Pig's ears has a unique appearance that makes it hard to miss on forest floors. It forms a large, flat, and waxy cap that contains wrinkled edges. This cap looks similar to a pig's ear, which has earned the mushroom the name "pig's ears."
Cap Diameter:
4 - 15 cm
Odor:
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
In This Article
Attributes
Toxicity and Edibility
Similar Species
Tips for Finding
Clean and Preserve
Common Questions
General Info About Pig's ears
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Attributes of Pig's ears
Cap Diameter
4 - 15 cm
Height
3 - 10 mm
Cap
Cap 4 - 15 cm across; cup-shaped, convex; yellow-brown to red-brown, grey white to flesh-coloured-pink; with delicately tomentose
Stem
Stem 3 - 10 mm long, 2 - 3 cm thick; whitish, white-grey
Flesh
Waxy consistency; whitish
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
Brown
Odor
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
Body Color
Brown
Yellow
Red
Gray
White
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Solitary, Gregarious
Nutrient Gathering
Saprophytic
Substrate
On soil, Leaf or Needle Litter, Dead Woods
You can find Pig's ears by these plants:
Red pine
Occurence Habitats
Coniferous Woodland
Species Status
Common
Endangered Species
No
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Habitat of Pig's ears
Pig's ears thrives in areas with needle-covered soil or close to decomposing conifer wood, mostly in montane environments.
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Is Pig's ears Toxic?
Pig's ears is a neurotoxic mushroom whose early effects may include headache, dizziness, and visual distortions. If ingested, these symptoms can evolve into muscle weakness, tremors, irregular heartbeat, and potential unconsciousness. Identification and avoidance of pig's ears is crucial, particularly during its active growth season.
Toxins type
Gyromitrin
Type of poisoning
Neurotoxic
Toxic Severity
Low to high toxicity
Incubation Period
6-24 hours
Poisoning Symptoms
Early symptoms typically include headache, dizziness, sweating, and visual distortions.
This can progress to more severe issues such as muscle weakness, tremors, an irregular heartbeat, and even potential loss of consciousness due to the neurotoxic nature of the toxin.
Similar Species to Pig's ears
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Tips for Finding Pig's ears
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What are the Ideal Soil Conditions for Pig's ears
Needle-covered moist soil near rotting conifers.
What are Some Tips for Finding Pig's ears
Investigate montane regions with coniferous forests where needles accumulate on the ground.
Search near decomposing wood of conifer trees as pig's ears tends to grow in such areas.
Inspect the soil closely in areas of coniferous debris, as pig's ears might not be immediately visible.
Check for small groupings of pig's ears as they may grow in clusters.
Approach mushroom searching with patience, examining likely habitats methodically.
How to Clean and Preserve Pig's ears
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Common Questions People Also Ask
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