Wild edible mushrooms and plants.

Well mushroom hunters it’s that time of year again, the Autumnal equinox has passed, and the edible wild mushrooms are flushing through much of the mid-west and New England regions. And with the cooler weather many of us are being blessed with rain (finally), the two vital components needed to stimulate a strong Autumn mushroom flush, and they couldn't have arrived at a better time.

The beginning of October typically signifies the beginning of the fall foraging season for serious mycophiles in the Mid-west and New England regions. Not to say that fall mushrooms do not show earlier, because often they do (early-mid September depending on conditions), but the arrival of October with cool temperatures and rain is the ultimate indicator to fall foragers that it is time to start mushroom hunting.

Below I have listed two species of choice edible wild mushrooms that are flushing in the forests as I write.

Nice basketball size "Hen" in prime choice condition.

Hen of the Woods: Latin name - Grifola Frondosa. Asian - Maitake. Other common North American names are “Sheep’s Head” and “Ram’s Head”.

“Hen of the Woods” is a member of the polypores and grows from the roots and base of deciduous trees, most commonly from Oaks, and occasionally from other deciduous trees such as Ash. The Hen’s preference for Oak trees makes it a fairly prevalent favorite wild mushroom in much of the Mid-west and New England regions. A dry warm fall will produce less Hens, and a moist cool fall will produce more, sometimes in great quantities. “Hen of the Woods” will often grow from the same tree for several years in a row, this can also hold true for Hen’s found on dead oaks that are lying on the forest floor. Some Oaks may produce only one specimen per season, but often several Hens may be found at the same tree, sometimes fruiting at different stages of the fall season, often resulting in finds that may have pristine specimens and past prime specimens in the same flush.

Softball size "Hen" in choice condition.

Tips: “Hen of the Woods” are moisture loving mushrooms (as most mushrooms are) and like loamy well drained soil. Remember that even Oaks that like similar conditions can adapt well to dry, poor soil conditions, so adapt your search efforts accordingly. Wet cool falls can produce Hens in a wide range of habitats (Oaks on high ridges or hill tops, and Oaks in low flat areas or the bottoms of hollers . But a dry season may find Hen’s isolated to the low lying areas which retain more moisture.

Depending on geographic location and weather conditions, “Hen of the Woods” season may last as long 10-11 weeks, or as little as 6-8 weeks, so check trees throughout the season. A tree you checked early in the season without success, may harbor a huge flush a couple weeks later.

“Hen of the Woods” can grow quite large, in some cases, three to four feet across, and weighing 20-50 pounds. The time for choice edibility can not necessarily be determined by size. A good way to determine choiceness is to look at the growth stage of the mushroom. A Hen that has brown, to brown-grey, to grey-tan coloration, is firm yet giving to the touch with a cool feel and very little brittleness is usually a good Hen. A mature Hen still in choice condition can vary in size from that of a baseball, to larger than a beach ball. Hens dry and reconstitute well, so don’t be afraid to harvest large specimens and dry for future use.

Large "Hen" in past prime condition: Note the graying color.

Do not pull Hens from the ground this will damage the underground network of mycelium. Cut at the base and gently lift the fruiting body away. Gather some leaf litter from the harvest site and scatter at the base of Oaks that are not producing. It is also good practice to carry your finds in a rigid container that has holes, this aids in spore distribution, and prevents your Hens from being damaged during transport.

This mushroom is delicious and can be prepared in almost any way you may like to try it, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Tried and true recipes are widely available on the internet for those less adventurous.

White pored Chicken Mushroom(Laetiporus Cincinnatus).
Note the orangey-pink tint to pores.

Chicken Mushroom: (Latin name - Laetiporus Cincinnatus), or “White pored Chicken Mushroom”.

Pink "Chicken Mushroom" in the "finger" or "button" stage.

The “White pored Chicken Mushroom” is easily identified and has only one look-alike, its cousin(Laetiporus Sulphureus) the “Sulfur pored Chicken Mushroom” which is also an edible, but not considered as choice as the white pored Chicken. Both grow on wood but the Cincinnatus will have white tips with a white pore surface, often times with a pinkish or orangey tint, and the top of the mushroom can range from pink to bright orange. The Sulphureus will have bright sulfur yellow tips and pore surface, and the top of the mushroom will be light to blaze orange in color. Also, the mature Cincinnatus tends to have an earthy, meaty somewhat dirty smell, and the mature Sulphureus may have a mildly sweet, fruity somewhat perfumed smell. Both types may sometimes be found growing in close proximity to one another, and both are often found growing in mass profusion. Single flushes can contain hundreds or even thousands of individual specimens and weigh too much for one person to carry. A large flush of blaze orange or bright pink Laetiporus is indeed a sight to behold, and very satisfying to discover.

Bottom views of "Sulfur Shelf" (Laetiporus Sulphureus).

Top view of image above.

Tips: Chicken Mushrooms are fast growers and can appear seemingly overnight, so check likely areas often.

When Chickens mature, the tender edges will be the choicest part, particularly with the Sulphureus variety.

Chicken Mushrooms do not dry and reconstitute well, but freeze well after cooking, so this is the preferred method of storage. Chickens will also store well in the refrigerator for a couple weeks.

Never eat Laetiporus found on coniferous wood, they may be toxic.

Some helpful links pertaining to mushroom identification, weather, tree identification and YouTube shroom vids.