Fabulous fungi

[Paul T]

Anthony,

Are the magic mushroom over there the same as the ones here?  Do the stems go blue if you squeeze them?  I don't know the genus etc of ours, but apparently they go blue if you squeeze them (sort of like a lot of things really!  ).... they apparently have a common name here of Blue Meanies or something like that.  I've still never actually seen one of them, although have been told lots of places they grow.  Not something I really want to try myself. 

[Stephenb]

Paul: It seems that your magic mushroom (blue meanies, Psilocybe cubensis) is a different species to the main one used in the north (Psilocybe semilanceata)

See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_cubensis (has a wide distribution including eastern Australia and South and Central America)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_semilanceata

[Paul T]

Interesting, Stephen.  Thanks.  Fascinating to know the same compounds etc, just different species.

[Olga Bondareva]

Wow, it's interesting turning of the topic.  I've never interested in Psilocybe sp. and never seen it. But I know many people look for and find it here.

[Olga Bondareva]

Another fabulous fungi is Phallus impudicus.

It starts as an agg.



Next a mushroom appiars.



It has a strong stink of carrion meat. I alwase feel the smell first and find a fungi after.

[gote]

Indeed fabulous.
I have got it ocasionally and the stink can fill a medium size garden with no problem.
We are always made very much aware when they occur.
- But nice pictures as always -
Göte

[Stephenb]

Well, one of the few localities in this area for Phallus impudicus (Stanksopp - Stink Mushroom) is in one of the beds in my garden (and also under an Apple Tree), so it would probably be a protected species if the authorities knew.... Phalluses randomly "pop up" all over this bed much to the entertainment of my garden visitors..  However, the stench is something else - I explain to my visitors that my garden is "Organic" (literally) when they ask "What's that smell".

All the plants in my garden are edible...what about Stanksopp? I was very pleased to read in my comprehensive Swedish Fungi book called "Svampar" by Ryman and Holmåsen that "The egg (of Phallus impudicus) is eaten raw by some people, but fully erect (my translation) this mushroom should scare off the most enthusiastic mushroom eaters"...

Otherwise it says that it has been used medicinally against rheumatism and epilepsy and, of course, as an aphrodisiac (for people and their animals!)

However, make sure that it is a Phallus egg before you try - there are deadly poisonous "eggs"...

[Lesley Cox]

Obviously slugs like it though, even in the last stages of decay. Pity it doesn't poison them.

[Lesley Cox]

It reminds me of the (rather rude) cartoon a Forumist sent to me.

[Ulla Hansson]

In Sweden, we call the egg for witch egg. The egg is beautiful inside if you cut it into two parts. The part that goes to eat is the foot. It is crunchy and tastes like raw cauliflower.
Ulla

[Paul T]

It reminds me of the (rather rude) cartoon a Forumist sent to me.

Lesley,

Given it's genus name, that's hardly surprising!! 

Stephen,

Interesting that it is rare but you have managed to have a colony in your garden.  A good thing, even if somewhat odoriferous at fruiting time. 

[johnw]

A Ukrainian family in Boston was hospitalized today in very serious condition.  The elderly mother served Death Angels she picked for supper thinking they were edible.  

Not known if they will survive.

johnw

[Paul T]

John,

Not good!!

I was looking at Death Cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) at college last night.  They have a dried specimen there showing all the features.  Looking up Death Angel mushrooms I see that there are a whole bunch of different Amanita species that go by that common name.

Weren't be discussing safe Amanita species somewhere on the forums recently?

[Olga Bondareva]

"The egg (of Phallus impudicus) is eaten raw by some people, but fully erect (my translation) this mushroom should scare off the most enthusiastic mushroom eaters"...
Otherwise it says that it has been used medicinally against rheumatism and epilepsy and, of course, as an aphrodisiac (for people and their animals!)

Yes I read the same thing. But I can't imagine somebody eating these fungi!   

aphrodisiac... For flies and slugs?   

[Hans J]

Today we have bought a really special fungi :

Tuber melanosporum