The Ultimate "What is this Fungi?" thread.

[Geoff Dann]

The ones on the right look like sulphur tuft to me. The blue-tinted gills are a giveaway. Common as muck. Poisonous.

The others I'm not sure about...possibly Hebeloma ("Poisonpie").

None of them are russulas. Completely the wrong shape, gills the wrong colour.

 

[Stratts]

Ok thanks mate

How about these I picked this morning on open grassland on the site I work on. Growing in a large ring.

They have a violet hue to the stems and also turned slightly violet when I cut through the small one.

I'm thinking field blewit maybe?

 

[Geoff Dann]

Yes, field blewitt.

 

[Stratts]

Thought so cheers I also found some shaggy ink caps, I'm in for a treat tnite!

 

[R.G. Barjey]

So what`s the best website to learn about the edible fungi in the UK?
W.

 

[Geoff Dann]

So what`s the best website to learn about the edible fungi in the UK?
W.

I know of only one which is dedicated to the subject:

http://www.wildmushroomsonline.co.uk

There are places where you can learn far more about fungi, but often with an effective ban on discussions about edibility. You'll find the same pattern if you try to find local courses - most are about wildlife rather than food.

 

[Tom1980]

This is very helpful! Thanks

 

[_mark_]

 

[Geoff Dann]

Are you asking for an ID, or just posting a nice picture of some velvet shanks?

 

[jimcall]

Can anyone ID these little chappies for me please? They were found growing on an old Alder tree in Glencoe on the 22nd January. For scale, I can hug the tree and clasp my hands! They looked "slippery" but felt firm to the touch. There were a great number of similar looking but much smaller fungi on a neighbouring tree last year in the campsite and the owner cut the tree down. This is one of my favourite trees as I use it a lot to pitch my tarp and I would hate to lose it unnecessarily!
Many thanks

Jim

 

[Geoff Dann]

Can anyone ID these little chappies for me please?

Not easy. Looks like it might be a relative of the oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus) but if so then I can't find which one. Refered to experts at the ABFG.

 

[Harvestman]

My first thought is Pleurotus cornucopiae (related to oyster mushroom), but they look a bit dark, and I'm not at all convinced by my guess. I will defer to someone with more knowledge.

On a second look, I'm even more convinced that I'm wrong!

 

[Geoff Dann]

I have a tentative ID from Michael Jordan at the ABFG: Phyllotopsis nidulans, which is rare and generally confined to mountain areas. It does not appear in any of my three main books (Roger Phillips, full Collins guide and MJ's own encylopedia).

Common name is "mock oyster".

 

[Geoff Dann]

This fungus has now produced quite a lot of disagreement. Identity is not clear: http://www.abfg.org/bap/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=800

 

[jimcall]

Geoff, thank you very much for your investigative work, I had a look the link to the ABFG. My little fungi seem to have provoked a good deal of discussion! My main concern is the health of the tree, or trees if it causes damage.

Thanks again

Jim

 

[Geoff Dann]

Geoff, thank you very much for your investigative work, I had a look the link to the ABFG. My little fungi seem to have provoked a good deal of discussion! My main concern is the health of the tree, or trees if it causes damage.

Thanks again

Jim

All the species suggested are either saprobic (feed on already-dead wood) or parasitic (damage living trees). Whether or not it could actually kill the tree I do not know.

 

[chairmanphil]

hi people, i put some horse manure down on the veg patch about a year ago now and grew some very successful pumpkins on the patch. later in the autumn some purple tinged mushroons sprang up in great numbers. they looked like the wood blewitt in the book but i was not sure so left them. just found this site so i thought i would ask here so in the event they come back i will know.

thanx

 

[Geoff Dann]

Phil,

They look like Wood Blewitts to me, yes. Although you do need to be a little bit careful with these, because they are a bit variable and can be mistaken for various other things, especially the purple Cortinarius species, some of which are poisonous. The giveaway feature is the smell - wood blewitts have a distinctive strong fruity/flowery aroma.

Geoff

 

[chairmanphil]

thanx for that mate. good news about this then. the smell was good when i broke one open last year, good wholesome smell! roll on autumn i say lol

 

[finite]

This is a very helpful thread. Ive been looking for something like this for a while. Just need to find some info on the difference between the Australian and UK species