Welcome to Blue Oyster Cultivation

Dryad's Saddle

This Polyporus squamosus was about 8" across and found in mid-May on Staten Island. While they are edible when young, this one was too mature for the table. It tasted like cardboard.

The Stinkhorn

Phallus rubicundus

Pigskin Poison Puffball

Scleroderma citrinum

Although not a true puffball, it resembles one. Avoid puffballs that are not undifferentiated and white when cross-sectioned.

Chanterelles and Jack-O-Lanterns

These photos demonstrate the subtle differences between the chanterelles and a poisonous lookalike, the Jack O'Lantern. These photos should not be used for identification purposes and Blue Oyster Cultivation does not recommend eating wild mushrooms without an expert's positive identification.

The above photo shows the smooth chanterelle (Cantharellus lateritius), the Jack O'Lantern (Omphalotus olearius) and the golden chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) growing typically (not necessarily the proximity between species). The smooth chanterelles (l.) and the golden chanterelles (r.) grow on the ground individually (occasionaly in twos or threes) under mixed-wood trees. The Jack O'Lantern (c) grows in clumps or clusters and always on dead wood. Sometimes, however, the Jack O'Lantern can grow on underground wood or roots and appear to be growing out of the ground.

View of the underside of the caps.

Closeup of underside of caps, Jack O'Lantern on bottom.

That all being said, this bird's eye view of the caps shows a remarkable similarity. Again, Blue Oyster Cultivation does not recommend eating wild mushrooms. We recommend supporting your local mushroom cultivator. :-)

Crown-Tipped Coral Mushroom

Clavicorona pyxidata

Look for them growing on fallen logs after heavy rains in the spring, summer, and fall. My favorite edible coral. It tastes like mushroom noodles. Blue Oyster Cultivation does not recommend eating mushrooms from the wild without expert supervision.

Black Staining Polypore

Meripilus sumstinei

Yellow-Orange Fly Agaric

Amanita muscaria var. formosa

Artists Conk

I found this beautiful artist's conk today. It's white pore surface is 100% blemish-free. Thats rare for a conk this size as it mesasures 9"x7". It should be etched within a few weeks or it can be woodburned if its dried. If anyone is interested in this fine fungus(we also have smaller conks) contact us at blueoystercultivation@yahoo.com.

Today's Basket

Jillian holding today's basket with golden chanterelles and black trumpets.