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We love mushroom forays. The first picture is the Amanita muscaria or Fly Agaric. It is very beautiful but nonetheless dangerous. The second image shows both Amanita muscaria and Boletus edulis fruiting together. The third image, Boletus edulis, is known as the Penny Bun in England, Steinpilz in Germany, Cep in France, Porcini in Italy and the King Bolete in the U.S. The fourth image shows the Chinese Forest Mushroom, Lentinus edodes, which is prized for both culinary and medical purposes. The Chinese call it Xiang Gu

and the Japanese call it Shiitake 椎茸 . The fifth mushroom is the wild variety of the commonly cultivated Champignon or Pink Bottom, Agaricus campestris. The sixth photo shows the gourmet, aromatic White Truffle, Tuber magnatum pico and its equally pricey partner, the Black Truffel, Tuber aestivum. The seventh photo is an electron photomicrograph of Powdery Mildew...of course, one of everybody's favorites. The eighth photo shows a few of the much sought after Morel, Morchella esculenta. The next image is an extremely dangerous parasite of sorghum and other grains, Claviceps purpurea. This fungus ultimately causes ergotism in animals and man. The next photo shows Tree or Wood Ears 木耳, Auricularia polytricha, another staple of Oriental cuisine and medicine. The tenth picture is the Chicken of the Woods or Sulphur Shelf, Laetiporus sulphureus. It is indeed a delicious edible and fortunately only attacks hardwoods that are already dying. It is followed by a photo of the mushroom the French call Girolle, the Germans Pfifferling and Americans the Chanterelle, Cantherellus cibarius. A bowl full of this very beautiful and greatly desired edible was picked by my daughter Lisa and is shown posing on our picnic table. The next photo is an open air produce market in Stockholm with a stall loaded with freshly harvested Chanterelles. The fifteenth image shows my wife's car trunk full (over 100 pounds) of Grifola frondosa or Hen of the Woods which the Japanese call Maitake タコウキン科, one of our favorite edible polypores usually found in the Fall near Oak. The sixteenth image is called Amadou or the Tinder Bracket, Fomes fomentarius. This useful fungus helped start the fires of Native Americans and the early Colonists. Finally, the last image is of one of my personal favorites, the imminently edible Oyster Mushroom or Pleurotus ostreatus.

Under no circumstances, should anyone use this page, its pictures or descriptions, as a guide to edibility! Know what you eat! A friend gave us a German mushroom recipe book entitled: "Alle Pilze Sind Eßbar, Manche Nur Einmal!"..."All Mushrooms Are Edible, Some Only Once!"

'Shroom

                Oh Fungi are such useful Fare,
                Wild Mushrooms here, old Toadstools there;
                Mild Tree Ears, Oysters, Palates dare,
                Morels, Shiitakes to prepare;
                Though Caution rules, you must take Care,
                Of Amanitas, just beware!

                Midst darkened Woods, in silent Prayer,
                On Stumps and Logs, like Flowers fair;
                With Oaks or Firs, soft Moss Beds share,
                Soon after Rains, no Time to spare,
                Delicious though you’d best not err;
                Most Mushrooms are beyond compare!

                Green grungy Molds; white Truffles rare,
                Caps' spongy Folds, toothed, scaled or bare;
                Gills dense, Pores tight, around Stipes flare,
                Dispense Spores light, abound through Air,
                To spread with Ease, found Ev'rywhere;
                Bake Bread, make Cheese, Vins-culinaire!

                Rye Ergot Rots, blue Mildew, creep,
                Dry Amadou to Chimney Sweep;
                Why Penicillin, Compost Heap!
                From Forays, beaucoup Harvests keep,
                Come most Rewards, true Bounties reap;
                In fruiting Forests, dark and deep!

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