Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Bridebeliever]

Amanita.  Poisonous.

So how do you tell anyway? Do you just have to know all the local mishrooms? Or is it "gills poisonous, no gills not poisonous", or the reverse? LOL

 

[Cockatrice6420]

So how do you tell anyway? Do you just have to know all the local mishrooms? Or is it "gills poisonous, no gills not poisonous", or the reverse? LOL

I wish it were that simple, then I wouldn't be hoping for id on the pics I posted. Spongy underside but NOT having gills are usually beletes, although some of those will upset a stomach. Cantrell have gills from ground to cap. It's all so confusing so I don't pick either.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

Could someone please id these?

They're growing in the crotch of an old maple tree.

 

[Elaine Wright]

I wish it were that simple, then I wouldn't be hoping for id on the pics I posted. Spongy underside but NOT having gills are usually beletes, although some of those will upset a stomach. Cantrell have gills from ground to cap. It's all so confusing so I don't pick either.

I have a pocket field guide to mushrooms that goes with me. Some I've been eating for 50 years so I know they are good, some I know are not for eating. I grew up in AK so they are many I don't know and I'd rather check and leave, then photo and leave and then find out they are terrific for eating. Touching an unidentified mushroom and not immediately washing your hands is a rather poor idea.

 

[Cockatrice6420]

I have a pocket field guide to mushrooms that goes with me. Some I've been eating for 50 years so I know they are good, some I know are not for eating. I grew up in AK so they are many I don't know and I'd rather check and leave, then photo and leave and then find out they are terrific for eating. Touching an unidentified mushroom and not immediately washing your hands is a rather poor idea.

Agreed, I only touch with a stick... I know the dangers of toxic mushrooms and not what they look like, so I don't eat any! I am just discovering what's in my yard. So far the beletes are the easiest to know, but even some of them will give a person gut rot.

 

[Bridebeliever]

I have a pocket field guide to mushrooms that goes with me. Some I've been eating for 50 years so I know they are good, some I know are not for eating. I grew up in AK so they are many I don't know and I'd rather check and leave, then photo and leave and then find out they are terrific for eating. Touching an unidentified mushroom and not immediately washing your hands is a rather poor idea.

I have always told my children that...don't even touch them! Nobody in my family even eats store mushrooms, I on the other hand love them!
I found this helpful website for Pacific NW mushrooms. http://www.madaboutmushrooms.com/mad_about_mushrooms/archives.html

 

[cooliechick]

When we get a bumper crop of Shaggy Manes, we would clean them, steam them, and freeze what we don't eat.

My father was a mushroom addict. We would go out all the time above Orting. There used to be farms along the road south of town that grew Meadow mushrooms by the skillions, but modern day chemical fertilizers kill them. Housing developments are also cutting down on the Meadow Those are really great too when and if you find any. My very best score was some Woodland Blewts (sp? my books aren't handy at the moment) which had the most delicious odor, and the flavor was right up there with the odor. The color probably would put most people off of them. They were a bright purple and fairly small.

To stay on subject, all are wonderful with all the ways one would prepare eggs.

 

[Bridebeliever]

To stay on subject, all are wonderful with all the ways one would prepare eggs.

Mmmm...mushroom omelet.

That'll have to wait till next fall, my babies are only 3 weeks old.

 

[Elaine Wright]

When we get a bumper crop of Shaggy Manes, we would clean them, steam them, and freeze what we don't eat.

My father was a mushroom addict. We would go out all the time above Orting.  There used to be farms along the road south of town that grew Meadow mushrooms by the skillions, but modern day chemical fertilizers kill them. Housing developments are also cutting down on the Meadow  Those are really great too when and if you find any. My very best score was some Woodland Blewts (sp? my books aren't handy at the moment) which had the most delicious odor, and the flavor was right up there with the odor. The color probably would put most people off of them.  They were a bright purple and fairly small.

To stay on subject, all are wonderful with all the ways one would prepare eggs.

I've done that also. I guess I was trying to say, they don't keep like meadow mushrooms.

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:

There are no simple rules for identification, you have to learn each one specifically. I stick to the few I know specifically and have an expert identify the ones I THINK I know.

I belonged to Puget Sound Mycological Association for several years and I have books to refer to. There are several rules that need to be followed unless you are absolutely sure.

1. When in doubt DO NOT EAT!
2. Never eat more than one type of mushroom/fungi at a time that's new to you, and eat only a very small amount the first time or two. All mushrooms have varying types and levels of toxins. Just because a friend ate them with no issues does not mean you can. For example, DH has a terrible reaction of morels, but only after eating several -- even if that several is over a 3 day period.
3. Don't assume that a mushroom in your region is safe because you're used to a similar one in a different country. This has been the downfall of a lot of immigrants.