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Picking Mushrooms

The forest walk with children is often appreciated at any age. The presence of fungi makes this release much more interesting. The goal is not necessarily to collect, but to observe, photograph, create good moments of exchange between parents and children. I often hear "I know nothing, I do not go" then we must think "I know nothing, watch, and I do not touch." Besides, everyone knows some mushrooms.

Even the children know that all red mushroom with white spots found in cartoons, is toxic. We do not collect and we do not give him a kick. It is not dangerous because everyone knows it. This does not advance much know that this is amanita muscaria or fly agaric. For us doctors, it's better to know that it contains muscarine, it is dangerous but not necessarily fatal: the situation is serious but not desperate.

This one is harder. It most dangerous of all responsible for most poisonings. It is an Amanita, with a white ring around the base and in volve bag (like a bag sheathing foot) sometimes buried. It is found everywhere, under the oaks especially but not only.'s amanita phalloides or Amanita phalloides . It is deadly : We do not touch. One specimen even small (the small ones are more easily confused) can kill everyone. The situation is extremely serious.

But there is not as poisonous mushrooms. What a joy to meet this one. When we returned, we see that it has no blade under the cap but small holes, pores that are useful to contain the spores of the fungus reproduction. This one is boletus boletus edulis or Bordeaux excellent edible, cut into slices and passed to the pan with a little olive oil.

Microscopic observation of spores of fungi can sometimes be better recognized. All mushrooms have spores that are similar but the microscope will not let you know if the fungus is edible boletus satanas and has the same toxic spores that boletus edulis delicious.

There also is a pleasure and it is difficult to confuse a true delight. Scholars call Cantharellus cibarius , and other "or chanterelle chanterelle. It is easily found on sale.

A little latter. It is so beautiful in the sun and very common. It grows on trunks of old beech trees. Fortunately we shall not withhold his name oudemansiella mucida or simply mucidule slimy! It is inedible only decorative.

Some information finally:

If you are unsure, look and go your way

If you pick a mushroom, take over, with all the foot to allow for further identification easy.
Show your collection to your pharmacist . Some are very knowledgeable and others less.

Remember that for food, fungi use their mycelium which can reach several square meters. Do not unnecessarily trample around a rare .

This fungus mycelium brings to its food but also pollutants.

fungi have the annoying tendency to concentrate the radioactive elements in particular radioactive Cesium . In some French regions (Savoie, Corsica Drôme) the map of France radiactivité , mycologists do not pick up mushrooms from the Chernobyl accident.

In the same vein, we should buy that fungi with a known cause ("imported from Russia or Eastern" = avoid).
We even had a truck "Italian Mushrooms" which came straight from Russia.

good walk.

"If I do not know, watch, and I do not touch"

All photographs were made by Dr. Gamin or her children.

If you use these photos, thank you to link to this blog.