Not sure if this is edible or not?

BigShroom · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 03:54 PM

Hi all!

Saw 2 huge clumps of these today whilst walking on a forest. No bug or insects on them though - there were growing on a dead tree stump in massive clumps

Anyhelp on identification would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

John

TeresaW · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 04:00 PM

Looks like Honey Fungus - armillaria mellea

Not sure if they are edible though. Just found a new patch myself today.

BigShroom · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 04:14 PM

Thanks - going to see if they are tasty, might pickle them though for later - we have found some photos and they do look very like the Honey Fungus you mentioned, just think they are a little older than usual - thanks for your help!

John

fairplay · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 04:37 PM

"Going to see if they are tasty" = going to see if they are edible = going to see if they are poisonous.

There is a well documented case of a lady who was asked before she died of eating Death Caps, 'what did they taste like'. Her reply was thet "they tasted quite nice".

Need I say more ?

Neil.

TeresaW · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 04:42 PM

Neil is quite right. If there is any doubt at all, don't eat them.

You really need to be absolutely certain before even considering it.

Geoff23 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 05:05 PM

It's honey fungus, but I wouldn't eat it in that state. The young caps are much nicer. You are supposed to boil them briefly and throw away the water before frying.

BigShroom · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 06:47 PM

OK Cheers all we will discard and try to find younger ones, seems to be a real absence of decent mushrooms in Essex at the moment..

Thanks for the advice

alge · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 06:59 PM

Biggy

There should be loads of honeys in essex, i'm only 20 miles southish of southend. I took a walk at dusk and they are everywhere.

alex

sorry that scans terribly

thebeard · #9 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 08:22 PM

they seem to be growing in profusion at the moment. my friend ate some the other day, not young ones, but not particularly old either, but he said they didn't really taste of much. they must be better young, no?

fairplay · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 08:48 PM

Yes, of course Teresa and everybody else was right with Honey Fungus, but many false ID's have been made over the internet, so you just cannot rely on the internet alone for proof that you can safely eat a species.

Honey Fungus is difficult to digest and people react in different ways.
Always start on a new edible with a low dose as too much for a first try will probably send you to the loo.

Fried on it's own, HF is awful, but give it the full works with wine and cream, and you have a decent meal, but toe nail clippings with wine and cream would be just as palatable too.

Neil.