Introduction Navigating the spectrum of mushroom edibility and toxicity presents a complex challenge. Even widely accepted edible mushrooms can cause adverse effects in some individuals, while certain mushrooms known for their toxicity, such as Gyromitra esculenta, have been eaten safely after specific preparation techniques. The determination of a mushroom’s safety for consumption varies from mushroom…
The Milk Caps can be a fascinating and sometimes overwhelming genus to observe. Scientifically known as Lactarius, the name indicates one of the genus’s unique characteristics: a strongly-colored juice known as latex or ‘milk’. Dozens of Lactarius species grow in the Pacific Northwest and the characteristics of any one species can vary significantly from mushroom…
Candy Cap Mushrooms Candy Cap mushrooms are mushrooms in the milk cap genus Lactarius. They are small, orange mushrooms that can be found on or near rotting wood, and soil. There are multiple species that have the characteristic maple scent when dried. Lactarius rubidus is known from Baja to BC. New Lesson: Candy Caps Free Key…
All the mushrooms we have found during our first 40 days on the PCT Campo to Tehachapi, Ca Trail miles 1-566 May 6 – June 15 2023 Learn more about what mushrooms we found here
Matsutake mushrooms, highly valued for their unique aroma and culinary applications, can be identified by several key features: Together, these characteristics are essential for accurately identifying matsutake mushrooms in the wild. Matsutake is also known by scientific names Tricholoma magnivelare and Tricholoma murrillianum Similar in Appearance: Smith’s AmanitaAmanita smithiana Key features of Amanita smithiana: 1….
It is difficult to notice what you can’t describe. Here is a list of words that mycologists have used to formally describe the caps of gilled mushrooms. The larger the word the more often it is used.
I created a page dedicated to PNW morels which might make understanding our local morels a little easier. My understanding of morel species, descriptions, habitat and other important information continues to grow and there are certainly things I can improve here. Please send me a note if you have any suggestions on ways that I…
Popular Edible Mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest The most commonly foraged edible mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest are popular because of their relative ease of identification, low likelihood of eating a toxic lookalike, quality of flavor and texture, and abundance. There are well over 1000 species in just our region but only a small number…
Last night I hosted a talk on the iconic Amanita muscaria and some of the other relatively common Amanita species in our region. This is only accessible to Basic and Full members