Fungus Fact Friday

Tagged: mushroom

#103: Grifola frondosa, The Hen of the Woods 2

Fungus Fact

#103: Grifola frondosa, The Hen of the Woods

This edible mushroom has a few common names, including: “Hen of the Woods,” “Sheepshead,” and “” It is parasitic on hardwood tree roots, so look for this mushroom around the bases of hardwoods (especially oaks and maples) in the fall.

#102: The Chicken of the Woods or Sulfur Shelf Fungus 4

Fungus Fact

#102: The Chicken of the Woods or Sulfur Shelf Fungus

This mushroom is a gateway mushroom to foraging. There is no mistaking the large, bright, yellow-orange fruiting bodies of the Chicken of the Woods.  It is also a good edible that has the look, texture, and taste of chicken when cooked (which resulted in one of its common names).

#101: Golden Chanterelles 3

Fungus Fact

#101: Golden Chanterelles

These mushrooms are the mycophagist’s (fungus-eater’s) best friends. They taste great, are large enough to eat, often fruit plentifully, are easy to spot, and are unlikely to be confused with anything else (if you know what to look for).  Golden Chanterelles are very popular in Europe.  The European species is called the “Griole” in France, while Germans call it the “”  These choice edibles can also be found in North America, where they fruit from summer through fall.  Look for chanterelles near streams, in hollows, and in other tree-covered places with abundant moisture but good drainage.  I recently found some in a small park in Northern Virginia, so they may be more common than you would expect!

#090: Mushroom Edibility 0

Fungus Fact

#090: Mushroom Edibility

Field guides use three basic categories when discussing mushroom edibility: edible, inedible, and poisonous. These categories are not quite straightforward, so read on to learn about spicy mushrooms, poisonous morels, and toxin types!

#086: Morchella esculentoides, a Yellow Morel 5

Fungus Fact

#086: Morchella esculentoides, a Yellow Morel

It’s morel season! Keep an eye out for these beautiful, tasty mushrooms now through late may!  There are a few species of Yellow Morels in North America, but Morchella esculentoides is the most common one.

#085: Schizophyllum commune, the Mushroom With Over 28,000 Sexes [Archived] 3

Archived

#085: Schizophyllum commune, the Mushroom With Over 28,000 Sexes [Archived]

Note: This is an archived post. Read the current version of this post here. Commonly known as the Split Gill, this little mushroom is easily distinguished by its small gills, which appear to be split lengthwise. The Split Gill is a notable mushroom because of its unusual morphology, ecology, and genetics.  Before I get into the bizarre world of fungal sexes, I would like to describe the physical characteristics of this distinctive mushroom.

#084: Mushroom Paper 4

Fungus Fact

#084: Mushroom Paper

Believe it or not, you can use mushrooms to make paper! Mushroom paper uses the same process as normal paper making and only differs in the type of fibers used.