Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Lessines
Delve into the fascinating world of mushrooms in Lessines, a region enriched by favorable climates and diverse ecosystems—an ideal habitat for fungal growth. Our guide to '20 most common edible mushrooms in Lessines' offers an in-depth look into their unique characteristics, including appearance, flavor, growing environment and culinary uses. Packed with accurate, research-based data, this educational narrative aims to edify while fostering appreciation for these culinary gems in their natural setting.
* Disclaimer: Content feedback CAN NOT be used as any basis for EATING ANY PLANTS. Some plants can be VERY POISONOUS, please purchase edible plants through regular channels.
Most Popular Edible Mushrooms
1. Charcoal burner
Most commonly found under beeches in forests or parks, this crumbly mushroom can appear in colors ranging from red and yellow to violet, blue-grey, or even green. Its scientific name represents this variability: Russula cyanoxantha means “reddish blue-blonde.”
2. Blusher
The blusher mushroom is so named because it “blushes” to a pinkish red color when cut or bruised. It is found in many countries around the world, although it may not be native to the southern hemisphere. It contains a hemolytic toxin that can cause anemia if eaten.
3. Chicken of the woods
Chicken of the woods is very noticeable in hardwood forests, appearing in clusters on standing tree trunks in bright orange and yellow hues that sometimes last through the entire winter. It is a parasite that causes an unfortunate brown heart rot, and is considered a particularly troublesome pest of Yew trees. If the fruitbodies can be seen, the tree is likely already beyond saving.
4. Common laccaria
Common laccaria may sound like a malevolent name for a mushroom, but fret not! This species is so-called because its appearance is highly variable, with individual caps taking on a whole host of colors, from whitish to pinkish to dark brown.
5. Jelly ear
The distinctive jelly ear grows mainly through winter and spring, mostly on the dead trunks and branches of elder trees. It occurs around the world and is often cooked into dishes in Asian countries. This ear-shaped jelly mushroom is often available in stores both fresh and dried.
6. Shaggy mane
The shaggy mane mushroom is commonly found in North American and European grasslands. Some peoples foraged for its young egg-shaped caps, but it has more recently been found to be a bioaccumulator of heavy metals, meaning it pulls toxic metals up from the soil where it grows. As a result, shaggy manes should not be eaten. The mushrooms usually appear in clusters or “fairy rings.”
7. Hazel bolete
The hazel bolete is a fairly common mushroom that is often found near hornbeam trees, rather than around hazels. When cut or bruised, the flesh first goes red and then turns very dark blue. This mushroom is similar to Leccinum scabrum, but the latter one grows strictly near birch.
8. Common stinkhorn
The common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) grows incredibly quickly, sometimes nearing 30 cm in a single afternoon. Their caps are pitted in a way which makes them reminiscent of morels. However, there's little mistaking the common stinkhorn for a morel; the former, in addition to sporting a much longer stalk, has a clear and pungent odor.
9. Amethyst deceiver
The amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethystina) is a breathtaking mushroom that pops up from coniferous forest floors. The caps are a striking violet color in youth and are generally flat with a small indentation when the stem connects. As they mature, this violet color transforms to a less than breathtaking grey color, making it quite hard to identify after a certain age positively. Not edible.
10. Winecork brittlegill
Winecork brittlegill is a widespread mushroom species that typically makes its home on acidic soils in coniferous forests. It gets the name winecork from its smell, which is similar to that of empty wine barrels or bottle corks. The specific Latin name adusta translates as burn or toast and refers to the color of the stem.
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