Contradictory Fungi books?

FlyAgaric · #1 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 05:41 PM

Why do some Mushroom and Fungi books differ on some things? For instance, in my book Collins Gem Mushrooms it says the Sulphur Polypore is delicious to eat and tastes of chicken, and in another book I have Mushrooms and Toadstools by Jacqueline Seymour it says that it has a unpleasant taste. I don’t know maybe Jacqueline doesn’t like chicken?

Its other things too, like names. Sometimes it gets confusing. Sometimes it all seems to be fitting into place when I am learning about fungi, but then I read things that contradict each other, and it causes me to scratch my head.

I take it its not an exact science?

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 06:04 PM

I'm led to believe that it's a constantly updated science...

Same goes with me. Boletus Parasiticus is described as edible in my Pegler and Spooner, but elsewhere i've read that it's not. As for the Chicken of the Woods comparison, it just sounds like a change in the opinion of the actual taste. I don't think the edibility is in question.

FlyAgaric · #3 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 06:36 PM

Thanks Nick.

No they never questioned its edibility, but one said it tasted bad and the other said it was nice, I don’t think personal opinions on these things should be put into Mushroom books like when it comes to taste it might not be important as such, but I think it should more along the lines of popular opinion. If you see what I mean?

Faeden

NickCantle · #4 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 06:41 PM

I agree with you there. The best way to solve that is to make your own judgement. Go back and get that one you found!

FlyAgaric · #5 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I agree with you there. The best way to solve that is to make your own judgement. Go back and get that one you found!

Excuse the pun, but I am still to chicken to be eating wild fungi

NickCantle · #6 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 07:36 PM

Fair enough, take your time, stick with it and the confidence will grow.

Nick

Jacky · #7 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 07:51 PM

I've read that Orange Peel Fungus is both edible and inedible - not found enough in one place to crop it to try yet - bit if you never hear form me again, I guess I'll have got my answer!

Nick_in_Scotland · #8 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 09:19 PM

It's worse than this, some very old books may tell you that the Common Roll Rim (Paxillus involutus) is edible. Years later they discovered that continuing to eat the species, year after year will make you drop dead from cumulatve poisoning! The safest thing is to stick to the well known and delicious species. Well, I suppose the safest thing would be to avoid eating all fungi.

Actually, the contradictions are all part of the fun. If all books had the same information then there would be no point in reading more than one book.

JP · #9 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 09:28 PM

It depends on what authour deems as poisonous, some toxins can be removed by boiling and water changes, eg Beef Steak Fungus which has high tannin content, ive eaten it cooked and it is as most fungi is best as only a bulking agent to a meal, some Russula have a real peppery taste some books say they are poisonous but with proper preperation can be consumed, i personally think its the authors playing safe, but is another reason that no one ID book can be fully used when ID'ing fungi.

NickCantle · #10 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 09:29 PM

There is a lower risk if you don't any fungi yes, but then we would be missing out on what nature has to offer. I mean yes, sure, nature has some nasties in the form of mushrooms, but I think if you can be 100% sure on an ID for what is known to be an edible then why not?

Nick

JP · #11 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

There is a lower risk if you don't any fungi yes, but then we would be missing out on what nature has to offer. I mean yes, sure, nature has some nasties in the form of mushrooms, but I think if you can be 100% sure on an ID for what is known to be an edible then why not?

Nick

True but only 100% we do tend in the UK to be Mushroomaphobic (made that up btw lol) but stick to a few easily identifyable ones and they are a joy indeed. Getting out with someone who knows their stuff is invaluable too

NickCantle · #12 (**permalink**) 14-10-2007, 09:38 PM

I agree with you there. Having an expert at hand is the best possible way to do it. I suppose over time, you really do learn the significant characteristics of certain species which can distinguish them from another. I like your word making JP

But yes, I think it's definitely a confidence thing, bearing in mind that over confidence and fungi isn't a good mix.

chazzpott · #13 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 05:54 PM

There are many old mushroom hunters, and many bold mushroom hunters, but there are not many old, bold mushroom hunters.

Happy foraging.

ladybirdluva · #14 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 06:10 PM

wow, i am really impressed that people are brave enough to actually eat fungi they found in a wood, i am actually quite scared of "toadstools" and tend to avoid them if i see them, although i like eating mushrooms which you buy in a shop, lol.

i would be too scared that i would eat something poisonous by mistake and die!

NickCantle · #15 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 06:40 PM

Quite a few people are scared of fungi. I think I used to be

Leif · #16 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 06:50 PM

I think it is partly cultural. We used to eat fungi in this country, then for some reason largely stopped. But in Finland and Nordic countries they eat many 'inedible' Russula and Lactarius after salting to remove bitterness. The False Morel was eaten in Eastern Europe after drying but it is now banned as it is poisonous.

An Italian told me that in his Calabrian village they ate any fungus with pores, and avoided all gilled fungi. Italians go loopy over wild mushrooms.

The Shaggy Parasol is listed in many books as edible and good, but to me it is slimy and disgusting. Some people rate Hedgehog Fungi as not worthwhile, but I love them. I am not so keen on Penny Buns, despite their reputation. Laetiporus sulfureus is not bad to eat if prepared suitably.

The Chinese eat almost anything including numerous fungi. A Chinese told me that it was due to historical famines where people resorted to eating whatever they could, and the habit stuck.

Incidentally in France in Autumn you can see market stalls piled high with all kinds of wild fungi. I once went to a mushroom festival in Le Mans, and a hall was filled with tables, all piled high with goodness knows how many species.

ladybirdluva · #17 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 10:40 PM

I like mushrooms in food and also eating raw mushrooms. It's just that when I see fungi in the wild they freak me out and look quite creepy, I don't know how to explain it and especially because many of them are poisonous. So I think that anyone who touches a fungus in the wild and especially eats one has to be much braver than I am!

Stewy · #18 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 10:46 PM

Go on a fungi foray Ladybirdluva, you'll love it!

Confidence is the key with eating wild shrooms I reckon, if your not 110% sure of what it is then dont eat it.

ladybirdluva · #19 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 10:52 PM

I should go on one one day, hehe. I went on a few when I was a kid, lol. When is the best time of year? xx

NickCantle · #20 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 10:54 PM

NOW

right this second...

Fungi scare me in the dark

Nick

ladybirdluva · #21 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 10:58 PM

oh dear, lol.

lol i shall have to look out for some then

to be honest, recently i have noticed quite a lot around. What's amazing is when you get those bracket fungi growing on trees, that become absolutely huge!! lol.

Stewy · #22 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 11:09 PM

Get a decent book and see if you can ID a few perhaps?

This is good Amazon.co.uk: Mushrooms: Books: Roger Phillips

Stewy · #23 (**permalink**) 25-10-2007, 11:11 PM

I had a dream about Morels the other night, what the the hell is that all about?

Nick_in_Scotland · #24 (**permalink**) 26-10-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leif

I think it is partly cultural. We used to eat fungi in this country, then for some reason largely stopped. But in Finland and Nordic countries they eat many 'inedible' Russula and Lactarius after salting to remove bitterness.

I seem to vaguely recall my grandparents doing some complicated preparation of white milk caps years ago. They were from Poland. I don't think I ever got to taste the results of this process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leif

An Italian told me that in his Calabrian village they ate any fungus with pores, and avoided all gilled fungi.

That's possibly the closest thing to a rule you can use to avoid dangerously poisonous fungi, as long as you stay away from any with red pores and flesh that turns blue when cut. There are still plenty Boletes though that pass this test and are inedible, uninspiring or downright surprising (I'm thinking Chalciporus/ Boletus piperatus...)

Being brought up in a culture where mushroom picking is common makes species a recognition a skill rather than a science. I think it's still important for those people to read books on the subject though. I recall being on a mushroom hunt with Polish friends who were happily collecting Blushers and I really did wonder if they even knew what a Panther Cap was. There's a tendency to only learn the edible species and ignore the poisonous species, therefore leaving out anything that looks different rather than being specifically aware of the ones that can kill you.