[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

There are a number of poisonous Boletus stems that will stain blue if damaged. Use your fingernail to scratch them, the blue should show in a very short time. Be aware that there are also Boletus that do not stain that are also poisonous.

Anyone picking white puff balls to cook should always cut them open and look to see if they are actually young amanitas that have yet to develop. You will be able to see the stem and gil cap if it is. Don't eat them!

Chantarells are choice and easy to identify. Used to grow in my backyard under a shingle oak tree. They had a smell that was slightly spicy, at the same time like apricot. Also, if you find a chantarell with gills, its not a chantarell!

Anyone who experiments with mushrooms should be aware that Milk Thistle contains silmarain, which helps protect against amanita poisoning. Keep some on hand. Best protection though, is to avoid eating them in the first place.

[Bon mots]

Also, if you find a chantarell with gills, its not a chantarell!

You have it backwards!
Chantarelles have gills!

[TigersEye]

All boletes stain blue if you bruise them. I have never heard of any poisonous boletes either.