Hello fellow fungi fans:D
This is a special edition of #fungifriday hosted by @ewKaw.
It's special because the last week or so has turned into an especially interesting time for mushrooms, at least in my neck of the woods;)
I'll start with a follow-up on @sketch.and.jam's post Mushroom Monday Missed the Coral. Check it out if you missed the post.
He found some very small white mushrooms that were too old to easily identify.
I had photographed the same species earlier that week.
They are tiny, but aren't they beautiful?
Commonly known as the pinwheel mushroom, their uncommon name is Marasmius rotula.
To me they look more like sea shells than pinwheels, or maybe like they're made out of porcelain china.
Their thread-like stems are an identifying feature. Although thin, they are surprisingly strong and tough.
But then we go from that little beauty of a mushroom, to one that I would say was just plain ugly. Idk if I should admit that I find any mushroom ugly to this community, but I can't help it.
I just think this one is just plain butt ugly.
It's pretty distinctive. You'd think that identification wouldn't be too difficult, but the one species that it even vaguely resembles, is the false morel. Only I didn't find a close match even there.
They call the false morel "brain mushroom". Wouldn't that describe this exactly?
What do you think, my fungi friends? Anyone familiar? or willing to hazard a guess? Drop me a note in the comments. I would love to know what the heck this thing is!
But then
my walk took a dark turn.
It went from ugly...
to deadly!
Amanita ocreata. Anyone foraging for mushrooms would be wise to familiarize themselves with this relatively innocuous looking mushroom.
It has quite a few colorful names that give you an idea of its toxic nature. Amanita ocreata, is also known as the death angel, destroying angel or angel of death.
In all fairness I should point out that, despite this being a very deadly mushroom, I was in no danger being near by or even photographing it. I walked away quite unscathed by this encounter.
It's only if you actually ingest it that you have anything to fear. However, if you do ingest, even a very small amount, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
Any forager at risk of being complacent about the dangers of poisonous mushrooms, should be encouraged to read about the result of eating this mushroom. It'll scares the crap out of you, but I don't want to go there in this post.
In fact, for my final photo, in contrast, I offer a shot of one of the most beloved of edible mushrooms finally joining the party...
the Chanterelle! They were just emerging this morning, but we're getting a boatload of rain today. So I imagine by tomorrow or Sunday...
Let the gathering begin!:P
Thanks so much for checking out my post!
And thank you @ewKaw for hosting another fun filled #fungifriday at the Fungi Lovers Community:)
is the last one really Chantarelle? they used to be yellow, is it just the bad smart photo / lighting to blame and you encountered a yellow ones, or it is indeed a carrot-coloured chantarelle-mutant?..
as for the 2nd shroom: it definitely not a false morel at all. if you google for the pics you will see the diffrence. I think it is sort of unedible polypore mushroom, dont know exact ID. or, maybe someone just lost half of the peach in the forest, and it was lyings and molding there, ... disappearing in solitude .. and you found it - and didn’t save it! @heretolisten
They are the little Cinnabar Chanterelle. I see them in bright red, orange or yellow. I've read that the full size ones can often be found around the same time and in a nearby locations.
You are right, the 2nd one doesn't look like a false morel. It's just closer to them than anything else I could find.
But I didn't think of half a peach. 😂🤣😂
he, he :=)
I really like those first one. The shape of their hats is so cute!
I have never seed those around.
Happy Fungifriday! :)
some Parasols, I think?..
like the ones they put in mai tais?
Yeah me too. They really are tiny, easy to miss. They're even cooler in the photo than in person because you can blow them up. They look better large.
Happy Fungifriday to you too!
Thanks so much for your comment and support<3
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Cool now i know a new mushroom. Lucky you have chantrelles the weeds seem to be choking them out around here.
Yeah pretty far out. I had just taken those pics when I saw your post. Maybe we're in fungal sinc or something:)
That would mean you're bound to find chanterelles soon. Maybe their hiding in the weeds.
I did find chantrelles, should be posting them for mushroommonday tomorrow.
I suspect the ugly mushroom is a type of polypore possibly the giant polypore Meripilus giganteus. Keep an eye on it, they are supposed to grow really large and eventually develop leafy brackets. https://moremoth.blogspot.com/2012/10/giant-polypore.html
I'm familiar with Meripilus sumstinei, even eaten it once. It is an edible, although most of the guidebooks don't really recommend doing so. But this thing was definitely not that.
And as far as monitoring its progress, I went the same path only a couple days later and there was no sign of it.
Hmm that's good those giant polypores are bad for the trees, they kill the roots. What did the giant polypore taste like? Bland?
No it's quite tasty. It just can be too fibery. Though if you get them while their young and soft, they're not bad that way.
But from my research, Meripilus giganteus only grows in Europe. The species that grows here is Meripilus sumstinei, hopefully not as big a tree killer.
Does it taste similar to hen of the woods?
I've only found hen of the woods once. It wasn't a great specimen and I'm not sure I remember the flavor.
I'd just say the Meripilus as a pretty mild mushroomy taste.
The first time I found it, after reading the descriptions, I was prepared to find it inedible. Cooked it up anyway to check it out.
After deciding they were too chewy and no good for dinner, I went and chowed them all down then and there.
(Well if I wasn't going to cook with them, what am I going to do with them? right?)😏
The next time I did use them for dinner. They were good. Though they're black staining so by the time you get them home they look half rotted. A bit unappetizing. 😝
Actually got a pretty funny pic of some this week. I'll have to get a post together.
I always keep an eye out for the hen of the woods, they are almost as good as chicken of the woods for taste. The only problem is they tend to be covered in teeny tiny maggots. So I give them a thorough salt water bath.
One day I hope to be able to try the black staining polypore, probably mild tasting like berkeley's polypore.