Assignment 1
Verities of Mushrooms
Button mushroom. Button or white mushrooms are the most commonly available mushrooms in the
grocery store. In the wild, though, their look-alikes are very poisonous.
Chanterelle (Cantharellus) is considered a gourmet mushroom. It is bright orange or yellow, with a
tender texture and intense flavour. Chanterelle grows under hardwood trees, such as oaks, and is
harvested in the fall. Look-alikes are poisonous.
Cremini. Sold commercially, these brown mushrooms look like button mushrooms, but they have a
deeper flavour.
Fly Amanita looks a bit like a yellowish or orange golf ball. This rounded mushroom is covered with
white, bumpy warts. It is found in woodland areas and is poisonous.
Destroying Angel (Amanita sp.). This highly poisonous mushroom grows in woodlands from
summer to fall. It is almost identical to the edible button mushrooms you buy in the grocery store. As
the name implies, it is deadly.
Giant Puffball (Calvatia). Aptly named, this huge, white mushroom grows from 8 to 24 inches in
diameter. It is an edible mushroom that grows in parks, meadows and woodlands.
Green-spored Lepiota. (Chlorophyllum). Found in grassy areas, this white, upright mushroom can
grow 8 inches across. It leaves spores that are gray-green in color. Steer clear of this poisonous species.
Horn of Plenty (Craterellus cornucopiodes). This horn-shaped mushroom matures from spring to
fall, depending on your climate. Edible.
Jack-O-Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus, Clitocybe). These woodland mushrooms resemble sulfur
mushrooms, but they’re poisonous. They grow at the base of trees or on decaying roots.
Lactarius or milk mushroom. These brownish-red, flat-topped mushrooms grow in wooded areas.
Some are edible; others are not.
Meadow mushroom (Agaricus). This small, humble mushroom is found in meadows and woodlands
from late summer to fall. It has gills that mature from pink to dark brown.
Morel (Morchella). This delicious, edible mushroom grows in woodland areas in early to late spring.
It has a sponge-like appearance. False morels resemble morels but are poisonous.
Oyster These mushrooms have a multi-layered appearance and a mild, flavourful taste. They’re
available commercially and easy to grow at home.
Portabello. This large, beefy mushroom can grow up to 6 inches across. They taste delicious grilled
and are often used as a meat substitute.
Russula mushroom (Russula sp.) Russula mushrooms mature from late summer to fall and have a
flattened appearance and brittle texture. Russula mushrooms are known for their vivid colors, which
can range from red to purple to green to yellow. Some are poisonous, while others are safe to eat.
Shaggy mane (Coprinus) matures in late summer and is found in grassy areas. This mushroom has
an upright form. The edges of the mushroom are fringed and become dark as the mushroom grows.
Edible.
Slippery jack (Suillus, Boletus). These large, meaty mushrooms are light to dark brown. Found under
pine needles, they are edible.
Smooth white Lepiota. This edible mushroom has a tall, slender stem and is pure white. It grows in
woodland areas from summer to fall.
Sulfur or Chicken mushroom (Laetiporus). These yellow or orange mushrooms have a layered
appearance and resemble oyster mushrooms. They mature from summer to fall, and are safe to eat if
growing on wood.
