We been photographing fungi again. If you've been round and about the Angus area of Scotland you may well have seen us rushing into bushes, whooping with delight (we live a sheltered existence in these parts) cameras at the ready as we spot another exquisite specimen.
This time we were looking for Shaggy Inkcaps (corprinus comatus). It's also sometimes referred to as the Lawyer's Wig.
Here's some we found at all stages of their life cycle.
Here's some we found at all stages of their life cycle.
Did you know they are edible? I can't say I have ever tried them. They supposedly have a delicate flavour. But John Wright of River Cottage mushroom fame compares eating Shaggy Inkcap to eating boiled polystyrene. Not exactly the sort of endorsement that is going to encourage me to cook them for supper.
If you want to try them the ink cap must be eaten young when it is still an egg shape.
This is probably still okay to eat....
However the mushroom has a very short shelf life and matures very quickly. You can see the gills of the mushroom are turning black hence the name. Seemingly the older it gets the more unpleasant it is to eat.
I think this is a really pretty stage and looks most like the judges wig.
The gills and blackening is more apparent in the next photograph.
What a great word!
It all looks a bit unappetizing now. And to think I was talking "edible" at the beginning of this post...
Janet, I love these photos. And a new word, too! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe next time a day seems dreary we can console ourselves with knowing that at least we never have to autodeliquesce--in public, no less. Fascinating photos, Janet. A little creepy, that last one, but still fascinating.
ReplyDeleteLiving in a very dry zone, the only mushrooms we see are in the lawn. Yours are quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for identifying our fungus, we noticed it in the back garden when it was at the "judges wig" stage, fascinating as it died down, and a new word to learn too! That would come in handy when playing scrabble except, there are too many letters!Super photos, did you take them all on the same day of different toadstools, or did you have to keep going back?
ReplyDeleteHi Janet,
ReplyDeleteI think you should at least try eating one. Much nicer than polystyrene IMO. You may need to pep it up a bit with some sherry & garlic - but certainly it's not to be despised.
Wow - amazing photos Janet, though you need to come clean and admit to turning a blowtorch on that last one. I really ought to try and use 'autodeliquescence' in my comment like Stacy has - but then hey, I just have!
ReplyDeleteDave
Great photos - I really should look at fungi more carefully
ReplyDeleteLove your Funky fungi, and as Kininvie said, would be tempted to try at least one bite myself. Delicious photos.
ReplyDeleteOh, after looking at that black one that has autodeliquescenced (yuck!), I don't think I'd want to eat one. Cute name though.
ReplyDeleteThat last one is amazing! You have really captured the beauty of these interesting specimens of the plant world.
ReplyDeleteLassie you'll get arrested for whooping and takin photaes in bushes.
ReplyDeleteThe last ink cap is screaming, 'I'm melting, I'm melting'. I don't think it's read many fungi books to know that liquidized whotsit phrase!
I don't fancy eating polystyrene shrooms, inky or otherwise! Great photos.
Very funny post! The melting mushroom is really metaphysical though! :)
ReplyDeleteAlberto.
I love the autodeliquesence image best. I have eaten them - a little disappointed with cooked result.
ReplyDeleteHow elegant in its judge's middle - ugly in its end. (But fascinating!) I'd like to meet one.
ReplyDeleteStrange things fungi - I am always slightly unnerved by their ability to wear so many disguises in such a short space of time - never mind the poisonous possibilities!
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating though.
Wow! I would love to take photos like that!!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photographs... I've been too busy looking up for sloes, etc, but I must start looking downwards more... fascinating!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think other people would find fungi as fascinating as I do.
ReplyDeleteLyn, Glad you liked the photos and the new word.
Stacy, I find the last photo a bit yuck. It does put me of eating them even though you can do that at n earlier stage.
Ann, There have to be some postives from living in a wetter part of the world.
Well spotted Pauline. If you look at the photos of the judges Wig stage and the following oneyou can see the pine needles and different light. These two were taken at Capo woods but are quite rare there. The others were taken at Forfar Loch and are much more plentiful.
Okay Kininvie, I might give them a try....next year.You can remind me I said that. Sherry etc would certainly liven them up.
Dave, I think you should rise to the challenge and use "autodeliquescence" on a day for the next week. It's not a word that stays with me...
Helen, you could go on a great fungi hunt. It's just identifying them is the problem.
Naomi, I don't think you'll get the opportunity to try these where you are, unless they appear in one of the parks.
Holleygarden and Sage Butterfly. The last photo puts me off eating them. The go through the various stages so fast that you can't avoid seeing a new mushroom (yum) and an old one (yuck) at the same time.
Fay, we get some odd looks from time to time, not least from the dog who wants to get on with more important things like walking and sniffing aboot.
Alberto, All the stages of the fungi from start to melting finish. Glad you liked the post.
Catherine, you have just confirmed my
thoughts about eating them. Would I waste the sherry I ask myself?
Esther, Easy Gardener. I think most people know them in their judges wig phase if they see them at all.
Maureen, thank you for you comment. All you need is a nice little camera. And a patch of mushrooms!
Kate, you sound like a true forager. I'm surprised you haven't got into fungi yet... a treat in store.
For anyone that commented and was waiting for an answer apologies that it's taken me a while to get back.
You really have lots of them, to have shot all the stages of maturity. I don't think we have it here in the tropics, but it looks scary to eat as many mushrooms are poisonous. I love that last photo though.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, as long as you know 100% what you're eating it's okay. Shaggy Inkcaps are easy to spot.
ReplyDeleteJanet its decline is incredible! Not at all appetising but fascinating to say the least. Some of the youngsters in the village have been out collecting mushrooms lately, but not for cooking with.
ReplyDeleteBertie