Fungi Archives - Ten Random Facts

Bear’s head tooth fungus look like something from a fantasy dream.

Bear’s head tooth fungus is a species of fungus with a shaggy appearance, native to eastern parts of the United States.
The scientific name of the bear’s head tooth fungus is Hericium americanum and it is from the family Hericiaceae, a family of fungi.
‘Bear’s head tooth fungi’ are also known as ‘bear’s head mushrooms’ and ‘pom pom blanc’, and were first scientifically described by James Ginns of Canada, in 1984.
Bear’s head tooth fungus was once classified as Hericium coralloides, however this name was later applied to a different species in the genus, hence the change.
The tooth-like appendages of bear’s head tooth fungus grow on branches as the fungus grows, and it forms to create a mop-like appearance.

Bear’s head tooth fungi grow on both rotting and living woods, mostly hardwood types, and they are typically seen in the wild during the late summer and autumn months, though they are able to be cultivated.
The ‘teeth’ of bear’s head tooth fungi reach 0.5 to 4 centimetres (0.2 to 1.6 inches) in length, and a whole fungus can spread to a total width of 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches).
Bear’s head tooth fungus is a white colour, although as it becomes older, the teeth tend to have a yellow or brown tinge.
Young bear’s head tooth fungus can be cooked and eaten, having a taste comparable to that of lobster, though once picked the fungi do not store well, and need to be consumed within a couple of days, otherwise they will become bitter.
High amounts of vitamin D are found in bear’s head tooth fungus, and it also contains significant quantities of protein and fibre, as well as other beneficial health properties that are still being understood.

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Eat edible mushrooms not poisonous ones!

Edible mushrooms are fleshy, edible food from the species macro-fungi.
Edible mushrooms are eaten by humans, and cultivated ones are often eaten raw in a salad, or cooked in stirfries, stews, sauces and other dishes.
Wild mushrooms need to be thoroughly inspected and identified to see if they are edible, as they can often be poisonous, even if they look edible.
Edible mushrooms have a long history in China and have been eaten in that country hundreds of years BC.
Edible mushrooms are cultivated in a least 60 countries.

There are over 20 species of mushrooms that are edible.
Some mushrooms are used in traditional medicine, and are called medicinal mushrooms, although they are not necessarily considered edible.
Some species of mushrooms are poisonous when raw, and when cooked the toxins are eliminated, and are then edible.
China is the biggest producer of mushrooms in the world, harvesting over 45% of the world’s mushrooms, and producing 1,458,952 tonnes (1,608,219 tons) of edible mushrooms in 2008, followed by the United States with 329,816 tonnes (363,560 tons) in 2008.
Edible mushrooms contain very large quantities of vitamin D2 if they have been exposed to UV light, even for a short time, and a serve of mushrooms can easily give a person more than their recommended daily requirements of vitamin D.

Tag Archives: Fungi