Several of the Amanita species are actually good to eat.

Some are also deadly poisonous so this is an area best left for the experts. I did not even attempt to identify most of what is below as it is too easy to make an error.

People making mistakes when thinking that they are finding cocorras or another edible species that occurs in Europe or Asia might be the most common avenue of fatal mushroom poisonings in the USA. I do not recommend eating anything shown on or linked to from this page.

 

Cocorra (Amanita calyptroderma)

 

Amanita pantherina is a species that some people have historically used as an intoxicant. It does not sound particularly interesting in that regard but to each their own.

 

A yellow Amanita.

 

Another local yellow Amanita species.

 

 

the Grisette (Amanita vaginata) is perfectly edible but not incredible. These usually only get eaten around here very early in the mushroom season when there is a limited choice of edibles. It is OK and almost as nice as a commercial button mushroom although not as solid in texture.

 

 

Possibly some sort of a white Amanita. I am guessing that this is poisonous.

 

 

 

Amanita calytroderma is more often known as cocorra.

I’m not saying to eat this one. It’s not a bad mushroom. Some people think it is great. It’s not my favorite as they are a bit crunchy but they do have a profoundly rich flavor. Wow. In a hearty soup stock this contribution of this fungus is insane. I’ve heard they make great pickles but just try to get someone else to eat one.

The toxic look-alike problem is really worth getting educated on as it is more likely to kill a person not-nearly-quickly-enough rather than just making them sick. I’ve *heard* that the toxic Amanitas taste really great too. Or at least that is what has been claimed by survivors; one of which also related entering a demonic realm of vividly-intense hallucinatory hell that was unlike anything I’ve heard described before or since.

Both edible and deadly Amanitas can sometimes be found growing together so consumption of the unexpanded “eggs” is not a smart idea.

These are  correctly identified. Please do not use them for identification!