Mushrooms strike again. This time, it's the author of "The Horse Whisperer", Nicholas Evans. Apparently what he thought would be edible and choice were poisonous and life-threatening. The offending basidiocarps were
Cortinarius speciosissimus (syn
C. rubellus, above). Generally speaking,
Cortinarius spp. are not really things for people to eat. According to
"The Great Encyclopedia of Mushrooms", one might confuse the species in question for a certain species of chanterelle (
Cantharellus tubaeformis). But chanterelles don't truly have gills like these guys do, and their
spore print is not rusty brown like the corts.
People, please. When in doubt, throw it out. Your liver and kidneys will thank you. The old saw still holds, "there are old mycologists, and there are bold mycologists, but there are few old, bold mycologists".
Also, an update. My neighbor's fairy ring is fruiting AGAIN less than a week after she diligently plucked all the mushrooms and pitched them into the street.
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