Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in San Luis Rio Colorado

1. Big sheath mushroom

These large white mushrooms bloom all over cleared, harvested fields, as well as pastures and roadsides. The scientific species name comes from Greek words meaning “glue” (glioio) and “head” (cephalus), in reference to the sticky surface of this mushroom’s cap. The big sheath mushroom looks so similar to the poisonous Deathcap and Destroying Angel mushrooms that it should always be left alone.

2. Shaggy mane

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.”

3. Blushing morel

Blushing morel (Morchella rufobrunnea) is most commonly found clustered near piles of woodchips or decaying bark. Because such woodchips are commonly used in landscaping work, this species has also been nicknamed the "Landscaping Morel" for its tendency to sprout in such conditions.

4. Blewit

The blewit mushroom grows in fallen leaves in autumn and winter, sometimes appearing in ‘fairy ring’ circles. It can be used to make a green dye when chopped and boiled in an iron pot. The scientific name, Lepista nuda, derives from Latin words meaning “bare goblet,” a reference to the shape and texture of the mushroom.

5. Western giant puffball

The western giant puffball is the largest puffball in North America, reaching up to 70 cm in diameter. It is as large as its European counterpart the Giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea), although it features a more irregular shape than its European cousin.

6. Oak-loving bolete

Xerocomellus dryophilus, sometimes referred to as the "cracked-cap bolete" is a bold, bulbous mushroom found in western North America. It has a cap that may range in color from pink to brick to dark wine-red. The species is not known to be toxic, but, unlike some of its more famed bolete relatives, it is not considered edible either.

7. Spring fieldcap

The spring fieldcap (Agrocybe praecox) appears in spring and early summer, in scattered groups or in tufts across the edges of woodland paths. They may be a common sight in urban areas with wood chip mulch or compost piles. The species' scientific name comes from the same Latin root as the word "precocious," giving another clue regarding the early appearance one can expect from these little mushrooms.

8. Honey fungus

The honey fungus is a parasitic fungus that grows on the roots of many woody and perennial plants, damaging and possibly killing its host. It spreads underground and is considered to be the most damaging fungal disease in gardens across the UK. The appearance of the mushrooms above-ground heralds a much more extensive infection below.

9. Peeling puffball

It is easy to spot as it resembles a puffball but has spines that gradually peel off as it ages. This appearance gave this mushroom its common name "peeling puffball." peeling puffball thrives underneath deciduous and conifer trees, getting its nutrients from decaying plant matter.

10. Meadow mushroom

The meadow mushroom grows in meadows and pastures around the world—especially those rich in manure—when the weather is warm and wet. They are known to appear in “fairy ring” shapes. Originally identified in Europe, it is possible that North American specimens identified as meadow mushrooms may genetically belong to other species.

11. Grey puffball

The grey puffball grows in sparse grasslands where the wind can reach it. The 'ball' is connected to the ground only by hairlike mycelium, which fractures as it ages, allowing the spore-filled body to roll away with the wind and populate new areas. The specific epithet, plumbea, means "leaden," for the lead-like color of its inner surface.

12. Dead man's foot

Dead man's foot (Pisolithus arhizus) actually bears a number of colorful names stemming from its unusual appearance, such as the horse dung fungus (Australia). It can be distilled into a viscous black gel, which is then used as a natural dye for clothing. It is considered to be inedible.

13. Deer mushroom

The deer mushroom is can be found sprouting up from rotting logs, branches, and roots, and while it may have a preference for hardwoods it isn't very picky. Unlike many other mushroom species, the fruitbodies can be found blooming across a wide range of seasons. They have a faint, radish-like odor.

14. Salt-loving mushroom

The salt-loving mushroom (Agaricus bernardii) is a globally-distributed species that has a fondness for microhabitats that are, you guessed it, salty! Salt marshes, coastal grasslands, and even recently salted roads and sidewalks play host to this agaric species, which is stocky in stature and has a white or off-white cap.

15. Big sheath mushroom