How to Identify a Random Wild Mushroom

In this video Aaron Hilliard, a mycology educator and creator of Mushroom Wonderland, explains what you should do if you want to learn how to identify a random wild mushroom that you find. There are millions of types of mushrooms of all shapes and sizes, so how does one ID a mushroom, where do you start? We will look at the fundamentals of mushroom morphology and the parts of a mushroom, we will learn how to take a spore print, we will learn how to use a dichotomous key in a mushroom ID guide, Aaron will show you how to use a microscope to look at the spores of a mushroom, and we will talk about how modern technology can be utilized to help you find the identity of that fungus.
Learning to ID mushrooms will make fungi in the wild so much more interesting and safe, if you are looking to find mushrooms to take home to the dinner table!

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We will not accept any responsibility for negligence or accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms or plants. These videos are not intended to be a definitive field guide, but rather a starting point to become familiar with habitat, Everyone is encouraged to do their own studies, acquire literature or internet resources to safely and confidently identify wild foods before they eat them. When eating a new wild mushroom, it is advised to start with only a small amount, and make sure that it is fresh and that it is cooked thoroughly. Some mushrooms do not agree with certain individuals, and this is typically discovered on a case-by-case basis. Even the most edible of mushrooms contain compounds that can be tough for the human digestive tract to handle. Some “edible” species have small amounts of certain toxins that will easily break down with cooking. Fungi contains a molecule known as chitin that is the same thing that makes the exoskeleton of shellfish so hard, and cannot be broken down by the human digestive system, so it is another good reason to thoroughly cook mushrooms. All the ideas expressed in the comments should be taken with a large grain of salt. I don’t think there is any other field of study or science that has more misinformation being shared so freely and boldly. Mushroom Wonderland and Aaron himself have no opinion and neither encourage nor discourage the use of mushrooms containing mind-altering compounds. These mushrooms contain powerful chemicals and should be treated with a high level of responsibility. Any video topics on the habitat, natural distribution, and morphological features of psychoactive mushrooms portrayed on this channel are purely for scientific and educational purposes.
Contact Aaron and Mushroom Wonderland at ahilliardmedia@gmail.com Kitsap Peninsula Mycological Society- https://www.kitsapmushroom.org Puget Sound Mycological Society - https://www.psms.org North American Mycological Society- https://www.namyco.orghttps://www.pay...