Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Cottonwood

1. Torq

The torq (Agaricus bitorquis) is a white-capped agaric that bears a resemblance to, and is closely related to, the commonly-eaten button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). This hardy, generalist species does well even in urban environments - their white fruiting bodies can be seen poking up through woodchips, mulch, sidewalk cracks, and even asphalt.

2. Oyster mushroom

Oyster mushrooms grow wild but are also cultivated for sale in supermarkets. They can even be cultivated at home. They will grow on coffee grounds and spent grain, and are occasionally even fashioned into an environmentally-friendly substitute for styrofoam. There are several toxic look-alike species, so it is best to buy these mushrooms at the store.

3. 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.”

4. Giant sawgill

The impressively large caps of the giant sawgill (Neolentinus ponderosus) can spread up 30 cm across and encompass entire decaying stumps and logs. Unlike other mushrooms, the giant sawgill thrives in the hotter, drier months. Look for them near Ponderosa Pines.

5. White dapperling

White dapperling mushrooms grow in scattered groups across open fields in the northern hemisphere. They can occasionally cause toxic reactions in humans, and their similarity to extremely poisonous lookalikes like Deathcap and Destroying Angel make them hazardous to handle.

6. Vinegar cup

The vinegar cup (Helvella acetabulum) forms fruitbodies in the shape of vases or chalices with deeply convex caps. Its distinguishing feature is the way the stem’s ribs extend all the way up the sides of the “cup,” in some specimens resembling the folds of cabbage leaves. Common name aside, it is not considered edible.

7. Bell morel

The bell morel can break easily to reveal a cotton-like pith inside. It forms mutually beneficial relationships with the roots of certain trees and is thus found primarily in forests. This species is sometimes known as an "early morel" because it appears in springtime.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Silky sheath

Silky sheaths (Volvariella bombycina) are widely distributed, being found in temperate and sub-tropical forests around the world, but rare. The fruitbody emerges from a silky-textured volva, and the mushroom's white or off-white cap is usually quite smooth as well. One of this species' favored microhabitats is the rotted knotholes of mature maples, elms, oaks, or beeches.

11. Bleeding milkcap

The bleeding milkcap (Lactarius rubrilacteus) is distinguished from other, more commonly found milkcaps by its burnt amber color and its propensity to grow beneath Douglas fir. When the cap is damaged, bruising appears green. If severely damaged, it will bleed a milky substance that is amber in color.

12. Matt knight

The matt knight is an agaric mushroom that grows in a symbiotic relationship with pines. It is recognizable by its rough texture, particularly in the latter stage. As the mushroom matures, the cap becomes finely scaly. While its odor is not usually noticeable, it can sometimes be mealy or sweet.

13. False saffron milkcap

A less-tasty cousin of the Saffron milkcap (Lactarius deliciosus), the false saffron milkcap is closely associated with spruce. When it appears in forests, it usually forms a large carpet. Species within the Lactarius genus are hard to differentiate from other, more poisonous mushrooms, and should not be foraged for food by the inexperienced.

14. Gold-flecked woodwax

This rare mushroom’s claim to fame comes from the remarkable yellow scales scattered over an otherwise ivory fruitbody. However, not every specimen of the gold-flecked woodwax (Hygrophorus chrysodon) species boasts these brightly-colored speckles. Examples of this species can usually be found under conifers.

15. Clitocybe squamulosa

Clitocybe squamulosa shows up in conifer and mixed forests, but can also sometimes be found in open areas. It's not uncommon to see these mushrooms in snowbanks in the mountains. The specific name, squamulosa, references the scale-like structures that appear on the cap's center.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Flat-top coral

The flat-top coral (Clavariadelphus truncatus) forms a distinctive little mushroom. Its stalk is barely differentiated from the cap in many specimens, leading to an overall tapered shape that has been compared to that of a club or bat. It is distantly related to the chantarelles and shares their golden color.

19. Floccularia Albolanaripes

Associated with conifers of the Rocky Mountains, the floccularia Albolanaripes can be found prominently during fall rains from fall to winter. It has a vibrant yellow orange-brown cap when young, developing into a drab yellowish-brown in its maturity.

20. Jelly Tree Ear

Jelly Tree Ear is a mushroom that grows on hardwood trees in North America. As suggested by its name, it can bear a striking resemblance to ears. This mushroom may completely dry up without enough water, but it is able to rehydrate after rain.

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