Plant of the Day Tuesday 9 January 2018
Not a plant today but an organism from the kingdom Fungi that feeds on the dead or dying hardwood of tree species including Acer (maple), Fagus (beech), Quercus (oak), Betula (birch), and Fraxinus (walnut) - Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane mushroom, bearded hedgehog mushroom, satyr’s beard, bearded tooth fungus). It is native to North America, Europe and Asia but here it was being cultivated for sale at a Farmers Market in Nova Scotia, Canada. After being sliced and cooked it had a texture and taste reminiscent of seafood. This species is being researched in connection with a potential dementia treatment. There were lots of other beautiful looking and tasty fungi being cultivated by the stall holder.
Jill Raggett
