I am interested in finding out more about mushrooms.I pick one kind every fall with a yellow cap every fall,they are real good sauted.These were shown to me by an old man who passed away along time ago.These are the only ones I feel comfortable eating.What are some good books or websites for info on this.Any help would be appreciated.

Them books are hard to get the feel for the good ones at least for me. I just went today to hunt some up, me and the boy only found 3 they are awesome but I guess they are alittle early. I to was shown the 2 I pick in the fall by a old timer. There are many more But I just don't trust the books to much. I can't even find a good pic of the ones I pick.

one of my friends at work has a book on mushrooms he tried one kind that was said to be safe,and he said it tasted like acid and everything he ate or drank for two days tasted like that

i only pick one toadstool type that my granddad showed me,brownish-red color with milk in it

Trapete, A good book will be very helpful to assist you in the field. This is one that I use: "Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America" by David W. Fischer and Alan E. Bessette. Try to find a local that would let you tag along which is the best way to lean what is what. There are several species that are excellent eating and are easy to ID. Just remember this: If in doubt, throw it out. I would think you could find Oysters and Chanterelles this time of year in your area. Good hunting and be safe.

"National Audubon Society Feild Guide to North American Mushrooms" is the best book I've found

I gather a couple different milky's, coral mushrooms, and a couple others, but I grew up eating them
common milky cap

Leatherback

best there is IMO
RR

afraid not, google milky mushrooms, they'll come up.
RR

Try this site www.thegreatmorel.com

I will look into those books and websites,thanks for all the input.

I wish all these mushroom pics would be moved to the wildcrafting fourm./thank you

I pick and eat around 16 different types of mushrooms; books only take you so far, find an expert and have them ID them for you. I own one book on mushrooms and it only cover a few with no dangerous look a likes, call a college in your area and find a mycologist, or seek out one of the local mycological societies and start there.

The Audubon is probably the best if you only get one book but I suggest getting several.
I also pick many kinds like Brownie but I trust my books and proper ID before I trust what anyone tells me. The more I learn about mushrooms and hear the various local nicknames, myths and wives tales that surround them the easier it is to understand why there are so many poisonings.

The only real way to ID mushrooms is to study them. Learn the parts, cap, stalk, gill, spores and all the terminology used to describe various forms of all the parts. Learm cap attachment rings, gill spacing, etc and also learn how to make a spore print. it all seems daunting at first but the more you learn and the more species you ID the easier it gets.

A fellow came over the other day with a half pail of beautiful oysters and asked "Are these the right ones?" I told him yes they are but not to ever believe what someones tells them about mushrooms, including me. I got out the books and went through the entire ID process including making a spore print.

The Audubon book has an axellent spore print charts that describes gill attachment, veil typr, habitat and distinctive feature, match all those and the spore print is the final positive ID.


Brownie, have you tried Orange JellY, it make a dramatic color addition to a dish.

No I have not, is it a jelly fugus? As for the books, i have problems with them because i do not learn well form books, I need hands on lessons.

common milkycaps can be few and far or many in the same place, depends on the amount and frequency of rain, 1993 I documented finding 84 bushels of the milky's. found a leatherback the other day with an 8" cap.
RR