Identifying mushrooms

[inside the sun]

How can i identify some mushrooms i have collected and know whether or not they are edible, poisonous or pyschoactive. Borders and barnes and noble both have field guides and other books but i need something where i can like look up my location and then see pictures of the ones that grow in my area

[Buffy]

Anyone who has ever done this will tell you: A book cannot teach you what is edible or not. You need an expert to train you. Mushrooms are *not* to be played with, and the good ones have evolved to look like the bad ones to keep you from eating them. Eat the wrong one and you will regret it for the rest of your--possibly very short--life.

You have been warned.

Virtual (actually real) Mom,
Buffy

[Cedars]

Originally Posted by inside the sun

How can i identify some mushrooms i have collected and know whether or not they are edible, poisonous or pyschoactive. Borders and barnes and noble both have field guides and other books but i need something where i can like look up my location and then see pictures of the ones that grow in my area

I agree with Buffy. Hands on with someone who is expert in the gathering of wild mushrooms is needed.

In my area, the parks often have programs for the cost of entry into the park to help people identify edibles.

Look for Mycological Associations/Societies to find groups in your area. One of these groups offers weekend training on the Morel mushroom identifications in my area. Last time I checked it was free.

[inside the sun]

What about spore printing?
or testing them on mice?

[orbsycli]

on mice??
man, dont do that.

go receive some knowledge man!
and PLEASE dont die, you are far too young to die

[lindagarrette]

Originally Posted by Buffy

Anyone who has ever done this will tell you: A book cannot teach you what is edible or not. You need an expert to train you. Mushrooms are *not* to be played with, and the good ones have evolved to look like the bad ones to keep you from eating them. Eat the wrong one and you will regret it for the rest of your--possibly very short--life.

You have been warned.

Virtual (actually real) Mom,
Buffy

I disagree with Buffy, though appreciate her warning. There are many excellent books that can guide you through the process of identifying mushrooms very precisely. The most common edible mushrooms are easy to identify, although it is always wise to go through the identification procedure unless you have much experience. My standby is the Complete Book of Mushrooms by Rinaldi and Tyndalo.

Mycological societies are great because you can get with other enthusiasts for forays. When I was living France, hunting the black trumpets was a huge outing. Not to mention the feast afterwards.

[Zilali]

I think the main thing is to check your mushroom in every possible way before even thinking about taking it yourself. When going hunting you should always take a good refrence book, camera and a lot of patience.

Start with easly identifiable mushrooms such as puffballs and take care to note down everything about it e.g. measurements, texture, smell, gills, cap stem, habitat and spore prints. You can even taste the mushrooms by using a safe tecnique that mycologists use to asertain even the most poisonous species.

This is done by taking a small lump and placing it on the tip of your tounge breakig it up on the roof of your mouth, you shoudl then spit it out and take care to wash your mouth thoroughly.

If your looking for mushooms containing psylocibin I would be wary and only look for the most common hullucinogens such as cubensis in america or psilocybe semilanceata in europe, also I wouldn't attempt looking for fly agarics at first as most species are highly poisonous.

Another thing never go looking for what mushroom hunters call LBMs or little brown mushrooms as they are in the millions and thier species are extremely hard to determine even by the most experienced mycologist.

Anyway good luck and happy hunting.

[inside the sun]

can i post some pics and you guys tell me what you think?

[Zilali]

Originally Posted by inside the sun

can i post some pics and you guys tell me what you think?

Go for it

[Michaelangelica]

This looks like one that would be easy to identify.


Yes, it really is that colour! Entoloma hochstetteri contains three azulene pigments which are responsible for this stunning colour:
This is from a great science/biology news website that is definitely worth a look at:
Mycology MicrobiologyBytes

Azuline is in chamomile flowers too ( the essential oil is blue).
Synthetic azuline is now made, as that from chamomile is so expensive to extract.
Azuline is an anti-inflammatory used sometimes in cosmetics for its soothing effects.