A survey was carried out to identify the edible mushrooms in Enugu State, Nigeria. Mushrooms are highly priced delicacies which require expertise for proper identification because of the enormous risks associated with consumption of poisonous species. The survey covered the seventeen (17) Local Government Areas (LGA) in Enugu State. Results showed that eight (8) edible mushrooms namely Pleurotus tuber-regium, Auricularia auricula-judae, Lactarium triviralis, Russulla vesca, Termatomyces mammiformis, Schizophyllum commune, Lentinus squarrosulus and Tuberia sp. were commonly found in all the Local Government Areas surveyed. Proximate and mineral analyses of the mushrooms showed that they contain protein, carbohydrate, crude fibre, crude fat, ash and moisture in varying proportions. P. tuber-regium had the highest percentage of carbohydrate content (60.9 ± 1.0) followed by L. squarrosulus (49.4 ± 1.0) while the least was T. mammiformis (37.6 ± 2.0). The highest percentage protein was obtained in T. mammiformis (38.4 ± 2.0) followed by S. commune (28.3 ± 1.0) while P. tuber-regium had the least (17.5 ± 1.0). The percentage crude fibre, crude fat and ash were generally low. The mineral elements detected included potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, iron, and zinc. Variations were observed in the concentrations of the major and minor elements in this study. Results of this study are clearly significant because of the information on mushroom nutrients. This information will affect mushroom consumers’ choice given that mushrooms, egg, meat, milk and grain legumes have many of these components in common.
