Autumnal Variations

I've been reflecting upon the changing season and variation in weather lately. In much of Canada this past year has been unseasonably cool. Here in southern Ontario we had a short return to normal temperatures in the fall when it got quite warm. But of late it's been cool (and we've had several frosts this past week).

Over the last week I watched the Hericium go from prime for picking to a state of decay. It is probably due to the frost, as the only lions mane I found that was edible was a tiny clump on the underside of log hidden and protected by leaf litter. 

Only a few centimeters across.

The rest of the lions mane was browning and wilting.

:(

So I looked up my photos from last fall when I first stumbled upon Hericium. Last fall (and most of last year) was warmer than this year's autumn. Night time temperatures didn't go below freezing until the end of October to beginning of November, much later than this year's first frosts. From looking at my photos from last year, the Hericium I found was prime for picking in mid-October, and started to go past it's prime into November. A much later and longer season for Hericium than we had this year!

October 12, 2013. Hericium coralloides (sp.?), approximately 25 cm across.

October 20, 2013. Hericium erinaceus (sp.?), 10-15 cm across.

November 5, 2013. Same mushroom as above.

Perhaps where you live, the weather has been warmer and you may be able to harvest some lions mane still. The season for these mushrooms is obviously very dependent on weather. A warmer fall may allow for a longer season, while a cooler one will mean getting on the trails earlier in the autumn to look for these awesome mushrooms.

Other Interesting Things To Watch For
As for other edibles I've seen some probable shaggy manes and jelly mushrooms. I have not collected any to try, as I feel I need to do more research on these kinds of mushrooms before I eat them (they have inedible look-a-likes).

Luckily though, autumn mushrooms offer up a feast for the eyes! I have been slightly disappointed this year as I haven't found many large, impressive turkey tails.

Coriolus versicolour, roughly 40 cm across. Scientists are currently researching it's ability to fight cancers. This mushroom is edible but does not taste very good though. It's common name is turkey tail because it looks like a turkey tail...

More turkey tail. October 12, 2013.

Pholiota is a common, inedible mushroom that seems to pop up everywhere in the fall. These little cuties may be poisonous, so seriously don't eat 'em.

Pholiota scamba. Caps are roughly 2-5 cm in diameter. These cuties grow in mossy/grassy areas. October 2013. 

Pholiota adiposa. Caps 3-8 cm in diameter. Found these cuties growing on an old, dying birch. 

Another cool mushroom I found last year, but have yet to see this year, was a bracket fungus commonly known as conifer blueing bracket. It prefers growing on coniferous trees, as you can probably tell from its name. Its scientific name is Postia caesia. 

Several cms across. October 2013.

I have read that these are edible, but have no taste, but other sources claim they are inedible. In cases like this I abstain from eating the mushroom, I will only try it if it widely regarded as edible and uncommonly causes adverse reactions in humans.

I have found mushroom identification to be very challenging and rewarding. Sometimes I find something that I can't ID.

They're just cute, OK.

Oh ya, and other stuff is pretty too. Tulip trees have become a favourite of mine.

Hericium: Magical Mushrooms (Part II)

Unfortunately, for those of us in southern Ontario (and I would imagine in most other places in Canada and the northern Hemisphere), Hericium season is coming to a close. I was out for a 10 mile hike with the dogs yesterday (October 9) and the lion's mane I saw was starting to decay. I blame this in part to the unseasonably cold weather we've been experiencing, and the early frosts we have had.

In places though, Hericium may still be able to be harvested. 

Can you spot the lion's mane?

If you do find some, and it's starting to brown or look "wilted" it's probably best not to collect it. You will know where to look next year though.

Edges are starting to brown and teeth and "branches" look like they are wilting. Roughly fist-sized growth of Hericium.

What Makes Lion's Mane Too Cool for School?
All species of Hericium are edible, and this genus of fungi is considered to be one of the safest to forage for due to it's unique morphology. Different species of Hericium are known by a variety of common names, including: lion's mane, comb tooth, coral spine fungus, monkey's head, bear's head, etc. Hericium is a choice edible, and is common in Asian cuisine.

These mushrooms are used for medicinal purposes as well. Hericium has been used as a cancer treatment and also to treat digestive/stomach problems in traditional Chinese medicines. Apparently you can get this mushroom in pill-form as a dietary supplement, and is believed to act as an immune stimulant and improve cognitive functioning.

The exciting thing about Hericium is that modern research shows that this mushroom may actually be useful in treating several different illnesses. Two compounds found in Hericium, hericenones and erinacines, may stimulate the protein nerve growth factor. This protein is crucial for proper brain function, and a lack of nerve growth factor may be connected to cognitive impairment diseases like those that fall under the umbrella of dementia (a study on rats showed enhanced growth of nerve cells when treated with compounds derived from Hericium erinaceus). A double-blind study on Japanese men and women diagnosed with mild dementia showed improved cognitive functioning in those who were orally-administered Hericium erinaeus.

Hericium may also be useful in treating some cancers. Antitumor-active compounds have been found in Hericium erinaceum. And also in Hericium laciniatum. 

But wait, there's more! Antimicrobial derivatives have been isolated from Hericium erinaceum. Certain compounds in Hericium erinaceus have been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels.

And the list of studies goes on and on. These are just some of the most interesting I've seen. Especially the studies in regards to treating dementia as there currently aren't any effective treatments for Alzheimer's.

Of course, eating Hericium won't cure cancer, dementia, diabetes, etc. But perhaps this mushroom will prove to be useful in treating some of these illnesses.

The overall nutritional value of Hericium (besides it's possible ability to fight cancer, treat dementia, repair nerve cells, etc.) is pretty awesome. It's a high-protein, high-carb mushroom with lots of good fibre and amino acids. Hericium has a high water content, which makes cooking it a bit tricky. (If it's being sauteed, then cook off all the water and let it start to brown a bit before adding in extra goodies like butter and garlic).

And seriously, it tastes delicious.

Small clump of Hericium growing on end of fallen Beech tree branch, Sorry for poor image quality, this was taken pretty much at sunrise.

Any Concerns?
Hericium is considered to be pretty safe. Some edible mushrooms are known to cause adverse reactions in some people, but this has apparently never been widely reported for Hericium. 

From what I've read about Hericium, it is of "conservation concern" in 13 or 23 European countries it occurs in. Here in Canada there are no conservation concerns. It is not a very common mushroom, so finding it is a real treat apparently.

As with anything you want to forage, do your research. Consult experts. Don't consume something if there is a tiny iota of doubt in your mind. 

Hericium: Magical Mushrooms

You're walking through a cool, wet, old-growth Carolinian forest in the fall. Something catches your eye, it's bright and white and stands out among the dark rotting legs and leaf litter on the forest floor. It kind of looks a like mini-tree, or a land coral, or maybe a mushroom. Or maybe it's an extraterrestrial life-form from deep-space that's bent on world denomination.

Actually, it's Hericium, a wonderful late summer to fall mushroom found across much of the world!

Hericium americanum (sp?), also known by the common name "Lion's mane". Approximately 30cm wide.

The fruiting bodies of the genus of mushroom Hericium are among the most easily identified edible mushrooms. Hericium kind of look like white and fleshy trees; a "trunk" grows from dead hardwood logs, with "branches" extending from the trunk which are covered in hanging spines (teeth) that look like stalactites. These mushrooms lack a distinctive cap and stipe ("stem"). The fruiting bodies can range from less than ten to over 30 cm in diameter. As they age the teeth will begin to brown. Spore print is white.

There are many species of Hericium, but they all share the same basic characteristics. The most common species of Hericium found in Canada include H. erinaceus, H. coralloidies, and H. americanum. All species of this genus are edible and considered a choice mushroom.

This H. americanum is growing on a dead Beech tree in an old-growth Carolinian forest.

Where can you find Hericium? These mushrooms are parasitic and like to grow on dead or dying hardwood logs (sabprobic), specifically on beech, maple, birch, walnut, oak, and sycamore. So far most of the Hericium I've seen has been growing on dead American Beech tree logs.

They are native to North America, Asia, and Europe, and are considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. I have even read that Asian grocery stores commonly carry this mushroom (I haven't found any yet, but now that I know how tasty Lion's mane is I will be looking for it in grocery stores).

Harvesting the Lion's Mane
This mushroom is one of the best to harvest, in terms of ease of identification and quality of deliciousness. Hericium do not resemble any other edible or inedible mushrooms, so it's fairly safe to collect and eat this fungi.

Foraging for Hericium requires a knife, bag or storage container, and access to old-growth Carolinian forest or hardwood stands (here in Ontario at least). Go for a hike in late summer or fall (Hericium will grow year round in more southerly locations) and keep your eye out for this ghost-like mushroom. Look on fallen trees and large branches. Don't harvest Hericium if it is starting to brown or decay. The more miles you cover the more Hericium you will find. If you find one clump on a log chances are there will be more growing on it if it is a large log. Look for Hericium on the top, ends, sides, or growing underneath the log in the leaf litter.

Once you have found a large, tasty Lion's mane, use a knife to but the base of the mushroom from the log it's growing out of. Try not to cut into the log, and do try to leave a bit of the base of the mushroom intact and still on the log. Place your Hericium in a bag and do not crush your precious mushroom while you finish your hike.

Eating the Lion's Mane
Once your home from your fantastic hike, refrigerate your Lion's mane. It will most likely keep for a little while, but this mushroom is so tasty that you will want to eat it immediately, trust me.

To prep your Lion's mane, give it a rinse in the sink under cold water. Once you've gotten most of the wood debris and bugs out of it, fill your sink with cold water and let your mushrooms take a quick bath to get rid of other bugs and dirt in hard to reach places (and there are many in hiding spots for dirt and insects in Hericium). Pat your mushrooms dry with paper towel once they are clean and let air dry for a bit. Hericium have a high water content and you want them to be fairly dry before cooking.

Lion's mane post-rinse and pre-bath

Up close and personal with Lion's mane. Still needs to have some woody pieces trimmed off.

There are a lot of ways to cook Hericium. I cooked mine as simply as possible to experience the flavour and texture of Hericium. But if you want to get cray-cray, Google can show you a multitude of awesome looking recipes you can try.

After washing, make sure you trim off any woody-bits or parts that look bad (i.e. browning). Using a knife or your hands, cut or peel the mushroom into bite size pieces:

Roughly 2-3 cups of chunks o' Lion's mane

In a frying pan heat about 1 tbsp. olive oil on medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot add the mushrooms. Hericium has a high water content so it will take a bit of time to cook off the water.

After I cooked my mushrooms for 5-7 minutes most of the water had evaporated and the teeth were beginning to brown. When I do this again I will cook it a little longer, maybe 10 minutes. Make sure the water is mostly evaporated out, but don't let your precious Hericium burn. Now add about 0.5-1 tbsp. of butter and some minced garlic (I used one clove).

The magic is happening

Cook to suite your preference; Hericium is best when it is browned and the teeth are slightly crispy. 

Voila! You have one tasty mushroom dish!

First Impressions: Hericium
Both Tom and I LOVED this mushroom. It is probably the tasty thing we have foraged for. 

The texture of the fleshy parts reminds me of crab legs. Tom said the Hericium was reminiscent of escargot, which I agreed with. The taste was distinctly like seafood, but a very light and mild seafood taste. The addition of butter and garlic nicely complimented the seafoody-mushroomy taste and texture of Hericium. 

This is definitely something I look forward to foraging for again. Here in SW Ontario the season is starting to get a little late, but Hericium may be edible for another couple of weeks. When we are out hiking again I will update as to the condition and growth of any Hericium we find.

What Makes this Mushroom Magical?
No, this mushroom won't make you "trip balls", but it apparently possesses a number of attributes that make it worthy of super food status. I will update shortly on the benefits of eating this delicious mushroom!