Mushrooms and toadstools belong to the fungi kingdom. There are about 4000 species of fungi in the UK. Edible fungi with an umbrella shape and cap and stem are termed mushrooms and poisonous ones are called toadstools. Most people will be familiar with mushrooms growing on lawns trees rotting wood on dung and on old bonfire sites.

Fungi are not plants but have enzymes to dissolve food externally from where it is absorbed. Unlike plants mushrooms are not made up of cells but of thin tubes called hypae many people collect and eat mushrooms. However beginners must on no account gather wild fungus to eat unless they have been correctly identified by an expert.

The problem even for experts is that edible fungi can have look-alikes which may be poisonous. Most species can be identified from their characteristics such as the habitat where they grow, the appearance of the gills colour, smell and texture. Most species are umbrella or mushroom shaped and has gills on the cap underside. Here are three which are edible.

Blackening wax caps have bright orange waxy caps and darken with age. They are found right throughout the summer into the autumn. They are found mainly on grass which is cut or grazed. The cap, gills and stem all blacken on handling or with age these are not really edible as they have a bitter taste.

Peppery Bolete are also quite common they are peppery in taste and can grow to a large sized they are extremely attractive to look at.

A safe way to enjoy mushrooms is to buy a mushroom growing kit from a gardening centre. Results are generally good although they taste very similar to shop-grown ones.
Wild mushrooms have a totally different taste but remember to take care.