McDowell really, really, really loves to see the brown velvet of a Bloetus mirabilis rising up from the green forest floor.

These gorgeous boletes were found on the inlet side of Tofino, BC Canada.

More: Boletus mirabilis of the Sunshine Coast

 

About The Brown Velvet  (Boletus mirabilis)

Boletus mirabilis, commonly known as the admirable bolete, the bragger’s bolete, and the velvet top, is an edible species of fungus in the Boletaceae mushroom family. The fruit body has several characteristics with which it may be identified: a dark reddish-brown cap; yellow to greenish-yellow pores on the undersurface of the cap; and a reddish-brown stem with long narrow reticulations. Boletus mirabilis is found in coniferous forests along the Pacific Coast of North America, and in Asia.

More information: Boletus mirabilis: Wikipedia

In Tofino forests Angel Wings (Pleurocybella porrigens) are plentiful and look just like – hey – angel wings or cupid wings or maybe even pegasus wings. White, white, white and while similar to oysters much more delicate. McDowell does not pick them or eat them, but many do and have not experienced any ill effect.

These beauties were seen growing in the forests of Tofino, BC Canada.

Angel Wings  (Pleurocybella porrigens)

Angel wings or Pleurocybella porrigens is a species of fungus in the Marasmiaceae family. The species is widespread in temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere. P. porrigens, known as the angel wing, is a white-rot wood-decay fungus on conifer wood, particularly hemlock (genus Tsuga). The flesh is thin and fragile compared to the oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ssp.).

More information: Pleurocybella porrigens: Wikipedia

McDowell is calling it, Balfour will not. What say you? Are these Hydnellum geogenium?

As has been stated many, many times McDowell can’t resist teethy mushrooms. And when she came upon these on Mount Elphinstone, Balfour was way up the trail. So she’s on her own here and after checking books and internet McDowell is going out on a limb to say this is Hydnellum geogenium.

But she will certainly listen to reason…

 

More information – but not much: Hydnellum geogenium: Wickipedia

This gorgeous young cauliflower was found in lower Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada.

Once again Balfour pulls a cauliflower out of a hat. Late in the season after we’d been looking for them everywhere, dreaming about them, hearing about them, Balfour finds this lovely waterfall of cauliflower. And true to form, Balfour finds and McDowell eats. McDowell loves the texture and the subtle taste.

Small, delicate and delicious. A real find late in fall mushroom season on the Sunshine Coast.

About the Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis radicata)

Sparassis (also known as cauliflower mushroom) is a genus of parasitic and saprobic mushrooms characterised by their unique shape and appearance. This appearance can be described as similar to a sea sponge, a brain, or a head of cauliflower, from which it has been given its popular name.

They are increasingly cultivated and being sold in Korea, Japan, USA and Australia.

The generic name comes from the Greek sparassein meaning to tear.

The best-known and most widely collected species of Sparassis are S. crispa (found in Europe and eastern North America) and S. radicata (found in western North America). These species have a very similar appearance and some authorities treat them as conspecific. Their color can range from light brown-yellow to yellow-grey or a creamy white cauliflower colour. They are normally 10 to 25 cm tall, but can grow to be quite large, with reported cases of fruiting bodies more than half a meter tall and 14 kg in weight. Because of their unique look and size, they are unlikely to be mistaken for any poisonous/inedible mushrooms. They grow as parasites or saprobes on the roots or bases of various species of hardwoods, especially oak, and conifers, and hence are most commonly found growing close to fir, pine, oak or spruce trees.

 

More information: Sparassis: Wikipedia

These examples of Sarcodon imbricatus was found in upper Wilson Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada.

Not to repeat it too often but McDowell is crazy for teeth mushrooms. These mature Hawk Wings were found while out foraging in Wilson Creek forests. It was a first for McDowell who marvelled at the huge size of these beauties. What big teeth you have Hawk Wing. McDowell has not eaten a Sarcodon imbricatus – yet.

Just another reason to forage in the forest areas of the Sunshine Coast.

 

About the HawkWing Mushroom (Sarcodon imbricatus)

Sarcodon imbricatus, commonly known as the shingled hedgehog, scaly hedgehog or a hawk wing, is a species of tooth fungus in the order Thelephorales. The mushroom itself is edible. Many sources report it has a bitter taste, but others have found it delicious and suspect that the bitter specimens may be similar related species. The mushroom has a large, brownish cap with large brown scales and may reach 30 cm (12 in) in diameter. On the underside it sports greyish brittle teeth instead of gills, and has white flesh. The spore print is brown. It is associated with spruce (Abies), appearing in autumn. It ranges throughout North America and Europe, although collections from the British Isles are now assigned to another species.

The mushrooms, or fruiting bodies, can be quite large in size. the brownish or greyish cap measures up to 30 cm in diameter and is covered with coarse darker brown scales. It is funnel-shaped. The underside bears soft, pale grey ‘teeth’ rather than gills. These are 0.5–1 cm long and brittle. The pale grey or brown stem may reach 8 centimetres high and 3 centimetres wide, and may be narrower at the base and is sometimes eccentric.

The fungus can be bitter, although this is less apparent in younger specimens. Submerging the mushrooms in boiling water will remove this. It can be pickled or dried and used as flavouring. In Bulgaria it is collected, dried and finely ground to be used as an aromatic mushroom flour. It is reported as edible but of poor quality in the United States by some sources but as deliciously edible by others.

More information: Sarcodon imbricatus: Wikipedia

These hedgehogs found in lower Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada.

McDowell is crazy for teeth mushrooms and boletes. When out foraging for teeth, Balfour made the find of the ‘biggest hedgehog ever’ in our foraging, McDowell was thrilled. She returned to Tofino and had celebratory tastings with friends.

 

Another big find late in the season, bit more wear and tear but still delish!

About the Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum)

Hydnum repandum, commonly known as the hedgehog or sweet tooth mushroom, is an edible mushroom with no poisonous lookalikes. A basidiomycete fungus of the family Hydnaceae, it is the type species of the genus Hydnum. The fungus produces fruit bodies(mushrooms) that are characterized by their spore-bearing structures—in the form of spines rather than gills—which hang down from the underside of the cap. The cap is dry, colored yellow to light orange to brown, and often develops an irregular shape, especially when it has grown closely crowded with adjacent fruit bodies. The mushroom tissue is white with a pleasant odor and a spicy or bitter taste. All parts of the mushroom stain orange with age or when bruised.

A mycorrhizal fungus, Hydnum repandum is broadly distributed in Asia, Australia, North America and Europe where it fruits singly or in close groups in coniferous or deciduous woodland. This is a choice edible species, although mature specimens can develop a bitter taste. Mushrooms are collected and sold in local markets of Europe, Mexico, and Canada.

More information: Hydnum repandum: Wikipedia

Villages of honey mushrooms are found all over the Sunshine Coast. In many European countries honeys are regarded as the best wild mushrooms and highly prized. On the Coast people often pooh-pooh them. Good news for us! McDowell cooks them thoroughly and enjoys the nutty flavour. One note of caution: Good idea not to indulge in alcohol a day before and after eating honeys. That leaves a lot of people saying no thank you to honeys. Oh, one more note – we don’t take any that are growing from hemlock trees.

These beauties were found in Soames and Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC Canada.

Honey Mushroom (Armillaria)

Honey fungus or Armillaria is a genus of parasitic fungi that live on trees and woody shrubs. It includes about 10 species formerly lumped together as A. mellea. Armillarias are long lived and form some of the largest living organisms in the world. The largest single organism (of the species Armillaria solidipes) covers more than 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) and is thousands of years old.

In the Canadian Prairies (particularly Manitoba), the term “honey fungus” is unknown to many; due to the large presence of Ukrainian Canadians in this area, the fungus is often referred to as pidpenky (підпеньки), from the Ukrainian term, “beneath the stump”.

Honey Fungus are considered in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Germany and other European countries to be one of the best wild mushrooms and highly prized. They are commonly ranked above morels and chanterelles and only the cep / porcini is more highly prized. However pidpenky must be thoroughly cooked as they are mildly poisonous raw. Additionally one of the four UK species identified can lead to sickness when ingested with alcohol. Therefore for the non expert mycologist it is advisable not to drink alcohol for 12 hours before and 24 after eating this mushroom to avoid any possible nausea and vomiting. However, if these rules are followed this variety of mushroom is a delicacy with a strong distinctive mushroomy and nutty flavour.

More information: Armillaria: Wikipedia

These Pholiota squarrosa were found on lower Mount Elphinstone, Sunshine Coast, BC.

A sucker for crunchy toppings and 70’s shag hairdos, McDowell can’t help but keep her eyes peeled for these features in mushrooms. She came upon these bristly or shaggy pholiotas and ooohed and awwwed, but Balfour just rolled her eyes and kept moving. She knows that if she stops McDowell will stay all afternoon trying to get just the right photo.

And sure enough McDowell tried to get photo artsy using her mirror.

 

More About the Shaggy Pholiota (Pholiota squarrosa)

Pholiota squarrosa, commonly known as the shaggy scalycap, the shaggy Pholiota, or the scaly Pholiota, is a species of mushroom in the Strophariaceae family. Common in North America and Europe, it is often an opportunistic parasite, and has a wide range of hosts among deciduous trees, although it can also infect conifers. It can also live as a saprobe, deriving nutrients from decomposing wood. The mushroom is typically found growing in clusters at the base of trees and stumps. Both the cap and the stem are covered in small, pointed scales that are pointed downward and backward. The crowded gills are yellowish, then later rust-brown.

The mushroom has an odor that, depending on the author, has been described as resembling garlic, lemon, radish, onion, or skunk. It has a strong taste, resembling radishes. Once thought to be edible, it is now considered and known to be poisonous, especially if consumed in combination with alcohol. The mushroom contains unique chemicals thought to help it infect plants by neutralizing defensive responses employed by them. The very similar P. squarrosoides differs in having a paler cap that is sticky between the scales, and smaller spores.

 

More information: Pholiota squarrosa: Wickipedia

 

These pines (Tricholoma magnivelare, white matsutake) were found in Lower Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada.

Balfour waxes on eloquently about the smell of the matsutake. McDowell only smells weirdness. But either way pine mushrooms are the prize of the forest. And once again Balfour found the largest one we’ve ever seen. She had to hold it with two hands. But McDowell got to eat it!

And then we took Balfour’s niece foraging for her first time and she found these!  Oh  My  Dog!

 

About the Matsutake Mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake)
and the White Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare)

Matsutake (Japanese: 松茸, pine mushroom, Tricholoma matsutake = syn. T. nauseosum) is the common name for a highly sought-after mycorrhizal mushroom that grows in Asia, Europe, and North America. It is prized by the Japanese and Chinese for its distinct spicy-aromatic door.

In the North American Pacific Northwest Tricholoma magnivelare is found in coniferous forests made up of one or more of the following species: Douglas-fir, Noble Fir, Shasta Red Fir, Sugar Pine, Ponderosa Pine, or Lodgepole Pine. In California and parts of Oregon, it is also associated with hardwoods, including Tanoak, Madrone, Rhododendron, Salal, and Manzanita. In northeastern North America, the mushroom is generally found in Jack Pine forests. T. magnivelare is typically called White Matsutake as it does not feature the brown coloration of the Asian specimen.

More information: Tricholoma matsutake: Wikipedia and Tricholoma magnivelare: Wickipedia

McDowell can’t help but gasp every time she sees that beautiful brown velvet rising out of the green undergrowth. Her heart races. Should she come upon one, Balfour is always kind enough to call out and let McDowell do the ooooing and ahhhing.

These beauties were found on lower Mount Elphinstone, Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC Canada.

About The Brown Velvet  (Boletus mirabilis)

Boletus mirabilis, commonly known as the admirable bolete, the bragger’s bolete, and the velvet top, is an edible species of fungus in the Boletaceae mushroom family. The fruit body has several characteristics with which it may be identified: a dark reddish-brown cap; yellow to greenish-yellow pores on the undersurface of the cap; and a reddish-brown stem with long narrow reticulations. Boletus mirabilis is found in coniferous forests along the Pacific Coast of North America, and in Asia.

More information: Boletus mirabilis: Wikipedia