Coprinopsis variegata – Scaly Ink Cap
The Scaly Ink cap (Coprinopsis variegata) is a decomposer with questionable edibility. The scaly ink cap can be found growing on decaying hardwoods in eastern North America. It fruits summer-fall. The cap is covered by a felty, whitish veil when young. The veil soon breaks into large, felty patches revealing a brownish yellow surface underneath. […]
Cantharelles appalachiensis – Appalachian Chanterelle
The Appalachian chanterelle (Cantharelles appalachiensis) is a species of chanterelle that is native to eastern North America. It can be differentiated from other chanterelle species by its pale to yellowish-brown coloration. The Appalachian chanterelle is a summer mushroom that can be found in hardwood forests. Chanterelle mushrooms can be identified by their decurrent gill-like ridges […]
Phaeolus schweinitzii – Dyer’s Polypore
Dyer’s Polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii) is a pathogenic polypore that causes butt rot on conifers. The mushroom can be found summer-fall on the roots of conifer trees. The mushroom is composed of multiple circular caps. The caps are densely hairy, giving the mushroom a velvety appearance. The caps start yellowish and become brownish with age. The […]
Pluteus cervinus – Deer Mushrooms
Deer mushrooms (Pluteus cervinus) are common edible mushrooms that can be found around the world. There are 40+ species of Pluteus in North America. All species in this genus are wood rotters with free gills and pinkish spore prints. Some Pluteus mushrooms are edible, some are psychoactive, and some are too small to forage. Deer […]
Auricularia nigricans – Ear fungus
Ear fungus (Auricularia nigricans) is a wood-rotting mushroom that can be found growing singly or in clusters on dead or dying trees. The ear fungus (A. nigricans) can be differentiated from other wood ear fungi (mushrooms in the Auricularia genus) by its upper surface which is ash-gray to yellowish brown and hairy. Wood ear mushrooms […]
Cantharellus minor – Small Chanterelle
The Small chanterelle (Cantharellus minor) is an edible, although unsubstantial mushroom. Small chanterelles are mycorrhizal with hardwood trees. They are often found in moss, under oak trees. Chanterelles can be identified by their decurrent false gills. Small chanterelles look very similar to golden chanterelles but have a slenderer and hollow stem. Although the small chanterelle […]
Agaricus campestris – Meadow Mushrooms
Meadow mushrooms (Agaricus campestris) are the edible wild cousin of the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Meadow mushrooms can be identified by their pink gills that turn dark brown with age and their dark brown spore print. The mushroom should not turn yellow when handled and should not be growing from a vulva. Meadow mushrooms […]
Artomyces pyxidatus – Crown-tipped Coral
Crown-tipped coral (Artomyces pyxidatus) is an edible mushroom that can be found from June-September. It fruits on dead or dying wood, which is unique in the coral fungi group. Crown-tipped coral is always a shade of white and has crown-like branch tips. It has a mild peppery flavor and cooks very quickly. It is best […]
Laetiporus cincinnatus – White-pored Chicken of the Woods
White-pored Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus cincinnatus) is an edible polypore found growing at the base of oak trees from July-October. There are multiple Laetiporus (Chicken of the Woods) species. The white-pored chicken of the woods is known to be the best tasting species. Laetiporus cincinnatus is lighter colored than other Laetiporus species. It grows […]
Lactarius camphoratus – Eastern Candy caps
Eastern candy caps (Lactarius camphoratus) are edible milkcaps found in Europe and Eastern North America. The species found in Eastern North America may or may not be the same species as the one found in Europe, but they are currently both classified as Lactarius camphoratus. There are multiple species of mushrooms referred to by the […]
Meripilus sumstinei – Black-staining Polypore
The Black-staining polypore (Meripilus sumstinei) is an edible mushroom that is often confused for Hen-of-the-woods. It can be found growing at the base of deciduous trees, usually oaks, from July-September. The Black-staining polypore has grayish-white caps that stain black when touched or cut. When young, the pore surface is white. The smell is reminiscent […]
Hypsizygus ulmarius – Elm Oysters
Elm oysters (Hypsizygus ulmarius) are an edible and easy-to-identify mushroom. Elm oysters are in a different genus than the “true” oyster mushrooms. They are named after their appearance which resembles true oyster mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus. Elm oysters are usually found on elm trees from August-December. They can be differentiated from true oysters by […]
Dacrymyces chrysospermus – Orange Jelly Fungus
Orange Jelly Fungus (Dacrymyces chrysospermus) is an edible mushroom that can be found year-round after heavy rains. Orange jelly fungus is found on conifers, often where bark is peeling off. It has a white base where the cap attaches to the wood. Orange jelly fungus is most often confused with Witches butter (Tremella mesenterica) which […]
Auricularia spp. – Wood Ears
Wood ears (Auricularia spp.) are edible jelly fungi that are commonly eaten in Asia. It is best to search for them the day after a large rainfall. Wood ears prefer cooler weather but could appear any time of the year. There are two wood ear species that grow in Connecticut. Auricularia americana grows on conifers, […]
Cryptoporus volvatus – Veiled Polypore
The Veiled Polypore (Cryptoporus volvatus) is a rare mushroom that grows on conifer trees. The pored surface is “veiled” by a thin, rounded layer of tissue. This allows the spores to pile up in the mushroom. When beetles enter the space, they are dusted with the spores and will therefore carry the spores into the […]
Stropharia rugosoannulata – Wine Caps
Wine Caps (Stropharia rugosoannulata) are a commonly cultivated mushroom that can be found throughout North America. Wine caps can be identified by their red cap which fades to brown as they age. Gills will be pale gray when the mushrooms are young, becoming purple-black as they age. They have a white veil which will be […]
Cerioporus squamosus – Dryad’s Saddle
Dryad’s Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus) is a choice edible mushroom when found young. Dryad’s saddle, or Pheasant back, can be found in the spring and fall, fruiting on dead or dying hardwood trees. Look for the fungus 1-2 days after a heavy rain. The mushroom is parasitic, causing white rot disease to the tree. Dryad’s saddle […]
Ganoderma tsugae – Hemlock Reishi
Reishi mushrooms have been used medicinally in Asia for over 2,000 years. Hemlock reishi (Ganoderma tsugae) fruit in New England from May-June. Hemlock reishi are most often found on dead or dying Eastern Hemlock trees. They like to grow near running water. Reishi are known as the “Mushroom of Immortality”. They can be used medicinally […]
Bondarzewia berkeleyi – Berkeley’s Polypore
Berkeley’s Polypore (Bondarzewia berkeleyi) is a mushroom that can be found at the base of hardwood trees in the summer and early fall. Berkeley’s polypore usually causes parasitic butt rot to the hardwood tree that it grows next to. It will occasionally be found at the base of dead or dying trees, acting as […]
Coprinellus micaceus – Mica caps
Mica caps (Coprinellus micaceus) are a common saprobic mushroom found growing in clusters on wood debris and stumps. Mica caps fruit spring to autumn throughout North America and Europe. They can be identified by their brown caps which are coated with mica-like granules. The caps become inky when they start to release spores. Mica caps […]