All those toadstools that are now appearing around town on roadsides and in lawns are part of the normal life of a fungus. They grow from spores, about the same size as pollen. This grows into a mass of threads, a mycelium that digests organic matter. Although classified as plants they do not photosynthesize. They consume existing foods as we do.
Some fungi never bother to make a mushroom or toadstool (a Fruiting body) and are taxonomically known as the “Fungi Imperfecti”. Yeast is a good example, as is Tinea, Chlamydia and other nasties and many other plant pathogens.
For most of the year fungi break down organic matter in the soil, and the great biomass of fungi is a mycelium of fine, living cellular threads growing in the soil which may extend hundreds of meters. As Autumn begins and more moisture arrives with the rain, the falling temperature’s initiate the reproductive part of a fungus. Amazingly this mass of mycelium gets itself “organised” and forms into the thing we recognise as a mushroom.
A few are edible; some contain hallucinogenic chemicals (Blue Meanies, Gold Tops). Some are just poisonous and some are lethal. Many were used in in medicine 100+ years ago (Ergot, a fungus that is a pathogen on Rye produces strong contractions of smooth muscle and was used to bring on contractions during the birth process.)
Around Flinders over the next few weeks many edible mushrooms can be found. Field Mushrooms (Agaricus campestris) solitary, brown or whitish on top, a stipe (stalk) about 3 cm long, the underneath Pink-Brown gills.
Lactarius deliciosa (Pine mushrooms, Straw mushrooms) found close to pine trees, orange with a dish like cap, often showing blue tinges, orange gills. A nutty flavour and expensive in European markets.
Slippery Jacks (Boletus edulis) Dark Brown ‘varnished top with a yellow’ kharki underneath with pores, not gills and somewhat slimy when cooked, it also grows under pine trees. There are usually plenty of Pine mushrooms and Slippery jacks between the Cricket club and the cemetery.
The commercial mushroom is Agaricus bisporus and has been cultivated for many decades. There are a few varieties and whether they are caps or flats, white or brown they are the same mushroom at different stages of development.
The most confusing is “Yellow Strainers”: Argaricus xanthodermus. They look like a mass of mushrooms as you might find in a supermarket. HOWEVER they grow in big clumps and there are usually a lot of them together. They look superficially like a commercial mushroom. However the stipe is longer ( >3 cm); they stain yellow when peeled or scraped. Additionally looking at them sideways the cap is a bit hat shaped as opposed to umbrella shaped like all the others. When they are cooked there is a strange chemical smell from iodiform, which is related to chloroform. Iodoform gives you a severe “gastric upset”. Some varieties are not too bad and some people seem to tolerate the iodoform.
THE BAD GUYS
Amanita muscaria “Fly Agaric” these in most children’s books have a fairy or gnome on top. They have a white stipe, an orange-red top with white spots and are usually close to pine trees and whit gills. White gills in any toadstool are usually a big no no. These will give you severe gastric problems usually needing hospitalisation.
Death Cap. (Amanita phalloides) Grey shiny cap, white gills, one can kill you, half for a child. Often comes up near oaks. It’s deadly raw, cooked or dry.
The hallucinogenic properties of some were used as medicines by medieval herbalists, and the side effects may have initiated concepts of Dishes running away with spoons, cows jumping over the moon, and little dogs seeing such fun. More recent announcements as “Lucy in the sky with diamonds” may be a more recent example.
Join Dr Neil Hallam on Saturday 29th April 10 – 12pm when Neil will show you how to keep safe but still enjoy the fruits of Autumn!
