We will try to ID your mushrooms here

[zombiecazz]

We have had heaps of this mushroom in our local forest. That was in the middle of October. The forest is a mix, but has alot of pine and birch.
I did however find two of these mushrooms yesterday and I had a go at identifying them. I won't say what I think it is. What do you think it is?







The mushroom starts all curved and bell shaped, then becomes shield shaped and finally ends up almost funnel shaped, you know the dip in the middle thing.
This one is about average size although I have seen them bigger. It's approx 4cm in length and diameter. Flesh is firm and the stalk is solid not hollow.

[caithnesscrofter]

looks like a yellow swamp russula.. will have a look at my guide to double check... russulas can be tricky.

[zombiecazz]

Yup that was the mushroom I was thinking it to be Russula Claroflava.
Has anyone eaten them? Are they good eating?

[caithnesscrofter]

i've never eaten them... always a bit wary of russulas for some reason. But, that is probably just me.. if you are a hundred and ten percent sure of id.. I've heard they are quite good.

[hedgewizard]

I've never bothered with them because I've not seen many together, and there are other russula species that look similar. I think common yellow russulas can look like that too, and I don't know how to tell the difference!

[caithnesscrofter]

this autumn in particular I've seen loads... I think the difference is the spore print if you took the mushroom away with you. I believe the common yellow is white or cream and the yellow swamp is a definate ochre/yellowy colour. id book is in car.. but, I will look when hubby returns with it tomorrow.

I guess yellow swamp because I've yet to come across the common yellow! :-) maybe in scotland the yellow swamp is more "common" LOL. They are both edible anyways.

[kimmysmum]

Gosh I am so Jealous after reading this thread I don't think we a that blessed here with our mushrooms and I love them. I will when I can work out how to post a pic ,put some up for I.D I think they are taodstools more than mushys

[Magpie]

I'm so glad you posted that reply Kimmysmum, I missed this thread first time round, and am jealous too of all those mushies!
Our season is well over, but will remember this for next year.

[kimmysmum]

We can buy mushroom kits here they are good but only availble at certain times of the year. We have a lot of Fungi on our land at times so this thread will be great.

[w.f.specialist]

An old thread i know, but have not been on here for a while as too busy foraging natures goodies.
Briefly browsing a few of your fungal picies i see. Boletus eurythrapus, (edible but turns black when cooked. ideal for drying or essence. Also Hen of the woods (bracket fungi) found predominately on beech. good to eat when young.
These are my opinion only.
Never eat if uncertain.
The rest i believe you have correctly idied

[Peggy Sue]

Can I ask a really silly question.... I was told if you can peel the mushroom then it's not poisonous. I have always taken this to mean that it actually looks like an edible too, ie field mushroom type of look.
Am I taking a massive risk on this as your ID seems a lot more detailed, and so does the 'food for free' book.

The only other fungus I pick and eat are puff balls, are there poisonous ones or am I playing russian roulette??!!

[possum]

puff balls are not poisonous, as for the other asumptions, no, do not go by them, you could end up dead

[hedgewizard]

I'll second that. I've heard a number of old chestnuts over the years; "they're OK if you can peel them / can't peel them / are growing on moss / are slimy / aren't slimy" etc. Don't go there.

[Peggy Sue]

OK now I'm scared but grateful! Next time mushroom grow in my horses field I'll ask you guys to ID them before I fry them up for supper.

Funny, I felt lot more 'iffy' about the puffballs and they are OK. Maybe I should grow mushrooms, it may be safer!

[the.fee.fairy]

Got some more here!

They were in a local beech and oak wood today, growing out of the leaf matter.

It is about 5" tall, and the cap is about 6" round, and fuinnel shaped

The stem is woody, slightly lighter in colour than the cap and bulges slightly at the bottom
Long, close gills, white/off white in colour, the travel part way down the stem, and then stop.

Its a buff/off white colour and is a large funnel shape. It smells mushroomy (haha!), no it really does smell mushroomy. Smells quite tasty actually.

I think its either cilobye Geotropa, or a common funnel (both of which i think are edible) i used Mushrooms (Phillip moss?) and the Wild Food Guide. Had a look in Food for Free, but its not on there.

I'd appreciate a second opinion before i make death soup!!

Ta