Preface xi Acknowledgments 00 Do Not Ignore This Warning! 00 Tips for Beginners 00 How to Find, Identify, and Understand Wild Mushrooms Mushrooms grow everywhere. Here's how to start finding and identifying the best ones to eat--and how to bring them to the table. Common and Poisonous 00 A Few Toxic Mushrooms Poisonous mushrooms grow everywhere in Illinois. Before you pick and eat any wild mushroom, learn to recognize toxic species. Into the Forest 00 Mushrooms Found with Trees Edible mushrooms often grow on or around living and dead trees. The Morels 00 Morchella americana, M. angusticeps, M. diminutiva, M.

punctipes The most popular wild mushrooms in Illinois can be frustratingly tricky to spot. But the hunt for these sponge-capped treasures remains a beloved rite of spring for wild foragers throughout our Prairie State. The Chanterelles 00 Cantharellus appalachiensis, Cantharellus chicagoensis, Cantharellus cinnabarinus, Craterellus fallax, Craterellus foetidus, Craterellus ignicolor, Cantharellus lateritius, Cantharellus minor Yellow, red, orange, and black--wildly popular chanterelles are a delicious group of vase-shaped summer mushrooms found in Illinois forests. The Boletes 00 Xanthaconium separans, Strobilomyces spp., and Gyroporus castaneus These terrestrial mushrooms have pores on the underside of the cap. There are hundreds of bolete species; here are a few easy ones to identify. The Puffballs 00 Calvatia gigantea, Lycoperdon pyriforme, Lycoperdon perlatum, Calvatia cyathiformis, and Calvatia craniiformis You can stomp on them when they're old, or eat them when they're fresh. Take the Field without Getting Hurt 00 Agaricus, Coprinus, Marasmius, Leucoagaricus, Macrolepiota Wherever there's grass, look for these edible wild mushrooms.

Let's Eat 00 Recipes and Advice for Cooking Wild Mushrooms From simple fried morels to a Champagne breakfast with the Chicken Mushroom, Index 00.