Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

Sweetbread mushroom(Clitopilus prunulus) is commonly found in grasslands, and it may be solitary or found among others of its kind. It exudes a characteristic odor reminiscent of raw pastry, responsible for its alternative common name of "the sweetbread mushroom." Foraging is discouraged for this mushroom, as its appearance is too similar to a deadly species.

This distinctive, rubbery fungus has an entirely unique appearance. Occurring in temperate regions around the world, the apricot jelly grows in tongue-like funnels in varying shades of orange or pink. While it may look like candy, it is reported to have almost no taste and no culinary value.

The shaggy mane mushroom is commonly found in North American and European grasslands. Some peoples foraged for its young egg-shaped caps, but it has more recently been found to be a bioaccumulator of heavy metals, meaning it pulls toxic metals up from the soil where it grows. As a result, shaggy manes should not be eaten. The mushrooms usually appear in clusters or “fairy rings.”

Buttery collybia mushrooms grow mainly on the floors of coniferous forests, from summer to winter across Europe and North America. This mushroom is called “buttery” not for its flavor, but rather the greasy texture of its surface. In the genus name, “rhodo” means pink, a reference to the shade of the gills beneath its cap.

Caesar's mushroom (Amanita caesarea) is a brightly colored Amanita associated with ancient Roman nobility. Sporting a vivid orange cap and a yellow stalk and gills, this mushroom is an exciting find - however, because faded or young individuals may resemble the highly deadly Death Cap, it is recommended that this species be treated with a "look but do not touch" policy.

The distinctive jelly ear grows mainly through winter and spring, mostly on the dead trunks and branches of elder trees. It occurs around the world and is often cooked into dishes in Asian countries. This ear-shaped jelly mushroom is often available in stores both fresh and dried.

Commonly found in lawns, moors, heath, and other wet grasslands, the earthy powdercap (Cystoderma amianthinum) can produce large “fairy rings” in places where fertilizers or chemicals have not been sprayed. Its distinctive stem is smooth just beneath the cap but abruptly shaggy below, giving the appearance that each mushroom is wearing a little sock!

The cracked plaster appearance of grey spotted amanita (Amanita excelsa) caps is a common sight in Europe that also sporadically pops up in North America. This species has a long history and has been recorded and studied as far back as 1821. They contain a potent toxin called thermolabile, making those who consume it very sick if not cooked. This species is not recommended for consumption.

A group of very similar fungi, rather than a single species, the entire russula complex is yet to be studied. These mushrooms grow in conifer forests, where they're quite widespread and common. Entire russula is often found in early winter and late fall.

The cap is initially hemispherical with a margin that is rolled inward, later flattening to become convex or flat with a depressed center and margin that curves upward slightly; it reaches 3–13 cm (1.2–5.1 in) in diameter. The cap surface has a felt-like texture and is slightly sticky to the touch. Its colour is orange to yellow-brown or orange-brown, with concentric rings that are palest near the margin. The thin, crowded gills have an adnate to slightly decurrent attachment to the stipe, and are a pale pinkish-buff colour. The cylindric stipe measures 2–9 cm (0.8–3.5 in) long by 0.7–2.5 cm (0.3–1.0 in) thick, and tapers slightly both near the top and the base. It has a smooth surface and ranges in colour from pale cream to pinkish-buff. The spore print is cream, while the spores are ellipsoid, measuring 6.3–9.6 by 5.2–7.3 µm. They have an incompletely reticulated surface with ridges up to 0.5 µm high. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are somewhat club-shaped, four-spored, and measure 40–50 by 10–13 µm.