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Coprinus Mushroom About To Wilt
Umbrella Inky Cap
Coprinus
(Genus)
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These small mushrooms, which appeared overnight after a rain, were all fallen over by the time I put the camera away.
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Birds
Nest Fungus
Birds Nest Mushroom
Cyathus olla
(Species)
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Birds Nest Mushrooms are usually very small. The "eggs" of this species are considered large at up to 3.5mm. The
cup is about 1cm wide at the top.
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Black
Morel
Black Morel
Morchella elata
(Species)
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The morels are the best known and loved edible mushroom in the United States and the Black Morel is one of the most
common. There are many people who collect and eat Morels who would not consider eating any other wild mushroom.
They are highly prized by mushroom hunters who often keep their collecting sites secret. The season in the southeast
is usually limited to a week or so in the spring (There are some that appear in the summer at higher elevations.) If you
spot one you should get down on your hands and knees and search all around for others as the are often in groups but
are very hard to spot among the leaf litter where they are often found. Like most wild mushrooms they should be
cooked before eating and some people have gastric problems after eating them especially if consumed with alcohol but
this is rare. Serious poisoning is not likely.
There are several other species of Morel and the study of these is ongoing. Visit the Mushroomexpert.com to learn more about all types of
mushrooms and to participate in the Morel
Data Collection Project. Morels collected from locations across North America are DNA tested to establish
species.
Do not confuse morels with False Morels! They may look similar but False Morels are not pitted but merely
wrinkled and poisonous.
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Puffball
Mushrooms On Downed Hickory Tree
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
(Species)
Puffball
Morganella pyriformis
(Species)
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While puffballs are edible when young (and cooked) and the flesh is entirely white inside at this stage they would be
tough, foul tasting and most likely toxic. They can provide some entertainment as by poking them you can release
clouds of spores that look like smoke.
See: http://mushroomexpert.com/morganella_pyriformis.html
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Elegant
Stinkhorn Top With Flies
Elegant Stinkhorn
Mutinus elegans
(Species)
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You are likely to smell the well named Stinkhorns before you see them. They have a very distinctive and unpleasant
odor that attracts flies to the spore containing slime.
There are many common species of Stinkhorns with some striking weird forms.
See: http://mushroomexpert.com/mutinus_elegans.html
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Oyster
Mushrooms
Oyster Mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatus
(Species)
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This common edible mushroom is usually found on logs or living trees in cool weather after days of rain (or alternately
on your grocer's shelf). There is some variability in the color of the top some being brownish and some nearly white
and many are oyster colored. The gills run down to a short, wide, off center stem. If they are collected when the
temperature is above about 45 degrees F. you are likely to find insects in the flesh. You may note a distinct smell
from fresh oyster mushrooms that is neither pleasant or unpleasant.
See: http://mushroomexpert.com/pleurotus_ostr
eatus.htm
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Oyster
Mushrooms From Below
Oyster Mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatus
(Species)
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