Name that fungus!!

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Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,642 posts

213 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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Morning all,

I'm 99% certain that I know what this is, and that it's edible, but I wanted to just check first before I try it! If this goes according to plan, Mobile Chicane will be along shortly with the definitive answer, but others are welcome to comment too! hehe

It was growing out of the side of a tree (cherry, iirc), with multiple brackets stacked on top of each other.

I won't say what I think it is just yet, so as not to influence people's judgement.


cinque

833 posts

282 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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Looks like you've got some Chicken of the woods there. Your tree probably won't have much life left btw.

For what it's worth, if you're not sure and have to ask here, you shouldn't be eating it.

eta i know people that have eaten it and have had a bad reaction (puking/dizziness), something to do with the proteins and toxins that it absorbs from the host tree.



Edited by cinque on Friday 4th September 10:26

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,642 posts

213 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
cinque said:
Looks like you've got some Chicken of the woods there. Your tree probably won't have much life left btw.

For what it's worth, if you're not sure and have to ask here, you shouldn't be eating it.

eta i know people that have eaten it and have had a bad reaction (puking/dizziness), something to do with the proteins and toxins that it absorbs from the host tree.
That's precisely what I though it was too. smile

As I said, I was 99% certain, but just wanted to double-check. I also know the tree is doomed. Fortunately, it's outside a friend's house up the road, not outside mine! hehe

My mushroom book also made the comment about it causing a bad reaction in some people, but as with a couple of other mushroom varieties I've looked at, that seems to be when they're growing on conifers or Yew trees since, as you say, they suck the nasties in from the host tree. This one is on a cherry tree, so no worries there.

Mobile Chicane

20,819 posts

212 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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Chicken-of-the-woods for sure.

It's edible when young but can be rather sour and fibrous as the fruit body ages.

Definitely not one to be picking from yew trees, which is where it's often found.

Interesting point about some fungi being mildly toxic. Alcohol is supposed to potentiate any ill-effects. Antonio Carluccio advises limiting alcohol portions when eating wild mushrooms.

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,642 posts

213 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
Cheers both!

It's in the fridge at the moment. I'm going to try frying up a small sliver in garlic butter, and if I've not collapsed with dysentery by tomorrow, I'll do something more adventurous with it if it's tender enough. smile

soad

32,891 posts

176 months

Monday 7th September 2015
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Are you still alive? smile

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,642 posts

213 months

Monday 7th September 2015
quotequote all
soad said:
Are you still alive? smile
Very much so, thanks! smile Very tasty they were too, although I rather overdid the tomato in my sauce. frown They're certainly more of a viable meat replacement than most mushrooms...

otolith

56,080 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th October 2015
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I found a huge bloom of this the other day. Mostly delicious, but some bits are a little sour. Apparently it freezes well - I didn't take that much, but there was an awful lot of it there, someone could be eating it for months if they have freezer space.

The caution about yew is interesting; my books mention it too, but I can't find any definitive proof that the fungus is tainted (and a couple of "we've been eating it off yew trees for years" anecdotes). I wouldn't risk it, but I'm not entirely convinced it isn't an assumption.