Mushroom Field Guide of Michigan

When foraging, use a field guide with photos for correct mushroom identification.

The Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club identifies nearly 30 species of mushroom native to Michigan. Mushrooms are labeled based on their edibility. When foraging for mushrooms, you must determine edible mushrooms from their poisonous and inedible brethren, which can resemble edible varietals.

Morels

Find morels in Michigan in the spring.

The prize of Michigan woods, morels are identified by their prune-like ridged cap that is attached to the stem and is hollow when cut open. Black and yellow varieties are common. Deliciously earthy when cooked, these mushrooms should never be eaten raw. Beware of the the false morel, a poisonous lookalike, with a stem that is not hollow.

Chicken of the Woods

Chicken of the Woods are large bright orange to salmon-colored capped mushrooms, sometimes with whitish zones, that are found attached to tree trunks. They are extremely edible, with a lemony chicken flavor, especially when young. They can cause intestinal problems for some people, so eat small amounts if you are unaccustomed to them.

Hedgehogs

Growing on the ground in the forest, you can find these delicious light orange, round mushrooms with small teeth-like projections on the underside of the cap rather than gills. Lightly sauté them in butter to form the perfect accompaniment to many different meals.

Chanterelles

Chanterelles are found during the summer in Michigan.

The golden-colored, fleshy caps taper with the stems to form a trumpet shape. The caps and stems are interconnected and shred into pieces when pulled apart. The chanterelle's aroma is described as apricot- or peach-like, and the flavor is accordingly sweet.

Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are found in Michigan in the summer and fall.

Found growing in clusters on sick, dying or dead trees, these mushrooms are identified by their white to light-brown caps and gills that run from the tip of the underside of the fan-shaped cap down to the stem. They are described as having an anise aroma and a mild flavor when cooked. Diners enjoy several edible species of oyster mushrooms.

References

• Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club: Found on Our Forays
• Michigan Morels: Morel Identification
• Mushroom-Collecting: Chicken of the Woods/Sulphur Shelf (Laetiporus Sulphureus)
• American Mushrooms: The Sweet Tooth or Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum)
• Wild About Mushrooms: Chanterelle