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Mushroom hunting
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Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking and similar terms describe the activity of gathering mushrooms in the wild, typically for eating. This is popular in most of Europe, including the Nordic, Baltic and Slavic countries and the Mediterranean Basin, as well as in Japan, Korea, Canada and the north western United States.
rge number of mushroom species are favored for eating by mushroom hunters.
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Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking and similar terms describe the activity of gathering mushrooms in the wild, typically for eating. This is popular in most of Europe, including the Nordic, Baltic and Slavic countries and the Mediterranean Basin, as well as in Japan, Korea, Canada and the north western United States.
Identifying mushrooms
A large number of mushroom species are favored for eating by mushroom hunters. The king bolete is a popular delicacy. Sulphur shelf (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. Chanterelles, morels, Shaggy Manes (in genus Coprinus), 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, which include some of the most toxic mushrooms in existence.
Naturally, there are abundant field guides 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. 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 Amanita or Cortinarius 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.
"Little brown mushrooms"
A "little brown mushroom" or LBM refers to any of a large number of small, dull-coloured agaric 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") and DYCs ("damned yellow composite") 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.
Psychotropics
The Amanita muscarias 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, being the only psilocybin-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 (??????? ??????? [Mukhomor Krasniy] - Red Fly-Killer; Fly Agaric, Toadstool) Psilocybe semilanceata (????????? ????????????? [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, Oregon and Washington, 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, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia and the Czech Republic also in Lithuania, 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 for later consumption.
- In the Iberian Peninsula mushroom hunting is a popular activity in Catalonia, where a mushroom hunter is called
boletaire. There is a tradition 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 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 from the Chernobyl disaster. It turned out that, due to wide spread of their mycelium, mushrooms tend to accumulate more radioactive caesium-137 than the surroundings. Special state agencies (in Belarus it is Bellesrad) monitor and analyze the degrees of radionuclide 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, Ukraine and Russia; 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 speciesAny 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:
- False chanterelles (
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) can look like real chanterelles (Cantharellus 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, on the other hand, is often mistaken for a chanterelle, and it is potently toxic. True morels are distinguished from false morels (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. Immature Chlorophyllum molybdites can be confused with edible Agaricus mushrooms. Immature puffballs are generally edible, but care must be taken to avoid species such as Scleroderma citrinum and immature Amanitas. These can be identified by cutting a puffball in half and looking for a dark reticulated gleba or the articulated, nonhomogenous structures of a gilled mushroom, respectively. Conocybe filaris, and some Galerina species can look like, and grow next to, Psilocybe 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 morels 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).
While the family of Amanitas should be approached with extreme caution, as it contains the lethal Amanita phalloides and Amanita virosa, those confident in their skills often pick the Amanita rubescens, which is highly prized in Europe and to a much lesser extent in Russia, accounted by some not to superior taste, but to its relation to the Amanita caesarea, which is not found in Russia, but was considered a delicacy worthy of the emperor in Ancient Rome.
Amanita rubescens (??????? ????-??????? [Mukhomor Sero-Rozoviy] - Grey-Pink Fly-Killer; European blusher) Amanita caesarea (????????? ???? [Tsezarskiy Grib] - Caesar's Mushroom)Coprinus comatus 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 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. Another well known mushroom known as the portobello is a large brown strain of this fungus.
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, 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 (????? ???? [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 (as well as the L. versipelle), found under aspen trees, and the Leccinum scabrum (as well as the L. holopus), found under birch 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 (??????????? ??????? [Podosinovik Krasniy] - Red Under-Aspen; Red-capped scaber stalk) Leccinum scabrum (???????????? ???????????? [Podberyozovik Obiknovenniy] - Common Under-Birch; Birch bolete)
The Suillus family, characterised by its slimy cap, is another prized mushroom, the Suillus luteus and Suillus granulatus 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 (???????? [Maslyonok] - Buttery Mushroom; The Slippery Jack, Butter Mushroom)
The Xerocomus 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, 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 (??????? [Mokhovik] - Moss Mushroom; Mossiness Mushroom) Xerocomus badius (???????? ???? [Polskiy Grib] - Polish Mushroom)
The Cantharellus cibarius, a common and popular mushroom, especially in Europe, is a choice edible and unique mushroom. It is very rarely infested by worms or larvae, 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)
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 (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 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)
The Morel, 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)
Members of the genus Lactarius, as the name suggests, lactate a milky liquid when wounded and are often scoffed upon by Western literature. The Lactarius deliciosus 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. Thermal treatment may however be necessary in some cases. Slightly less appealing due to its bitter taste is the Lactarius pubescens.
Lactarius deliciosus (????? [Rizhik] - Redcap; Saffron Milk-Cap) Lactarius resimus (?????? ????????? [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 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 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 (???????? ??????? (Siroyezhka Pischevaya) - Raw-Edible Mushroom; Russula)
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 stumps, 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, sugar pine, and Ponderosa pine. Further south, it is also associated with hardwoods, namely Tanoak 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 Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, 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.
Tricholoma magnivelare 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
External links
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- — A Maine and New England Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Resource
- — Site of Russian mushroom hunter with a lot of photos (with titles in English).
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