This book is included in the Outdoor Survival Basics section.
Preface
This book is intended as an introduction to a few of the commoner mushrooms found in Illinois and the central states. The book does not —nor could it in such a small space—attempt to identify all mushrooms in the region, for there are many hundreds native here. Besides, there are so many variations in mushrooms that individual specimens of the same variety may be unlike in appearance. There are giants and there are dwarfs; distortions frequently are found.
Yet the field narrows easily to these commoner varieties which are most interesting to the most people. To many, mushrooms first of all are a potential source of food. Since prehistoric times this has been true, yet at the same time they have been a source of illness and death when they were carelessly identified as edible. For this reason, any person who gathers mushrooms must know without question the name and quality of the kind he picks.
Because of the dangers attending the inexperienced gathering of mushrooms, the Illinois State Museum in publishing this book does not take responsibility in recommending any mushroom for food. Edible and poisonous qualities are indicated for those presented here, but this does not mean that the Museum vouches for the complete safety of all so-called edible species. This is a necessary precaution because many individuals have a sensitivity toward certain foods; a non-poisonous mushroom may cause a serious gastric upset in some persons.
Therefore, if you gather mushrooms for food, it is suggested that several comprehensive books on mushrooms, some of which are given here, be carefully consulted before any unknown species is eaten.
Meanwhile, however, the fascinating world of mushrooms with their strange forms and beautiful colors lies open alluringly to be explored. From the first Morels of springtime to the last Velvet-Stems of winter, there are mushrooms to be discovered in every season of the year. They are a part of the picture of woods and fields and lawns, part of the character of a great gaunt tree, part of the delight of a green bank of moss or a ferny ravine. There are many other ways to enjoy mushrooms than merely as an item of food.
The author is indebted to Dr. Verne O. Graham of the Chicago Academy of Sciences for a careful criticism of this manuscript and for numerous suggestions which add to its value. Thanks also are due to the people who, in the past several years, brought in many mushroom specimens for identification, and in so doing laid the foundation for this book.
Virginia S. Eifert
Illinois State Museum
Springfield, Illinois
November, 1949
Table of Contents
The Story of Mushrooms
The Poisonous Mushrooms
Mushrooms as Food
The Morels
Gyromitra
Early Mushrooms of the Woods
Corals, Clavarias, and Hedgehogs
Hen of the Woods
Sulphur Polyporus
Tree Fungi
The Earth Star
The Boletus
The Deadly Ones
Amanitopsis
The Green-Spored Parasol
American Parasols
More Parasols
The Honey Mushroom
Jack O' Lanterns
Clitocybe and Chantarelle
The Russulas
Lactarius and Tricholoma
Fairy Rings
Oysters
Collybias
Velvet Stems
The Silky Volvaria
The Fawn-Colored Pluteus
The Fat Pholiota
Pasture Mushrooms
The Uncertain Hypholoma
Brick Tops
Shaggy Manes
The Inkies
The Stinkhorns
The Puffballs
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