You're absolutely on target, Moira. SE Asians have consumed mushrooms they
thought were edible, and either died or had liver transplants to stay
alive. There are only four varieties in the U.S. that are regarded as
"foolproof," and the meadow mushroom Carol described is not one of
them. The four are morels, shaggy manes (Coprinus comatus), puffballs, and
the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). For every edible mushroom other
than those, there is a look-alike that is toxic. Margaret L
I stand corrected, though I am pretty sure that these two I mentioned are also American. Mushrooms, for sure, and the Viking berserk-toadstool probably.
Carol
Which is why I gave Jim those few directions!
Both the mushroom and the white Amanita (called death cup in the US and death cap in England) are the same.
It may interest you that distinguishing between the two was one of the very first things I learned in Denmark, along with how to build a fire, how to smoke macarel, how to bake bread, how to have a baby, how to speak Danish, the general culture, etc.
When I had my baby, the famous daughter, I then went every morning to our nearest neighbor, Denmark's only cowboy, to fetch a free liter of milk. On the way I carried a basket and picked mushrooms.
Carol
Carol Jensen wrote:
Carol
Although the fungi in Europe and North America are I believe quite
similar, they are not necessarily identical and I would never myself
consider making any recommendation from another country on what might
safely be eaten without actually seeing the fungus in question (or at
least a clear photo) and having some detailed knowledge of what is
likely to turn up in that area...
I would strongly recommend that Jim finds either a good illustrated book
of local species or some knowledgeable person to instruct him before
trying any mushrooms he doesn't immediately recognise as safe.
In fact the majority of the species one may encounter are not actually
poisonous, but some are very unpleasant (often burning) to the mouth and
quite a few will upset your insides (including one field mushroom
relative!). The trouble is that the few which are really dangerous
contain a killing poison which is not only very quick-acting but one for
which there is no known antidote -not a nice way to die I have heard.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
Carol said:
<< It may interest you that distinguishing between the two was one of the
very first things I learned in Denmark, along with how to build a fire, how
to smoke macarel, how to bake bread, how to have a baby, how to speak
Danish, the general culture, etc. >>
But, I thought you smoked cigarettes, Carol. :-)
Mary Ann
> Carol said:
> << It may interest you that distinguishing between the two was one of the
> very first things I learned in Denmark, along with how to build a fire,
how
> to smoke macarel, how to bake bread, how to have a baby, how to speak
> Danish, the general culture, etc. >>
My grandmother used to actually go through this whole salting process with
Macarels. I was too young to think about getting the recipe. Now I wish I
could salt it myself... but don't know where to start. I used to love that
stuff!
Mariana
> It may interest you that distinguishing between the two was one of the
very first things I learned in Denmark, along with how to build a fire, how
to smoke macarel, how to bake bread, how to have a baby, how to speak
Danish, the general culture, etc.
How people can grow up without this kind of essential knowledge is beyond
me.
John (and no this is not the place to :^) it is to serious for that)
No, I mean that each of these is the same in the US and Europe.
Moira, I am perhaps the only one in Denmark without the book "Edible Mushrooms" on the shelf. It is just one of those books everyone buys (like another book, "Danish Placenames", which most people also have.
If the Amanitas have this ring just below the gills, then my husband misinformed me in 1959! But I must take a good look at my daughter's mushroom book.
Carol
> It may interest you that distinguishing between the two was one of the
> very first things I learned in Denmark, along with how to build a fire, =
how
> to smoke macarel, how to bake bread, how to have a baby, how to speak
> Danish, the general culture, etc.
> How people can grow up without this kind of essential knowledge is beyon=
d
> me.
> John (and no this is not the place to :^) it is to serious for that)
I had boh=E8me parents and learned nothing especially practical except to=
hear modulations in music. Oil stove, living in city, etc. US life in th=
e forties wasn't the same as European life.
Carol
ACH - I earned that when I was ten! Carol
Carol Jensen wrote:
Carol
I presume you mean they are similar in appearence. They are certainly
not the same or one could never learn to distinguish one from the other.
There are several native NZ Amanitas, but we also managed to import a
couple from Europe one was the crimson Fly Agaric which I think nobody
could mistake for anything else and the other unfortunately is the Death
Cap, We did not however get its equally dangerous brother known as the
Destroying Angel.
The reason these less desirable species got here is not because of the
nasty plan of some homicidal maniac, but because they are among the
large group of fungi which make their living as mycorrhizas of trees.
The fly agaric is the companion of several trees but particularly pines
and oaks (I think A.phalloides may associate with pines also, but am not
sure of this) and no doubt came along as the inseparable companion of
some imported potted tree.
The meadow mushrooms on the other hand are not apparently tree
companions, though pehaps they do form associations with grasses or
other herbs. This difference in habits means that you are extremely
unlikely to find Amanitas growing in open pasture unless it is also
dotted with suitable trees. but inside a woodland the Amanitas are
quite a likely find, and though you may find lots of edible species as
well you will not find the meadow/field kinds.
One thing which distinguises Amanitas from field mushrooms is the white
gills and if you lay a cap open side downwards on a piece of paper so
that it can drop some of its spores to make a spore print they are
always white, while the edible Agaricus species (meadow or field
mushrooms) have coloured spores. However the one feature which
mycologists depend on the pick out Amanitas is the presence of a sort of
cup with a ragged edge enclosing the base of the stem (you have to dig
down right to the base of the stalk to see this. In a very young
mushroom just emerging from the ground it forms a complete capsule which
soon tears round its middle. The spots on a Fly Agaric cap are just bits
of this torn covering and gradually wear away as it ages.
As far as I know all common Basidiomycetes (ie the group of the typical
"mushrooms") also have a a partial veil which in youg fructifications
completely covers the gills and is attached to the stem. When they pass
the button stage this also breaks, but a ring of tissue often remains on
the stem a little way below the cap. This is the ring you mention as
distinguishing your field mushroom, but actually Amanitas have one
too, so it is NOT a way to tell the difference between them. Only the
basal cup is unique to the baddies.
If you are really interested in eating fungi, especially if you live in
northern Europe it is worth getting someone to teach you. A couple of
years ago I got a most sumptuous book of photos from our library of
edible fungi which are found in England and it must have contained
upwards of fifty species (some doubtless very rare) with where and at
what time of year to look for them, assessments of their flavour and the
best way to cook them. A few such as the Chanterelle, the Morel and the
Oyster Mushroom I already knew, but a grear many more I had never even
heard of.
NZ has plenty of native mushrooms too, but only a few are known to be
edible. probably with research a good many more edible kinds could be
distinguished.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
> [Original Message]
> From: John D'hondt
> To:
> Date: 11/5/02 4:25:16 PM
> Subject: Re: Recognising edible fungi (was moss
> It may interest you that distinguishing between the two was one of the
> very first things I learned in Denmark, along with how to build a fire,
how
It's easy just send your kids to an american school. To many graduates
can't even read. It is a shocking truth. I usually say I am proud of
being a drop out. I didn't go thru lobotomy in the 12th grade. I actually
beat two college grads when taking the IQ test before enlisting in the air
force.
--- jallan6977@earthlink.net
Inventor of the Dandelion Harvester
A press release can be seen at webshots.com
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