The first question most people want answered
about a mushroom is "Is it poisonous?" followed closely by "Can I eat it?"
The first rule for those who choose to eat wild mushrooms
is "When in doubt, throw it out."
The fact is that there are many excellent
edible
wild mushrooms that almost anyone can learn to identify. There
are also deadly poisonous species that every
collector should be familiar with. However, there are no simple
rules that can reliably tell you which mushrooms are poisonous and
which are edible. The only way to safely collect wild mushrooms is
to be familiar with the characteristics of the species you wish to collect.
The best way to learn these characteristics is to go collecting with experts
who can teach them to you. LAMS hosts several mushroom forays
every season where beginners can start.
Beginners should never rely solely on their own identifications
based on any field guide - especially ones that only provide photographs
and brief descriptions.
If you have found some mushrooms and wish to get them
identified see our contact page. Also
check our recommended reading
page for various websites, books, and journals
that can help you learn to identify mushrooms.
