Identification of Northeast Wild Mushrooms

Shaggy Manes

• Shaggy manes are easy to recognize because their appearance matches their name. They stand 4 to 6 inches tall, and bear a distinctive, oval-shaped crown on top of the stalk, covered with the shaggy looking bits from which their name is derived. As the shaggy mane ages, the oval shaped top opens out at the bottom and begins to deteriorate. For best eating, pick these mushrooms when they are new and before the crown starts to lose its shape. Shaggy manes may be found growing in lawns or fields or on the sides of roads in sandy areas.

Morels

• Morels are characterized by misshapen oval-like crowns that are wider at the bottom than at the top, sitting on top of thick, bulbous stalks. The surface of the crown is irregularly ridged and looks vaguely like the surface of a brain. The most common morels are, predictably, the "common morel" and the "black morel." The former ranges in color from yellow to brown, and the latter is grayish black. Morels prefer to grow in moist areas, and are usually found in boggy woodlands or near the sides of rivers and streams.

Puffballs

• Puffballs are the most easily identified mushroom because of their enormous size. A puffball is a featureless, white globe that can grow up to 12 inches in diameter. Some puffballs look like a ball sitting on the ground, while others feature a stalk with a ball on top of it. Puffballs grow in open areas and can sometimes be found growing out of rotting wood.

Honey Mushrooms

• Honey mushrooms are delicious mushrooms that grow on old logs or on the sides of rotting trees in the northern forest. They grow in dense bunches, featuring brown or tan caps that can grow up to 2 inches in diameter.