Hello nature friends!

Yesterday, I stumbled upon an exciting discovery in my own backyard. Outside the Choates, at the foot of a tree, I found a large cluster of mushrooms! I must have passed these many times on my way to an from my dorm, but had never noticed them before.

My attempt at identifying this mushroom (out of the 5.1 million species of mushroom out there!) with my mediocre identification skills and the use of the internet led me to believe it is lactarius piperatus, otherwise known as Peppery Milkcap (on a sidenote, I highly recommend spending some time browsing the creative names people have come up with to name mushrooms–very entertaining.)

If my identification is correct, it seems that this mushroom is “semi-edible,” as in it can technically be eaten, but has a poor taste. It can, however, be used as seasoning when dried. When cut, the mushroom bleeds whitish, peppery-tasting milk.I definitely don’t plan on snacking on these mushrooms anytime soon, despite their convenience to my dorm.

The species is widely distributed in both Europe and eastern North America, and has been accidentally introduced to Australia as well.

Have any of you seen these mushrooms around campus? What do you think of my identification?

Until next time!!

Frances

Greetings nature lovers!

A few weeks ago, on a lovely afternoon hike with some friends up Gile Mountain, I stumbled upon a very cool plant that I recognized immediately. Fiddleheads! Of course, I held up the group for some time as I photographed my findings and studied the funky-looking plant.

As soon as I saw the plant, I was brought back to the days growing up when my parents would buy fiddleheads from a farmer’s market and cook them to have with dinner. You can take my word for it–they are absolutely delicious!

Doing some research later, I found that fiddleheads are the fronds (large, divided leaves) of a young fern and are often harvested for use as a vegetable. If the fiddleheads were left on the plant and not harvested they would eventually unroll into a new frond.

Fiddleheads have a variety of names. A fiddlehead is sometimes called a crozier, named after the curved staff used by bishops. The name fiddlehead came about because the plant resembles the curled “scroll” on the end of a string instrument, such as a violin.

Have any of you seen these in the area? Has anyone eaten them before?

Until next time!
Frances