In the last couple of days I have gathered 3 species of tasty wild mushrooms. I shop in the woods! They are all quite distinct from one another and represent 3 different groups that can be easily recognized by looking under their caps. (Remember to double click on photos for an enlarged view.)
The spores of king boletes (and all the other boletes) are held by a sponge layer of densely-packed tubules on the bottom of the cap. See bottom photo.
Many of the familiar, commercially-raised mushrooms (seen at the grocery store) have a spore-bearing, gill structure on the bottom of the cap. Chanterelles, the upper two mushrooms in the top photo, are a type of gilled mushroom, although their gills are thicker and and shallower than those seen in store-bought mushrooms.
The bottom two mushrooms in the top photo are nearly the same color and texture as chanterelles, and are found in similar habitats, however they are hedgehog mushrooms. A look under their cap reveals downward-pointing, spore-bearing spines or teeth. This group is called teeth fungi.
Please don't think that this is anywhere near enough information to enable you to pick and eat wild mushrooms. Be sure you really know the identity of any wild mushroom before eating it. There are lots of guide books and other resources out there that can help.
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