Mushrooms &
Fungi
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Amethyst Deciever
Common Name: Amethyst Deceiver Scientific Name:Laccaria amethystina Edibility:Edible Location:Temperate zones of Europe, Asia, Central and South America Description: Although the mushroom is edible, the Amethyst Deceiver can absorb arsenic from the soil, making it somewhat unhealthy to eat.
Blue Sky Common Name: Blue Sky Scientific Name: Entoloma hochstetteri Edibility: Inedible Location: New Zealand Description: Scientists had been researching the edibility of the mushroom and if it were found to be edible it could be used as a natural blue food coloring.
Chanterelle
Common Name: Chanterelle Scientific Name: Cantharellus cibarius Edibility:Edible Location: North America, Europe, Asia Description: One of the more known mushrooms, and one of the most prized due to their culinary usage. They tend to grow in groups together in coniferous forests.
Devil’s Tooth Common Name: Devil’s Tooth Scientific Name: Hydnellum peckii Edibility:inedible Location: North America and Europe
Description: The “blood” of the Devil’s Tooth has been known to have anticoagulant properties.Although inedible, it is non-toxic.
Elf Cap
Common Name: Elf’s Cap Scientific Name:Sarcoscypha coccinea Edibility: Edible Location: North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America Description: Commonly found on damp forest floors, this fungus grows on decaying sticks or soil. It has a rough texture that might drive people away from eating it.
Fly Agaric Common Name: Fly Agaric Scientific Name: Amanita muscaria Edibility: Poisonous Location: Temperate areas of North America,South America, Europe, Asia. Description: Even though it is a poisonous mushroom, deaths from consuming the Amanita muscaria is pretty rare. The toxins and psychoactive properties can be broken down by partially boiling it.
Galiella rufa Common Name: Rubber Cup Scientific Name: Galiella rufa Edibility: Edible Location: North America, Malaysia Description: Commonly found in clusters growing on decaying hardwood, sticks and logs. The Galiella rufa is generally consumed in Malaysia, however in North America it is not. The flesh is rubbery and creates chemicals that are considered bioactive.
Hen of the Woods Common Name: Hen of the woods Scientific Name:Grifola frondosa Edibility:Edible Location: North America, Japan Description: Typically found in summer to late fall, Hen of the Woods is found growing in clusters around the base of oak trees. This highly prized mushroom is popular in western cooking.
Inky Cap
Common Name: Inky Cap Scientific Name: Coprinopsis atramentaria Edibility: Edible Location: Europe and North America Description: Although it is edible, it can be poisonous when consumed within a few hours of drinking alcohol. It is characterized by it is “ink droplets” on the cap.
Jack O’ Lantern
Common Name: Jack O’ Lantern Scientific Name: Omphalotus olearius Edibility: Poisonous Location: Europe
Description: The Jack O’ Lantern plays tricks on ameteur mushroom hunters, it looks very similar to the Chanterelle however the Jack O’ Lantern is poisonous. The toxin produced by this mushroom is not lethal.
Kuehneromycres Common Name: Sheathed Woodtuft Scientific Name: Kuehneromycres Edibility: Edible Location: North America, Europe, Asia, Australia
Description: The caps of these mushrooms can be eaten, and are commonly used in soups and sauces. However, it is not recommended that they be consumed as they can be confused with the deadly Autumn Skullcap.
Lingzhi Common Name: Lingzhi Scientific Name: Ganoderma lucidum Edibility: Edible Location: Eastern Hemlock forests Description: A flat fungus that has been used in Chinese medicine for about 2,000 years. It has been said that the Lingzhi has properties that increase the health of the immune system.
Morel
Common Name: Morel Scientific Name: Morchella esculenta Edibility: Edible Location: North America Description: The Morel is known for its distinctive honeycomb pattern on the cap. Commercial harvesting of morels has become a multi-billion dollar business due to its popularity in food industry.
Neofavolus alveolaris
Common Name: None Scientific Name: Neofavolus alveolaris Edibility: inedible Location: Temperate Northern Hemisphere
Description: This fungus is shaped like a fan, or a kidney, and is very porous. It can be found on dead or decaying sticks, logs, and trees. It is known to cause white rot of dead hardwoods.
Oyster
Common Name: oyster mushroom Scientific Name: Pleurotus ostreatus Edibility: Edible Location: Temperate and tropical areas Description: It was first discovered in Germany in World War I, it was used for subsistence measure. It is also popular in cuisine, being used in stir fry.
Puffball
Common Name: Puffball Scientific Name:Calvatia gigantea Edibility: Edible Location: Various temperate locations Description: Puffballs are edible when they are grown to maturity, however when the spores have begun to grow they can cause digestive problems.
Psilocybe quebecnesis Common Name: none Scientific Name: Psilocybe quebecnesis Edibility: psychoactive Location: North America Description: A highly hallucinogenic mushroom, it was named after where it was originally discovered in Quebec, Canada. Can be found on Alder, Spruce, Birch or Fir trees in late fall.
Red Cage Common Name: Red Cage Scientific Name: Clathrus ruber Edibility: inedible Location: Asia, North America, Australia
Description: This foul smelling fungus is named after it’s strange red cage like appearance. It is generally considered inedible due to it’s disgusting smell.
Sea Anenome Common Name: Sea Anemone Scientific Name: Clathrus archeri Edibility: Inedible Location: Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand
Description: Also known as the “Devil’s Fingers” this fungus gives off a foul odor to attract flies which helps in the dispersal of its spores. It is non-toxic, and pretty harmless despite its frightening appearance.
Truffle
Common Name: Black Truffle Scientific Name: Tuber melanosporum Edibility: Edible Location: Europe Description: Referred to as “the diamond of the kitchen” the truffle is the most expensive fungus in the world. It’s used to refine dishes that include fish, meat, and soups.
Urnula craterium
Common Name: Devil’s Urn Scientific Name: Urnula craterium Edibility: inedible Location: North America, Europe Description: A cup fungus that is parasitic to oak trees and hardwoods. It appears in early spring and can inhibit the growth of other fungi.
Veiled Lady Common Name: Veiled Lady Scientific Name:Phallus indusiatus Edibility: Edible Location: Tropical areas
Description: In eastern countries this fungus is considered a delicacy and it eaten in many meals. Also, in some cultures the veiled lady is used in certain ceremonies because of its phallic appearance.
Wrinkled Peach
Common Name: Wrinkled Peach Scientific Name: Rhodotus palmatus Edibility: Unknown Location: North America, Europe, Asia Description: It has no distinguished smell, and a bitter taste. The Wrinkled peach is usually found growing on the stumps of trees and dead/rotting hardwoods.
psilocybe xalapensis Common Name: none Scientific Name: psilocybe xalapensis Edibility: psychoactive Location: Mexico Description: It was originally discovered in a forest in Mexico, not much is known about this mushroom besides that it has hallucinogenic properties.
Yellow Brain
Common Name: Yellow Brain Scientific Name: Tremella mesenterica Edibility: edible Location: Tropical/temperate areas Description: Although it is edible, the Yellow Brain fungus is considered unfavorable to eat due to its bland flavor. It is parasitic towards many angiosperms.
psilocybe zapotecorum Common Name: None Scientific Name: psilocybe zapotecorum Edibility: psychoactive Location: Tropical areas
Description: Commonly found growing in clusters by rivers. This mushroom is fond of humid mossy environments.
Advisory! Always use extreme caution when finding mushrooms or fungi in the wild. Only handle species you are absolutely sure is safe to touch, and stay away from poisonous ones. With some species, even just handling them can cause harm to humans.
Definitions: Mushroom
a fungal growth that typically takes the form of a domed cap on a stalk, often with gills on the underside of the cap.
Fungi
any of a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.