#fistulina hepatica

[daily-mushroom]

Mushroom of the day

Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica)

Season: August - November

Nutrition: Edible, good, often used as a meat substitute

"Fistulina hepatica is found in many parts of the world like North America, Australia, Asia and Europe. It is usually found growing on mature living oaks or chestnuts. It is a bracket fungus commonly called as beefsteak fungus or ox tongue fungus due to its striking resemblance to a chunk of fresh meat or liver. The wood of trees infected with the beefsteak fungus develops brown rot, which makes the wood richer, darker and of great interest to the furniture building trade."

images: 1. WildFoodUK and 2. ForagerChef

[artofmaquenda]

First time tasting beefsteak fungus, they are gorgeous and the textures look a lot like meat :o tastes kinda sour and it's very soft, it would be excellent in a creamy peppersauce

[unkn0wnvariable]

Decaying Beefsteak

An old beefsteak polypore fungus, starting to decay on a tree trunk at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.

[grrl-beetle]

Beefsteak Fungus

[mushroomgay]

London, UK, October 2023

Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica)

Found a couple of little beefsteak fungi yesterday right at the end of their season - I suspect trying to grow because of the unseasonably warm October we were having until very recently, which might also have caused the strange, long growth on the first one.

This mushroom is remarkably like raw meat when sliced, and even 'bleeds' a red liquid. Its taste is firm, chewy, and rich, although not much like meat. I find them delicious though - I simmer in butter with onions and garlic (sometimes I'll add herbs or red wine too). I had it as a little side dish to my udon soup.

[fungi-and-a-funguy]

Daily Fungi Fact 131: The Beefsteak Polypore(Fistulina hepatica) is a bracket fungi, most bracket fungi are inedible with a wood-like texture, but the Beefsteak Polypore is edible and some say that it tastes good, though older Beefsteak Polypores should be soaked overnight due to containing juices that can cause indigestion, also they can't be easily preserved.

[mycoblogg]

FOTD #110 : beefsteak polypore! (fistulina hepatica)

the beefsteak polypore (also poor man’s steak, ox tongue, or tongue mushroom) is a bracket fungus in the family fistulinaceae. it can be found in europe, north america, australia, north africa & southern africa :-)

the big question : can i bite it?? yes !! it is edible when young, but may require long cooking.

f. hepatica description :

"the cap is 7–30 cm wide & 2–6 cm thick. is shape resembles a large tongue, & it is rough-surfaced with a reddish-brown colour."

[images : source, source & source] [fungus description : source]

[raverams]

Biefstukzwam