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BT Graney · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:48 am Post subject: Meet

I would! Then I'm married to Graney so I suppose I'd have to come!!!!

Wink

Graney · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 81 Location: East Clare

Sounds like that's two so far Laughing

blowin · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:15 am Post subject:

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

Graney · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 81 Location: East Clare

blowin · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:19 pm Post subject:

Got out today but whatever it was I saw from a distance last evening isn't visible now . There could be any number of explanations ( including my failing eyesight Laughing

) . I'll let you know when I have actually picked a few more , then we can set a date Wink

blowin · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:56 am Post subject:

Just to put the i/d discussion into context , the guide I mentioned earlier details 326 different fungi . 143 of these are described as "Edible " , 29 as " Poisonous" and the rest are "Inedible" ie not necessarily harmful but best avoided due to toughness or nasty taste .
Expert opinion is divided over about 1/2 dozen .
Some which have traditionally been eaten are now thought to be toxic ( to some but not all people --- but I guess you could say that about a lot of things ) .
At least one ( False Chanterelle ) is described as edible but other books say "poisonous" because auditory hallucination can follow consumption .
Of the 29 Poisonous , two will almost invariably kill , most of the others will just make you wish you were dead for a few days .
One of the "Poisonous" isn't normally dangerous but causes mild hallucination and stupor followed by abnormally jumpy physical movement ( Fly Agaric -- the big red / white spotty one as taken by Alice in Wonderland ) .
The most highly hallucenogenic Psilocybin , which is common in meadowland , is given no mention at all ! I wonder why Rolling Eyes

.
I have personally eaten 42 out of the 143 "Edible"s and am 99.9% certain about another 10 or so but that .1% of uncertainty means don't eat because in several cases the "excellent" one has a very close lookalike which is poisonous .
Despite all endeavours I have made a couple of notable mistakes -- one was to pick about 20 Lb of something which turned out to "wrong" , fortunately before I ate it , the other was to take a bite out of something I would still swear passed all of the tests but tasted absolutely disgusting . Incredibly astringent . Yuk ! Mad

The guide is comprehensive for its kind but , to take one example , it illustrates 5 types of " Clitocybe " , saying that 2 are Edible and 3 aren't . An encylopaedia says there are in fact 90 ( ninety ) in that family and at least 10 of them are Poisonous .
I would class myself as a reasonably experienced but cautious amateur in this field .
Hope that has sent you to sleep .

PS should add great book , no criticism intended , my numbers are approximate ( so author needn't litigate please ) .

blowin · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:04 am Post subject:

I have just received an email from a lady who is associated with one of the universities and , I believe , is co-ordinating a study of fungi across Ireland . I would like to attend myself but I think I am already commited to something . Please let me know if anyone else would like details . I will get them if you are .

...." I am writing to let you know that there is a mushroom training day
through Woodlands of Ireland in Charleville Castle, Tullamore on the
18th August.
The organiser is Dr. Declan Little but it will be mainly given by
myself and John O`Connell with a lecture by Diarmuid McAree (Head
Forester).
Declan has far more information about times and lunch arrangements so
perhaps you would contact him if you would like to attend." .......

killerflies · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 40 Location: Galway

In respect to looking for an online reference.....here you go.

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/

The book by the same man (Roger Phillips) is by far the best reference guide. It goes down the nth degree leaving you in no doubt as the the ID of the mushroom you have.

You can get in Easons/eBay/Amazon etc.

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