Category Archives: Fistulina hepatica

Fistulina hepatica

Today’s Edibles

Today’s trek through the Helyar Woods and a few other places yielded a few fun culinary specimens.

A tiny Beefsteak Polypore. At this point I think that the literature needs updating. Beefsteaks seem to be naturalized in NJ.

Two good brackets of Chicken of the Woods. One in Helyar from a bigger cluster that was picked over by another mushroom hunter, another exceptionally young bracket from the log by Ryder’s Lane (much more grew, but sadly so did the poison ivy).

Lots of Meadow Mushrooms from a variety of places, including the largest specimen of the year so far.

In the next post I’ll have the inedibles and unidentifieds.

Peace,
-Steve

All above: Fistulina hepatica

All above: Laetiporus sulphureus

All above: Agaricus campestris

Another Beefsteak and a Single Chicken

Yesterday on a nature hike through the Livingston Preserve we found *another* Beefsteak Polypore. My Other Half thinks that they might not be so rare in NJ after all, but perhaps it’s more an indication of the odd climate this year.

We also found a *single* lone Chicken of the Woods bracket growing from a stump.

I also forgot to mention the other day finding a huge cache of Corral mushrooms, as well as a Geo Cache when we weren’t looking for one. 🙂

Peace,
-Steve

Yesterday’s Mushroom Catch

After the first downpour in a month, we hit the Heylar Woods at Rutgers Gardens and after some bushwhacking came across a number of beautiful specimens.

A large cluster of Chicken of the Woods (L. sulphureus) that was being enjoyed by a mass of insects.

Lots of polypores of various sorts, including a rather maze-gilled mushroom I have never seen before. (Still identifying it.)

And a rare find in NJ: A Beefsteak Mushroom, sometimes called “Ox Tongue” (Fistulina hepatica).

Later on in the day, we found a pristine Chicken of the Woods (another L. sulphureus) over in Johnson Park growing on a stump.

Now both the Beefsteak and the latter Chicken are awaiting their fate in our fridge. 🙂

An old Laetiporus sulphureus.

Another old Laetiporus sulphureus.

A zoomed out view of where it was growing.

UPDATE Nov 16 2010: Identified as Daedalea quercina.

UPDATE Nov 16 2010: Identified as Daedalea quercina.

UPDATE Nov 16 2010: Identified as Daedalea quercina.

Unidentified.

Fistulina hepatica

Fistulina hepatica

Fistulina hepatica

Laetiporus sulphureus

Laetiporus sulphureus