Key lberta Edible Mushrooms Note: Key should be used with"mushrooms of Western Canada". The key is designed help narrow the field of possibilities. Should never be used without more 1 2 3 detailed descriptions provided in field guides. lways confirm your choice with a good field guide. Has pores or sponge like tubes on underside 2 Does not have visible pores or sponge like tubes 22 right yellow p, brighter pore surface, shelf like growth on wood not as above with pores or sponge like tubes Has sponge like tube layer easily separated from cap 3 4 Leatiporus sulphureous "Chicken of the woods" Has shallow pore layer not easily separated from cap 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Medium large brown cap, thick stalk, fine embossed netting on stalk oletus edulis with sponge like tube layer Dull brown beige cap, fine embossed netting on stalk with sponge like tube layer Dry cap, rough ornamented stem, with flesh staining various shades of pink gray Cap orange red, never brown or white Cap various shades of dark or light brown beige/white Dark orangey red cap, velvety cap surface, growing exclusively with conifers Leccinum fibrilosum Orangey cap, growing in mixed or pure aspen poplar stands Orangey - red cap, skin flaps on cap margins, slowly staining pinkish gray, earliest of the leccinums starting in June. Orangey- red cap, skin flaps on cap margins, quickly staining mauve grey, green tinges in stalk and occasionally cap edge. Cap various shades of dark brown or medium greyish brown Cap beige white, flesh white with possible slight pink nes. 5 6 7 12 8 10 9 11 Leccinum boreale Leccinum insigne Leccinum holopus Leccinum niveum
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Cap dark brown, flesh white with some pink nes under skin, favors aspen Leccinum snellii Cap dull brown grey brown,flesh white with pink brown nes under skin, favors birch Leccinum scabrum With sponge like tube layer, slimy or dry cap, with ring or veil though may be gelatinous when fresh, slowly disappearing leaving only brown spore ring. With sponge like tube layer, slimy or dry cap, with no ring or veil, variety of stalk details Dry felty red-brown cap, slight ring in mature specimens, stalk yellow above ring, red brown stalk below ring, stalk is hollow. Growing in conifer/ larch bogs, but with ring. Sticky brownish grey olive green cap with slight knob or umbo. Thin gelatinous ring, large yellow angular pores turning brownish in age. Growing with pines., but with ring. Very slimy or sticky bright orange red deep yellow cap. Large flaring yellow white ring. right yellow flesh. lways growing with larches., but with ring. ll growing with pine. Cap is yellow brown and very sticky with tranluscent white hairy veil remnants around cap edge. Stalk p yellow, botm white, veil or ring may or may not be present. 13 17 14 15 16 Suillus cavipes "hollow stalked suillus" Suillus umbonatus "peaked suillus" Suillus grevellei " Larch bolete" Suillus albivellatus "northern pine bolete" With sponge like tube layer, slimy or dry cap, with no ring or veil, stalk has small brown (glandular) dots near the p With sponge like tube layer, slimy or dry cap, with no ring or veil, stalk has no (glandular) dots. Sticky but not usually slimy, yellowish cap with dense coating of small hairs turning scaly in age or wet weather. Yellow flesh bruising blue. Very common. but with glandular dots. Sticky, smooth,cinnamon brown yellow brown cap. White flesh yellowing in age. Stalk is white with dots, sometimes turning yellow near p. Pores can have"milk" droplets. 18 20 19 Suillus mensus "wooly pine bolete" Suillus granulatus bolete". Sticky, smooth,cinnamon brown tan cap. Yellow flesh. Short white stalk, sometimes pale yellow with no dots. Quite common but with no glandular dots. Cap is yellow brown and very sticky with tranluscent white hairy veil remnants around cap edge. Stalk p yellow, botm white, veil or ring may or may not be present. 21 "Milk Suillus brevipes "short stemmed bolete" Suillus albivellatus "northern pine bolete".
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Mushroom has gills but not ridges, folds or veins. Mushroom does not have gills, but can have ridges, folds or veins, teeth, or a smooth, wrinkled or pitted surface. Spore color is light. White, beige, cream yellow, light voilet, pink dusty rose.. Spores darker in color Spore color is white, beige, cream yellow, light voilet. Spore color is pink dusty rose. Fresh caps and stalks are crisp and fraglie. Stalk breaks like chalk. May or may not exude a liquid or latex. Does not have ring or volva. Typically, stalk white, gills white but can become beige or yellowish in age. Caps are a variety of colours, often thin enough see the gill lines from p at outer edges. No latex. Typically fragile or snappy, young or fresh specimens exuding a latex, in a variety of possible colours. Gills are usually decurrent. Caps often have zoned muted rings. Taste of flesh is tart or acidic especially on the tip of the ngue. Taste of flesh is mild, not acidic at all. ll russulas that are tart strongly acidic are not considered edible even though strong blanching can neutralize the acid. The acid can cause upset smach, vomiting and diarrhea. Flesh slowly discolouring light grey Flesh remaining white Cap rounded like a 2/3 of a ball, color red- orange yellow orange. Stalk is white, turning dirty white in age. White flesh slowly discoloring light grey. right yellow cap with a tall white stalk which can have tinges of salmon colour. Usually in conifer woods but can grow in mixed. White flesh slowly discoloring light grey. Spore color is white cream Spore color yellow deep yellow approaching orange pple grren blue green cap with slight depression in centre. White stalk, sometime with green tinges. Free gills white yellow, beige tan spores. ssociated with birch & aspen 23 62 24 54 25 52 26 38 27 36 28 29 30 31 32 33 Russula decolorans "greying russula" Russula claroflava "chrome yelow russula" Russula aeruginea "green russula"
33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Deep red at first, fading whitish (not ornage) in age. Gills white & close when young growing wide and yellow. Stalk white with pink blush. Spore print deep yellow orange. Purple brown cap fading brown in age. Gills white tan with intermediates and forks. Stalk white blushing pink and purple. Flesh discoloring tan. Fishy smell. ssociated with spruce Small (up 2 inches) lemon yellow golden yellow cap. White stalk and flesh. Spore print buttery yellow. Gills off white yellowish in age. Growing in mixed woods. 34 35 Russula borealis russula" "northern Russula xerampelina "fishy-- smelling russula" Russula chamaeleontina "small yellow russula" Faded orange cap with concentric zoned rings. Gills are decurrent. Exudes a bright orange latex. ruises and stains green. Concave reddish brown cap with a knob in centre. Decurrent, narrow, whiteish gills fading more like cap colour. Exudes cream colored latex. Flesh white. Growing with leaf trees 37 Lactarius deliciousus "delicious milk cap" Lactarius subdulcis "sweetish milk cap" Gills are free from stalk Gills are not free from stalk Ring present on stalk Ring not present on stalk Large cap covered with brown shingles. s cap ages white below the shingles is exposed. Gills are white and free. Tall stalk, large felty ring & bulbous base. Flesh staining red if cut.. Most of these white spored mushrooms with free gills and a ring are either Lepiotas or manitas. These genera contain some of our most poisonous mushrooms. The white spored mushrooms with free gills and volvas are manitas. Some manitas have rings others do not. This genera is holds our most poisonous mushrooms. Some field guides list a few of the manitas as edible. In lberta all manitas should be avoided as the two possible edible one have variations similar minata virosa. Gill are white or cream Gills are not white or cream Stalks have partial veil. 39 42 40 41 43 50 44 46 Macrolepiota rhacodes "Shaggy parasol"
44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 Honey coloured light meduim brown cap, gills decurrent. Growing on wood at base of trees or on roots, usually in clumps. White partial veil with honey yellow hue belowveil.. Large white veil on stalk with remnants left on cap. Large off white cap with notched white gills. Firm flesh. Strong, pleasant perfumey odour. 45 rmillaria mellea "honeymushroom" Tricholoma magnvelare "Pine mushroom" Growing on lawns or grassy areas among buried wood debris.. Growing in dense clusters wih fused stalks. Large irregular cap shapes. White straw coloured gills, slighly notched decurent. White spore print.. Small medium sized mushroom growing on lawns in rings or arcs. eige color cap & gills. Gills distant with intermediates and wrinkles, almost free. Stalks ugh.. Make sure the mushrooms picked on lawns do not have decurrent gills or are LM's. Consider these poisonous. lso watch out for herbicide and pesticide use. Growing on poplar or aspen. Cap and gills off white ivory. Gills decurrent, stalk small or absent. Often growing in large clusters. Pleasant anise smell.. Watch out for Hypsizygus. large mushroom growing in similar conditions, colour and shape, except Hypsizygus has long stalks and an absence of anise odour. Lilac coloured cap fading tan in age. Violet gills notched. Stalks treaked with lilac and white, hollow when mature. Watch for violet mycellium at base.. Medium sized yellow yellow brown cap. Close, notched, bright yellow gills. Pleasant aroma. White flesh.. Watch out for Tricholoma sulfureum. Similar looking mushroom with an unpleasant sulfur smell. Growing on wood, free gills, spore print pink dusty rose. No volva. Growing on wood or woody debris or rich soil, free gills, spore print pink dusty rose. Has a volva. These mushroom are in the genus Volvalaria. Cap is light with dark brown fibers arranged radially. Stalk similar cap colour with enlarged white base. Gills are braod and serrate. Cap light smoky very dark brown, radially streaked with an uneven surface. Stalk sometimes twisted. Spore print various shades of brown from rust choclate. Spore print grey or black 47 49 48 51 53 55 60 Lyophyllum decastes F.chicken mushroom Marasmius oreades "Fairy ring mushroom" Pleurotus ostreatus "Oyster mushroom" Lepista nuda "lewit" Tricholoma flavovirens "Man on horseback" Pluteus patricius Patrician deer mushroom Pluteus cervinus "Deer mushroom"
55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 Spore print rusty brown. Spore print chocolate brown, crowded free gill. Stalk with ring. ell shaped cap pale yellow, turning buff and orange brown, finally wrinkled with up turned margiin. Stalk white with pale yellow and violet with ring which separates easily. 56 57 Rozites caperata "Gypsy Mushroom" White biege large cap with large thick scales. Thick ring on stalk with upper and lower edges. Thick flesh white, staining slowly pinkish. Similar above, without large thick scales. Cap smooth that can have some small, thin scales. Ring is collar like sitting lower on stalk. Thick flesh white, staining slowly pinkish. Commonly found on lawns in early summer. Cap smooth twith fringe on cap edge. Short stalk smooth above and below fragile ring. Thick flesh white, can stain pinkish. Commonly found in pastures in summer fall. Spore print black. Liquifying as it ages. Cap often rolls up along margin or edges Spore print grey black. Cap slimy or glutinous. White cap tall, cylindrical with brown scales, never opening flat. Gills light turning black, then ink. Cap edges rolling up. Flesh white and fragile. Growing in lawns or roadsides ell shaped cap smooth, greyish white with brown on the crown. Stalk hollow, thin and tall. Gills white turning black, then ink. Usually in clusters on old stumps, in shady areas. Thick flat pped cap purplish grey brown, glutinus. Thick gills decurrent. Thick tapering stalk, thick slimy opaque veil leaving glutinous ring usually dusted black with spores. Similar above. Cap is lighter pink, often with cracked pattern. Not as slimy. Tapered stalk has bright yellow base. Taste mild. Fruiting body has folds or veins similar thick blunted gills. Fruiting body has teeth or a smooth or wrinkled surface, but definetly no gills or pores Solid, thick,tapering cylindrial shape with flat p. Purple brownish grey colour. Most often growing in clumps with fruiting bodies fused gether. Veins strongly decurrent 58 60 61 63 64 garicus crocodilinus "Crocodile agaric" garicus birquis "Spring agaric" garicus campestris "Meadow mushroom" Coprinus comatus "Shaggy mane" Coprinus atramentarius "Inky cap" mphidius glutinousus "Slimy gomphidius" mphidius subroseus "Rosy gomphidius" mphus clavatus Ears". Other chanterelle like mushrooms are rarely found in lberta Friuting body generally ball or sack shaped. Spores are enclosed inside and puff out through opening in skin when disturbed.. Fruiting body has teeth or a smooth, wrinkled or pitted surface. all or pear shaped fruiting body with or with out a stalk or stump all or pear shaped fruiting body with or with out a stalklike foot growing out of a sac like membrane which opens up leaving a cup with petal like fringe. These are earth stars 65 67 66 "Pig's
66 67 68 69 70 71 72 Pear shaped, round headed friuting body on a stumplike base with small spines or warts on surface. Flesh solid and white turning in brown spores. Growing in the woods. Large fruiting body like a flattened ball. Surface cracked in large jigsaw like pieces slowly spreading apart as it ages. Flesh white turning brown. Growing in fields/ meadows. Fruiting body with teeth or spines. Either with a stalk and cap or branches. Fruiting body with a smooth or wrinkled or pitted surface. Growing on the ground with a cap and stalk. Growing on wood with teeth or spines growing from long branches. uff yellow orange cap, underside covered with with teeth or spines. Stalk white, may be orangey in age. Flesh is not ugh. Growing in the woods in late summer or fall. 68 70 69 Lycoperdon perlatum "gem studded puffball" Calvatia booniana "Western giant puffball" Hericium ramosum "Toothed coral fungus" Hydnum repandum "Hedgehog mushroom". Surface smooth with wrinkles or deep pits. Surface smooth slightly granular, Most often shapped like an agaric with a funnel or depression on p. right yellowish green. Flesh firm hard. Wrinkled cap resembles a thimble. Cap colour varies from tan varying shades of brown. Tan stalk is tall, fragile and when young the core is filled with cotny pith. Hollow in age. Cap and stalk are confluent. Fruiting bodies are hollow with deep honeycombed pits on the surface. Fruiting body is black in general apperance. Ridges are black, the pits are lighter shades of brown. Stalk is ivory when young shades of tan in age. Fruiting body shaped like a yellow tan coloured sponge. The ridges are lighter than the pits. Grows later in the spring than the black morel and usually larger and not as cylindrical. 71 72 Hypomycetes luteovirens Green Lobster Verpa bohemica "Early Morel" Morchella elata "lack morel" Morchella esculent "Yellow (sponge) morel"