47fac11a   
   From: riburr@shentel.net   
      
   ram wrote:   
   >   
   > Normally we don't eat those that that  "arent any of the poisonous   
   > mushrooms" but rather, only eat those that we are 100% sure are safe   
   > edibles...   
   >   
      
   I'm wondering if St. Georges can be found growing wild at all in the US?   
     If we are so deprived of it in the US, then we don't eat it in any   
   case.  ; )   
      
   I took a chance eating what I assumed to be Peziza badioconfusa.  This   
   is a *large* brown cup fungus.  The fact that it grows early in the   
   season helps distinguish it from similar species of questionable   
   edibility.  Also, it grows in abundance in my front yard.   
      
   (There are Amanitas that grow in my yard that I wouldn't be caught dead   
   eating.  Wait, does that make sense?)  I have sampled blushers from my   
   front yard, which are meaty and tasty.  But, there is a persistent and   
   lingering fear in the back of my mind as each and every piece goes   
    into my mouth...   
      
   Several field guides say P. badioconfusa is "reportedly" edible.  If it   
   does contain a toxin, it is probably gyromitrin or similar compound,   
   which cooking *may* help to attenuate.  Also, I use burnt and buttered   
   toast to sample small portions of wild mushrooms I am not thoroughly   
   familiar.  The P. badioconfusa was tolerable, taste and aroma reminded   
   me of spinach.  I did notice a not unpleasant "fullness" in my stomach   
   afterwards.  Which, is a symptom of gyromitrin poisoning (!).  I had no   
   other symptoms, no nausea, no diarrhea, no gas, no other complaint at   
   all; just "fullness."   
      
   Maybe we should discuss how to sample wild mushrooms whose identities we   
   are not 100% sure?  I *always* tell others not to eat any wild mushroom   
   unless 100% sure of identity.  But, I have taken chances where I was   
   maybe 97%.  Guinea pig mushrooming?   
      
      
      
   --   
   I can tell your future just look what's in your hand...   
      
   - Robert Hunter   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)