Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Mafra
An enticing biodiversity graces the terrains of Mafra, making it a haven for mycologists and mushroom lovers alike. A city teeming with variant fungous life, Mafra showcases an array of the 20 most common edible mushrooms in the world. Sporting unique appearances, exquisite tastes, and fascinating habitats, these mushrooms further enrich the gastronomic scene. Let’s explore these ubiquitous fungi, understanding each of their culinary uses, and appreciating the beauty of nature’s bounty. Be ready to walk a trail of knowledge deep into the heart of Mafra's mushroom world.
* 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. Big sheath mushroom
These large white mushrooms bloom all over cleared, harvested fields, as well as pastures and roadsides. The scientific species name comes from Greek words meaning “glue” (glioio) and “head” (cephalus), in reference to the sticky surface of this mushroom’s cap. The big sheath mushroom looks so similar to the poisonous Deathcap and Destroying Angel mushrooms that it should always be left alone.
2. Blewit
The blewit mushroom grows in fallen leaves in autumn and winter, sometimes appearing in ‘fairy ring’ circles. It can be used to make a green dye when chopped and boiled in an iron pot. The scientific name, Lepista nuda, derives from Latin words meaning “bare goblet,” a reference to the shape and texture of the mushroom.
3. 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.”
4. 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.
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. 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.
7. Aniseed funnel
The aniseed funnel (Clitocybe odora) is a distinctive mushroom, boasting an aquamarine or seafoam coloration on its cap, although this may fade to white with age. It's species name, odora, is suggestive of another distinguishing quality - individuals usually give off a strong, star-anise like smell (similar to black licorice).
8. Common puffball
These puffy mushrooms grow in small groups on the forest floor. Once they're mature, common puffballs turn yellow and "puff out" smoke-like spore clouds when disturbed. Be very careful when identifying these mushrooms, as their young, immature form looks very similar to the lethal Deathcap.
9. Dead man's foot
Dead man's foot (Pisolithus arhizus) actually bears a number of colorful names stemming from its unusual appearance, such as the horse dung fungus (Australia). It can be distilled into a viscous black gel, which is then used as a natural dye for clothing. It is considered to be inedible.
10. Suillus collinitus
Suillus collinitus is a mushroom that grows in a symbiotic relationship with pine trees, particularly the Aleppo pine. This fungus is sometimes introduced to young pine trees to help them to become established in poor soils. It was listed as an endangered species in the United Kingdom, but its 'vulnerable' classification was removed from that nation's Red Data List in 2006.
More