It has been pouring down in Toledo so this is the best time to go foraging for mushrooms!  Take a look at what we found today…a bountiful treasure for Munchkin and Gnome!

We found oyster mushrooms growing on some peach palms.  We identified them as Pleurotus ostreatus which is a smaller type of edible oyster; they are fleshy and full of texture.

Yay!  There are more Oysters coming up!

We also found more Wood ear mushrooms which are edible.  These mushrooms are well-liked by the Asian population and are usually cooked in soups and stews.  Of course, we like them too!  Moreover, this little number also has medicinal properties which include anti-cancer, hypoglycaemic, anti-coagulant and cholesterol lowering activities.  What a wonderful mushroom!

Fungi foraging also revealed more of the Mayan mushroom known as Schizophylum commune.  These are rubbery in texture but are edible nonetheless.

There was a plethora of Turkey Tail Polypores which came in a spectacular array of different colours.  Not only are they nice to look at but they can be made into a medicinal tea.  This type of fungus is known to have anti-cancer properties and so a cup of tea now and then won’t do you any harm.

You may have gathered that we are really Big on Mushrooms. Gnome has written many essays on this subject.  Check out these links:

• Oyster Mushrooms.
• Turkey Tail Mushroom.
• Split Gill (Schizophylum commune).
• Wild Edible Mushrooms in Toledo.

Tomorrow I will post up pictures and a recipe for my Beef Jerky Soup with Wild Edible Mushrooms.  Meanwhile, Happy Hunting!