Most of us love and eat mushrooms. They are delicious. For vegetarians, they are the best source of protein. With that in mind, we are all accustomed to the regular type mushrooms, the champignons mushrooms. That is just one of the many hundreds of mushrooms. And today, we will discuss some strange and weird looking ones. Some of them are edible, some are not.
Puffball
Puffballs are unique in a way they do not have an open cap with spore-bearing gills. Instead, spores are produced internally. As the spores mature, they form a mass called gleba in the center of the “fruitbody”. The gleba often comes in distinctive colors and texture. When the mature fruitbody bursts, clouds of brown dust-like spores are emitted. This is why the mushroom is called puffball.
Most puffballs are not poisonous. However, some types look similar to young agarics, most notably, the deadly Amanitas. Therefore, puffballs gathered in mushroom hunting are cut in half lengthwise, in order to detect whether they are edible or not. Puffballs in the edible stage, which is before maturation of the gleba, have undifferentiated white flesh within. The gills of immature Amanita mushrooms can be seen.
The giant puffball can reach a foot in diameter, and is difficult to mistake for any other fungus.
Mycena chlorophos
These luminous mushrooms are somewhat of a mystery. Scientists are having a hard time to solve the puzzle of the fungal bioluminescence. They grow in the lush forests of Southeast Asia, and are considered botanical gems.
The mushrooms emit a spooky green light. First described in 1860, the fungus can be found in Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia, Taiwan, and Polynesia.
Marasmius Haematocephalus
Marasmus is a genus of mushroom-forming fungi that contains about 500 species of agarics. Only select few are edible, and Marasmius Haematocephalus is not. Most members of this family are small and unimpressive. Marasmius Haematocephalus has a rather unique lamp-like shape and form.
In 1838, these fungi were classified as white-spored agarics having a tough central stipe. They could dry out, but later revive if moistened.
The name of the fungi, Marasmius, comes from the Greek word “marsmos”, which menas drying out.
Rhodotus Palmatus
This genus in the fungus family Physalacriaceae is a monotypic genus. The rhodotus genus consists of a single mushroom species, the palmatus, also known as rosy veincap or wrinkled peach.
Native to North America, Asia, and Europe, they are found growing on the stumps and logs of rotting hardwoods. Mature specimens can be identified by the pinkish color and distinctive ridged and veined surface of the rubbery cap. There are variations in size, shape, and cap color due to quality of light received during development.
Phallus Indusiatus
Known as the “veiled lady” because of its lacy skirt, this mushroom is not just weird looking, but also mysterious. Studies have claimed that this bright orange mushroom found in Hawaii can cause women to orgasm. All it takes is one sniff of its odor.
Commonly called the bamboo fungus, the bright orange mushroom grows on the volcanic slopes of Hawaii. And while some scientists claim the smell can cause a woman to orgasm, some that have tried it, say it is “hands down the worst smell that has ever violated their nostrils”.
The mushroom was discovered growing on lava deposits dating back 10,000 years.
Amethyst deceiver
This small brightly colored mushroom grows in deciduous and coniferous forests. The mushroom is edible, but the problem is it can absorb arsenic from the soil. Because of the amethyst coloration fades with age and weathering, sometimes it is difficult to identify. Therefore, the name deceiver.
Clathrus ruber
The fruit body initially appears like a whitish egg, attached to the ground at the base by cords. Commonly known as red cage, the name alludes to the striking fruit bodies shaped like a round or oval hollow sphere.
The fungus feeds off decaying woody plant material, and is often found alone or in groups of leaf litter.
