Posts Tagged: mushrooms

Om Nom Nom

Lycoperdon Perlatum

the common puffball / der Flaschenbovist

As with all my mushroom photos, this is to the best of my knowledge, and based on the looks of the ‘shrooms only, not taking cross-sections or smell (or even taste) into account. For me, this ‘shroom is yet another example of how much looks can be deceiving (no news in the mushroom world!), for I would not have tagged that guy as being edible at all. But apparently, he is! And quite delicious when not yellow and squishy inside, at that.

I found him in our local woodland (the Marienhölzung) on Saturday – it was sunny on Sat and I wanted to get out some, after spending long days at work and the weather being less-than-ideal-for-walks. Other than that: Term is in full swing, and I am spending most of my time accordingly – other than from some brief excursions like this one, I expect new photos to be scarce – but since I accumulated quite a variety of as-yet-unposted photos over the last couple of months, never fear! :-) It’s going to be summery on here a lot, while the weather gets grey and dreary outside.

Mycena Zephirus

Rostfleckiger Helmling / Mycena Zephirus

I think this is a mycena zephirus (the Latin name is also the English one), but since I neither took one out of the ground to study its roots nor cut into one to discover the color of its sap and there are about a dozen-dozen ‘shrooms in the mycena family and for some of them these things are the final dividing characteristics, it might also be some other kind of Helmling. An Helmling it is, that much I think I can say for certain. Not toxic, but considered inedible – and apparently tastes strongly of radish.

It’s ‘shroom time in the woods

These lovely specimen are armillaria, German name Hallimasch, Latin name armillaria ostoyae romagn. Of them I have learned that they are edible, but only when cooked, and not in conjunction with alcohol of any sort. Apparently the combination of alcohol and (even properly prepared) armillaria will make you really sick. Hence the saying of “Der Hallimasch, der Hallimasch, der wendet dir den Magen rasch” (“the armillaria, the armillaria, it will make your stomach turn quickly”). Also people apparently used to make a treatment against hemorrhoids out of them. (I did not follow the search up far enough to find out details or efficacy, sorry.)

(Yes, I am learning things about ‘shrooms purely so that I don’t have to make postings called “oh look, another photo of a mystery mushroom”. Consider it a bonus service :-).)

Oudemansiella mucida

The German name for this fascinating specimen and example of mushroomkind is the rather unattractive Beringter Schleimrübling, (‘ringed slimerooting’ [ouch! :-)]) while in English it is called, somewhat more poetically, a Porcelain mushroom. It is also apparently digestible (in the sense of ‘won’t make you sick’) once washed thoroughly, but not yum.