Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in South Lake Tahoe
Nestled amongst majestic mountains, serene blue waters, and striking forest trails, South Lake Tahoe provides an ideal environment for the growth and discovery of a variety of fungi. This diverse landscape encourages a plethora of 20 most common edible mushrooms, each boasting distinctive appearances and tastes. Here, you'll find everything from the rich, meaty Beefsteak to the delicately flavored Chanterelle. Their habitats range from damp woodland areas to sun-drenched open fields. Beyond exploring their natural habitat, we'll uncover the unique culinary uses of these fungi, enriching your mushroom hunting experience in South Lake Tahoe.
* Disclaimer: Content feedback CAN NOT be used as any basis for EATING ANY PLANTS. Some plants can be VERY POISONOUS, please purchase edible plants through regular channels.
Most Popular Edible Mushrooms
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Sculpted puffball
Sculpted puffball is an eye-catching and unique puffball that appears to have been sculpted with pyramidal warts, giving rise to its name. Sculpted puffball fruits during the late spring/early summer in the soil of conifer forests at altitude. It can be mistaken for the larger C. subsculpta.
5. Spring king bolete
The beautiful spring king bolete is often referred to as the North American relative of Boletus edulis. It occurs in the western mountains, mostly in pine forests. It was once considered a subspecies of Boletus edulis, but it was classified as a new species not long ago.
6. 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.”
7. Spring coccora
The spring coccora (Amanita vernicoccora), as the name suggests, erupts from the earth as one of the first Amanita of the year. It loves to feast on decaying leaf litter but enjoys that of oak trees the most. It used to be classified as the same mushroom as its cousin, the Fall Amanita, but research has determined it is a unique species.
8. 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.
9. King bolete
Extremely popular in many cuisines, this edible wild mushroom grows around the world near the roots of forest trees. In some regions, king bolete mushrooms are collected in great enough volumes that their sale can support entire families during the harvest season. King boletes are reported to be high in fiber, vitamins B and C, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and several antioxidants.
10. Questionable stropharia
The questionable stropharia is an odd-looking species that thrives in rich, wet soils along the western coast of North America. The species sports a shiny, yellow-brown cap with a white partial veil that looks almost as though it is dripping off the cap. "Questionable" is a fair title for this species, about which there are conflicting reports on edibility. Most experts recommend staying on the safe side and avoiding eating this mushroom.
More
