Mature forests that have experienced less disturbance typically have the greatest fungal diversity. To find a specific species it is valuable to know where it grows. Michigan is full of amazing wildlife and there are many ways to enjoy the space around you.
Lion’s Mane is considered one of the world’s best adaptogens for comprehensively (and adaptively) supporting the body and mind against environmental stressors. Without a tripod, you can try stabilizing your camera on a flat surface like a rock or log. You might even get away with handheld shots for your fungi photos if your shutter speed isn’t too slow. These options are’t as reliable as a tripod, though, so consider getting one if you haven’t already.
When added to scrambled eggs, the mushrooms will turn them green. The orange peel fungus is one of the interesting fungi that looks like something else in nature. Though it may vary by individual fungus, some orange peel fungi look so much like their namesakes that you could easily mistake one for an actual orange peel.
In this chapter, we present an overview of some of the central processes particular to the basidiomycetes. We then delve more deeply into exemplars of each of the three above major groups and provide a current snap shot of what is known regarding the genetics of their developmental processes. Sexual reproduction by meiosis has been observed in almost all fungi, though genetic analysis suggests that the remainder also engages in sexual reproduction to a limited extent. Some species of fungus are sexed, and thus require a “male” and “female” to produce offspring (heterothallic), while others are homothallic, and are capable of sexual reproduction with themselves. In homothallic fungi, the opposing sexual functions are performed by separate cells belonging to the same mycelium. Most fungi are microscopic, consisting of thread-like structures less than 10 µm in diameter named hyphae.
As long as nourishment is available and temperature and moisture are suitable, a mycelium will produce a new crop of sporophores each year during its fruiting season. In general, identification to genus can often be accomplished in the field using a local field guide. A mushroom develops from a button stage into a mature structure, and only the latter can provide certain characteristics needed for the identification of the species.
A cousin to chanterelle mushrooms (see below), black trumpets have a robust, smoky flavor that is prized fresh and dried, and some compare them to black truffle mushrooms when dried. When you are ready to cook the mushrooms, you’ll need to clean them. Fungi , Serious Eats, Alton Brown and others have debunked the idea that mushrooms will absorb water if soaked (they retain around 1 to 2 percent by weight, aka not very much).
Mycologists study topics like the physiology and life cycles of fungi, as well as find answers to questions like, how many species of fungi are there? Over 120,000 species of fungi have been described by scientists, but it is estimated that there are somewhere between 2.2 million and 3.8 million total species of fungi in the world. False parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites)
These mushrooms are often found in the lawn of homes and are the most common poisonous mushroom. Bearded Tooth (Hericium erinaceus)
August–November
Only eat these mushrooms when they are young and white. Mushrooms are more closely related to humans than they are to plants because they get their food from outside of themselves.
The stems are often discarded due to their tougher consistency, but, when cooked longer than the caps, develop a nice chewy texture. As the name suggests, the large Parasol mushroom closely resemble a wide parasol when fully matured. The thin, tall stalk, and flat, scaled cap make them easy to identify. They are best if picked when the cap is still rounded like a “drumstick” or before it has fully flattened out. They are popular for their size and availability more so than any unique tasting notes, but they still make a great meal, especially when battered in bread crumbs and fried.