IDENTIFICATION OF SOME EDIBLE MUSHROOMS FROM SALAH ALDIN PROVINCE, IRAQ

A survey and identification were made of edible mushrooms from Salah Al Din Province, central of Iraq, were conducted. The species were identified according to macroscopic characteristics, such as the size, shape, color, and surface texture of the cap; the color of the gills and their attachment to the stipe, if any, the number of pores per millimeter; and the color, size , and surface texture of the stipe. Other features noted included the presence or absence of the annulus and volva; Microscopic characteristics were also examined, including the size of the basidium and the number of its spores; the color, size, and shape of the spores; the size, shape, and type of cystidia, and whether cystidia were present or absent. Nine basidiomycetous macrofungal species belonging to seven families were identified as Agaricaceae, Bolbitiaceae Coprinaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Lyophyllaceae, Psathyrellaceae, Polyporaceae, and they were within three orders Agaricales, Polyporales, Hymenochatales, including: Coprinellus disseminatus (Pers.) J.E.Lange, 1938; Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst, 1881; Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd, 1921; Leucocoprinus birnbaumii (Corda) Singer, 1962; Hypsizygus tessulatus (Bull.)Singer, 1947 ; Coprinellus micaceus (Bull.) Vilgalys, Hopple & Jacq.Johnson, 2001; Coprinopsis atramentaria (Bull.) Redhead, Vilgalys & Moncalvo, 2001; Phellinus igniarius (L.) Quél, 1886; and Panaeolina castaneifolia (Murrill) Bon, 1979.