Would YOU eat these for breakfast ?

[MagpieDi]

These fungi are growing all over my tree stump bird table. I mailed the pics to my brother, a chef, and he said they looked like oyster mushrooms, and get them tossed in garlic butter !  ::)  I'd rather be 100% sure first ! What d'you reckon ? Anyone like some to try ?  ;D  ;D

[MagpieDi]

[Rose.mary]

Hi MagpieDi,
You are very wise not to eat those fungi. They look like Varicoloured Bracket or Turkey Tail to me and are inedible. I don't think they would make you live up to your name but are not good.
I can only repeat don't eat any fungi unless you know what you are doing, and don't forget to wash you hands after touching them
Rosemary

[Rose.mary]

Hi!
Further to my last posting I have just looked in my 'Mushroom' book and I am sure my first thoughts were right.
Oyster Mushrooms are usually found on beech trees and are 'greyish brown with a wavy margin whitish to greyish brown, blue grey or deep violet with white flesh'
Hope this is helpful.
Rosemary

[Multiveg]

If you want to try oyster mushrooms, you can get spawn and grow it on loo rolls!

[philcooper]

I wouldn't eat in your brother's restaurant - those are definitely not oyster mushrroms.

Phil

[Multiveg]

Google image search for oyster mushrooms, one of the clearer pics is:

[MagpieDi]

Many thanks for the helpful replies.
Spot on Rosemary, they are Turkey tails, as have since found some info from your identification. Apparently harmless, but too tough and leathery to be edible ! Another stump I have is covered in  pretty little brown parasols in the summer, so will post a pic for you to identify then, if I may ?

Thanks for the pic MV, we have a huge beech wood nearby, so will look out for the oysters, but of course, will take heed of Rosemary's warning !!

[eileen]

Di - sorry  for just poking my nose in here.  :-[

I was just wondering - if you don't already have a mushroom book then can I suggest that you pick up a copy of Collins (Gem) book, simply called mushrooms? It's a quick and easy way if idenifying toadstools and mushrooms with almost 240 species in it. It gives details of when and where you can find each one and whether or not they are edible. It fits easily into a pocket and retails at £4.99p - well worth the money in my opinion.  :D

[MagpieDi]

Thanks Eileen, will do !
I was just thinking , I really need to educate myself a bit more on fungi.
Come across lots in the woods, but just admire them, and warn the kids never to nibble !

[NattyEm]

I have that book :)  And I would never pick anything wild even if I was 100% sure it was edible if my kids were watching, I wouldn't want them to do the same.  I've been out looking for my friends secret puffball supply, but no luck finding it yet.

[gavin]

Some of the council rangers on local parks give mushroom identification walks in the autumn - I've not been able to get on one yet.

I've been figuring it's worth learning about it from a person - a book's useful later on when you know a bit more about different mushrooms and see something you don't quite recognise?  Or am I over-cautious?

All best - Gavin

[Rose.mary]

Calderdale Council organise fungi walks in the Autumn and this is where I got my information from.
I never go for a walk without noticing what is around me now and it is so much more fun.
Rosemary

[MagpieDi]

Hi Rosemary
Thanks for the info.
Calderdale..... that's not too far from me ! Spent many a happy hour walking along the canal towpath in Hebden Bridge, then off up to the Bronte moors !!

Lucky you, near to Gordon Riggs too !  ;D

[Gardenantics]

Thorpe Perrow Arboretum in N. York's near Bedale do Mushroom Forays in the Autumn which are really well organised and helpful, plus it's a great place to have a day out any time of year. Have fun, but don't forget they give some fungi quaint names like Destroying Angel and Death Cap for very good reasons, but you would be surprised what ugly monsters some of the edible ones are!

Brian (Also in Calderdale)

[diver]

anyone know of any mushroom walks in Merseyside or Lancashire as I would love to go on one, as like many others I am often tempted but never dare to pick any.

[wardy]

I once got screaming ab dabs by eating magic mushrooms accompanied by a nice glass of red wine

Apparently the mushrooms are ok but NOT with alchohol.  Oooooer   ::)

[Rose.mary]

Hello MapieDi,
Walking was my hobby until I got the allotment in January :(but I am hoping to take it up again once I have trained my veg and conquered the weeds(nearly there with that one  ???)
I live on the bus route to Hebden Bridge and we catch a bus to the top of one valley and walk down to another valley and catch a bus home all for 60p. No need to get the car out. (Oh happy days!!)
Rosemary