Tag: fungi

St George’s Mushroom

From ‘British Edible Fungi: How to Distinguish and Cook them.’ By M. C. Cooke, M.A., L.L.D., A.L.S. London, 1891. St George’s mushroom: Agaricus gambosus 1821, Tricholoma gambosum c1891, Calocybe gambosa… Read More

Winter Chanterelle mushrooms

The last week of October. It’s dark by 6, there’s a chill in the air, and the trees are wearing their full autumn colours. The wild mushroom season is drawing… Read More

Porcini Mushroom and Walnut Soup

This is an absolutely delicious soup. Ceps Boletus edulis and walnuts make perfect partners. It is also very quick and easy to make. Ingredients 1 onion 500 grams fresh porcini… Read More

Giant porcini mushroom

One of my guests on Sunday’s Fabulous Fungi Walk spotted this huge penny bun. Also known as ceps or porcini Boletus edulis this monster mushroom weighed about 850 grams. Still… Read More

Laughing Gym aka Gymnopilus junionius

I originally thought that this was a Pholiota and the old specifies names for Gymnopilus junionius was indeed Pholiota spectabilis and it’s certainly pretty spectacular. Some subspecies contain psilocybin are… Read More

Field mushrooms by the pailful

When our local farmer told me there were field mushrooms “by the pail’fer in the files next to the sheep” he wasn’t joking! This was a lucky meeting a the… Read More

Birch Polypore

Young Birch Polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) has been used medicinally for over 5000 years as antiparasitic, antimicrobial, to treat wounds, stomach diseases and in rectal cancer. Tests prove has anticancer effect… Read More

Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is common on fallen or dying hardwood trees and is delicious (above). Branched Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus cornucopioides) smelled wonderful but didn’t pick them this time (below).

Turkey Tail mushrooms – Trametes versicolor

Turkey tail mushrooms are found growing on logs, especially fallen beech, throughout the world and certainly here in Scotland. Their rather obvious name is due to them looking literally like… Read More

Chanterelles – Cantharellus cibarius

Exquisite flavour, slightly fruity and slightly peppery, this is one of the most popular of the edible mushrooms. Most foragers have a secret patch that they visit and the secret… Read More

Hedgehog fungus – Hydnum repandum

Luckily for foragers, hedgehog fungus is far less well-known that it’s cousin the chanterelle. It is easily identified by its spines or teeth under the cap which look vary different… Read More

Oyster Mushrooms on the Menu

Both of the large horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum trees that fell in the January gale were host to some fabulous oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus. Fried in butter with an egg… Read More

The Mushrooms are Back!

Watching the tractors out mowing and baling in the fields fills me with dread, knowing that summer is drawing to a close and winter is on its way. So the… Read More