This is one of the strangest fungi you can find in North America. Like other jelly fungi, it is characterized by its squishy, gelatinous texture. Most jelly fungi have a fairly disorganized, globular structure. However, Pseudohydnum gelatinosum has a distinct stipe, pileus, and spore surface. In fact, its spores are borne on teeth, much like the unrelated Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum)!
This edible mushroom resembles the chanterelles in looks, flavor, and microscopic characteristics. The one big difference: it has teeth underneath its cap!
This edible mushroom has a few common names, including: “Hen of the Woods,” “Sheepshead,” and “” It is parasitic on hardwood tree roots, so look for this mushroom around the bases of hardwoods (especially oaks and maples) in the fall.
This mushroom is a gateway mushroom to foraging. There is no mistaking the large, bright, yellow-orange fruiting bodies of the Chicken of the Woods. It is also a good edible that has the look, texture, and taste of chicken when cooked (which resulted in one of its common names).
These mushrooms are the mycophagist’s (fungus-eater’s) best friends. They taste great, are large enough to eat, often fruit plentifully, are easy to spot, and are unlikely to be confused with anything else (if you know what to look for). Golden Chanterelles are very popular in Europe. The European species is called the “Griole” in France, while Germans call it the “” These choice edibles can also be found in North America, where they fruit from summer through fall. Look for chanterelles near streams, in hollows, and in other tree-covered places with abundant moisture but good drainage. I recently found some in a small park in Northern Virginia, so they may be more common than you would expect!
In addition to the eight common types of mushroom toxins, mushrooms produce a number of other compounds that are toxic to humans. The North American Mycological Association lists eight of these less common toxins/syndromes. Many of these are limited to a few, closely-related species and are therefore not as frequently observed as the eight types described previously.
Mushrooms produce a wide variety of compounds, most of which have not been studied. Many of these cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Because this group of toxins is so varied, I doubt that scientists will ever bother to catalog all the compounds involved. As a result, most mushroom toxins will likely remain unclassified and lumped into the “gastrointestinal irritants”
These two toxins are the active chemicals in hallucinogenic mushrooms (often called “magic mushrooms” or “‘shrooms”). Psilocybin and psilocin belong to the LSD family of chemicals, but they are smaller than LSD and occur naturally in mushrooms. These compounds can be found in a variety o f mushrooms, including many species in the genera Psilocybe, Conocybe, Panaeolus, and Gymnopilus. Most often, the mushrooms eaten for their hallucinogenic effects belong to the genus Psilocybe, which lends its name to psilocybin and psilocin.
These two mushroom toxins impact the central nervous system and result in symptoms akin to alcohol intoxication. They are the primary toxins in the Fly Agaric, Amanita muscaria, and are responsible for the psychoactive affects of that mushroom.
In celebration of Independence Day, I have decided to discuss a fungus-related event which significantly impacted the history of the United States (Don’t worry; I will get to the remaining mushroom toxins in the next few weeks). America is a country of immigrants, so on the day that we celebrate the founding of our country, it only seems fitting that we take a moment to remember how immigration has shaped our history.
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