Mushrooms can be deadly, edible, magical, incredibly beautiful, and also completely unremarkable. In this article we will consider the most unusual mushrooms. Photos with titles will also be presented.
Panellus stipticus (Panellus)
This common species grows in 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 lactarius)
A fairly common type of mushroom that grows in eastern North America, in addition, in Asia and Central America. It grows on land in coniferous and deciduous forests. Fresh mushrooms have a dark blue color, and old mushrooms have a pale blue color. The milk secreted by these unusual mushrooms, if broken or cut, is also a blue hue. The hat in diameter reaches 15 cm, the leg in height - up to 8 cm, in thickness - up to 2.5 cm. The mushroom is edible. It is sold in the markets of Mexico, China and Guatemala.
Tremella mesenterica (orange tremor)
This fungus grows more often on dead trees, as well as on their fallen branches. The orange-yellow gelatinous body has a winding surface that becomes slippery and sticky during rain. These unusual mushrooms grow in cracks in the bark, while appearing in the rain. After the rain passes, it dries, turning into a shriveled mass or a thin film that can again rise from moisture. It is widely distributed in mixed forests, in 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 (clavaria pale brown)
This is a common view. These unusual mushrooms have a pinkish-lilac or purple tube-like body that grows up to 10 cm high and up to 7 cm wide. The tips of thin and brittle branches are mostly brownish and rounded. This is a saprobic form that absorbs nutrients during the breakdown of organic matter. Mostly growing on earth.
Rhodotus palmatus (rhodotus)
Considering the most unusual mushrooms in the world, one cannot fail to mention this. He is the only member of the Physalacriaceae family. Not common. It is collected in North Africa, in the east of North America and in Europe, here its number is falling very rapidly. Mainly grows on logs and stumps of hard rotting trees. Mature individuals are distinguished by a “vein-like” characteristic surface and pinkish color.
Geastrum saccatum
It 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, while the peak of its fees falls on August. It is believed that the hole located on the outer layer of his body has a star 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)
Sea anemone is quite common and well recognized due to the shape of a starfish and its unpleasant rot odor. It grows on forest litter in gardens, resembles a bright red star, covered with brown mucus from above, and has a white leg. Attracts flies.
Polyporus squamosus (scaly fungus)
These unusual-shaped mushrooms are a widespread species that grows in Europe, Australia, North America and Asia. On trees, they cause white rot. "The saddle of the dryads" is its alternative name, which refers to the dryads from Greek mythology that could ride these mushrooms.
Clavulinopsis corallinorosacea (coral fungus)
The mushroom is so named because of its similarity to sea corals. They have a bright color - orange, red or yellow. Mostly they 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 that grow in 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 loved by the ancient Romans, calling him "Boletus."
Lycoperdon umbrinum (brown raincoat)
This type of fungus grows in North America, Europe and China. He does not have an open hat. Disputes arise inside him, in an elastic spherical body. Spores, ripening, form a hleb in the center of the body, which has a characteristic texture and color.
Mycena interrupta (mycene)
Inspecting the most unusual mushrooms, one cannot but mention the Mitsen. 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 ripen. The hats are slippery and sticky.
Morchella conica (morel conic)
These are unusual edible mushrooms resembling in the upper part of the honeycomb. They consist of a network of wavy bands having small cavities between them. Morel conic is much appreciated by gourmets, especially in French cuisine. It is very popular among mushroom pickers due to its pleasant taste.
Xanthoria elegans (xanthoria elegant)
This mushroom grows exclusively on stones, not far from the mink of rodents or bird perches. This is a lichen by nature. It is one of the very first lichens used in dating rocky 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. Red hat with white dots scattered around it - who has not seen the 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. Despite the fact that 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. Some people in Siberia use it as an entheogen; 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 a “steak”, because when cooked properly, it is a delicacy. If you do not know how to cook this mushroom, then this dish can be fatal. It is poisonous in its raw form, and before using it in a recipe, it must be steamed.
Trametes versicolor
We continue to study unusual mushrooms, photos with the names of which are presented in this article. Trametes multicolor 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 enhances immunity, and can also be used as an auxiliary component in the treatment of oncology.
Hericium erinaceus (blackberry comb)
This mushroom is also called "lion's mane", "bearded tooth" and "monkey head." But at first glance, no associations with the fungus arise. It grows on trees, while cooked it is more reminiscent of texture and color of seafood. The mushroom not only has excellent taste, but is also used in classical Chinese medicine, lowering blood glucose levels and possessing excellent antioxidant properties.
Entoloma hochstetteri (sky blue mushroom)
Unusual mushrooms, photos of which are in the article, include sky blue in their list. This mushroom lives in India and in the forests of New Zealand. It can be toxic, although its toxicity is poorly understood. The mushroom acquired a distinctive blue color due to the pigment azulin, which is contained in the fruit 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 Nara Mountains. If we consider mushrooms of an unusual shape, then this one occupies a worthy place in the list. It is a cigar-shaped dark brown capsule that takes the form of a star upon opening to release its spores. An amazing fact: in the world it is the only mushroom that produces a whistling sound when releasing its spores.
Mutinus caninus (canine mutinus)
This mushroom is known as canine mutinus. It looks like a forest thin phallus-shaped mushroom, has 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 variety of mushroom is unfit for food.
Nidulariaceae (bird's nest)
In this article, we examined the most unusual mushrooms in the world. But it is impossible not to mention this form. A bird's nest is a small group of molds found mainly 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 rain water under pressure is sprayed together with the spores to 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 Pacific. They have also recently been spotted in Korea and Iran. The fungus has a rather frightening appearance - drops of red or pink liquid resembling blood appear from its pores on a velvet white surface.
The fungus is not toxic, although you do not need to try it, because 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 blood clots and rapid blood clotting.
In this article, we examined the most unusual mushrooms on the planet. Many of them have an amazing and even appetizing look. But be extremely careful when eating mushrooms - some of them can cause irreparable harm to your health, and also lead to death.