1. 1 Facts & Fiction Rumor and belief undone

2. 2 Fiction Poisonous or safe

3. 3 Poisonous when: Stains when bruised Secretes milky juice Turns garlic blue or black when cooked Tarnishes silver Has: scales, warts, or other types of rough surfaces

4. 4 Not poisonous when: Growing on wood Eaten by others animals – rabbits, squirrels, slugs, insects Is dried, boiled, salted, or pickled Has no annulus Is pure white

5. 5 Facts Or the truth behind all the nonsense

6. 6 The facts Some fungi are poisonous People vary in their response Some people are allergic even to ‘safe’ fungi Some are poisonous only when eaten in large amounts Some are poisonous when raw, but safe when cooked Some are poisonous regardless Some are poisonous when consumed with or within a few days of imbibing alcohol

7. 7 More Facts Some are considered poisonous due to hallucinogenic compounds Some become poisonous after freezing, decay, or with increasing age Some are poisonous in part of their range, but not in others Some are poisonous to animals but not humans, and vice versa

8. 8 EDIBLES: 5 easy to recognize fleshy fungi for beginners

9. 9 MORELS Several species in a number of habitats Typically spring fruiting Ascomycete Hollow interior

10. 10 PORCHINI or KING BOLETE Mycorrhizal with conifers Fall fruiting pored

11. 11 CHANTERELLES Mycorrhizal with conifers Late summer/early fall Slow to develop Ours: more apricot colored Folds – truly gilled

12. 12 SHAGGY MANES Black spored Deliquescing gills Fruits spring and fall, but most abundant in fall Associated with rich organic soils

13. 13 SULPHUR SHELF Pored, pore surface usually yellowish to whitish Ours: on conifers (other species on hardwoods) Wood rot Annual Reports of some people being sensitive