#inedible fungi

[mushroomgay]

Cambridge, UK, October 2023

Yellow staghorn fungus (Calocera viscosa)

I always find these pretty little things are more orange than yellow when young, then their colour pales a little as they mature.

#wild fungi #fungi #mushroom hunting #inedible fungi #yellow staghorn fungus #calocera viscosa #calocera

[lost-fool-wandering]

Ah well... its the mostly inedible kind :/

Ucháč obecný / Gyromitra esculenta

-L.F.

#mushroom #mushrooms #fungi #my photography #we take mushroom hunting very seriously in this house #when i say mostly inedible i also mean mostly toxic #deadliness depending on the area and preparation

[rebeccathenaturalist]

ETA: I wrote up a guide on clues that a foraging book was written by AI here!

[Original Tweet source here.]

[RANT AHEAD]

Okay, yeah. This is a very, very, very bad idea. I understand that there is a certain flavor of techbro who has ABSOLUTELY zero problem with this because "AI is the future, bro", and we're supposed to be reading their articles on how to use AI for side hustles and all that.

I get that ID apps have played into people's tendency to want quick and easy answers to everything (I'm not totally opposed to apps, but please read about how an app does not a Master Naturalist make.) But nature identification is serious stuff, ESPECIALLY when you are trying to identify whether something is safe to eat, handle, etc. You have to be absolutely, completely, 100000% sure of your ID, and then you ALSO have to absolutely verify that it is safely handled and consumed by humans.

As a foraging instructor, I cannot emphasize this enough. My classes, which are intended for a general audience, are very heavy on identification skills for this very reason. I have had (a small subsection of) students complain that I wasn't just spending 2-3 hours listing off bunches of edible plants and fungi, and honestly? They can complain all they want. I am doing MY due diligence to make very sure that the people who take my classes are prepared to go out and start identifying species and then figure out their edibility or lack thereof.

Because it isn't enough to be able to say "Oh, that's a dandelion, and I think this might be an oyster mushroom." It's also not enough to say "Well, such-and-such app says this is Queen Anne's lace and not poison hemlock." You HAVE to have incredibly keen observational skills. You HAVE to be patient enough to take thorough observations and run them through multiple forms of verification (field guides, websites, apps, other foragers/naturalists) to make sure you have a rock-solid identification. And then you ALSO have to be willing to read through multiple sources (NOT just Wikipedia) to determine whether that species is safely consumed by humans, and if so if it needs to be prepared in a particular way or if there are inedible/toxic parts that need to be removed.

AND--this phenomenon of AI-generated crapola emphasizes the fact that in addition to all of the above, you HAVE to have critical thinking skills when it comes to assessing your sources. Just because something is printed on a page doesn't mean it's true. You need to look at the quality of the information being presented. You need to look at the author's sources. You need to compare what this person is saying to other books and resources out there, and make sure there's a consensus.

You also need to look at the author themselves and make absolutely sure they are a real person. Find their website. Find their bio. Find their social media. Find any other manners in which they interact with the world, ESPECIALLY outside of the internet. Contact them. Ask questions. Don't be a jerk about it, because we're just people, but do at least make sure that a book you're interested in buying is by a real person. I guarantee you those of us who are serious about teaching this stuff and who are internet-savvy are going to make it very easy to find who we are (within reason), what we're doing, and why.

Because the OP in that Tweet is absolutely right--people are going to get seriously ill or dead if they try using AI-generated field guides. We have such a wealth of information, both on paper/pixels and in the brains of active, experienced foragers, that we can easily learn from the mistakes of people in the past who got poisoned, and avoid their fate. But it does mean that you MUST have the will and ability to be impeccably thorough in your research--and when in doubt, throw it out.

My inbox is always open. I'm easier caught via email than here, but I will answer. You can always ask me stuff about foraging, about nature identification, etc. And if there's a foraging instructor/author/etc. with a website, chances are they're also going to be more than willing to answer questions. I am happy to direct you to online groups on Facebook and elsewhere where you have a whole slew of people to compare notes with. I want people's foraging to be SAFE and FUN. And AI-generated books aren't the way to make that happen.

#foraging #mushroom foraging #plant foraging #mushrooms #edible plants #edible mushrooms #wild foods #food #nature #AI #fungus #fungi #poisonous mushrooms #poisonous plants #botany #mycology #rant

[eipolani]

‘inedible’ mixed media sculpted painting on wood round. @hinge_artist_collective seasonal online group show ‘Ominous II’ is now open and running through October 31st 🎃 It’s a fantastic line up of artists that can be viewed from the comfort of your home on our group website and facebook page. i created new treats for this one that are a bit different from my usual art and were extremely fun to make. though they are toothy, mouthy, pokey and (hodges favorite word at 3 years old) “inedible”, they’re all quite tame. #halloween #groupartshow #hingeartistcollective #sculpture #painting #mixedmedia #fungi #mushrooms #popsurrealism #newcontemporaryart #inedible https://www.instagram.com/p/CjaaPGXL1gy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#halloween #groupartshow #hingeartistcollective #sculpture #painting #mixedmedia #fungi #mushrooms #popsurrealism #newcontemporaryart #inedible

[futurebird]

The case for domesticated ants.

Domesticated bees are incredibly useful. They pollinate many crops and produce honey. But what could domesticated ants do for humanity?

Ants are much stronger than bees and come in a wide range of sizes. They can be kept healthy on an inexpensive a diet of feeder insects and plant sugars. Ants are fastidious and pay attention to details. They would be excellent for agriculture. Weaver ants are already used for pest control in orchards, farmers place silk cocoons in the trees to attract queens and connect the branches of adjacent trees to help the ants expand their territory. The weaver ants naturally attack most arthropods that enter the tree.

But what if ants could also help with tasks like controlling unwanted weeds? Some species of ants grow fungus gardens and practice weeding to keep the gardens free of inedible fungi and plants. Ants that live in mutualistic relationships with trees and gourds meticulously trim and kill all unwanted plants that grow near their host plant. Domesticated herbicidal ants could collect seeds from weeds and clip seedlings.

Ants could also be used for pest control in enclosed spaces. Army ants sweep over the forest killing most arthropods in a region. What if they could sweep over your apartment, or restaurant every few weeks and eliminate unwanted guests?

Larger ants could be used for search and rescue. Equipped with small trackers or cameras (The larger ants could wear the cameras) they could sweep over a destabilized building and find missing people.

Ants could also help with fiddly sorting tasks, anything that involves putting little objects in piles.

They are also very good at finding leaks.

Really the future is bright if there are more ants in it.

#ants #antposting #bugs #insects #bugblr #invertebrates #ant #myrmecology #antkeeping #antblr #domesticated ants

[halsinsheart]

a/n: welcome to kinkmas day 1 aka me delving back into writing.

summary: halsin & reader get distracted while mushroom foraging.

tags: NSFW MDNI, size difference, gn!reader, pet names (love, little one, songbird)

wc: ~1.8k

kinkmas masterlist || reblogs > likes

“Woah, look at that one there!” You pointed to a unique shape poking out from the rotting wood of a felled birch, garnering the attention of your large companion who chuckled softly at your childlike fascination.

“Some Purple Jellydisc; inedible but interesting to look at nonetheless.” Halsin crouched down next to you, his expression equally as captivated by the fungi as yours was.

Food rations in the camp were stable at the moment, but considering how your party seemed to grow and with inclement weather looming on the horizon, you coaxed Halsin into foraging with you. However, coaxing might have been an overstatement because the druid all but jumped up from his spot where he was whittling in favor of joining you on your excursion. You were a decent distance into the forest now with a basket on your arm that was slow to fill, but in your defense, you were understandably distracted.

Halsin stood sturdy against the incoming storm’s wind, a pleasant buffer between you and the elements. It was also the most opportune moment for you to admire just how broad he was while your mind wandered with thoughts of him. The irony of the man built like a tree worshipping the Oak Father wasn’t lost on you, although you wondered exactly what type of oak he would be. Perhaps a Southen Live, with its wide expanse and evergreen foliage? Or maybe the Bur with its massive heights and impressive longevity?

“Ah, here we are- Lion’s Mane! Edible and full of flavor.” Halsin’s deep voice shook you from your rambling thoughts and as you took in the mushroom he was slicing, it was your turn to laugh.

“They really know how to appropriately name these guys. Shame that Turkey Tail isn't edible, it’d be funny to serve it with actual turkey. Hey, wait, there’s Old-Man-of-the-Woods!” You scrambled over one of the broken trunks in front of you to squat down in front of the fungi and cut the fruiting body off before placing it into the basket with the others.

“I’ve been here the entire time, little one, ripe for your harvesting.” The joke was delivered with his usual charming smile as he held his arms out in a gesturing manner towards himself.

Thoughts faltered within your head for a moment as you processed his words and tried to grapple for a response that didn’t make you sound like an immature teenager. “Ripe for my harvesting, yeah? If we don’t find too many more edible things I might have to take you up on that offer.”

“Of course, I'd hate to see you starve. By all means, consume me, little songbird.” His voice lowered at the same time he leaned in closer while his stance widened and his chest puffed outwards, only making him appear larger.

Swallowing the air stuck in your throat, you braced yourself on the tree behind you and looked up into the hazel irises of the druid. The pet name nearly made you whimper as he loomed over you, but his words gave you confidence. You would consume him wholly and entirely. Lips met in a fevered kiss and your hands cupped his face gently while his own covered a wide expanse over your hips, squeezing ever so slightly. Again and again, you kissed until you were gasping for air, leaning your head back to obtain some oxygen, yet Halsin persisted with kisses along your exposed neck.

“Breathtaking.” He whispered against your skin while his hands massaged your ass before he plucked you off the ground.

A surprised squeal of excitement left you as you clamored to hold onto him while you were lifted several feet off the ground. Finally, at eye level, you took advantage and kissed him again, reveling in the decadent noise that left his lips when your hands tugged at his hair. After a couple more tugs, his hair fell from its half-bun to frame his face and tickle at your cheeks. Your legs wrapped around his thick torso, though you didn’t have a chance of crossing your ankles around his back, your legs simply too short and his body far too wide. 

Traveling your hands down his neck to his torso, you pulled at his tunic until the front laces came loose. Halsin shuffled you around in his arms like a mere burlap sack so he could shrug his shirt off, while you were left to ogle at his combined balance and strength until he brought you back to him. His warm chest was now bared to you and his hands made quick work of your shirt, being mindful not to tear it while he discarded it. When your bare skin met, it felt like a jolt of electricity coursed through you and ultimately ended as a pulse to your core.

“Please,” your voice wavered as you pleaded with him, tugging at his hair to no avail in an attempt to remove him from the sensitive part of your neck, only earning a breathy chuckle before he responded.

“Please what, my love? Share with me your fantasies and I’ll make them a reality,” his breath fanned across your neck as he relished in your scent, hands caressing up and down your back while his eyes closed.

A desperate whine left you when you realized he was making you voice your desires out loud, still, you were desperate enough to obey the demand, “Please, touch me more. I want all of you.”

“I’d love nothing more,” his last words were nearly a growl, reverberating down through your bones and back.

In one swift motion, you were laid in a soft patch of white clover that embraced you as gently as the druid hovering over you did. Your limbs splayed out as they welcomed the caresses from both plant and druid, the latter of which ever so slowly slid your bottoms off until they were discarded to the side. Halsin sat back on his haunches, fingertips still ghosting your skin while he simply admired the view of you splayed out just for him.

A shiver ran down your spine at the teasing sensation and you parted your legs in a silent beckon for him. Never one to ignore the call of nature’s desires, especially ones that concern your desires, Halsin obeyed. His movements were skilled and experienced, much more than that, he listened. Every movement, every noise, and every twitch you gave told him everything he needed to know about how you were feeling and what you needed from him. 

So much so, that it didn’t take long for you to be drowned in ecstasy not just once or twice, but until your body movements were beyond your control and any attempt you made to quiet your noises was futile. Only by the grace of the gods were you finally able to beg for him to stop, and even then he took you over the edge one more time.

“You always taste divine, I can’t quite help myself,” he chuckled under his breath as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, “but now you’re more than ready for me, little one. And I intend to give you all of me.”

“Ha, I’d expect nothing less,” you responded breathlessly, still recovering from the praise his mouth and fingers gave you, trying to ignore the way he used your words from earlier against you now. 

Sweet kisses were peppered across your face as Halsin slowly slid inside of you, making sure to pause every time one of your small hands squeezed at his bicep. Your mind melted as he pushed deeper inside of you, each additional inch making your eyes roll back. The stretch burned yet the way his heavy hands massaged your hips emboldened you to take more.

Once his tip reached the deepest part of you, he pulled away from leaning over you to down at where you were joined and back up at you, “Well, not quite all of me, though I’m sure we can improve that.”

“Sh-Shut up,” you mumbled while your face heated with embarrassment at his words and your lower half relaxed in anticipation of what was to come.

“Fair enough. So long as you sing for me, my love,” his lips pressed kisses into your hands before holding them to his heart and leaning down once more to shield your smaller form from the rest of the world, his forearms resting in the clovers next to your head.

Nodding, you both agreed to his request and gave him the okay to start moving. He kissed you one more time before giving a testing thrust, after seeing you adjusted to that alright, he slowly picked up a rhythm as smooth as the flowing river. You weren’t new to this, weren’t new to him, you knew what to expect. And yet, when he put his efforts into chasing your high, you found yourself gasping and hands flying to hold onto his shoulders for stability.

The sounds of the daily nature activities didn’t stand a chance at drowning out the noises that resulted from your coupling. You only hoped you were far enough away from camp to avoid the walk of shame, though shame was far from any emotion you had over this. The number of times your pleasure crested was impossible to count while in your current mind state, with some ebbing right into another high.

Halsin was familiar with your body inside and out, and he could see the focus leaving your eyes as your mind went white from the overload of pleasure. His words of praise and sweet promises kept you grounded long enough for you both to worship and relish in the other’s body for one last, deliciously sweet high.

Heavy breaths mingled as your foreheads rested against each other and Halsin’s movements ceased except for the adoring caress of his hands that rubbed back and forth over your thighs. As your lucid thoughts returned to you, a smile spread across your face and your own hands reached out to brush a piece of hair from his eyes.

Decadent bliss filled the small clearing that you shared as pure unfiltered adoration radiated off of one of you flowing into the other and returned tenfold. Within this solace, where the forest surrounded you and hid your tryst away from the rest of the world, you longed for an eternity more of sharing your life with the large druid, whatever may come.

Whatever may come. Including the vampire elf’s near-tantrum when you returned to camp after many hours with less than adequate storage provisions.

©halsinsheart ~{2024}~ you do not have permission modify, copy, repost, or enter works into AI.

#🍄{my creations}🐻 #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #halsin #bg3 halsin #halsin silverbough #halsin smut #size difference #x reader #gn reader #🥀kiss me once queue me twice #kinkmas

[mycoblogg]

FOTD #021 : pixie cup lichen! (cladonia asahinae)

pixie cup lichen (AKA asahina's cup lichen) is a cup lichen in the family cladoniaceae. it primarily grows on moss !! this lichen occurs in europe, north america, the southernmost area of south america & even the antarctic.

the big question : can i bite it?? as with most lichens, pixie cups are inedible.

c. asahinae description :

"pixie cup lichen are small funnel-shaped cups & grow about 2.5 cm (1 inch) high. they are light green."

[images : source & source] [fungus description : source + own observation, due to lack of resources]

"one of my favourite fungi ever !! i genuinely love these little cups so much. i was so happy when i found out that lichen fall into the kingdom of fungi :-)"

#• fungus of the day !! • #[cladonia asahinae] #: pixie cup lichen : #: asahina's cup lichen : #021 #|| #fungi #fungus #mycology #mushroom #cottagecore #earth #forestcore #mushrooms #foraging #nature #lichen #biology #cup lichen #green #pretty #image desc in alt text #image description in alt #cladonia asahinae #pixie cup lichen #asahina's cup lichen

[soupandmushrooms]

Daldinia concentrica

Commonly referred to as King Alfred's cake, cramp balls, and coal fungus.

The reasons for these names are as follows:

Due to their burnt appearance their common name King Alfreds cake is a reference to the Anglo-Saxon king of England in the 9th century. There is a myth that after being given shelter by a peasant woman Alfred was reputed to have inadvertently allowed her cakes to burn, having promised that he would watch them cooking in return for the shelter.

People used to believe that carrying the fruiting body of one of these mushrooms would cure having cramp, hence the name cramp balls.

The fruiting body is also said to resemble a lump of coal due to its colour and size. The fungi can also be used as tinder for lighting fires, and may have been used as far back as the stoneage!

Daldinia concentrica are common in Europe, North America and Australia but they can be found all over the earth in temperate climates. They are found on dead or decaying wood, most often on ash and beech trees.

The fungi is a member of the Daldinia genus this means that inside the fruitbody there are concentric silver/grey and black layers, like tree rings these layers are related to seasonal growth. Many insects and small animals make their homes in the fungus.

Growing members of this species are a pinkish brown, turning black once they are fully grown. 

Some examples of young Daldinia concentrica:

Examples of the rings:

This fungus is inedible.

#Hiii im back #this week went super quick for me #tysm to all the people who have followed me! #Daldinia Genus #soupandmushrooms #fungi #mushrooms #fungus #foraging

[lindagoesmushrooming]

I'd like to learn how to identify edible-vs- toxic mushrooms...

I believe, it's a skill acquired with time. You can use the internet, books, apps, the knowledge of other people to learn mushrooms.

There are thousands of mushroom species, so, I think, first you have to learn your local edible mushrooms. Whenever you're not sure what it is, even with slightest doubt - do not take it.

Probably, one the best and most nutritious of edible mushrooms are boletes. There are many species and subspecies of these guys (boletus, leccinum, suillus, xerocomus), most of them are edible.

(Boletus radicans, Boletus calopus, Tylopilus felleus are bitter. Porphyrellus porphyrosporus, Strobilomyces strobilaceus are also inedible. Boletus satanas is toxic.)

Then there are chanterelles:

Parasol mushrooms:

Chicken of the woods:

Honey fungi:

A lot of russula species are edible but they're not too nutritious and some of them can make you sick.

Lactarius sp. are edible, too, but then again woolly milkcap can be slightly toxic, if not prepared properly. Some of lactarius mushrooms are said to have carcinogens in them.

In the end, you have to study the mushrooms. Read about them, look at the photos and videos from every possible angle, learn about the stipe, the gills, the pores, the color, the smell. Don't go mushroom hunting alone, if you have no previous experience whatsoever.

(Also, here's a related ask some time ago.)

#mushrooms #fungi #edible mushrooms #mycology #info #this is just a tip of iceberg and I'm mostly talking about my local shrooms

[dromaeo-sauridae]

somewhere in the eastern mountain ranges. multiple bodies of this substance have been found, and the origin of it is still unknown. anything dipped or dropped into these pools causes a small but violent reaction and is immediately disintegrated. any records of it are simply referred to as "blood"

ruins on the coast of cadaver's domain. large stalks of some sort of fungi tend to sprout up around these places, especially in burial grounds or ancient places of worship. they only last a few days before withering. according to locals they cant be used for anything and are inedible. the ones found here were of average size, but apparently they can grow to be taller than a human.

some misc promethea stuff.

#once i figure out how to draw caves and more intricate structures its fucking OVER #my art #promethea #worldbuilding

[toastloafley]

Found and photographed on a mountain biking trail in West Virginia

ID by, me: Pleated Inkcap

Life is fleeting, especially for this mushroom. It's body disappears in under 24 hours.

See more photos, and learn more about the pleated Inkcap below the cut!

The pleated Inkcap grows at night after rain, it has to spread its spores fast, and like a vampire this mushroom does not fare well in sunlight.  

After sprouting, it grows to full size within hours releases its spores, then consumes itself. Quickly self decomposing to gather as much nutrients from its fruiting body as it can before the sun dries it out.

It's fruiting body short lived but beautiful, this fungi continues on strong through its mycelium underground, waiting patiently for the next rainfall. 

Medicinal uses are unknown.

Edibility: inedible

Rarity: common

Genus: Parasola

Regions: Britain, Ireland, Mainland Europe, & North America

Please do your own research, I am an enthusiast not a scientist. I'm here to share and have fun. 

All photographs taken by me: 

Toast Loafley/Juno S.

#mushrooms #wild fungi #fungi #photography #nature #nature photography #mushroom identification #ToastLoafley

[mushroomgay]

Epping Forest, London, UK, October 2023

Porcelain fungus (Oudemansiella mucida)

These beautiful fungi start out as a dull beige globe, which opens up into this pure white, slick fungus. They have a remarkable talent for turning out the right way up, including when they grow out from the underside of a branch - their stipe will grow down and then curve up, allowing the cap to grow parallel to the ground in order to release their spores with maximal efficiency.

#mycology #wild fungi #inedible fungi #porcelain mushrooms #porcelain fungi #oudemansiella #white fungi #Oudemansiella mucida

[faemytho]

tell me more about poison mushroom please please please

you have NO idea what you've brought upon yourself.

let me preface this with the fact that i am not a mycologist, but i AM autistic, and that DID culminate in my buying of an honest to god mycology textbook which i then read for fun.

let me start with some cookie run headcanons and thoughts.

My thoughts follow as thus: all intentionally made cookies (read: all witch-made cookies) were made to be edible, OR to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. If not, they were made on accident (candlelight, werewolf), or they became a cookie through other means (sorbet shark, kumiho), OR they were wizard-made or cookie-born (descended from other cookies, which doesn't apply here). For witch-made cookies, its either food or something that can be appreciated aesthetically.

((And, cookies pride themselves on tasting good, by the way. "Their sweet bodies and crunchy goodness", to quote Pure Vanilla. Scent and taste and texture are all traits considered when deciding if a cookie is attractive or not, which is probably a religious undertone when you remember a certain prevalent cult considers the witches to be gods.))

A poisonous mushroom does not fit the bill for any of that. So it can be reasoned that either Poison Mushroom Cookie was accidentally made, or underwent some kind of transformation to become who they were. I believe its the latter because of a line in their story that mentions that PM had eaten a poisonous mushroom bc they were hungry, so my theory here is that Poison Mushroom wasn't always poisonous. They became poisonous because they ate a poisonous mushroom.

So why would Poison Mushroom Cookie exist, and not only exist, but be happy about resembling a toxic mushroom? Why would they eat a poisonous mushroom in the first place?

Their story says they "were hungry", but I refuse to believe they ate a poisonous mushroom unknowingly; a mushroom would know better than anyone else what other mushrooms are capable of! Not even WE humans know what fungi are or all of their capabilities!

My headcanon: They intentionally poisoned themself to avoid being eaten by the witches.

Hear Me Out, because this also ties into why they're allied with Dark Enchantress. Descend into even more headcanon territory below.

SOME MORE MUSHROOM KNOWLEDGE!

There are quite a lot of edible mushrooms out there, and quite a lot of deadly ones that resemble edible ones. It takes a knowledgeable mushroom hunter to be able to tell the difference between some of the most delicious species and some of the most toxic deadly species of mushrooms we know of.

For EXAMPLE, one of the most common edible mushrooms we eat (Portobello/Button mushrooms) look nearly identical to Destroying Angel mushrooms, one of the most toxic species of mushrooms we know of. They're also called Death Caps, from the Amanita genus of mushrooms.

So the first point here is dont eat wild mushrooms unless you know FOR SURE without a doubt that they're safe. The second point is that Poison Mushroom poisoned themself doing this. The third point is, there's a lot of edible mushrooms out there despite the poisonous ones, and what goes hand in hand better than witches and mushroom hunting?

Another thought I had was, well, since there are a ton of mushrooms out there that are edible, how come there's next to no mushroom cookies, and the one mushroom cookie we do have is inedible? ((Note: I discovered Truffle Cookie in ovenbreak later, but still. Mushrooms are a pretty widespread food ingredient. Why are there no mushroom cookies?))

My thought was... there used to be. My thought was, perhaps there WERE Mushroom Tribes, and they were wiped out by mushroom hunter witches. And perhaps a sole survivor of the wipeout only survived because they had intentionally changed their biology with poison?

So, who did Poison Mushroom used to be before they poisoned themself? Their costumes tell an interesting story!

Fragrant Shiitake

"Mmm, the fragrance of a freshly baked Shiitake Coo... Poison Mushroom Cookie! Do not get tricked by the aroma, the poison is as potent as ever!"

This is the Shiitake Mushroom, and it is one of the most eaten mushrooms in the world next to the portobello. If eaten raw, it can cause a non-lethal allergic rash, but it is not poisonous. This costume is a cooked/meant to be eaten shiitake mushroom. This is who I believe Poison Mushroom was before, and if this is who they were, they were definitely a target for mushroom hunting witches.

Sprung Up

"Poison Mushroom Cookie must have used a special mushroom elixir to grow into a large colorful spotted mushroom! One thing that such vibrant appearance signified a high content of poison, yet... Cookies seem even more attracted to it! All to Poison Mushroom Cookie's delight."

This is the Fly Agaric, or the Amanita Muscaria, one of the most recognized mushrooms in the world and part of the Amanita genus, which is responsible for 95% of fatalities caused by mushroom poisonings. Remember the Destroying Angel and the Death Cap I mentioned? They're Amanita species too.

Sprung Up's description lends credit to the idea that Poison Mushroom wants to be poisonous. And if that's the case, then why are they so insistent that they're not poisonous, and that they hate poison, all the while encouraging the cookies around them to eat poisonous mushrooms?

Here's my reasoning:

If we go with the idea that Poison Mushroom poisoned themself to save themself from being eaten by the witches, then the idea "become poisonous via eat mushroom" becomes associated with being safe.

Dark Enchantress opposes the witches, and we all know why, and she's RIGHT to! She's right to oppose the witches! They eat cookies! They're not benevolent gods, they're more like how we humans might act towards ants if ants were suddenly made of candy.

Her methods are wrong but her intentions and motives are right. But cookies like Gingerbrave's party and the Ancients who oppose her don't believe the truth she told them; they do not believe the witches were meant to eat cookies (end of world 8), despite Gingerbrave literally running out of the oven he was baked in at the beginning of the game!

So, back to Poison Mushroom. They vividly know why they should oppose the witches. These other cookies do not. PM was able to become poisonous and escape the mushroom hunters, so why not poison these cookies so the witches will avoid them too? It will save them from being eaten, like it saved PM!

Dark Enchantress killed several witches the night of her transformation. She brings with her the power to protect Earthbread from the tyranny of the witches. This power and her desire to kill the witches is precisely why Poison Mushroom, with all the things they've experienced in the past regarding the mushroom hunting witches (as per my headcanons...), would follow her.

Of course, I can't leave out my general headcanons for Poison Mushroom either.

What use would Dark Enchantress have for someone like Poison Mushroom? Well, I took the whole "looks like an edible mushroom but can actually kill you" thing and applied it to their personality. They act innocent and naive, but this is to make you let your guard down so they can gather information. They're like a little spy for Dark Enchantress, and their real personality is really dry and sarcastic. They're very secretive and because a lot of mushroom knowledge is straight up unknown, they tend to act pretty eldritch in nature too. I think we all tend to forget Poison Mushroom is able to teleport, too (end of world 14, and i could swear they did it in world 10 at some point too).

A mycorrhizal network is a connected network of fungi that have formed symbiosis with the plants surrounding them. It connects individual plants together; often they'll be in forests, connecting trees and redistributing resources from trees who have too much of something to trees who have too little of something.

This is what I figure PM uses to spy on the other cookies of darkness within DE's castle, and why they're an asset in forested areas; they can tap into the mycorrhizal network and suddenly all the resources and power in that forested area are theirs to control.

It's also why I'm kind of interested in dropping them on the Millennial Tree, and why I headcanon they were able to take over Pure Vanilla (a vanilla orchid, a plant) so easily. (I have headcanons for the mushroom tribes too. Truffle's from one of them and meeting her would be so emotionally good for Poison Mushroom. Too bad neither of them knows the other exists.)

Anyways, all that explained, I tried to find what mushroom PM is right now, and look at the Viscid Violet Cort (Cortinarius iodes). Not many purple mushrooms exist (that I could find), but Cortinarius has a few, and they are NOT edible!

Some mushrooms are good for you, and some are not. Take the Purple Cap Mushroom, for example. Looks so chunky and yummy! That is why that hungry Cookie ate it. Why yes, that was Poison Mushroom Cookie. Always peaceful, always daydreaming. Poison Mushroom Cookie would be mistaken for an actual mushroom in the past, but they were never angry, never at all! Poison Mushroom Cookie greeted and hugged these mistaken Cookies like dear old friends, that's right! They offered every one of them a mushroom of their own— so sweet, so colorful. Just one bite, just one... After all, such big friendly eyes mean no harm. No harm at all...

So anyways, that's why they're my scrunkly and I catfished the HELL out of them but I'm not sorry <3

#poison mushroom cookie #cookie run headcanons #mae rambles #this took me two hours to write but im not sorry #cookie run

[lupinus-bicolor]

Red dead gang + flowers, part two :)

Javier Escuella - Calochortus venustus; Red mariposa lily, a native to the deserts of southern California, it’s a stunning yet diminutive lily that blooms with the spring rains. Its striking petal markings and sharp sepals give it a unique flair that makes this little flower an absolute show stopper.

Sadie Adler - Lupinus arboreus; Yellow lupine, a coastal dwelling perennial shrub, its bright yellow stalks can be seen from February to July along the  Pacific coast. This flower is typically symbolic of voraciousness, resilience, and recovery from trauma.

Micah Bell - Aconitum columbianum; Monkshood, an annual herb that grows in mountainous regions of the western US. One of the most toxic plants in north America, monkshood was used by settlers as poison for rats. It was also given in bouquets as a warning or a threat that symbolized treachery.

Karen Jones - Hibiscus schizopetalus; Spider hibiscus, a plant native to tropical east Africa, this wild looking flower is cultivated as an ornamental in greenhouses around the world. Its fiery looking petals and dangling pistil give this flower an intense look unique to this species.

Kieran Duffy - Aesculus hippocastanum; Horse chestnut, a southern european native closely related to the American chestnut, this tree is a favorite of bonsai artists and ornamental tree nurseries. Its flower spikes produce 1-3 large inedible seeds (”horse chestnuts”) every summer and autumn.

Lenny Summers - Gazania linearis; Treasure flower, native to south Africa and naturalized in the US, this showy orange flower in the Aster family is a drought tolerant plant that is widely cultivated for its beautiful color and ease of hybridization. Given as a gift, it symbolizes riches and and good luck. (I am ignoring the fact that Lenny attains neither of these)

Simon Pearson - Salvia leucophylla; Purple sage, another Pacific coast native with aromatic leaves and light purple flowers. It spreads readily by rhizome and thrives in harsh seaside conditions, making it an optimal choice for stabilizing cliffsides and windswept inlets. It has allelopathic qualities that inhibit the growth of other competing seedlings as well as the growth of certain bacteria and fungi.

John Marston - Opuntia ficus-indica; Barbary fig, a hybrid species of prickly pear cactus widely cultivated as a food crop in arid countries around the world. It thrives in full sun, deep sandy soil, and hot temperatures. In native habitats, it’s mainly pollinated by moths and hummingbirds to produce a sweet, strawberry/fig tasting fruit that can be cooked, eaten raw, or fermented into alcoholic drinks. One of the quintessential western cacti, I couldn’t resist pairing it with our favorite ol’ cowboy.

Susan Grimshaw - Silybum marianum; Milk thistle, a prickly plant with a readily adaptive growth habit, this flower is sometimes cultivated for its seeds or made into a tea for treating various ailments. Traditionally, the thistle symbolizes devotion, bravery, strength, and resilience.

That’s all I got for now :) lemme know if you guys have other flower ideas for these guys, I love mashing my two favorite things together like this!

#i forgot to add bill and strauss dont @ me #rdr2 #Red Dead Redemption 2 #Javier Escuella #Sadie Adler #Micah Bell #Karen Jones #Kieran Duffy #Lenny Summers #Simon Pearson #John Marston #Susan Grimshaw #you guys have no idea what i had to endure looking thru google images for a decent picture of Karen #Long post #sorry this took so long also. I got distracted by shrek 2 on tv

[littleclover]

Doing more research on fandom perspective

Also Tag if you are a fanfict writer that has a story regarding this question!

#vulcan culture #mycelium network #fungi #fungus #mushrooms #star trek #also yes #this is because of the five guys spirk au

[the-iron-shoulder]

I think that in fantasy universes (D&D-style, not limited to D&D itself), the “treasure chest” is a naturally-occurring fungus-like growth that forms around items of value. Leave some gold, gems, whatever lying around long enough? Chest forms around them. (No, the chest isn’t all squishy and gross unless you want it to be. It feels exactly like you expect a treasure chest to feel.)

this basically is just to explain “why the hell are there so many chests here?” and “who bothered putting this stuff inside them?” and so on. A ruby could fall out of your pocket and go unnoticed for a while until a chest grows around it. Or maybe a traveler was eaten by wild beasts and their remains decomposed/got eaten by scavengers, but their inedible gold coins ended up just on the ground somewhere… and then boom, chest.

Manufactured chests can of course also exist, but they’re basically designed to mimic the naturally-occurring ones. (It’s a matter of intense debate if the creatures known as mimics are related to chests.) the chests that people choose to use for intentional storage are either harvested naturally-occurring ones or else are manufactured to resemble them.

if it’s fun for you to imagine, we can perhaps even say that treasure chest fungi are why certain items or materials are regarded as valuable (if a chest forms around it, it must be valuable, and that’s why we prize this mineral and not that mineral). Depends on how silly you want to get with the bit, really.

locks, traps, and so on are all just natural defenses that the chests have evolved over the eons. That said, unlocked/untrapped chests still exist because the act of a creature opening the chest allows the fungus to spread its spores. (So much like how plants evolve flowers to attract pollinators, treasure chests have evolved to contain items of interest to attract creatures to spread the spores.)

how long does it take for a chest to form? Eh, whatever fits the needs of the fiction. I’m envisioning a few months to a year… but I’m also envisioning that most of this happens unseen, and much like how mushrooms pop up basically overnight in the right conditions (even though the fungus itself has been there much longer), the actual treasure chest structure appears relatively suddenly.

#Fiction #fantasy #d&d fantasy #treasure chest