Balls and Jellies

We're well and truly into fungus season now and I'm starting to see more and more interesting species. It's been a particulalrly good year for common puffballs and earthballs. 

This is a common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum).

It's also known as the warted puffball, gem-studded puffball, devil's snuff-box and (hilariously) wolf farts. And because some indigenous peoples believed that the spores caused blindness, they are also known as blindman's bellows and no-eyes. Common puffballs are Agarics (family Agaricaceae) and are widespread and edible - although you do need to ensure you can identify them. Immature forms of toxic Amanita species such as fly agaric, death cap and destroying angel can look superficially similar. However, if you cut through them you will see that they are not solid white all the way through, whereas puffballs are. Puffballs can also be confused with 'eggs' of the stinkhorn mushroom, which are round white balls. However, cut them through and you'll find a smelly jelly and a small mushroom inside waiting to emerge

The puffball is a small mushroom, rarely exceeding 3-4 inches in height, and is easily distinguished by a covering of soft siky bumps or 'jewels', which are easily rubbed off to leave a netlike pattern on the surface. When mature it becomes brown, and a hole in the top opens to release spores. They burst out like a cloud of smoke when raindrops hit the dome. 

Once they've gone to spore, they're no good to us as food but when young and firm (like the one in the photo) they are very tasty - just make sure they are white flesh all the way through and no maggots have got inside. Extracts of the puffball have antimicrobial and antifungal activities. 

Meanwhile, this is an earthball (probably Scleroderma areolatum).

Earthballs are toxic but are easily distinguished from puffballs. Firstly, they are very firm and have a thick, tough skin. At maturity the skin splits irregularly over the upper part to reveal the dark interior. And that's the easy way to tell them apart from puffballs - earthballs have a purple or black interior while puffballs are white. Please don't eat these as they will cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and in larger quantities, fainting. 

But perhaps my best find this week has been this yellow brain fungus (Tremella mesenterica).

Also known as golden jelly fungus, yellow trembler,or the excellent witches’ butter, it really does quiver and wobble like a jelly! The species grows on dead deciduous wood and is sort-of canniballistic as it feeds on wood-rotting fungi of the Peniophora genus. One of the most common of these in the UK is the rosy crust fungus (Peniophora incarnate) which eventually can be completely enveloped by the yellow brain fungus. 

According to European legend, if yellow brain fungus appeared on the gate or door of a house it meant that a witch had cast a spell on the family living there. The only way the spell could be removed was by piercing the fungus several times with straight pins until it went away. This is why yellow brain also has the common name of 'witches’ butter'. In Sweden, yellow brain fungus was burnt to protect against evil spirits. It is edible but flavourless. However, in China it is used to give a signature texture to soups. 

Although it's still being researched, yellow brain produces certain biological compounds that are of interest to medicine. Compounds produced by the fungus have shown anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties.