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Old 29-08-2008, 07:40 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
Jan Flora Jan Flora is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 234
Default Garden Oddity: What the heck is it?

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
Isabella Woodhouse wrote:

For positive ID, you need to get a spore print. Cut the stalk off a
mushroom cap; put the cap, gills down, on a piece of paper or half on a
dark piece of paper and half on a white piece of paper; put a bowl over
the 'shroom cap. Let it sit for awhile (up to 12 hours), then see what
color spores drop out of the cap.


Thanks so much for responding. These are not mushrooms. There are no
recognizable caps or gills. These things are huge. One is nearly the
size of a loaf of bread.... and growing.

Or if you have a natural history museum or college with a
biology/botany/horticulture dept. in your area, bring them a 'shroom for
ID. There will be someone around who's a fan of fungi who will know what
it is.


Thanks.


Could be a puffball!!! Those are edible, but I'd want to be sure.


A true puffball will be solid inside, like a marshmallow, when you cut
it in half. An immature amanita can have a little fetal looking thing
inside. The amanitas are deadly poison. Puffballs are good eating if you
pick them when they're really fresh. (We have puffballs all over the
place here.)

Never eat a 'shroom that you aren't sure of. It's not worth the risk.

Jan