Cyttaria gunnii - edible fungi on Myrtles

[Son of a Beach]

I was going to post this in the old Recipe and Menu Suggestions topic, but thought maybe it deserves a topic of it's own.

Has anyone tried eating the golf-ball like fungus that grows on the trunks of Myrtle Beech trees towards the end of the year? (and which is often seen fallen on the ground beneath the trees).

I did a little research a couple of years ago and the fungus is called "Cyttaria gunnii" (and despite its name, it grows on Nothofagus cunninghammii, not Nothofagus gunnii).


(NB: This photo ain't mine... click it to view it in its original page)

They're supposed be OK for food, according to this page, but I'm always a bit dubious about eating strange fungi, as I know that instant death can result from eating some fungi (well, maybe not quite instant).

I certainly plan to at least taste it next time I find some, and if it's any good, I might make some effort to actually cook with it later.

[Pompom]

We used to call them Myrtle Oranges around Derwent Bridge. I've never known whether or not they're edible I wouldn't be game to try them.
Cheers

Bob Cooper

[krilly]

Great pic - that's an exquisite looking fungus.

[forthferalz]

Please take a digital photo of the one selected for test BEFORE you try it and post it .. so if there's no follow up post we know which is the wrong one

[walkinTas]

Nice photo. Got any more for the Fungi Gallery

[tasadam]

I found this link, which has a fair bit of info, links, etc...

Of note,
Cyttaria gunnii

In Australia this fungus grows only on Nothofagus trees in Tasmania and southern Victoria. The fruiting bodies are yellow to orange and golfball-like in appearance. The fruiting bodies were eaten and also contained a fluid that was of "pleasant taste" to George Robinson, in the first European account of the use of this fungus, in 1833

Other interesting descriptions of other (differrent) fungi from that site include

It was used by many desert tribes to darken the white hair in old men's whiskers and for body painting.

There are reports of its also being used as a fly repellent.

The smoke from burning fruit bodies was inhaled by those with sore throats.

used as tinder and to carry fire as it would smoulder all day.

[tasadam]

I found another link that has some info on bush tucker
http://www.leatherwoodonline.com/tastes/2006/wild/
With a warning –

Firstly, while some plants are edible, not all native plants are edible. Some are known to be poisonous; some contain both edible and poisonous parts; others are at times poisonous but when ripe not poisonous. Allergic reactions are also possible for some people.
Scientific research into the edibility of native plants is negligible. Even among aboriginal people knowledge is far less than it once was, so: eat cautiously. Unless you are absolutely certain of the identification of a plant, don't eat it. Secondly, we are not the only animals that eat native plants. Native animals rely entirely on bush tucker to live. Harvest lightly—and note that State and Federal regulations exist to protect rare and endangered flora from any form of human harvesting and some plants require you to have a permit to collect. Thirdly, be aware that plants in the wild can vary greatly in potency from season to season and even place to place.

[Son of a Beach]

Right... finally mustered the courage and tasted one of these near Lake Tahune under Frenchmans Cap this week. I bit into one and chomped off about a third and chewed it up. Firstly, the surprise to me is that they are completely hollow and simply full of air. From the outward appearance I had just assumed they were spongy right through.

As for taste, it didn't taste of anything much at all. Very little flavour to speak of. Certainly not bad though. I suspect that frying it up in butter might bring out whatever flavour it had better. I might try this next time.

I was still a little cautious and did not actually swallow it (I've still got an instinctive fear of strange fungi). Maybe next time I'll try frying and swallowing.

[tasadam]

A pretty remote place to go biting into something like that...
Gutsy move!

At the risk of double-posting (or double linking...)

[photohiker]

Holy thread resurrection!

Didn't know what I was looking at when I first saw these:



Didn't eat em