Last week, we looked at weirdly-named mushrooms #50 through #26. This week, it’s a countdown to #1. Here we go!
25. Dog Stinkhorn (Mutinus elegans)
“Its common names in French, Phallus de Chien, Satyre des
chiens, also hint at its resemblance to a dog penis.”
Fun fact: Other
stinkhorns include netted, lattice & chambered
24. Ragged Dapperling (Lepiota clypeolaria)
I can definitely see the ragged part
Fun fact:
“Dapperling” means “little dapper fellow” (which I don’t see)
23. Manywarts (Amanita polypramis)
Yup, no shortage of warts here
22. Sock Hop (Marasmius cohaerens)
“A bland, boring LBM (Little Brown Mushroom)”
(MushroomExpert.com)
Fun fact: I have absolutely no idea where the “sock hop” comes from (and could only find it in Peterson’s)
21. Litter Tooth (Phellodon fuligineoalbus)
Sticky surface atrracts leaves, sticks & other detritus
(hence the “litter”)
AKA: Other Tooths
include Cracked, Dusky, Fleshy, Stacked, Sweet & Zoned
20. Veiled Oyster (Pleurotus dryinus)
“One of the more obscure varieties of edible oyster mushroom”
19. Dungdrops (Bolbitius titubans)
Gumdrops and cough drops … meet Dungdrops
Fun fact: AKA the
Sunny Side Up, which sounds much more pleasant
18. Depressed Hedgehog (Hydnum umbilicatum)
The “depressed” comes from an indentation in the cap
Fun fact: AKA as the
Dimpled Hedgehog
17. Recurved Earthball (Scleroderma flavidum)
A kind of puffball
16. Liver Milkcap (Lactarius hepaticus)
Its color is supposedly “liver-brown”; the cap exudes a
whitish substance when torn
Fun fact: Other
milkcaps (and there are many) include Bleeding, Coconut, Curry, Fishy, Huddled,
Slimy, Smoky & Sooty
15. Scaley Earhorn (Turbinellus floccosus)
Surprisingly descriptive
Fun fact: AKA Scaly
Vase & Shaggy/Scaly/Wooly Chanterelle
14. Tiny Navelcap (Loreleia postii)
Oddly explanatory
Fun fact: Latin name
after American mycologist, Dr. Lorelei L. Norvell
13. Cloying Brittlegill (Russula fragrantissima)
“Odor strong and fragrant, reminiscent of maraschino
cherries, almonds, or benzaldehyde”
Fun fact: Other
Brittlegills include Blackeye, Frogskin, Stinkstain & Stubby
12. Champagne Deathcap (Amanita crenulata)
From its color and noted toxicity
Fun fact: Other
Deathcaps include Caesar’s, Chlorine, Sock-foot & Turnip-foot
11. Troop Crumblecap (Coprinellus disseminatus)
Grow in large groups, or “troops”
Fun fact: It was
either this or Corrugated Crumblecap (Coprinellus disseminatus)
10. Drumstick Truffleclub (Tolypocladium capitatum)
Grows on truffles; top looks like a … er …uh, club. Yup, that's it, a club.
9. Poison-Pie (Hebeloma crustuliniforme)
It’s poisonous alright
Fun fact: Also known
as the rather tempting Fairy Cakes
8. Stinking Parasol (Lepiota cristata)
Has “an unpleasant odour resembling burnt rubber”
Fun fact: AKA
Stinking Dapperling (see #24)
7. Dingy-Dish (Lepista tarda)
Google returns mostly recipes for this one
6. Big Laughing Gym (Gymnopilus junonius)
No clue what’s so funny
C’mon, at least gimme a smile!
Fun fact: AKA
Spectacular Rustgill & Laughing Rustgill
5. Green Gillgobbler (Hypomyces viridis)
Alliteration for the win!
Fun fact: Actually an
infection of Russula mushrooms
4. Pimplecicle (Cordyceps militaris)
No, Google, I did not mean “pimple cycle”
Fun fact: Grows out
of underground insect pupae
3. Scurfy Twiglet (Tubaria furfuracea)
Shakespearean curse?
Fun fact: AKA the Totally
Tedious Tubaria (Wikipedia)
2. Mousepee Pinkgill (Entoloma incanum)
“Said to have an odour reminiscent of caged mice”
Fun fact: Often, but not always, greenish
1. Irksome Cavalier (Tricholoma inamoenum)
“Irksome” meaning poisonous in this instance, I guess
Fun fact: Other
cavaliers might be Collared, Soapy, or Sooty
