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HORROR WEEK- FOTD #144 : apple bolete! (exsudoporus frostii)
the apple bolete (also frost's bolete) is a mycorrhizal fungus in the family boletaceae >:-) it typically grows near the hardwood trees of the eastern US, southern mexico & costa rica. it was chosen for horror week due to its appearance being reminiscent of muscle tissue !!
the big question : will it kill me?? nope !! however, although they are edible, they are not recommended for consumption as it is quite easy to confuse them with other red boletes. ^^
e. frostii description :
"the shape of the cap of the young fruit body ranges from a half sphere to convex, later becoming broadly convex to flat or shallowly depressed, with a diameter of 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in). the edge of the cap is curved inward, although as it ages it can uncurl and turn upward. in moist conditions, the cap surface is sticky as a result of its cuticle, which is made of gelatinized hyphae. if the fruit body has dried out after a rain, the cap is especially shiny, sometimes appearing finely areolate (having a pattern of block-like areas similar to cracked, dried mud). young mushrooms have a whitish bloom on the cap surface.
the colour is bright red initially, but fades with age. the flesh is up to 2.5 cm (1.0 in) thick, & ranges in colour from pallid to pale yellow to lemon yellow. the flesh has a variable staining reaction in response to bruising, so some specimens may turn deep blue almost immediately, while others turn blue weakly & slowly.
the tubes comprising the pore surface (the hymenium) are 9–15 mm deep, yellow to olivaceous yellow (mustard yellow), turning dingy blue when bruised. the pores are small (2 to 3 per mm), circular, & until old age a deep red colour that eventually becomes paler. the pore surface is often beaded with yellowish droplets when young (a distinguishing characteristic), & readily stains blue when bruised. the stipe is 4 to 12 cm (1.6 to 4.7 in) long, & 1 to 2.5 cm (0.4 to 1.0 in) thick at its apex. it is roughly equal in thickness throughout its length, though it may taper somewhat toward the top ; some specimens may appear ventricose (swollen in the middle). the stipe surface is mostly red, or yellowish near the base ; it is reticulate — characterized by ridges arranged in the form of a net-like pattern."
[images : source & source] [fungus description : source]
FOTD #114 : purple brittlegill! (russula atropurpurea)
the purple brittlegill (also blackish-purple russula) is a mycorrhizal fungus in the family russulaceae. it grows with both coniferous & deciduous trees !! it has been recorded in europe, asia & eastern north america. :-)
the big question : can i bite it?? yes, though it's not particularly recommended. it is said to taste.. hot?
r. atropurpurea description :
"the cap is 4–10 cm (1.5–4 in) in diameter. it is dark reddish purple, with a dark; sometimes almost black centre. at first it is convex, but later flattens, & often has a shallow depression. it can also be lighter in colour, or mottled yellowish. the stem is firm, white, & turns grey with age. it measures 3–6 cm in length & 1–2 cm in diameter. the closely set and fairly broad gills are adnexed to almost free, & pale cream, giving a spore print of the same colour."
[images : source & source] [fungus description : source]
Craterellus cornucopioides (trumpet of the dead) and Hygrocybe conica (witch's hat), competing for Most Goth Common Name
this months herbologist reward, the verdigris agaric! to all my amazing patrons, this little mushroom postcard print with its folklore and facts is now on its way to you!
FOTD #073 : apricot jelly! (guepinia helvelloides)
apricot jelly (AKA salmon salad & red jelly fungus) is a saprobic jelly fungus in the family exidiaceae. it often grows in small tufts in the soil :-) it is found in canada, the US, mexico, iran, turkey, brazil, puerto rico, china & most parts of europe.
the big question : can i bite it?? yes !! it is edible but bland.
g. helvelloides description :
"the fungus produces salmon-pink, ear-shaped, gelatinous fruit bodies that grow solitarily or in small tufted groups on soil, usually associated with buried rotting wood. the fruit bodies are 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) tall & up to 17 cm (6.7 in) wide; the stalks are not well-differentiated from the cap."
[images : source & source] [fungus description : source]
FOTD #071 : red coral fungus! (ramaria araiospora)
red coral is a coral mushroom in the family gomphaceae. :-) it is found in the himalaya & north america. it grows either in clusters or singularly, & prefers western hemlock & tanoak. it likely forms a mycorrhizal association !!
the big question : can i bite it?? it is edible & sold as food in mexico :-) though, overconsumption can cause stomach upset.
r. ariospora description :
"the fruit bodies of ramaria araiospora typically measure 5–14 cm (2–5+1⁄2 in) tall by 2–10 cm (3⁄4–3+7⁄8 in) wide. there is a single, somewhat bulbous stipe measuring 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄8 in) long by 1.5–2 cm (5⁄8–3⁄4 in) thick, which is branched up to six times. the branches are slender, usually about 1–5 mm (1⁄16–3⁄16 in) in diameter, while branches near the base are thicker, up to 4 cm (1+5⁄8 in) thick. the terminal branches are forked or finely divided into sharp tips. the trama is fleshy to fibrous in young specimens, but becomes brittle when dried. the branches are red initially, fading to a lighter red in maturity, while the base, including the stipe, is white to yellowish-white. branch tips are yellow."
[images : source & source] [fungus description : source]
"i love this fungus so much<3 she's SO pretty. i only learnt about it recently."
FOTD #065 : parrot waxcap! (gliophorus psittacinus)
the parrot waxcap / parrot toadstool is a mycorrhizal fungus in the family hygrophoraceae. it is widely distributed in the grasslands of western europe, the UK, iceland, greenland, the americas, south africa & japan.
the big question: can i bite it?? it is edible & has a mild taste !!
g. psittacinus description :
"the parrot toadstool is a small mushroom, with a convex to umbonate cap up to 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in diameter, which is green when young & later yellowish or even pinkish tinged. the stipe, measuring 2–8 cm (0.8–3.1 in) in length and 3–5 mm in width, is green to greenish yellow. the broad adnate gills are greenish with yellow edges and spore print white. the green colouring persists at the stem apex even in old specimens."
[images : source & source] [fungus description : source]
FOTD #066 : cornflower bolete! (gyroporus cyanescens)
the cornflower bolete (AKA bluing bolete) is a species of bolete fungus in the family gyroporaceae. it is found in asia, australia, europe, & eastern north america. most often, this bolete grows on the ground in coniferous & mixed forests :-)
the big question : can i bite it??yes !! it is choice. there are many online tutorials on how to cook it, too.
g. cyanescens description :
"the yellowish to buff cap surface is fibrous & roughened, & reaches up to 12 cm (4.7 in) in diameter. the thick stem, roughly the same colour as the cap or lighter, is hollowed out into chambers. all parts of the mushroom turn an intense blue colour within a few moments of bruising or cutting."
[images : source & source] [fungus description : source]
