Sulphur Shelf Mushrooms, but will also cover the Teeth fungus mushrooms, and the meadow mushrooms. Some are edible, and some are not.
The “poisonous” ones are marked in “RED“.
Sulphur Shelf Mushroom
Polyporus sulphureus, also called the chicken fungus, chicken mushroom, and chicken of the woods. This edible mushroom has caps that overlap, in a similar way to rose petals. On top of the petals, you can see bands of orange and yellow upon the caps while the underside of the mushroom displays bright yellow pores. Sulphur shelf mushrooms often grow large, with some even reaching soccer ball size. They grow in stacks, resembling a cliff shelf and can also form a great line upon tree trunks. Most sulphur shelf mushrooms can be found in deciduous forests. Found to grow on several hundred types of trees, the sulphur mushroom prefers hardwoods such as elm, hickory, and ash.
The white flesh with spores akin to white chicken meat is often found on thick fan-like caps that is two to ten inches across. A unique feature of this species is its sulphur-colored underside with clusters of orange-yellow caps. Growing on both living trees, and rotting logs, this plant can be found in various parts of the United States. These mushrooms are delicious in casseroles and can be used as a substitute for chicken in stir-fries.
Teeth Fungus
This unusal group of mushrooms can be identified by the teethlike spines (icicles) that hang in large masses from the mushroom. Some teeth form large clusters like those of cauliflower, such as the Coral Hydnum*.
Satyr’s Beard
Hericium erinaceus, is named for the Greek god Pan, and looks like a large, puffy beard. The spines of this mushroom grow in parallel lines from a mass of tissue which is attached to a tree. This fungus grows in a large lump that spans from two to eight inches across, but has no branches. It attaches itself to the wounds of living trees, such as oak and beech. This mushroom can be found in late summer and fall in the eastern and western coast lines of the United States.
Bear’s Head
Hericium ramosum, look much like the crystalized, cascading masses found in underground caves. It forms white clumps up to a foot across, and fruits in late summer and early fall. It likes to cling to evergreen and deciduous trees.
Coral Hydnum
Hericium coralloides, is edible, and is also known as coral fungus. It has a large pure white cap, looking much like cauliflower. The mass of corallike branches are covered in stalactite like teeth, which are about an inch long. This mushroom can be found on stumps, or logs of fir, oak, and beech. Fruits in late summer or early fall, and is considered the safest mushroom before the beginning mushroom hunter, but do not collect them if any part of the cap has turned yellow or brown.
Hedgehog Mushroom
Dentinum repandum, also called the spreading hydnum, has a convex cap that is cream to orange in color. The cap is velvety and can be three to six inches across. Tiny spines grow underneath the cap. The flesh is thick and soft, but brittle. The stem rises from two to five inches tall with white spores. This mushroom grows on the ground of forests of hardwoods and evergreens. It fruits in summer and fall. It can be found growing singly or in clumps.
Meadow Mushrooms
The meadow mushroom has various stages of growth, starting at the button stage and finally pushing it way up into a large chalk-white cap with chocolate brown teeth on the underside of the cap. This mushroom is often confused with the white amanitas.
Meadow Mushroom
Agaricus campestris, is one of the few wild mushrooms that can be eaten raw in salads. It has a strong flavor, but goes well with steak sauces and soups. It can be frozen after being sauteed. This mushroom is also called the pink bottom, field mushroom, cream puffs, and pasture mushroom. The caps are generally one to three inches across, is convex, dry, and smooth. The flesh is a thick, satiny white with pink gills that eventually turn a chocolate brown. The stem is short, usually one to 2 1/2 inches in length. It prefers grassy area. Avoid confusing this one with the deadly white amanitas, which have white gills underneath the cap. This mushroom will grown on lawns, fields, meadows, and pasture throughout the United States.
Destroying Angel
Amanita virosa, is “poisonous”! Also known as death angel, white amanita, and poisonous amanita, the Destroying Angel’s cap is from two to five inches across, similiar to the Meadow Mushroom. The flesh of this mushroom is white and has white gills underneath the cap. It has a saclike volva (bulb like an onion) at the base with a skirtlike white ring on the stem toward the underside of the cap. These are extremely deadly, so beware when you come across one of these in woodland areas. It prefers hardwood and deciduous woodlands. It blooms summer and fall.
A special note: Always be wary when approaching wild plants, especially fungi. Know which ones are edible and which ones to steer clear of when finding them in the wild. Study any wild plant before consuming them.