A Mushroom Walks Into A Bar...

Clavariaceae (Coral Fungi)

With Audubon's Mushroom Guide in pocket, my partner and I trekked King's Gap Hollow expectantly. What wonders would we see today?

There had been a hard rain previous evening, so the trail was quite muddy. It was worth it though. The winding path along the creek held many exquisite points to ponder, game trails, birds, soft trickling sound of water.

Compere Coral Fungi to Yellow Tube Sponge of the Sea

Mushrooms have always fascinated me because they are intrinsically connected to the health and vitality of the forest. Remember the Ent scene from Lord of the Rings? Combine that picture with the game telephone... Mushrooms and trees share a symbiotic relationship which seems almost altruistic....The mushrooms perform a diagnostic: Trees not getting enough phosphorous? Tree is sick? Will send mushroom supports! Click here for more....

Mushrooms love humid woodland areas with dead trees and dappled light. They operate below the surface to create a vast network of support and communication for trees. It's called the mycelial network (my-SEAL-ee-all) and is the world wide web of fungi and trees. https://www.science.org/content/article/wood-wide-web-underground-network-microbes-connects-trees-mapped-first-time

Velvet Footed Pax is not considered edible and can casue stomach upset.

What I learned: Although the mushrooms in this picture appear similar to yummy chicken of the woods or chanterelles, it will give you GRIEF if you eat it! Beware that mushroom specimens often have toxic look-a-likes. The differences can be something as tedious as how the gills fork.

So is it palatable or poison?

1. Confirm the genus and species of your specimen first before touching

(A good rule of thumb is not to touch or eat what can't be verified reputable sources as safe)

2. Utilize a plant identification app to narrow down genus.

There are many plant and mushroom identification apps available from your phone

3. Cross reference specific descriptions and pictures with the Audubon mushroom guide and other verified sources. Here are some of our go-to sources. https://www.mushroomexpert.com/

Why do we eat mushrooms? Of course, they taste delicious and are very nutritious.

Humans have been eating them since prehistoric times. Otzi, a frozen Neolithic corpse, was discovered with birch polypore in his pouch over 5,000 years ago.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/OetziTheIceman/

Mushrooms are perfect everyday and emergency food for storing . They carry lightly in a backpack and powder down as a great thickener. They also retain protein and minerals when dehydrated. We love them as snacks, in soups and stews!

And now to that joke in the title line. So a mushroom walk into a bar. The bartender sees him and announces that they do not allow mushrooms inside. The mushroom responds, "Why not? I 'm a fungiiiii!!"

Disclaimer: This blog does not advocate eating wild mushrooms. Please do so at your own discretion through verified classification from multiple qualified sources.