Scientific name
Oudemansiella mucida
Description
Porcelain fungus mushroom is a gleaming white, transparent beauty that defends itself from pesticides and other harmful agents. It grows on beech trees and is edible. They secret sticky mucus that must be washed off before its consumption. The porcelain fungus may grow up to 8 cm in height and 8 cm in width. While defending itself, it can suffocate dead beech trees. It features a transparent white and domed top that flattens and develops an orange blush in the middle as it matures. In rainy conditions, it is covered in sticky slime and appears quite glossy. Their gills are white in color and present beneath the cap. They have smooth, spherical, and thick-walled spores. The stiff stem bears a ring that resembles a crisp white collar. It has the ability to coil over and turn the cap inverted. Their stem is white from the upper side but somewhat striated and grayish below the ring. The skin is white and thin but its lamellae are wide, adnate, and far apart. Cystidia are thin-walled and cylindrical. When these mushrooms grow from the base of the tree, its stem twists such that the caps are placed horizontally, with the gills facing downwards.
Habitat
Porcelain fungus mushroom is endemic to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Britain. They are commonly found growing on moist dead wood trunks, fallen branches, and alive and dead beech trees.
Uses/Importance
Porcelain fungus mushrooms contain a chemical compound called strobilurins. This compound has antifungal effects that can also be used as fungicides for wheat and fruit crops. These mushrooms are also a home for flies as they lay eggs on these mushrooms. The fungus also participates in nutrient cycling. Porcelain mushrooms are also edible and have wonderful flavor when the slime is wiped off and the stem is removed. It should be cooked properly before eating.
Table
