Unusual mushrooms: photos and names

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Mushrooms can be deadly, edible, magical, incredibly beautiful, and completely unremarkable. In this article we will look at the most unusual mushrooms. Photographs with titles will also be featured.

Panellus stipticus (panellus)

This common species is native to Europe, Australia, North America and Asia. Such unusual mushrooms grow in groups on stumps, logs and tree trunks, especially on birches, beeches and oaks.

Lactarius indigo (blue milkweed)

A fairly common type of mushroom that grows in the east of North America, in addition, in Asia and Central America. It grows on the ground in coniferous and deciduous forests. Fresh mushrooms have a dark blue color, while old mushrooms have a pale blue color. The milk that these unusual mushrooms secrete when broken or cut is also blue in color. The cap in diameter reaches 15 cm, the leg is up to 8 cm in height, and up to 2.5 cm in thickness. The mushroom is edible. It is sold in the markets of Mexico, China and Guatemala.

Tremella mesenterica (orange trembling)

This mushroom grows more often on dead trees, as well as on their fallen branches. The orange-yellow gelatinous body has a sinuous surface that becomes slippery and sticky when it rains. These unusual mushrooms grow in cracks in the bark and appear during rain. After the rain passes, it dries up, turning into a wrinkled mass or thin film, capable of being reborn again from moisture. It is widely distributed in mixed forests, tropical and temperate regions, including Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, South and North America. The mushroom can be used as food, but it is tasteless.

Clavaria zollingeri (pale brown clavaria)

This is a common look. These unusual mushrooms have a pinkish-lilac or purple tubular body that grows up to 10 cm high and up to 7 cm wide. The tips of the thin and fragile branches are mostly brownish and rounded. It is a saprobic species that absorbs nutrients from the breakdown of organic matter. Mostly grows on the ground.

Rhodotus palmatus (rhodotus)

Considering the most unusual mushrooms in the world, one cannot fail to mention this. It is the only member of the Physalacriaceae family. Little widespread. It is collected in North Africa, in the east of North America and in Europe, where its numbers are falling very rapidly. It mainly grows on logs and stumps of hard decaying trees. Mature individuals are distinguished by a "venous" characteristicsurface and pinkish color.

Geastrum saccatum

Grows on decaying trees in Europe and North America. Mushroom pickers consider it unsuitable for food due to its bitter taste. This is a common species, with the peak of its fees in August. It is believed that the hole, located on the outer layer of his body, has a star-shaped shape due to the collection of calcium oxalate, which occurs just before it opens. This mushroom in Brazil was called the "star of the earth."

Aseroe rubra (sea anemone)

The sea anemone is quite common and well recognizable due to the shape of the starfish and its unpleasant rot smell. It grows on the forest floor in gardens, resembles a bright red star, covered with brown mucus on top, and has a white stem. Attracts flies.

Polyporus squamosus (scaly tinder fungus)

This oddly shaped mushroom is a widespread species that grows in Europe, Australia, North America and Asia. They cause white rot on trees. "Dryad Saddle" is its alternative name, which refers to the dryads from Greek mythology who could ride these mushrooms.

Clavulinopsis corallinorosacea (coral fungus)

The mushroom is so called because of its resemblance to sea corals. They are bright orange,red or yellow. They mostly grow in old forests. At the same time, some coral fungi are symbiotic, while others are saprotrophic or parasitic.

Amanita caesarea (Caesar mushroom)

These are very unusual edible mushrooms native to North America and Southern Europe. They were first described in 1772 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli. The mushroom has a bright orange cap, spore-bearing yellow plates and a leg. He was very fond of the ancient Romans, calling him "Boletus".

Lycoperdon umbrinum (brown puffball)

This type of fungus grows in North America, Europe and China. He has no open cap. Disputes arise inside him, in an elastic spherical body. The spores, when ripe, form a gleba in the center of the body, which has a characteristic texture and color.

Mycena interrupta (Mycena)

When examining the most unusual mushrooms, one cannot fail to mention the mycene. It grows in New Zealand, New Caledonia, Australia and Chile. The mushroom cap reaches a diameter of 2 cm. It is painted in bright blue. At the moment when the mushrooms appear, they have a spherical shape, while expanding as they mature. Hats look slippery and sticky.

Morchella conica (conical morel)

These are unusual edible mushrooms, reminiscent of the top of a honeycomb. They consist of a network of wavy strips with small cavities between them. Morel conical is very much appreciated by gourmets, in French cuisine in particular. It is very popular among mushroom pickers because of its pleasant taste.

Xanthoria elegans

This mushroom grows exclusively on rocks, close to rodent burrows or bird perches. It is lichen in nature. It is one of the earliest lichens used in dating rock surfaces. It grows very slowly (0.5 mm per year), after 10 years its growth slows down even more.

Amanita muscaria (Amanita muscaria)

The famous fly agaric is a psychotropic and poisonous basidiomycete. A red cap with white dots scattered over it - who has not seen a fly agaric? It is considered one of the most famous mushrooms in the world. Such unusual mushrooms grow in Transbaikalia, as well as throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Although the fly agaric is considered poisonous, there are no confirmed cases of poisoning, while in some parts of North America, Asia and Europe it is generally eaten after blanching. It has hallucinogenic properties, since its main component is muscimol. It is used as an entheogen by some Siberians, and in these cultures it has great religious significance.

Gyromitra esculenta (false morel)

It is very similar in appearance to the brain, only brown or dark purple. It is also called "steak" because, when properly prepared, itis a delicacy. If you do not have the skills to cook this mushroom, then this dish can be fatal. It is poisonous when raw and must be steamed before being used in a recipe.

Trametes versicolor

We continue to study unusual mushrooms, photos with names of which are presented in this article. Trametes multi-colored grows everywhere. It grows mainly on the trunks of dead trees and is unique for its bright, colorful stripes. In the usual sense, it is inedible, although it is often used in classical Chinese medicine. Not so long ago, scientists found that the substance contained in this fungus improves immunity, and can also be used as an auxiliary component in the treatment of oncology.

Hericium erinaceus (Lionberry)

This mushroom is also called "lion's mane", "bearded tooth" and "monkey head". But at first glance, there are no associations with the fungus. It grows on trees, but when cooked, it resembles seafood in texture and color. The mushroom not only tastes great, but is also used in classical Chinese medicine, lowering blood glucose levels and having excellent antioxidant properties.

Entoloma hochstetteri (sky blue mushroom)

Unusual mushrooms, photos of which are in the article, include sky blue in their list. Thethe mushroom lives in India and in the forests of New Zealand. It can be poisonous, although its toxicity is poorly understood. The fungus acquired its distinctive blue color due to the pigment azulin, which is contained in the fruiting body. It is also found in various marine invertebrates.

Chorioactis (devil's cigar)

The star-shaped mushroom, called the "devil's cigar", is considered one of the rarest in the world. It is also known as the "Star of Texas" and was found only in the central part of this state, in 2 remote regions of Japan and in the mountains of Nara. If we consider mushrooms of an unusual shape, then this one occupies a worthy place on the list. It is a cigar-shaped dark brown capsule that takes the shape of a star when opened to release its spores. Amazing fact: it is the only mushroom in the world that produces a whistling sound when releasing its spores.

Mutinus caninus (dog mutinus)

This mushroom is known as "dog mutinus". It looks like a phallus-shaped slender mushroom with a dark tip. It grows mainly in small groups in a deciduous heap or on wooden dust, it can be found in autumn and summer in eastern North America and in Europe. This type of fungus is unfit for food.

Nidulariaceae (bird's nest)

In this article, we looked at the most unusual mushrooms in the world. But it is impossible not to mention thisform. The bird's nest is a small group of molds that are mainly found in New Zealand. They owe their name to their appearance, which resembles a nest with small bird eggs. This form is used by the fungus to spread its spores - the accumulated rainwater is squirted out under pressure along with the spores at a distance of up to 1 meter.

Hydnellum peckii (bleeding tooth)

Such unusual mushrooms of the world grow in the coniferous forests of America and Europe, as well as in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. They have also recently been spotted in Korea and Iran. The mushroom has a rather frightening appearance - on a velvety white surface, drops of a red or pink liquid resembling blood appear from its pores.

The mushroom is not poisonous, although you don't need to try it, as it has a bitter taste to scare away predators and people. Scientists analyzed this fluid and found that it contains atromentin, a substance that prevents the formation of blood clots and rapid blood clotting.

In this article, we looked at the most unusual mushrooms on the planet. Many of them are amazing and even appetizing. But be extremely careful when eating mushrooms - some of them can cause irreparable harm to your he alth, as well as lead to death.