These are mushrooms from my first ever hunt for edibles. I think I have these identified but I am not an expert so do not want to risk it without confirmation. I *think* These are polyphores; Reishi and Chicken of the Woods. Are there other mushrooms similar enough to these to cause me grief or are these pretty safe bets?
I'm always hesitant to make an ID from a photo for eating purposes, as few fungi can be ID's with total certainty from a photo only. Are you also using a field guide to compare specific features? What I do want to say is that if you do positively identify photo #2 that as an edible Laetiporus (Chicken of the woods) species, to note that you only harvest the growing edge: That is the edible portion, plus it will keep on growing there if you refrain from picking the whole thing. cheers for a promising mushroom season! frog www.vanmyco.com
Chicken of the woods. The species depends on what tree it is on. I see you're in BC, so was this growing on dead conifer wood? If so, it could be Laetiporus conifericola, and you might want to avoid eating it (i vaguely recall hearing that some people get an upset tummy from it, but i'm not sure of that - we don't get it here). If not, it's probably Laetiporus sulphureus and you can probably safely enjoy it. The last two pictures look like a Ganoderma species.
Here in BC I've seen Laetiporous conifericola on conifers, and also L. gilbertsonii on Garry Oak. I've never (yet) seen l, sulphureus and there are a bunch of other choices as to species in this complex. With the gilbertsonii, my gourmet friend threw it all up, and "iron guts", me, who ate much less, didin't feel so good. We later found conifericola, but given the similarity, my friend's previous reaction, and add the power of suggestion. I tried it, but not much and I don't feel I was "good with it". Try a little then try more. THis goes for EACH person trying it. My friend's windpipe started to close up (read anaphalaxis), and this is quite a serious symptom. THis was the first time we had been sick with mushrooms after eating a dozen or so wild kinds. Be cautious. The white polypores you picture, I don't recognise unless it was just bad pictures of the Laetiporous, and the other were indeed reishi, probably G. oregonense. My bet is that it was on hemlock wood, which is suggestive at first of G. tsugae, but this species only grows east of the Rockies on Eastern Hemlock trees. Even if this ID is incorrect, none of this group of fungi are known to be poisonous, and many are medicinal , drunk as teas. Warm regards,
Hey! Thanks for all the quick responses. I was out on my second mushroom jaunt around Rice Lake. Found a few Boletus Zelleri I think. I am going to check with my massage therapist. I seem to remember her describing a mushroom her and her boyfriend collect every year that sounds exactly like it.. I am too chicken sh^* to try it without positive ID. I have sliced the majority very thin and put them on a drying rack.. just in case. The big white polypores are actually bright lemon yellow and smell incredible. I found 2 more rishi-like mushrooms growing side by side. One was brick red the other soot black. I am going to have to find a better camera and start a damn web page. Thanks all, Tanuki33
