How to Identify Mushrooms in Oregon

Take note of the location of the mushroom and its surroundings before picking it. Pay special attention to the surface that it grows on -- some mushroom groups grow on wood, whereas others may grow on decaying surfaces or even on other mushrooms. Also take note of the season; some mushrooms, such as morels, grow only in the spring, whereas others, such as false morels, are seen only in fall or summer.

Observe the mushroom's physical features. Check to see if the mushroom has an "annulus," a small ring at the top of its stem. Few mushroom species have this feature, so if you see it on the subject at hand, it can help you narrow down what it may be. Another identifier is the "volva," a cuplike surface rising up from the ground at the very bottom of the stem. You may need to remove leaves and other debris around the mushroom to determine if it does indeed possess a volva. Other features to note include whether the stem attaches to the cap at the center or side, whether the cap's underside has spoke-like gills or round pores, and the color of the cap.

Take a spore print of the mushroom by removing the cap of a medium-sized specimen and leaving it for a few hours on a piece of clear glass or aluminum foil. The spores from the mushroom will collect on the surface. This technique allows you to identify the mushroom's spore color, which will help you to determine the type, since spore color is not always easy to determine by just looking at the underside of the mushroom.

Match up your mushroom's features with those listed in a guide book. Ideally, it's best to use a guide book that contains a key. Many species of mushrooms grow in Oregon, so only a book or an expert can tell you exactly which species the specimen is. Some common varieties, however, are the Morchella species, Laetiporus sulfureus, the American matsutake, chanterelles, boletes, truffles, and hedgehogs.