Two choice edible wild mushroom currently fruiting in my area are lobsters and hedgehogs.

Lobster mushrooms occur as a result of a cup fungus attacking a host mushroom. There are two hosts, both unpalatable white mushrooms. Once attacked, the white mushrooms often become contorted and they turn the colour of cooked lobster shells – and they become a choice edible.

Hedgehogs are one of two species which are very similar. They are tan to orangy-tan and they have distinctive teeth underneath the cap.

Lobsters are often partially obscured by leaves and other forest duff.

I’ve been familiar with these mushrooms for some years and I’m confident in my identification when I pick some for the table. My rule is that if I cannot identify mushrooms with certainty I won’t eat them. We have some mushrooms around here that are deadly and plenty of others that are sickeners.