The Chicken Fat Mushroom, or Suillus americanus, has a doubly interesting name. Firstly, why “Chicken Fat”? I think it’s an incredibly apt name, given the overall slimy/tackiness of the mushroom and these fat-like globules that seem to coagulate around the base: And secondly, there is the specific name “americanus.” What makes this mushroom American? MostContinue reading “In the Spotlight: The Chicken Fat Mushroom”
Category Archives: mushrooms
Mushroom Lingo #5: Slime Veil
Yet another kind of veil! The good news is after three posts (partial veil, universal veil, and now slime veil) I think I’ve finally figured out how to spell it: v-e-i-l. The spelling of the word is to me almost as strange as the thing itself. A slime veil is basically a kind of universalContinue reading “Mushroom Lingo #5: Slime Veil”
Mushroom Lingo #4: Universal Veil
Building off of last week’s discussion of partial veils, let’s talk the UNIVERSAL VEIL… A universal veil is a membrane that fully covers the immature bodies of certain mushrooms. Sometimes it makes them look like they are bursting out of eggs: As they mature, the universal veil disintegrates. How it disintegrates is what you wantContinue reading “Mushroom Lingo #4: Universal Veil”
Earthstars and Coral Fungi
Yesterday, I was lucky enough to spot two fungi I would never have noticed if I hadn’t specifically been looking for mushrooms. Which would have been a shame, because they’re both pretty cool. The first, above, is Ramaria formosa (most likely), distinctive for its pink branches with yellow tips. Unlike one of the other coralContinue reading “Earthstars and Coral Fungi”
Mushroom Lingo #3: Partial Veil
“Partial veil” is a rather mysterious, almost existential, name for a thin covering of the gills or pores on the underside of a mushroom’s cap. You are actually much more familiar with partial veils than you realize, because Agaricus bisporus, the supermarket button mushroom features one. As the mushroom gets older, the partial veil disintegratesContinue reading “Mushroom Lingo #3: Partial Veil”
Mushroom Lingo #2: Bruising
A key identifying feature for many mushrooms is whether they “bruise” or “stain” a certain color. To test this you don’t have to punch your mushroom, or drop it off a small cliff. Simply scratch the surface with a knife, or if you don’t have one, your fingernail, as above. It can also be usefulContinue reading “Mushroom Lingo #2: Bruising”
Exsudoporus frostii! A Gem of a Mushroom.
This gem of a mushroom was definitely the highlight of today’s hike. Not only does it have a beautifully “reticulate” stipe, it exudes (hence the scientific name) golden droplets when young and fresh, something I didn’t know until today. Apparently it’s edible, but who would want to eat it?
Mushroom Lingo #1: Reticulate
Words are power, and one of the early obstacles to identifying mushrooms is understanding the terminology of the field guides. Today we’ll focus on the adjective “reticulate” because recently I’ve found lots of the Ornate Stalked Bolete, which illustrates that term perfectly. Reticulate is not just a mushrooming term, but it’s also not common knowledge.Continue reading “Mushroom Lingo #1: Reticulate”
Best of May: Photos
Morbid Mushrooms: What are Dead Man’s Fingers?
If there is a single fungus which exemplifies the morbid connotations of that word, it is “Dead Man’s Fingers,” Xylaria polymorpha. The wikipedia article, probably written by someone more familiar with mycology than literature, falsely claims that the fungus is mentioned in Hamlet Act IV Scene 7, when Gertrude describes Ophelia’s suicide. “There with fantasticContinue reading “Morbid Mushrooms: What are Dead Man’s Fingers?”
recycled paper clips 