Edible fall fungi and a rare psychoactive Psilocybe species found in the woods of western Michigan, USA

Mushroom Monday - Edible Mushroom Extravaganza

By tych0_21 | MyMycoBlog | 10 Oct 2022

Early fall may be my favorite time to hunt for mushrooms. The crisp Autumn air wisps through my chilled fingers as I careful pick through the sodden leaf litter on the forest floor in search of my bounty. The buzz of mosquitoes and flies has abated with the coming cold, and I am left at peace in the solitude of the woods. While the sting of winter looms like a black dog over this area, threatening to choke all life into submission, life has not left the woods just yet.

Here in Michigan, Autumn offers ideal fruiting conditions for a whole host of native edible fungi. The cool temperatures combine with ample rainfall to provide fungi of all types one last opportunity to spread their spores before the cold chill of winter blankets the land. For those adventurous enough to wander from the beaten path, the woods become an all-you-can-eat buffet of fungal delicacies at this time of the year. Just be sure you know what you are picking!

Below are a collection of edible fungi found over the last couple of weeks of hunting in the woods of western Michigan, USA. In addition to the edible fungi, I have also included an image of what I believe to be a regionally rare psychoactive species, Psilocybe caerulipes, though I am not particularly familiar with this species and may be incorrect in my identification. Perhaps someone here more knowledgeable in Psilocybe species may be able to help. Feel free to offer your suggestions if you believe that I have misidentified any of the species shown below. Happy Mushroom Monday!

EDIBLE:

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus):