The best wild mushrooms for beginners The world of mushrooms and fungi can be an intimidating place for beginners so through this guide we’re going to look at the best wild mushrooms for beginners. Many of them look very similar and if you get it wrong there’s the risk of…
Tag: mushrooms

Blackening Waxcap / Summer / Autumn / Inedible Scientific Name Hygrocybe conica Common Names Blackening Waxcap, Black Wavy cap, Witches Hat Family Hygrophoraceae Habitat They are found in unimproved fields and pasture, verges and sand dunes. Description One of the most common Waxcaps in the UK, they are very variable…

Crimson Waxcap / Autumn / Winter / Edible Scientific Name Hygrocybe punicea Common Names Crimson Waxcap, Crimson Wavy cap Family Hygrophoraceae Habitat They are found in unimproved fields and pasture. Description One of the largest Waxcaps, they’re not very common but in the right conditions can appear in quite large…

Scarlet Waxcap / Autumn / Winter / Edible Scientific Name Hygrocybe coccinea Common Names Scarlet Waxcap, Scarlet hood, Righteous red waxy cap. Family Hygrophoraceae Habitat They are found in woodland clearings and mown meadows and fields, where fertilisers and herbicides aren’t used. Description One of the smaller red Waxcap, they…

Common Morel / Spring / Edible Scientific Name Morchella vulgaris Common Names Common Morel Family Morchellaceae Habitat They are saprotrophic, living off dead plant matter. But are also thought to have a symbolic relationship with trees too. Description A delicious and much sought after fungus, they are not overly common…

Golden Scalycap / Spring / Autumn / Inedible Scientific Name Pholiota adiposa Common Names Golden Scalycaps, Chestnut mushroom Family Strophariaceae Habitat They can grow both saprophytically and as parasite on living trees. They are most often found on beech. They normally appear in large tufts close to the ground. Description …

Stinking Dapperling / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Scientific Name Lepiota cristata Common Names Stinking Dapperling, Stinking Parasol Family Agaricaceae Habitat They are saprotrophic, living off dead matter, they can be found in mixed woodland, parks and gardens. They can appear individually or in small groups. Description A fairly common…

Common Bonnet / All Year Round / Edible Scientific Name Mycena galericulata Common Names Common Bonnet, Toque mycena, the Rosy-gill fairy helmet. Family Mycenaceae Habitat They are saprotrophic, living off dead matter, they can be found on well decayed logs and stumps. They are most common on beech and oaks…

Freckled Dapperling / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Scientific Name Echinoderma asperum Common Names Freckled Dapperling Family Agaricaceae Habitat In deciduous woodland and growing from woodchip in gardens and park. Description A fairly common and easy to identify mushroom, they are listed as edible in some guides but they react…

The Miller / Summer / Autumn / Edible Scientific Name Clitopilus prunulus Common Names The Miller, The Sweetbread Mushroom Family Entolomataceae Habitat They are saprotrophic and can be found near deciduous or evergreen trees in woodland clearings, paths and parkland. Description Definitely not a beginners mushroom, they can easily be…