Laura Smith
Mushrooms are a common sight in forests, with their different shapes, sizes, and colours. They are fungi, which are resilient organisms that don't need sunlight to create energy. There are over 10,000 types of mushrooms around the world, and they play an important role in the environment. Some mushrooms are edible, while others are toxic or even hallucinogenic. They can be classified into four groups based on their relationship with the environment: parasitic, endophytic, mycorrhizal, and saprophytic. In a forest, mushrooms have a symbiotic relationship with trees, aiding nutrient uptake and protecting roots from parasites.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of mushroom types | Over 10,000 different kinds of mushrooms grow around the world every year, and it is estimated that more than 1.5 million species currently exist on Earth |
| Edibility | Some are edible, some don't taste good, some will make you sick, and a small number can kill you |
| Colours | Purple, orange, yellow, white, red, brown, black |
| Shapes | Some have gills, some have "teeth" like a brush, some have sponge-like pores instead of gills, some are shaped like wings |
| Sizes | Varying sizes |
| Locations | Found in the Arctic, from sea level to mountaintop, in Canada, California, England, Belgium |
| Seasons | Most abundant in the fall, but can be found all year round |
| Uses | Food, crafting, medicine, poisoned arrows |
| Fungi types | Parasitic, endophytic, mycorrhizal, saprophytic |
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What You'll Learn
Types of edible mushrooms
Mushrooms are fleshy fruit bodies of several macrofungi species. They are consumed for their nutritional and culinary value. Edible mushrooms are identified by the absence of poisonous effects on humans and desirable taste and aroma. However, some edible mushrooms may cause allergic reactions in certain individuals.
Chanterelles are one of the most popular edible mushrooms. They are identified by the forked wrinkles that run vertically down their stems. Chanterelles are further divided into two types: Cantharellus roseocanus or rainbow chanterelle, and Cantharellus formosus or golden chanterelle. Both varieties are yellow-orange gold in colour, with the former having a more robust stem and found in summer and fall, and the latter found in summer through winter on the coast. Inland, there is another variety of chanterelle, Cantharellus subalbidus, or the white chanterelle, which grows in old-growth forests.
King Bolete, also called Porcini, is another commonly foraged mushroom. Unlike most mushrooms, they have sponge-like pores instead of gills.
Oyster mushrooms, or Pleurotus ostreatus, are common in Northern California in the fall. They are white and lack a typical stem, resembling angel wings attached to a dead tree or log. They are easy to cultivate, which is why many people grow them at home for food.
Hedgehog mushrooms, or Hydnum, are another variety of edible mushrooms. They are identified by their little "teeth" instead of gills, resembling a brush.
Black trumpet, or Craterellus cornucopioides, is a smaller variety of chanterelle. It is called the blue cheese of the woods for its smell and flavour. It is found in the winter after heavy rains, usually on slopes with runoff debris like leaves and sticks from tanoaks, beech, and manzanita.
Other types of edible mushrooms include basic buttons, meaty king oysters, honeycomb-like morels, criminis, portobellos, and white button mushrooms.
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Types of poisonous mushrooms
There are 6 types of mushrooms in the video game The Forest, 4 of which are edible and 2 are poisonous. The poisonous mushrooms in the game are the Jack-O'-Lantern and Amanita (also known as the Red Amanita Muscaria).
In reality, there are 70-80 species of poisonous mushrooms, only a few of which are fatal when ingested. Many of these deadly fungi bear an unfortunate resemblance to edible mushrooms. The most poisonous mushrooms include:
- Death Cap (Amanita phalloides): This is perhaps the deadliest mushroom, found throughout Europe, and resembling edible straw mushrooms and caesar's mushrooms. Its amatoxins are heat-stable, quickly damaging cells throughout the body. Within 6 to 12 hours of consumption, violent abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhoea appear, causing a rapid loss of fluids and intense thirst. It also affects the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
- Conocybe filaris: This innocent-looking lawn mushroom is especially common in the Pacific Northwest. It features the same mycotoxins as the death cap and is potentially fatal if eaten. Gastrointestinal symptoms appear 6-24 hours after consumption, leading to liver and kidney failure.
- Webcap: The two species, the deadly webcap (Cortinarius rubellus) and the fool's webcap (Cortinarius orellanus), are very similar to each other and to several edible varieties. They feature a poison called orellanin, which causes flu-like symptoms and, if left untreated, leads to kidney failure and death.
- Destroying Angel (Amanita verna): These are several species of all-white mushrooms in the Amanita genus, similar in appearance to edible button mushrooms and meadow mushrooms. Amanita bisporigera, a species within this group, is considered the most toxic North American mushroom. Symptoms include vomiting, delirium, convulsions, diarrhoea, and liver and kidney failure, and often lead to death.
- Jack O'Lantern: This mushroom is similar in appearance to the edible chanterelle, but features gills instead of folds.
- Podostroma cornu-damae: This rare fungus, native to Asia, has been responsible for several fatalities in Japan and Korea.
- Gyromitra spp.: This is the poisonous look-alike of the true morel. Some species contain a highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical called gyromitrin, which affects the central nervous system and can lead to nausea, convulsions, coma, and death.
Remember, it is always best to avoid consuming any mushrooms you cannot confidently identify as edible.
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How to identify mushrooms
Mushrooms are edible fungi found in forests. They come in different sizes, shapes, and colours. While some are good to eat, others don't taste good, and a few can even be poisonous.
Identifying mushrooms can be a challenging task, even for experts. However, here are some tips to help you identify mushrooms in the forest:
- Location: The type of trees in a forest can determine the types of mushrooms that grow there. For example, in Northern California, Chanterelles are commonly found near Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, and bishop pine.
- Physical characteristics: Observe the physical characteristics of the mushroom, such as its size, shape, and colour. For instance, the Rainbow Chanterelle has a robust stem and is yellow-orange gold in colour, while the Golden Chanterelle is found in the same region but during a different season. The Hedgehog mushroom, on the other hand, has little "teeth" instead of gills.
- Associated plants: Some mushrooms are often found growing near specific plants. For example, the Black Trumpet mushroom is usually found near tanoaks, beech, and manzanita.
- Spores: Examining the spores of a mushroom can help with identification. Blow on the cup of a Brown Cup Mushroom to see its spores gently float away, or observe the colour of the spores of Pholiota velaglutinosa to distinguish it from similar-looking fungi.
- Groups: Mushrooms often grow in groups of a certain number and size. For example, the Brown Puff Mushroom typically grows in groups of four, with one large, two medium, and one small mushroom.
- Similarities and differences: Some mushrooms may look similar but have distinct differences. The Jack-O'-Lantern Mushroom, for instance, has a rounder, less wrinkled hat than the Wrinkled Yellow Chanterelle Mushroom, and its colour is slightly different.
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Mushrooms and their relationship with trees
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi that form mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships with trees. This symbiotic relationship is called mycorrhiza. In this relationship, the fungus colonizes the host tree's root tissues, improving the tree's ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. In exchange, the tree provides the fungus with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis.
Different types of mushrooms have different preferences for their symbiotic partners. For example, the prized edible mushroom, king bolete (Boletus edulis), grows in symbiosis with spruce, pine, birch, and oak trees. Another edible mushroom, the golden chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), is often found in pine forests or under other conifers. The parasitic Hen-of-the-Woods (Grifola frondosa) mushroom, on the other hand, can cause butt rot in hardwoods, particularly oaks.
Some mushrooms, like the honey mushroom (Armillaria gallica), can even kill stressed trees, especially oaks and conifers. However, not all fungi are detrimental to tree health. Many mushrooms, like the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus populinus), are saprotrophic, feeding on dead and decaying organic matter. Oyster mushrooms are also one of the few known carnivorous mushrooms, as they eat nematodes or roundworms in addition to decaying matter.
The type of trees in a forest will determine the types of mushrooms that grow there. For example, in Northern California, chanterelle mushrooms are commonly found near Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, and bishop pine trees.
Mushrooms play an important role in the forest ecosystem, helping to decompose dead plant matter and facilitating the transfer of carbon-containing materials between trees. They also provide a food source for humans and other forest creatures.
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How many mushrooms grow worldwide
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that grows all over the world. They are found in forests, on the forest floor, and on dead trees and logs. They come in different sizes, shapes, and colours, and can be a source of food, dye, and medicine.
There are only tens of thousands of known mushroom species, but researchers estimate that there are at least 6,280,000 species on Earth. The edible mushroom of the Czech duck (Verpa bohemica) is one of the many types of sac fungi, which form distinctive fruiting bodies. Sac fungi are the most species-rich group of fungi.
The global mushroom industry is made up of edible, medicinal, and wild mushrooms. The production of cultivated, edible mushrooms has increased more than 30-fold since 1978, with China being the main producer. Lentinus edodes is the world's leading cultivated edible mushroom, with about 22% of the world's supply. Lentinula and four other genera (Pleurotus, Auricularia, Agaricus, and Flammulina) account for 85% of the world's total supply of cultivated edible mushrooms. On average, consumers now enjoy about 5 kg of mushrooms per person per year.
Some common types of mushrooms found in forests include chanterelles, king boletes (porcini), oyster mushrooms, hedgehog mushrooms, black trumpet mushrooms, and morels. Chanterelles can be identified by the forked wrinkles that run vertically down their stems, and they come in different varieties, such as the rainbow chanterelle and the golden chanterelle. King boletes are unique because they have sponge-like pores instead of the typical gills that most mushrooms have. Oyster mushrooms are common in Northern California in the fall, and they are often found on dead trees and logs. Hedgehog mushrooms are distinguished by their "teeth" instead of gills, and black trumpet mushrooms are related to chanterelles but are smaller and more delicate.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 10,000 types of mushrooms that grow around the world every year, and it is estimated that more than 1.5 million species currently exist on Earth.
Yes, some mushrooms in the forest are poisonous and can make you very sick or even kill you.
You should not forage and eat wild mushrooms unless you can identify them with 100% certainty. Some mushrooms are edible and can be eaten directly or cooked.
Some examples of edible mushrooms found in the forest include Liberty Cap, Wrinkled Yellow Chanterelle, Brown Puff, Brown Deer Shield, Oyster, and Hedgehog mushrooms.
Examples of poisonous mushrooms include the Jack-O'-Lantern, Red Amanita Muscaria, and Jack mushrooms.
