Mushroom foraging

Sorry if this has been covered (thread is intended reading for later on this evening!) but has anyone used Birch Polypore for medicinal purposes? If so what have you done with it? Dried it etc

I think I’ve got a honey fungus infestation growing on the plum tree out back. This would explain the tree’s very ‘2020’ behaviour I guess.

I would agree with your ID. Not always terminal, but not a great sign.

But edible...to some.

heh, thanks. I think the tree's a goner. It had a handful of fruit, early, then seemed to just give up halfway through June. Worryingly, the cherry tree also did an early shed of leaves after a bit of fruiting. Now going out to dig around and see if there's any evidence of bootlaces there. UGH.

Think I've found some oysters, consulted the Roger Philips book and they look the real deal. Anything to look out for that might mean they are something less tasty and more deadly?

I've left them alone for now, and no pics, sorry.

Angel wings is the nasty look alike but usually only grows on pine.

I like the Wild Food UK info for ID purposes: https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/oyster-mushroom/

Good showing here, what are they? Also, I often find ones that look like little pink ears, any Id?

1 Attachment

Possibly sulphur tuft. Hard to tell from that distance.

Little pink ears if on elder bark could be jelly ear

Thanks, got hold of another book today so will check against both to be sure before harvesting any. Oysters seem to be one of the safer varieties just based on number of edible types but still would rather not poison the family!

Think I spotted chicken of the woods nearby too so will scope that out and report back.

Another question, apologies if this sounds stupid but if you handle a poisonous mushroom do you treat your hands as toxic until you can wash them properly?

With the kids we always tell them not to touch any fungi we see out and about but is that overkill?

You need to actually ingest a mushroom for it to be toxic.

Taste is an important part of mushroom ID, you can quite happily chew on a nibble of deathcap as long as you spit it out thoroughly

This would have helped

1 Attachment

Looks spot on, amazed they're edible for some reason

Apparently those who’ve eaten death cap and survived describe the taste as really good.

Bit lighter than I’d expect sulphur tuft to be, but it could be young.

This! Pick and fondle at will. Touching won't hurt you @Arducius

Jealous of possible COTW find. Please post here!

Jelly ears are delicious. Often found in Chinese food. Like strips in hot and sour soup.

Apparently those who’ve eaten death cap and survived describe the taste as really good.

It certainly smells quite pleasant

Jelly ears are delicious. Often found in Chinese food. Like strips in hot and sour soup.

I think those are cloud ears, but same genus, I think? Such a good texture.

Oh good intel. That makes sense.

I imagine the texture is close and could be swapped out?

Best jelly ear recipe I want to try is to dehydrate some. Rehydrate in whiskey. Coat in dark chocolate.

Yeah they're super similar. I think you can also coat them in marmite and dry them out and then eat them like crisps

Thanks for the replies all! Would be good to do some foraging with the family and get them excited about it so glad they can pick. Naturally will make it clear we don't eat anything without ID etc etc.

Quite looking forward to heading back for the oysters tomorrow... I bet they turn out to be something else once I take a closer look!

In!! Marmite is black gold.

I have some of these in my lawn. No idea what they are though

1 Attachment