Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Corsica
Immerse yourself in the world of edible fungi from the diverse and enchanting landscapes of Corsica. Blessed with varying micro-climates, this region provides a perfect habitat for an array of tantalizing mushroom species. This guide unveils the top 20 most common mushrooms found in Corsica, trodding through their unique characteristics, mouth watering taste profiles, natural habitats, and the rich culinary traditions they passionately inspire.
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Most Popular Edible Mushrooms
1. Parasol
Found in clearings and grassy areas in late summer, the wild parasol mushroom has a snakeskin-patterned stem. The brown spots on its cap make it look a bit shaggy, but that name is reserved for its poisonous counterpart, the Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes). You can distinguish the two by the stems: the latter has a smooth stem and red flesh inside.
2. Poplar fieldcap
The poplar fieldcap is a cream-colored mushroom that grow predominantly in central and southern Europe. As it matures, the color changes to a tobacco brown. Even though the fungus is called poplar fieldcap, it can usually be found on wood chips and dead trees other than poplars.
3. Tiger sawgill
The tiger sawgill (Lentinus tigrinus) is a small mushroom with a name that is not particularly accurate. Sporting neither the color nor the pattern that we commonly associate with the tiger, it has a subdued, pale cap that is usually covered in brown patches. The eighteenth-century European that named the species may have been thinking of a leopard.
4. Lurid bolete
Once considered a member of the Boletus genus, the lurid bolete is a mushroom that is best avoided. Inexperienced mushroom hunters could easily confuse it with the severely poisonous European species Satan's bolete (Rubroboletus satanas) or its North American cousin Rubroboletus eastwoodiae. When cut, the stem of this bolete goes dark blue. Its smell is a bit sour.
5. 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.
6. Meadow mushroom
The meadow mushroom grows in meadows and pastures around the world—especially those rich in manure—when the weather is warm and wet. They are known to appear in “fairy ring” shapes. Originally identified in Europe, it is possible that North American specimens identified as meadow mushrooms may genetically belong to other species.
7. Saffron ringless amanita
The saffron ringless amanita displays a orange-hued head. This coloring and the lack of a veil around its cap have given the fungus its name, saffron ringless amanita. This mushroom can be found in European hardwood forests from summer to fall. It has a sweet scent and, depending on location, can grow either in small or large groups.
8. Dusky bolete
Dusky bolete (Porphyrellus porphyrosporus) may have a large cap, but its somewhat drab or dusky brown color makes it hard to spot on the forest floor. This mushroom typically grows under pines in low-elevation areas. It is known for its blue to blue-green staining reaction.
9. Grey spotted amanita
The cracked plaster appearance of grey spotted amanita (Amanita excelsa) caps is a common sight in Europe that also sporadically pops up in North America. This species has a long history and has been recorded and studied as far back as 1821. They contain a potent toxin called thermolabile, making those who consume it very sick if not cooked. This species is not recommended for consumption.
10. Coal brittlegill
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