Old Man Of The Woods
Strobilomyces floccopus
Do not eat any fungi that has not been properly identified by a qualified professional, some are DEADLY when ingested. All edible wild fungi MUST be cooked.
This is one of North America's most unusual edible wild mushroom. It is a dark, scurfy fungus that is gray-white with tufts of black hair on the cap and a fine layer of dark fur on the mushroom's stem.
Type
Distinguishing Features
This unique mushroom is greyish black, and has a shaggy cap and stalk. The cap is cushion-shaped, becoming flat with white flesh showing between the dark scales. It is covered with large, shaggy, soft, scales and the flesh is somewhat whitish. Pores are small; angular; grayish, bruising reddish then black. The stalk is slightly narrower toward the cap usually with one or two ring zones. The partial veil is greyish and sometimes it leaves woolly ring zones on the stalk.
Height
5 – 12 cm (2 – 5”).
Habitat
On the ground in mixed hardwood forests and on occasion under a conifer. It especially likes oaks.
Spore Print
Blackish brown to black.
Season
July to October.
Gills
Pore surface is whitish, becoming grey to black. Pores are angular, 1 to 3 per mm and the tubes are up to 2 cm deep.
Edibility
Young fungi must be cooked. They have a mellow, earthy flavour.
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Types of Wild Food
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