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Hypomyces lactifluorum
Dispite causing lobster mushrooms to grow in a rather disfigured manner, this very brightly colored fungus dramatically transforms its horribly flavored hosts into a delicious wild edible. The Lobster mushroom gets its name from the almost fluorescent-like reddish color that engulfs the entire host mushroom in a bumpy crust with a texture somewhat like sandpaper, which causes a resemblance to the shell of a lobster. The overall bulky shape looks similar to the bell end of a trumpet, though usually quite wavy and fluted in appearance. The stalk portion is typically very thick in relation to the width of the cap and a longitudinal section will show a white-fleshed gilled mushroom inside and a very thin orangish red layer on the outer surface of stalk, gills and cap.http://www.oregonmushrooms.com/mushrooms-information/lobster-mushrooms/lobster-mushrooms-2.html
Just harvested this morning! Growing all around my property, underneath salal berriers, near coast pine.
Lobster mushrooms can be found sometimes by themselves, but they are usually scattered over an area on the woodland floor under trees, or growing within the leaves of roadsides. http://www.oregonmushrooms.com/mushrooms...
Spotted on Oct 3, 2013
Submitted on Oct 3, 2013
3 Comments
They are quite good. Wet saute thoroughly!! I like them in soups, pastas and stews, where they add crunch and color - cut off all the dirt and excessively soft outside(or inside). The inside should be crisp and white
They are growing underneath salal berry, near coast pine. The property is surrounded with salal and large trees. I will try to make it more specific in the future. I have never eaten these, can't wait to try them!
Just a note: for habitat, put the specific place you found it. The wicki info can be in notes and description. Mushroom soup, I tell ya, mushroom soup!!