Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Granada

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. Jelly ear

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.

3. 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.

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. Herald of winter

The herald of winter is a woodland mushroom, closely associated with pine trees. It can be found in large amounts, particularly during cooler months, but sometimes is difficult to spot thanks to its excellent camouflage skills. The cap color is highly variable, particularly with age - young and old specimens can bear very little resemblance.

6. Saffron milk cap

Growing wild in the northern hemisphere and introduced to Australia, the saffron milk cap is found in pine forests during autumn. As the name implies, these mushrooms have been harvested for cooking for a long time. They have been known to cause stomach upset in some individuals, however, and carry a risk of being contaminated with heavy metals, so forage with caution.

7. Copper spike

A European fungus, the copper spike is is visually almost indistinguishable from its North American counterpart - Chroogomphus ochraceus, although molecular studies have shown that these two are different species. Its cap becomes slimy when wet, hence the common name. The cap color is highly variable and it can range from yellowish, to orange, purplish, reddish, and brown.

8. Chicken of the woods

Chicken of the woods is very noticeable in hardwood forests, appearing in clusters on standing tree trunks in bright orange and yellow hues that sometimes last through the entire winter. It is a parasite that causes an unfortunate brown heart rot, and is considered a particularly troublesome pest of Yew trees. If the fruitbodies can be seen, the tree is likely already beyond saving.

9. Common stinkhorn

The common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) grows incredibly quickly, sometimes nearing 30 cm in a single afternoon. Their caps are pitted in a way which makes them reminiscent of morels. However, there's little mistaking the common stinkhorn for a morel; the former, in addition to sporting a much longer stalk, has a clear and pungent odor.

10. Horn of plenty

The Craterellus cornucopioides is an edible and highly sought-after species of mushroom that is usually grouped with the chanterelles. It has a black, trumpet-like shape due to its highly upturned cap. Sometimes called the 'trumpet of the dead,' this is not a reference to danger, but rather an old European belief that these mushrooms spring up over the graves of the dead.

11. Parasol

Found in clearings and grassy areas in late summer, the wild parasol mushroom has a snakeskin-patterned stem. The brown spots on its cap make it look a bit shaggy, but that name is reserved for its poisonous counterpart, the Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes). You can distinguish the two by the stems: the latter has a smooth stem and red flesh inside.

12. Slender parasol

Slender parasol (Macrolepiota mastoidea) is a large and quite common white mushroom that is characterized by a double ring usually present on its stem. The Latin name mastoidea means breast-like and refers to the raised nipple-like point on the top of the crown. This mushroom prefers calcareous soils.

13. Terracotta hedgehog

Terracotta hedgehog (Hydnum rufescens) is covered with small spikes on the underside of its crown, which explains why it's called hedgehog. It has a reddish terracotta cap, which explains the first part of its common name. Terracotta hedgehog typically grows in small clumps among the moss and leaf litter.

14. Horse mushroom

The horse mushroom is a large species of Agaricus whose fruitbodies feature bulbous white caps and pale or gray gills. They are a cosmopolitan species, boasting a global distribution and thriving in a variety of settings, including lawns, lots, and gardens.

15. Slippery jack

This mushroom blooms in summer and autumn, usually near or beneath pine trees. It does well in cold climates, but can also be found further south all around the northern hemisphere. During moist weather, the slippery jack's caps become quite slimy, leading to their common name.

16. Sweet tooth

This mushroom is distinctive for the spines, or teeth, that hang down from the underside of its cap. It can be found on forest floors singly or in groups. In spite of the name, sweet tooth, it has a slightly spicy bite and bitter aftertaste. This wild mushroom needs to be cooked before it is truly edible, and only young, parasite-free mushrooms should be harvested.

17. 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.”

18. Leafy brain

Leafy brain is a parasitic slime mold that feeds off mushrooms. As hinted by its name, it has distinct lobes that start off leaflike and become more wrinkled and brain-like with age. This slime mold shrivels into black crusts when dry but can perk up again after rain.

19. Big sheath mushroom