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I was a watching a re-run of 'Heavens Garden' the other week and the bloke who owns the pub/restaurant was talking about some way to tell whether or not a bolitus type mushroom was edible or not and I've forgotten what he said. I think it was something about the colour of the top.

Does anyone know what it was he said?

Is there an easy method?

I think it's the colour of the stem. The edible cep has a white stem, and the non-edible one's have yellow or red stems. The most poisonous cep is the devil's boletus, which has an obviously red stem

The only way to be sure is to get yourself a decent fungus book, and identigy them properly. There's no easy rule.

Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on September 09, 2007, 13:53:10
The only way to be sure is to get yourself a decent fungus book, and identigy them properly. There's no easy rule.

I agree, I have a great book by Roger Phillips. It has lots of beautiful pictures.  :)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mushrooms-Other-Britain-Europe-Original/dp/0330264419

yes please don't eat wild mushrooms unless you are sure! here they say that a Cepe must have a yellowish bloom on the top of the cap.
But that is no substitute to a good guide to field mushrooms. Cepes are the most delicious, fried in butter and garlic yum yum yum.

Have you thought about going on a "Fungi foray" organised by one of the Local Authorities, with expert Fungi leaders?
At this time of year, you will find that some are arranged by the Park Rangers. Conntact the Local Council for dates.
In previous years, I have been on forays in Pollock Park, Linn Park, and some others in the Clyde valley. The Forestry Commission also has some in their Forrest Parks, Aberfoil comes to mind.