Mushroom help

Fshklr · 12-29-2003, 01:26 PM

Found these today while fishing and am shroom iliterate(sp?). Sre these edible?

Fshklr · 12-29-2003, 03:09 PM

TTT, Help please [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Woody · 12-29-2003, 03:18 PM

I have pretty limited experience with 'shrooms. I know Chant's and Morels, and that's about it. But, what I can tell you is if you don't for sure, 100% with out a doubt what it is, DON'T EAT IT.

Snapset · 12-29-2003, 05:18 PM

Amen to what Woody said.

Freighter Bait · 12-29-2003, 05:23 PM

First off, WHAT WOODY SAYS! :shocked: With that said, it appears to be in the Polypore family. Several are edible, some are not. It is difficult to tell from pictures without other identifying info. Size, texture, odor, etc. I would suggest, if your into the 'shrooms, to get at least two, if not more field guides, and see how many you can find. What better things to do while out scouting new territory. Happy hunting!! :grin:

Pete · 12-29-2003, 05:27 PM

I have a rule of thumb with mushrooms that's worked really well so far. I have a friend who's a mycologist (a mushroom scientist). I bring things to him and trust his judgement until I think I've learned the tests and characteristics he uses for identification. It's a hassle to coordinate schedules and schlep my samples to him, but that speed bump is an important safety factor.

HeavyMetal BankFisherman · 12-29-2003, 05:57 PM

I wouldn't eat those. Nothing wrong with wild mushrooms, but if your not 100% sure don't eat them. Those look a little gooey as well even if they are edible.

kayakfisher · 12-29-2003, 09:13 PM

There is a mycological association in Portland and they have folks that can id such things usually.

Woody, as everyone says, is right again. In about 1992 or so several very skilled and experience mushroomers collected mushrooms in the the Oregon woods, and unfortunately they made some mistakes. They ate bad mushrooms, and several of them got liver transplants....some at OHSU in Portland, and some had to be shipped out. These were done emergently, and I am not sure that they all survived...but living with a transplanted liver is difficult and expensive.

M.

raider6 · 12-29-2003, 11:46 PM

shrooms....mmmmm

glassblower · 12-30-2003, 01:36 AM

I have been picking wild mushrooms in Oregon for 25+ years and from looking at the picture I would say you got some fine Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). Here is some info on this mushroom. If you do not understand all the terms learn them well before eating. Always be very sure you know what you have, if not toss it. Never mix un-known mushrooms with known mushrooms. It is a good idea to carry waxed paper and wrap each un-known specimen in it to prevent contamination of the known to be edible specimens.

Broad, fleshy, light brown to grey cap in color, whitish or yellow tinged gills arising from attachment to wood or small, hairy, stublike stalk; on wood.

Cap 2-8 inches wide; Oyster shaped, semicircular to elongated; margin lobed to wavy at times; moist, smooth; white to ash or brownish. Flesh thick, white. Oder pleasant. Gills: decending stalk, close to nearly distant, narrow to broad, thick, white, becoming yellowish. Stalk when (present): 1/4 to 3/8 thick; off center to lateral, short, stout, solid (not hollow), dry, white hairy.

Spores: Narrowly elliptical, smooth, colorless. spore print white to pale lilac-grey.

Edibility: Choice

Season: year round under favorable conditions.

Habitat: On many deciduous trees, especially Willow and aspen; rarely on pine and hemlock; sometimes on buried stumps.

Range: throughout North America.

Look-alikes: Pleurocybella porrigens* is thin fleshed, white, and grows on conifers.
Hypsizygus tessulatus* usually grows sigly, has yellowing, cracking cap.
Lentinus* and Lentinellus* species have toothed gill edges.

This species is complex has many forms:
in summer it is usually flat and whitish, but in fall and winter it rounder and brownish. This excellent edible should be checked for white grubs (worms). It is somtimes covered by the yellow, early stage of a slime mold. The Cornocopia Oyster (P.saidus), also choice, is part of this complex. It has a Lilac-grey spore print, A whitish cap, and usually off center stalk.

[ 12-30-2003, 04:53 AM: Message edited by: glassblower ]

glassblower · 12-30-2003, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kayakfisher:
There is a mycological association in Portland and they have folks that can id such things usually.

Woody, as everyone says, is right again. In about 1992 or so several very skilled and experience mushroomers collected mushrooms in the the Oregon woods, and unfortunately they made some mistakes. They ate bad mushrooms, and several of them got liver transplants....some at OHSU in Portland, and some had to be shipped out. These were done emergently, and I am not sure that they all survived...but living with a transplanted liver is difficult and expensive.

M.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">What those people did was a fairly common mistake and a very deadly one that is so easily avoided it is incredible so many people get poisend by them. What they did is they went out picking common "puffballs" thats the street name, I am sure you have seen them in your yard they are little white balls that range in size from smaller than a golf ball to larger than a soccer ball. They confused them with what is known as a "deathcap" also the street name. If you slice a puffball in two from top to bottom and it is solid white all the way through it is young and not fully matured and edible, though not the best of edibles allot of people enjoy them. A deathcap when in it's imature "button" stage looks like a puffball except that when you slice it open from top to bottom you see what looks like a picture of a mushroom inside "it is not solid white all the way through". So it was very simple to avoid the poisenings had they taken the simple steps to identify what they had foraged. All puffballs are edible with caution, as they can be confused with outher mushrooms outside of their complex that are deadly. That is however avoidable, use your head; if you do not know toss it. And all wild edible mushrooms should be cooked before eating, as many will cause "gastrol intestinal distress" a mild non-deadly form of poisening if not cooked. I hope all this helps.

letsfish · 12-30-2003, 08:37 AM

Where did you find them? growing on what kind of tree? Though they look like the oyster mushroom I would have to say I don't think so. Its been a bit to cold. Also note the yellowing- not oyster mushrooms.Certainly not in edible condition.
Regarding images on the web: just type in oyster mushroom on google, click images. Or check out mykoweb.com .

glassblower · 12-30-2003, 11:01 PM

I picked Oysters less than two weeks ago down towards Lincoln city, and this time of year they will have that Lilac-Grey golor to the caps, and yes the stalk does tend to become yellowish towards the base. I have picked for 25+ years, you see allot of color changes in certain species throughout the year. And by the way guys, the state likes to put their fingers into your pockets on mushroom hunting also, but if you only carry a one gallon bucket and take no more than that you do not need a permit to pick on public lands.

glassblower · 12-30-2003, 11:11 PM

Here is a link to a page that will give allot of info on the Oyster mushroom, be sure and click on the photo links below the picture to see variations on looks and color.

http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/P...ostreatus.html

[ 12-30-2003, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: glassblower ]

Fshklr · 12-31-2003, 05:25 PM

Thanks all for the reply's...I was thinking Oysters when I picked them and was not brave(or stupid) enough to try and eat them. They were growing out of a downed horizontal log covered in moss. Not sure what kind of tree. I left them in a one gallon ziplock loaded to the brim in my truck..they are now a solid mushroom cicle!! Time to learn how to identify those baby's. Thanks again for all the help and reply's
Dan

Fish_N_Russ · 12-31-2003, 11:11 PM

yeah those look like oysters to me also, but unless you are sure (dont take our words for it here, I dont anyone on the board is a mycologist), I wouldnt eat them.

If you like Oysters you can buy kits to grow them, very easy to grow and pretty prolific.

glassblower · 01-01-2004, 12:36 AM

Only one way to learn, ya just gota get out and do it. Shrooming is good fun, and tasty too. You will get hooked once you start. Good side is all you need are a couple of "GOOD" books, bucket, sharp knife, rain gear (all oregon fisherman have that), boots. So it is a cheap thing to do also.