Hogsback Mushroom
Pocket Guide
Created by SpiltMilk-Comics for the Hogsback Mushroom festival
Amanita muscaria It has been used for thousands of years by Siberian shamans for its psychoactive properties. Mushrooms were picked and hung to dry on the tips of pine tree branches in the forest. A possible source of the tradition of red decorations on Christmas trees.This mushroom is deeply embedded in human folklore and culture (even Christianity). Siberian shamans have used this mushroom for thousands of years for its psychoactive properties. Multiple fascinating books are dedicated to the history and understanding of the amanita muscaria fungus.
Amanita pantherina The colour is said to resemble a panther’s coat (with white spotting). Considered deadlypoisonous due to its extremely high concentration of ibotenic acid and muscimol (nervoussystem toxins). Research on these active ingredients as potential medication for nerve pain is underway.
Amanita phalloides Olive green with a silky smooth cap. This nondescript mushroom is the most poisonous fungal specimen (currently) known to man. Consuming just half a mushroom is sometimes enough to be fatal. It is responsible for most global deaths by accidental poisoning due to it being easily confused with other small brownish edible mushrooms
Amanita rubescens A mushroom that has a lot of variability in appearance and colour tone.This mushroom is highly prizedwhen cooked and is very tasty. A toxic protein in the mushroom is destroyed during cooking.The blusher is often confused with the panther cap. Inexperienced foragers beware of this one!
Coprinellus micaceus Displays an interesting biological process called ”deliquescence” or autodigestion. Shortly after picking, the gills will degrade into a slimy, dark black spore goo. Cooking needs to happen very quickly after harvesting to arrest this autodigestion. This mushroom is noted for its ability to bioaccumulate heavy metals. It shouldn’t be eaten if It grows by roadsides or polluted ground.
Hypholoma fasciculare Exhibits a fascinating biological phenomenon: the mushrooms fluoresce under ultraviolet light. An inedible poisonous mushroom that grows in abundance on dead wood. Poisonings are rarely fatal but diarrhoea, vomiting and convulsions will begin about 5 hours after ingestion. If the patient is lucky, symptoms will resolve in a few days.
Paxillus involutus Easily confused with the edible and delicious saffron milk cap. In the early 1900s thismushroom was considered edible and widely eaten in central and eastern Europe. However, in 1944 the mycologist Julius Schäffer died after eating this mushroom. It is now considereddeadly poisonous as it causes both the immune system to self-destruct the body's red bloodcells. Amazingly, despite being poisonous, it is still consumed in some of the more northernparts of Europe.
Lactarius deliciosus A delicious mushroom once native to Europe, but now common in Hogsback. The fungi wasaccidentally introduced into Africa by the English through their introduction of exotic trees androot soil. The stipe (or stem) of the milk cap has a very unique bright orange / saffron colourwhen the mushroom is picked fresh.
Russula sp. There are a few similar-looking Russula species in Hogsback. They are notoriously difficult to distinguish. Colours range from wine-red to dark purple but washes out with rain. The Russula genus has around 750 global species worldwide and represents a very diverse group of fungi. Many are toxic or unknown and one South African edible specimen is said to taste like crab meat. A red wine coloured smooth cap with a depressed centre are indicative of this group of fungi in Hogsback. In other places the Russula mushroom can have many different vibrant colours, including green and yellow caps.
Porcini, Gilded Bolete, Dark Cep, Queen Bolete, Penny Bun, Oak Bolete, Bay Bolete Several edible boletes are found in Hogsback. They are one of the best known, tastiest andsought-after wild gourmet mushrooms in the world. Highly valued in foodie parts of Europe,especially Italy, where just 50 dried grams of Grade A Porcini can fetch in excess of R250!Easy to identify, this mushroom has foam and not gills. One of the best species for noviceforagers to begin their love affair with wild mushroom foraging. Only one species, the bushveldbolete, is poisonous in Southern Africa and its range is restricted to the lowveld.
Devils Fingers, Stinkhorn Clathrus archeri A species only finally described in the 1980s. Creepy red tentacles emerge from a gelatinous“egg” on the forest floor. This mushroom produces compounds that smell like rotting flesh. Thisscent attracts flies for spore dispersal. The thought of eating one would require an unusualamount of absurdity. Nonetheless, the immature egg is said to be edible but unpleasant to eat.
Laetiporus sulphureus A large delicious mushroom with a texture and taste similar to chicken (large specimens canreach 40 kg). It is recommended to eat the younger fruit bodies as the flesh is more tasty /tender. This mushroom is regarded as a wild gourmet delicacy in much of Europe and NorthAmerica. It has also exhibited strong antibacterial properties towards staph bacteria.Is considered a pathogen on living trees, causing heart-rot in their hosts.
Ganoderma applanatum sp. Has a white underside that can be etched / drawn upon with a sharp object. The image ispreserved when the bracket mushroom is dried - hence the name artist's conk. A reveredmedicinal mushroom that has been used for thousands and thousands of years. Medicinal usesare plentiful and range from respiratory, anti-tumour, anti-carcinoma and antibiotic resistantbacteria. There are many interesting scientific articles about this mushroom's medicinalProperties
Macrolepiota sp. & Chlorophyllum molybdites Both mushrooms can have a huge white umbrella-shaped cap (the size of a small plate) on awhite stipe. White parasol (macrolepiota sp) - edible mushroom thought to be native to South Africa. Flakessimilar to fish / pulled pork. The gills are generally pinkish white.False parasol (chlorophyllum molybdites) - inedible and looks very similar to the white parasol.The gills have a green hue. Best for the novice foragers to avoid
Pycnoporus sp. Inedible, non-toxic, easy to identify bracket mushroom. The bright red colours are used in thenatural dyeing of fabrics and other textiles. This brightly coloured mushroom can create colourpalettes from red to orange and is stated to be very versatile as a natural dye
Stereum sp. Vigorous fungi, quick to colonise dead wood in Hogsback. They often appear in large clustersand have beautiful orange hues in many shades. A tough, leathery, fibrous mushroom with noculinary importance. Little is known about this species. Resembles the medicinal mushroom
Lycoperdon sp. There are three common puffball mushrooms in Hogsback. One is poisonous and two are edible! Novice foragers beware! Pigskin poison puff (scleroderma citrium) - cut in cross section there is a black spore mass in the centre. Fatal poisonings have been recorded. Gem-studded puffball (lycoperdon perlatum) - edible when flesh is white. Common puffball (lycoperdon pratense) - edible when flesh is white. The gem-studded puffs release their spores in a “puff” out the top when disturbed / trampled.
