Gnome:
Observations of the Wild Edible Mushrooms of Stann Creek and Toledo District.
At the risk of betraying my Italian heritage, I would like to share my observations with the rest of the mushroom lovers in Belize, who for whatever reason, have not had the time or inclination to get out there and search out the many excellent edible and medicinal mushrooms available here. Having hunted and eaten mushrooms from an early age; and thinking that the best mushrooms are only found in temperate climes, not being able to find all of those tasty European mushrooms was one of the few regrets I had in coming to Belize. Now, however, after a few fortuitous discoveries, I should not have worried at all; not only are there mushrooms here, there are also many of the old favourites which mushrooms lovers everywhere search out with guarded jealousy. I will confine my discussion to the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts as these are the only places which I have actively hunted in.
To start with a common mushroom that most of us are familiar with, the Oyster Mushroom (Pleorotus ostreatus and P. pulmonarius): I would rate this mushroom as common down here in the South, being found quickly and easily in primary and secondary growth forest on decaying wood pretty much all year round after three or four days of cool, damp weather (the best times are however, from October to January). Another common mushroom that can be found is what the Mayans call okosh or Jew’s Ear, or Pig’s Ear (Auricularia auricula). Again, they can be found in our Toledo forests all year round after rains. In fact, both of the above are so common, that if you leave an old rotten log under some thick vegetation and water it frequently, you are likely to get a nice harvest when the weather is right. I’ve also found these two growing on coconut husks, cardboard and unfortunate books left at the dump in a puddle.
Other mushrooms which are available but which I would put under the heading of medicinal are the Varnished Conk or Ling Chi (Ganoderma lucidum and G. tsugae), the Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) and the Hairy Turkey Tail (Trametes hirsuta). Again, these occur in our Southern forests and will commonly appear on just about any piece of wood or stump left lying about which happens to benefit from the right environmental conditions.
Not salivating yet? Okay, let us move on to something more exciting. How about something Prince-like, Agaricus blazei or brasiliensis? Well, of all places, it comes up in the summer months after the occasional rain followed by some hot weather, in old, decaying coconut tree stumps (start stomping through old coconut plantations!). The thick, almond flavoured flesh of this mushroom will make you want to plant more coconuts.
Anyone for Boletes? Finding your first bolete in Belize gives the same satisfaction as going to immigration in Belmopan and getting told that your residency papers are ready, after only one trip! Without saying too much (there is already too much competition for them!), start looking for some oak trees and you might get lucky and find some Boletus edulis, B. bicolour,or B. barrowsii (King Bolete, Red and Yellow Bolete and White King Bolete). If you have some pine forests around I would also recommend a walk as the above or other edible boletes are probable finds. Along with these beauties you are also likely to find various Slippery Jacks (Suilus sp.).
Giant Puffball lovers will be happy to know that this mushroom (Calvatia gigantea) is available in the summer in your local pasture (start befriending your nearest rancher). Of course, if you are so inclined, since you’ve already made friends with your rancher buddy, come back in the fall and winter, and you can collect your fill of assorted Psilosybe and Paneolus mushrooms. So there you have it, a quick capsule view of Belizean mushrooms. Get out there and happy hunting; the more you get out there and handle mushrooms, the more spores you’ll spread around. Oh yeah, before I forget, make sure you send me all your good mushroom spots for…ehm…scientific purposes, of course!