Name that fungus!!

[Kermit power]

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!

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.

[Kermit power]

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.

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!

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.

[Kermit power]

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.

[Kermit power]

soad said:

Are you still alive?

Very much so, thanks! Very tasty they were too, although I rather overdid the tomato in my sauce. They're certainly more of a viable meat replacement than most mushrooms...