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Mushroom hunting



 
 
Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking and similar terms describe the activity of gathering
Hunter-gatherer

A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary List of subsistence techniques involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild, foraging and hunting without significant recourse to the domestication of either....
 mushroom
Mushroom

A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, hence the word mushroom is most often applied to those fungi that have a stem , a cap , and gills on the unde...
s in the wild, typically for eating. This is popular in most of Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
, including the Nordic
Nordic countries

File:Location Nordic Council.svgThe Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and far northeastern North America, called the Nordic region, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories which include the Faroe Islands, Greenland and ?land....
, Baltic
Baltic countries

The Baltic states , Baltic Nations or Baltic countries are three countries in Northern Europe, all European Union member state of the European Union: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania....
 and Slavic
Slavic peoples

The Slavic Peoples are a linguistic branch of Indo-European peoples, living mainly in eastern Europe. From the early 6th century they spread from their original homeland to inhabit most of eastern Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans....
 countries and the Mediterranean Basin
Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub...
, as well as in Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
, Korea
Korea

Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries, a civilization, and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
 and the north western United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
.

rge number of mushroom species are favored for eating by mushroom hunters.






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Kostrzewskifranciszek
Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking and similar terms describe the activity of gathering
Hunter-gatherer

A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary List of subsistence techniques involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild, foraging and hunting without significant recourse to the domestication of either....
 mushroom
Mushroom

A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, hence the word mushroom is most often applied to those fungi that have a stem , a cap , and gills on the unde...
s in the wild, typically for eating. This is popular in most of Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
, including the Nordic
Nordic countries

File:Location Nordic Council.svgThe Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and far northeastern North America, called the Nordic region, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories which include the Faroe Islands, Greenland and ?land....
, Baltic
Baltic countries

The Baltic states , Baltic Nations or Baltic countries are three countries in Northern Europe, all European Union member state of the European Union: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania....
 and Slavic
Slavic peoples

The Slavic Peoples are a linguistic branch of Indo-European peoples, living mainly in eastern Europe. From the early 6th century they spread from their original homeland to inhabit most of eastern Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans....
 countries and the Mediterranean Basin
Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub...
, as well as in Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
, Korea
Korea

Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries, a civilization, and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
 and the north western United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
.

Identifying mushrooms


Mushroom Cap Morphology2
A large number of mushroom species are favored for eating by mushroom hunters. The king bolete
Boletus edulis

Boletus edulis is an edible basidiomycete mushroom. Most commonly known as porcini , it has a number of common names, including cep , king bolete and penny bun....
 is a popular delicacy. Sulphur shelf
Sulphur shelf

Laetiporus is a genus of edible mushrooms found throughout much of the world. Some species are commonly known as sulphur shelf, chicken of the woods, the chicken mushroom, or the chicken fungus because many think they taste like chicken....
 (also known as Chicken Mushroom or Chicken of the Woods) is often gathered because it occurs in bulk, recurs year after year, is easily identified, and has a wide variety of culinary uses. Chanterelle
Chanterelle

Chanterelle or Golden chanterelle is probably the best known species of this genus Cantharellus. It is orange or yellow, meaty and funnel-shaped....
s, morel
Morel

Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushroom closely related to anatomically simpler Cup fungus. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them....
s, Shaggy Manes (in genus Coprinus
Coprinus

The genus Coprinus is a small genus of mushrooms consisting of Coprinus comatus and several of its close relatives. Until 2001, Coprinus was a large genus consisting of all agaric species in which the lamellae autodigested to release their spores....
), and Puffballs are among the most popular types of mushrooms to gather, most of these being relatively hard to misidentify by anyone with practice. Only experts, however, collect from dangerous groups, such as Amanita
Amanita

The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own....
, which include some of the most toxic mushrooms
Alpha-amanitin

alpha-Amanitin or a-amanitin is a Cyclic compound peptide of eight amino acids. It is possibly the most deadly of all the amatoxins, toxins found in several members of the Amanita genus of mushrooms, one being the Death cap as well as the Destroying angel, a complex of similar species, principally A....
 in existence.

Naturally, there are abundant field guide
Field guide

A field guide is a book designed to help the reader identify wildlife or other objects of natural occurrence . It is generally designed to be brought into the 'field' or local area where such objects exist to help distinguish between similar objects....
s on mushrooms available, but especially in the Slavic countries the ability to identify and prepare edible mushrooms is usually passed down through generations.

Identification is not the only element of mushroom hunting that takes practice — knowing where to search does as well. Most mushroom species require very specific conditions -- some will only grow at the base of a certain type of tree, for example. Finding a desired species that is known to grow in a certain region can be a challenge.

Safety issues

Some mushrooms are deadly or extremely hazardous when consumed; see List of deadly fungi
List of deadly fungi

Footnotes...
. Others, while not deadly, can nevertheless cause permanent organ damage. In the literature, people are generally strongly advised:
  • Only to gather mushrooms which they have themselves identified positively.
  • To identify the mushrooms a second time during preparation, and to prepare them properly (only very few species can be eaten raw). It is considered unwise for collectors to combine the mushrooms they have collected.
  • To inform oneself about deadly mushrooms, and the deadly look-alikes of edible ones. The second varies across world regions, so it is important to take into account regional variation.
  • Not to gather mushrooms that are difficult to identify, unless one has an expert knowledge. This applies especially to the mushrooms of the genus
    Genus

    A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
     Amanita
    Amanita

    The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own....
     or Cortinarius
    Cortinarius

    Cortinarius is a genus of mushrooms. It is suspected to be the largest genus of agarics, containing over 2000 different species and found worldwide....
     and "little brown mushrooms".
  • Only to consume a small amount of the mushroom the first time one tries a certain species. People react differently to different mushrooms, and all mushroom species can cause adverse reaction in a few individuals, even the common champignon.


Literature and picking guides also frequently offer reminders to always cut a mushroom with a blade when gathering, rather than pulling it out, and to avoid kicking or otherwise destroying mushrooms one does not want, to preserve the forest ecosystem
Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro-organisms in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical factors of the environment....
.

"Little brown mushrooms"

A "little brown mushroom" or LBM refers to any of a large number of small, dull-coloured agaric
Agaric

An agaric is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe , with lamellae on the underside of the pileus....
 species, with few macromorphological characters that readily distinguish one species from another. As a result, LBMs typically range from difficult to impossible for mushroom hunters to identify. Experienced mushroomers may discern more subtle identifying traits that will help narrow the mushroom down to a particular genus or group of species, but exact identification of LBMs often requires close examination of microscopic characteristics plus a certain degree of familiarity or specialization in that particular group.

For mycologists, LBMs are the equivalent of LGBs ("little grey birds
Little brown job

Little brown job or LBJ is an informal name commonly used by birders for any of the large number of species of small brown passerine birds, many of which are notoriously difficult to distinguish....
") and DYCs ("damned yellow composite
Damned yellow composite

A damned yellow composite is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the difficulty of differentiating species of yellow composite flowers in the Asteraceae family....
") that are the bane of ornithologists and botanists, respectively.

The acronym BWM, "big white mushroom" is also sometimes used to describe groups of difficult to identify larger and paler agarics, many of which are in the genus Clitocybe
Clitocybe

Hundreds of species of mushrooms compose the genus Clitocybe. They are characterized by white, off-white, buff, cream, pink, or light-yellow spores, gills running down the stem, and pale white to brown or lilac coloration....
.


Psychotropics

The Amanita muscaria
Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita, is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita....
s psychotropic properties have been traditionally used by shamans in Siberia in their rituals, however its use for such purposes today is very rare, despite the mushroom's abundance. Instead, the
Psilocybe semilanceata
Psilocybe semilanceata

Psilocybe semilanceata is a psychedelic mushroom that contains the psychoactive compound psilocybin. It grows on grassy meadows and similar; particularly in wet, north-facing fields and other habitats well fertilized by sheep and cattle feces, although unlike Psilocybe cubensis it does not grow directly on the dung itself....
, being the only psilocybin
Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug indole of the tryptamine family, found in psilocybin mushrooms. It is present in List of Psilocybin mushrooms of fungi, including those of the genus Psilocybe, such as Psilocybe cubensis and liberty cap , but also reportedly isolated from a dozen or so other genera....
-containing mushroom common in Slavic countries, is sought after for its hallucinogenic properties, the latter being more desirable with fewer side effects than those of
A. muscaria. The use of P. semilanceata is however significantly hindered by its small size, requiring larger quantities and being hard to spot.
  • Amanita muscaria
    Amanita muscaria

    Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita, is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita....
    (??????? ??????? [Mukhomor Krasniy] - Red Fly-Killer; Fly Agaric, Toadstool)
  • Psilocybe semilanceata
    Psilocybe semilanceata

    Psilocybe semilanceata is a psychedelic mushroom that contains the psychoactive compound psilocybin. It grows on grassy meadows and similar; particularly in wet, north-facing fields and other habitats well fertilized by sheep and cattle feces, although unlike Psilocybe cubensis it does not grow directly on the dung itself....
    (????????? ????????????? [Psilotsiba Sosochkovidnaya] - Nipple-Like Psylocybe; Liberty Cap)


Regional importance


  • In the United States mushroom picking is particularly popular from the San Francisco Bay Area northward along the Pacific Coast, in northern California
    California

    California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
    , Oregon
    Oregon

    Oregon is a U.S. state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The area was inhabited by many indigenous tribes before the arrival of traders, explorers and settlers....
     and Washington
    Washington

    Washington is a U.S. state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute....
    , and in many other regions.
  • British enthusiasts today enjoy an extended average picking season of 75 days compared to just 33 in the 1950s.
  • In Slavic countries, such as Russia
    Russia

    Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
    , Poland
    Poland

    Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian Enclave and exclave, to the north....
    , Ukraine
    Ukraine

    Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south....
    , Slovakia
    Slovakia

    Slovakia . It was amended in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president and again in February 2001 due to EU admission requirements....
     and the Czech Republic
    Czech Republic

    The Czech Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east....
     also in Lithuania
    Lithuania

    Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the southernmost of the three Baltic states. Situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, it shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest....
    , mushroom picking is a common family activity. After a heavy rain during mushroom season whole families often venture into the nearest forest, picking bucketfuls of mushrooms, which are cooked and eaten for dinner upon return or alternatively dried or marinated
    Marination

    Marination, also known as marinating, is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. The origins of the word allude to the use of brine in the pickling process, which led to the technique of adding flavor by immersion in liquid....
     for later consumption.
  • In the Iberian Peninsula
    Iberian Peninsula

    The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes modern-day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar and a very small area of France....
     mushroom hunting is a popular activity in Catalonia
    Catalonia

    Catalonia , is an Autonomous Community in northeast Spain.Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km? and has an official population of 7,210,508. It borders France and Andorra to the north, Aragon to the west, the Valencian Community to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east ....
    , where a mushroom hunter is called
    boletaire. There is a tradition
    Traditions of Catalonia

    File:DansaMortVerges.jpgFile:Rom_Cremat.JPGFile:Barbacoa_cal?ot.jpgThere are quite a number of festivals and traditions in Catalonia. While most are of ancient origin, certain traditions are of relatively recent introduction....
     of going to hunt mushrooms as a family or group in the fall, after the rains marking the end of the summer season.
  • Commercial exploitation of wild mushrooms in Canada
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
     has become a multi-million dollar industry.


Festivals

Mushroom picking has become so big in certain parts of the world that the act has actually become publicized through mushroom festivals. The festivals are usually held between September and October, depending on the mushrooms available in that particular region. Some well publicized festivals in North America include:

  • Aerie Resort on Vancouver Island-- Great Fall Mushroom Hunt
  • Bamfield, Vancouver Island-- Bamfield Mushroom festival
  • Washington's Long Beach Peninsula-- Wild Mushroom Celebration
  • Lake Quinault Lodge in Washington's Olympic National Forest-- Quinault Rain Forest Mushroom Festival
  • Mendocino County (North of San Francisco)--Mushroom Festival
  • Madisonville, Texas-- Mushroom Festival
  • Telluride, Colorado-- Fungifest
  • Kennett Square, Pennsylvania-- Mushroom Festival


Radiation


An important issue concerning mushroom picking in Europe is the nuclear fallout
Nuclear fallout

Fallout is the residual radiation hazard from a nuclear explosion, so named because it "falls out" of the atmosphere into which it is spread during the explosion....
 from the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster

The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear reactor accident in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. It is considered to be the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history and the only level 7 instance on the International Nuclear Event Scale....
. It turned out that, due to wide spread of their mycelium
Mycelium

Mycelium is the Vegetative reproduction part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. The mass of hyphae is sometimes called shiro, especially within the Fairy rings fungi....
, mushrooms tend to accumulate more radioactive caesium
Caesium

Caesium or cesium is the chemical element with the symbol Cs and atomic number 55. It is a soft, silvery-gold alkali metal with a melting point of , which makes it one of only liquid metal that are liquid at or near room temperature....
-137 than the surroundings. Special state agencies (in Belarus it is Bellesrad
Bellesrad

Bellesrad is short name for the State Institution for Radiation Monitoring and Radiation Safety of the Republic of Belarus. It is subordinated to the State Forestry Committee of the Council of Ministers of Republic of Belarus....
) monitor and analyze the degrees of radionuclide
Radionuclide

A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable Atomic nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by excess energy which is available to be imparted either to a newly-created radiation particle within the nucleus, or else to an atomic electron ....
 accumulation in various wild species of plants and animals. In particular Bellesrad claims that ???????? (Paxillus involutus), ???????? (Boletus luteus), ???????, ????????? are the worst ones in this respect. The safest one turns out to be ?????? ??????? (Armillaria).
See also: Russian joke.

This is not only an issue in Belarus
Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the north....
, Ukraine
Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south....
 and Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
; the fallout also reached western Europe, and until recently the German government officially encouraged people not to gather certain mushrooms.

Guidelines for mushroom picking


Poisonous mushrooms commonly confused for edible ones

  • See Listing of poisonous species
    Mushroom poisoning

    Mushroom poisoning, also known as mycetism, refers to deleterious effects from ingestion of toxic substances present in a mushroom. These symptoms can vary from slight Gastrointestinal tract discomfort to death....
    Any good mushroom guidebook will call attention to similarities between species, especially if an edible species is similar to or commonly confused with one that is potentially harmful.


Examples:
  1. False chanterelles (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca
    Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca

    Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, commonly known as the False Chanterelle, is an orange funnel-shaped mushroom which has been confused at times with the true Cantharellus, however recent work shows its affinity lies with the Boletes in the order Boletales....
    ) can look like real chanterelles (Cantharellus
    Cantharellus

    Cantharellus is a genus with many popular edible mushrooms. It is a mycorrhizal edible fungus, meaning it forms symbiotic associations with plants, making it very challenging to agriculture....
     cibarius) to the inexperienced eye. The latter do not have sharp gills, but rather blunt veins on the underside. A mistake here would, however, not be very serious, since false chanterelles are considered edible, just not tasty. Mild symptoms have reported from consuming them. The Jack O'Lantern Mushroom
    Jack o'lantern mushroom

    The Jack o'Lantern mushroom is an orange- to yellow-gill mushroom that to an untrained eye appears similar to some chanterelles, and is most notable for its bioluminescence properties....
    , on the other hand, is often mistaken for a chanterelle, and it is potently toxic.
  2. True morels are distinguished from false morel
    False morel

    Gyromitra esculenta is an Ascomycota fungus from the genus Gyromitra, widely distributed across Europe and North America and one of several species of fungi known as false morels....
    s (
    Gyromitra spp. and Verpa spp.). The impostors have caps attached at the top of the stalk, while true morels have a honeycombed cap and a single, continuous hollow chamber within.
  3. Immature Chlorophyllum molybdites
    Chlorophyllum molybdites

    Chlorophyllum molybdites, which has the common names of false parasol or green-spored parasol is a widespread mushroom. Highly poisonous and producing severe gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, it is commonly confused with the shaggy parasol, and is the most commonly consumed poisonous mushroom in North America...
    can be confused with edible Agaricus
    Agaricus

    Agaricus is a large and important genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with possibly over 300 members worldwide....
    mushrooms.
  4. Immature puffball
    Puffball

    A puffball is a member of any of a number of groups of fungi in the division Basidiomycota. The puffballs were previously treated as a taxonomic group called the Gasteromycetes or Gasteromycetidae, but they are now known to be a polyphyletic assemblage....
    s are generally edible, but care must be taken to avoid species such as
    Scleroderma citrinum
    Scleroderma citrinum

    Scleroderma citrinum, known as the "pigskin poison puffball," "common earthball," or "common earth ball," is the most common species of Scleroderma in the United Kingdom and occurs widely in woods, heathland and in short grass from Autumn to Winter....
    and immature Amanita
    Amanita

    The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own....
    s. These can be identified by cutting a puffball in half and looking for a dark reticulated gleba
    Gleba

    Gleba is the fleshy spore-bearing inner mass of fungi such as the puffball or stinkhorn.The gleba is a solid mass of spores, generated within an enclosed area within the sporocarp....
     or the articulated, nonhomogenous structures of a gilled mushroom, respectively.
  5. Conocybe filaris, and some Galerina species can look like, and grow next to, Psilocybe
    Psilocybe

    Psilocybe is a genus of small mushrooms growing worldwide. This genus is best known for its species with Psychedelic drug properties, widely known as "psychedelic mushroom", though the majority of species do not contain hallucinogenic compounds....
    which is not deadly but contains the alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin, hence it is often sought for illegal use as a recreational psychedelic drug.


Eating poisonous species

There are treatments to reduce or eliminate the toxicity of certain (but not all) poisonous species to the point where they may be edible. For instance, false morel
False morel

Gyromitra esculenta is an Ascomycota fungus from the genus Gyromitra, widely distributed across Europe and North America and one of several species of fungi known as false morels....
s are deadly poisonous when eaten raw or incorrectly prepared, but their toxins can be reduced by a proper method of parboiling. Prepared in this way, this mushroom is widely used and considered a delicacy in the Scandinavian countries, although recent research suggests that there may still be long-term health consequences from eating it.

Commonly gathered mushrooms

The commonly gathered species, grouped by their order taxa, are as follows:
Mushroom species mentioned in each group are listed at the end of the paragraph using the following convention: Latin name (Russian name [transliteration of Russian name] - literal translation of name; common English names, if any).

Agaricaceae
Agaricaceae

The Agaricaceae is a family of basidiomycete fungi and includes the genus Agaricus, as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae....
 
While the family of Amanita
Amanita

The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own....
s should be approached with extreme caution, as it contains the lethal
Amanita phalloides and Amanita virosa
Amanita virosa

Amanita virosa, commonly known as the destroying angel or more precisely as European destroying angel, is a poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita....
, those confident in their skills often pick the Amanita rubescens, which is highly prized in Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
 and to a much lesser extent in Russia, accounted by some not to superior taste, but to its relation to the
Amanita caesarea
Amanita caesarea

Amanita caesarea, commonly known in English as Caesar's Mushroom, is a highly regarded edible mushroom in the genus Amanita, native to southern Europe and North Africa....
, which is not found in Russia, but was considered a delicacy worthy of the emperor in Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC....
.
  • Amanita rubescens (??????? ????-??????? [Mukhomor Sero-Rozoviy] - Grey-Pink Fly-Killer; European blusher)
  • Amanita caesarea
    Amanita caesarea

    Amanita caesarea, commonly known in English as Caesar's Mushroom, is a highly regarded edible mushroom in the genus Amanita, native to southern Europe and North Africa....
    (????????? ???? [Tsezarskiy Grib] - Caesar's Mushroom)
  • Coprinus comatus
    Coprinus comatus

    Coprinus comatus, the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane, is a common fungus often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas....
    is a unique mushroom that decomposes into ink, and hence must be prepared soon after picking and only young specimens should be collected. While being a general mushroom hunting guideline, the avoidance of specimens growing in areas with high pollution
    Pollution

    Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms ....
     is especially important with this family, as it is a very effective pollutant absorber.
  • Agaricus bisporus also known as the table or button mushroom. Sales of this mushroom in 1996 reached $209 million in Canada
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
    . Another well known mushroom known as the
    portobello is a large brown strain of this fungus.


Boletaceae
Boletaceae

Boletaceae is a Family of mushrooms, primarily characterized by holding their spores in small pores on the underside of the mushroom, instead of Lamella s, as are found in agarics....
 
This order is often viewed as the order of "noble" mushrooms, containing few poisonous species, identifiable with relative ease, and having superior palatability. The most notable species is the
Boletus edulis
Boletus edulis

Boletus edulis is an edible basidiomycete mushroom. Most commonly known as porcini , it has a number of common names, including cep , king bolete and penny bun....
, the "mushroom king", a beautiful, almost legendary, relatively rare mushroom, edible in almost any (even raw) form, and commonly considered to be the best-tasting mushroom. Note: do not confuse the name transliteration "white mushroom" with Champignons, often known in English as "white mushrooms".
  • Boletus edulis
    Boletus edulis

    Boletus edulis is an edible basidiomycete mushroom. Most commonly known as porcini , it has a number of common names, including cep , king bolete and penny bun....
    (????? ???? [Beliy Grib] - White Mushroom; Borowik szlachetny, Porcini, King Bolete, Cep, Steinpilz)


The
Leccinum family includes two well-known mushroom species named after the trees they can usually be found next to. The Leccinum aurantiacum
Leccinum aurantiacum

Leccinum aurantiacum, which in North America goes by the common name Red-capped scaber stalk, is an edible Boletaceae of the genus Leccinum....
(as well as the L. versipelle), found under aspen
Aspen

Aspens are trees of the Salicaceae family and comprise a section of the poplar genus, Populus sect. Populus. There are six species in the section, one of them atypical, and one hybrid:...
 trees, and the
Leccinum scabrum (as well as the L. holopus), found under birch
Birch

Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae....
 trees. The secondary mentioned species, are significantly different in cap colour only. Both types are very sought after, being highly palatable and beautiful, while more common than the B. edulis.
  • Leccinum aurantiacum
    Leccinum aurantiacum

    Leccinum aurantiacum, which in North America goes by the common name Red-capped scaber stalk, is an edible Boletaceae of the genus Leccinum....
    (??????????? ??????? [Podosinovik Krasniy] - Red Under-Aspen; Red-capped scaber stalk)
  • Leccinum scabrum (???????????? ???????????? [Podberyozovik Obiknovenniy] - Common Under-Birch; Birch bolete)


The
Suillus
Suillus

Suillus is a genus of fungi in the sub-order Boletales, commonly called "slippery jacks" because of the often slimy caps. They are distinguishable from other boletes by usually having partial veils in immature forms and annulus thereafter, sometimes glandular dots on the stipe, and large pore openings that are often arranged radially....
family, characterised by its slimy cap, is another prized mushroom, the Suillus luteus
Suillus luteus

Suillus luteus is a Boletales of the genus Suillus in the Suillaceae family. It has a white stalk with a distinctive ring and an often slimy brown cap, earning it the name Slippery Jack in North America....
and Suillus granulatus
Suillus granulatus

Suillus granulatus is a Boletales of the genus Suillus in the Suillaceae family. It is similar to the related Suillus luteus, but can be distinguished by its ringless stalk....
being its most common varieties, and while abundant in some parts of Eurasia, is a rare occurrence in others. It is easy to identify and very palatable.
  • Suillus
    Suillus

    Suillus is a genus of fungi in the sub-order Boletales, commonly called "slippery jacks" because of the often slimy caps. They are distinguishable from other boletes by usually having partial veils in immature forms and annulus thereafter, sometimes glandular dots on the stipe, and large pore openings that are often arranged radially....
    (???????? [Maslyonok] - Buttery Mushroom; The Slippery Jack, Butter Mushroom)


The
Xerocomus
Xerocomus

Xerocomus is a genus of fungi which is closely related to Boletus. Many mycologists do not recognize the distinction.Most members of Xerocomus are edible....
genus is generally considered a less desirable (though mostly edible) mushroom group, due to common abundant mould growth on their caps, which can make them poisonous. The Xerocomus badius
Boletus badius

The Bay bolete, Boletus badius, is a common edible Boletus from Europe and North America. Often considered a poor relation of the Cep , it is nevertheless highly regarded by some authors such as Antonio Carluccio....
, however is an exception, being moderately sought after, especially in Europe. Note that some scientific classifications now consider species in the Xerocomus genus as members of Boletus.
  • Xerocomus
    Xerocomus

    Xerocomus is a genus of fungi which is closely related to Boletus. Many mycologists do not recognize the distinction.Most members of Xerocomus are edible....
    (??????? [Mokhovik] - Moss Mushroom; Mossiness Mushroom)
  • Xerocomus badius
    Boletus badius

    The Bay bolete, Boletus badius, is a common edible Boletus from Europe and North America. Often considered a poor relation of the Cep , it is nevertheless highly regarded by some authors such as Antonio Carluccio....
    (???????? ???? [Polskiy Grib] - Polish Mushroom)


Cantharellaceae
Cantharellaceae

The Cantharellaceae Family is a family of mushrooms. It includes several different mushrooms, such as the Cantharellus, Craterellus, Goossensia, Parastereopsis, and the Pterygellus....
 
The
Cantharellus cibarius, a common and popular mushroom, especially in Europe, is a choice edible and unique mushroom. It is very rarely infested by worm
Worm

A worm is a common name given to a diverse group of invertebrate animals that have a long, soft body and no legs. There are hundreds of thousands of species of worms, 2,700 of these are earthworms....
s or larva
Larva

A larva is a young form of animal with indirect developmental biology, going through or undergoing metamorphosis .The larva can look completely different from the adult form, for example, a caterpillar differs from a butterfly....
e, has a unique appearance, and when rotting, the decomposed parts are easily distinguishable and separable from those that are edible.
  • Cantharellus cibarius (??????? ???????????? [Lisichka Obiknovennaya] - Common Little-Fox; Chanterelle, Yellow Chanterelle)


Helvellaceae
Helvellaceae

The Helvellaceae are a family of Ascomycota fungi, the best known members of which are the elfin saddles of the genus Helvella. Originally erected by Elias Magnus Fries in 1823 as Elvellacai, it contained many genera....
 
The
Gyromitra esculenta is considered poisonous, but can be consumed if dried and stored for over a year, according to Slavic literature, and can be used to supplement or replace morel
Morel

Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushroom closely related to anatomically simpler Cup fungus. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them....
 (see
Morchellaceae below) mushrooms, while Western literature claims that even the fumes of the mushroom are dangerous. It is similar to morels both in appearance and palatability.
  • Gyromitra esculenta (??????? ???????????? [Strochok Obiknovenniy] - No Translation; False Morel, Beefsteak morel, Lorchel)


Lepiotaceae
The
Macrolepiota
Macrolepiota

Macrolepiota is a genus of white spored gilled mushrooms of the family Lepiotaceae. The best known member is the parasol mushroom .Recent DNA studies have split this genus into two clades....
genus, usually the Macrolepiota procera, and, to a lesser extent, the M. rhacodes are highly regarded, especially in Europe, being very palatable and very large, with specimens of M. procera as high as 1 metre being reported.
  • Macrolepiota procera (?????? ??????? [Zontik Pyostriy] - Colourful Umbrella; The Parasol Mushroom)


Morchellaceae
Morchellaceae

The Morchellaceae is a family of Ascomycota fungi. The best known members are the highly-regarded and commercially picked true morels of the genus Morchella, the thimble morels of the genus Verpa, and a genus of cup-shaped fungi Disciotis....
 
The Morel
Morel

Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushroom closely related to anatomically simpler Cup fungus. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them....
,
Morchella esculenta is highly prized in Western Europe, India and North America. It is significantly less prized in Slavic countries where, like the Gyromitra esculenta, is considered marginally edible with mediocre palatability. Boiling the mushroom and discarding the water is often recommended.
  • Morchella esculenta (??????? ???????????? [Smorchok Obiknovenniy] - Common Shrunken Mushroom; Morel, Yellow morel)


Russulaceae
Russulaceae

Russulaceae is a family of fungi in the order Russulales. Its species have typically friable, chalk-like stalks, that break with a distinct crack, like a carrot but with porous flesh ....
 
Members of the genus
Lactarius
Lactarius

Fungi of the genus Lactarius, sometimes called milk-caps, are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid if cut or damaged....
, as the name suggests, lactate a milky liquid when wounded and are often scoffed upon by Western literature. The Lactarius deliciosus
Lactarius deliciosus

Lactarius deliciosus, known as the Saffron milk cap, Red pine mushroom is the one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales....
is however regarded as one of the most palatable mushrooms in Slavic culture, comparable to the Boletus edulis. Also considered as similarly palatable are the species Lactarius necator and particularly Lactarius resimus
Lactarius resimus

Lactarius resimus is a species of mushrooms in the genus Lactarius, which is considered a delicacy in Russia and some other countries of Eastern Europe when pickling....
. Thermal treatment may however be necessary in some cases. Slightly less appealing due to its bitter taste is the Lactarius pubescens.
  • Lactarius deliciosus
    Lactarius deliciosus

    Lactarius deliciosus, known as the Saffron milk cap, Red pine mushroom is the one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales....
    (????? [Rizhik] - Redcap; Saffron Milk-Cap)
  • Lactarius resimus
    Lactarius resimus

    Lactarius resimus is a species of mushrooms in the genus Lactarius, which is considered a delicacy in Russia and some other countries of Eastern Europe when pickling....
    (?????? ????????? [Gruzd Nastoyashiy] - True Milk-Cap; Pepper Cap)
  • Lactarius necator (?????? ?????? [Gruzd Chyorniy] - Black Milk-Cap; Black Pepper Cap)
  • Lactarius pubescens (???????? ????? [Volnushka Belaya] - White Wavy Mushroom; Wooly Milk-Cap)


There is a Russian proverb: "If you call yourself gruzd, then get into the basket", which encourages people who boast about themselves too much to actually do some work. Gruzd is presented as a very valuable mushroom.

The Russula
Russula

Around 750 worldwide species of mycorrhizal mushrooms compose the genus Russula. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored - making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushroom collectors....
 family includes over 750 species and is one of the most common and abundant mushrooms in Eurasia. Their cap colours include red, brown, yellow, blue and green and can be easily spotted. The
Russula vesca
Russula vesca

Russula vesca, known by the common names of Bare-toothed russula or The Flirt, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula....
species, one of the many red-capped varieties, is one of the most common, is reasonably palatable and can be eaten raw. Due to their abundance they are however often regarded as an inferior mushroom for hunting. Note that mushrooms should not be eaten raw without proper cleaning and removal of all insects and decay.
  • Russula vesca
    Russula vesca

    Russula vesca, known by the common names of Bare-toothed russula or The Flirt, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula....
    (???????? ??????? (Siroyezhka Pischevaya) - Raw-Edible Mushroom; Russula)


Tricholomataceae
Tricholomataceae

The Tricholomataceae is a large family of mushrooms within the Agaricales. A classic "wastebasket taxon", the Tricholomataceae is inclusive of any white-, yellow-, or pink-spored genus in the Agaricales not already classified as belonging to the Amanitaceae, Lepiotaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Pluteaceae, or Entolomataceae....
 

  • Armillaria (?????? ??????? [Opyonok Osenniy] - Autumn Stump-Grower; The Honey Mushroom, Shoestring Rot). The genus Armillaria, with the popular species A. gallica and A. mellea, being so similar that they are rarely differentiated, are palatable, highly abundant mushrooms. Generally found on decaying tree stump
    Stump

    Stump may refer to:*Tree stump, the rooted remains of a felled tree*Stump , one of three small wooden posts which the fielding team attempt to hit with the ball...
    s, they grow in very large quantities and are easy to spot and identify, arguably reducing the fun and challenge in mushroom hunting.


  • Pleurotus ostreatus (??????? ????????? [Veshenka Ustrichnaya] - Oyster-Like Hanging Mushroom; The Oyster Mushroom). It is the most commonly picked tree-dwelling mushroom and is often also artificially cultivated for sale in grocery stores. This sturdy mushroom can be quite palatable when young. Growing these mushrooms at home can be a profitable enterprise and some Russians engage in the activity.


  • Tricholoma matsutake - = syn. T. nauseosum, the rare red pine mushroom that has a very fine aroma. Its undeniable fragrance is both sweet and spicy. They grow under trees and are usually concealed under fallen leaves and/or the duff layer. It forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots of a limited number of tree species. In Japan it is most commonly associated with Japanese Red Pine. However in the Pacific Northwest it is found in coniferous forests of Douglas fir, Noble fir
    Noble Fir

    The Noble Fir is a western North American fir, native to the Cascade Range and Coast Range mountains of extreme northwest California and western Oregon and Washington in the United States....
    , sugar pine
    Sugar Pine

    The Sugar Pine is a species of pine that occurs in the mountains of Oregon and California in the western United States, and Baja California in northwestern Mexico; specifically the Sierra Nevada , the Cascade Range, the Coast Ranges, and the Sierra San Pedro Martir....
    , and Ponderosa pine
    Ponderosa Pine

    Ponderosa Pine , sometimes called Bull Pine or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America....
    . Further south, it is also associated with hardwoods, namely Tanoak
    Tanoak

    Lithocarpus densiflorus, commonly known as the Tanoak or Tanbark-oak, is an evergreen tree in the beech family Fagaceae, native to the western United States, in California as far south as the Transverse Ranges and north to southwest Oregon....
     and Madrone forests. The Pacific Northwest and other similar temperate regions along the Pacific Rim also hold great habitat producing these and other quality wild mushrooms. In 1999, N. Bergius and E. Danell reported that Swedish (
    Tricholoma nauseosum) and Japanese matsutake (T. matsutake) are the same species. The report aroused the import from Northern Europe to Japan because of the comparable flavor and taste. Matsutake are difficult to find and are therefore very expensive. Moreover, domestic productions of Matsutake in Japan have been sharply reduced over the last fifty years due to a pine nematode
    Nematode

    The "roundworms" or "nematodes" are the most diverse phylum of body cavity, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 80,000 have been described, of which over 15,000 are parasite....
     Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
    Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

    Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a nematode that infects pine trees and causes pine wilt. It originates from North America, but has now spread to Europe and East Asia and has become a worldwide quarantine pest....
    , and it has influenced the price a great deal. The annual harvest of Matsutake in Japan has since further decreased. The price for Matsutake in the Japanese market is highly dependent on quality, availability and origin. The Japanese Matsutake at the beginning of the season, which is the highest grade, can go up to $2000 per kilogram, while the average value for imported Matsutake from China, Europe, and the United States is only about $90 per kilogram.


  • The Tricholoma magnivelare
    Tricholoma magnivelare

    Tricholoma magnivelare, commonly known as Pine mushroom is a Agaricales found in the Pacific Northwest of North America growing in coniferous woodland....
    is a very popular and commonly cultivated mushroom in North America. British Columbia exports large quantities of this mushroom overseas to Asia where it is in high demand.


Further reading


  • Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America: A Field-to-kitchen Guide (1992) ISBN 0-292-72080-0
  • Mushrooms of Northeastern North America (1997) ISBN 0-8156-0388-6
  • All That the Rain Promises, and More (1991) ISBN 0-89815-388-3
  • Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (1986) ISBN 0-89815-169-4
  • 100 Edible Mushrooms: With Tested Recipes(2007) ISBN 0-4720-3126-0
  • North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi (2006) ISBN 0-7627-3109-5
  • How to Identify Edible Mushrooms (2007) ISBN 0-0072-5961-1
  • Mushrooming Without Fear (2007) ISBN 1-6023-9160-2


See also

  • Edible mushroom
    Edible mushroom

    Edible mushrooms include thousands of types of mushrooms that are harvested, and others that are not easily cultivated, such as the Tuber and the matsutake, which is prized....
  • Mushroom poisoning
    Mushroom poisoning

    Mushroom poisoning, also known as mycetism, refers to deleterious effects from ingestion of toxic substances present in a mushroom. These symptoms can vary from slight Gastrointestinal tract discomfort to death....


External links

  • — A Maine and New England Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Resource
  • — Site of Russian mushroom hunter with a lot of photos (with titles in English).