallid, then grayish, through browns • Spore print chocolate brown • Odor unpleasant (like phenol) • Many stain bright yellow when flesh is bruised • Subtle differences between good/bad agaricus The edible and delectable wild mushrooms • IF A MUSHROOM HAS NOT BEEN RELIABLY IDENTIFIED AS EDIBLE, DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH!!!! • DO NOT EAT WILD MUSHROOMS RAW! • WHEN TRYING A MUSHROOM FOR THE FIRST TIME, EAT ONLY A VERY SMALL AMOUNT. Boletus edulis (“King Bolete, Porcini, Cep, Steinpiltz”) A choice edible! • Pored, not gilled • Stalk can be variable—almost round to tall • Spore print olive-brown • Habitat: on ground under conifers Agaricus augustus (“The Prince”) Another choice edible… • Gilled • Stalk with large floppy ring • Spore print brown • Smells like anise/almonds • Grows mainly in coniferous and deciduous woods, often in clumps Cantharellus cibarius v. formosa (“Chanterelle”) • Flattened, blunted gills with cross-veining • Stem very solid and white inside • Spore print pale cream • Habitat: Woodlands which have mossy clearings Tricholoma ponderosa Matsutake • Gilled • Spore print white • Habitat: sandy, coastal areas, usually with conifers • Scent of spicy cinnamon • Highly prized • Slug repellant Agaricus campestris Meadow mushroom • Gilled • Silky white cap, aging to light brown • Gills are initially pink, aging to dark brown • Spore print is brown • Habitat: mature pastures Agaricus arvensis Horse mushroom • Gilled, first white, then pink to dark brown • Cap white, yellowing with age • Habitat grasslands and pastures • Smells of anise • Spore print dark brown • Larger than Agaricus campestris Morchella Morels (Black, Blonde, Gray. • Irregular pits • Colors range from [ale brown through gray, yellow, and black) • Habitat: among shrubs, young Noble fir, along path edges • Early spring fruiter • NEVER EAT RAW Laetiporus sulphureus Chicken of the Woods, Sulfer Shelf • Yellow tubes rather than gills • Color ranging from bright lemon yellow through deep red-orange • Spore print white • Grows in brackets on deciduous an coniferous trees • Tastes like chicken Pleurotus ostreatus Oyster Mushroom • Gilled, with stubby stem, often fruiting in fans • Spore print lilac • Habitat: Dead alder, cottonwoods, other deciduous trees Hydnum repandum Hedgehog, Sweet Tooth • Toothed, not gilled • Spore print cream colored • Habitat: under deciduous or coniferous trees, in damp areas • Season late summer through early winter MEDICINAL PROPERTIES • Anti-viral • Antioxidant • Anti-tumor, immune- stimulating • Cardiovascular/ • Anti-inflammatory Blood pressure • Liver tonic/liver • Lungs/respiratory protection • Nerve tonic • Cholesterol/lipid regulation • Antibacterial • Kidney tonic OTHER USES YOU MIGHT NEVER HAVE CONSIDERED • Industrial strength fungus: mycelium as building material • Mushroom-based packaging and car parts • Fiber dyeing • Bio-fuel • Slug repellant • Compost material AND THEN THERE ARE RECIPES! • Most wild mushrooms love butter, cream, garlic, bacon, onions, thyme. • Match the mushroom to compatible flavors. • Some mushrooms should not be consumed with alcohol (Coprinus) • Since they contain chitin (like shrimp shells), they should be cooked to make them digestible. 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