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Gomphus Clavatus


GCn15

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I have a question or two to ask anyone familiar with the Pigs Ear mushrooms. I came into two HUGE fairly rings of them yesterday and have not picked them yet. Took one home to spore print. They are a lovely lilac on the false gills (fading to light brown a few hours after picking) and stem and a pale yellow on the cap. Some are over mature but I could certainly fill a few baskets with some prime mushrooms. This is my first time ever seeing them in Northern Manitoba, not because they probably aren't here, but because I am not usually picking in old growth coniferous, mossy areas this time of year. I have very little doubt they are gomphus clavatus because of the lilac coloring and smooth surface of the cap. However, if I should pause and rethink this because of known poisonous or inedible look alikes please let me know. The lilac coloring is very distinct though and there is even some darker violet still on the stem.

I did spore print a section of the mushroom and came out with a yellow ochre spore print and that leads me to my questions.

1. I have found various sources online about Gomphus Clavatus but none seem to agree on the spore print color ranging from light yellow to brown. Can someone with experience with these mushrooms tell me the spore print color they have gotten?

2. Again, various sites report this mushroom as choice edible to inedible...has anyone ever eaten these and what was your experience with them? I fully realize that mushrooms can be different by individual but the site that lists them as inedible, though highly respected, also lists armillaria mellea as inedible.

3. Does anyone know of any poisonous inedible lookalikes besides Gomphus Floccosus which I have pretty much ruled out because of the difference in coloration and smooth cap.

4. Are there any other major identifiers that I have overlooked?

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I apologize sincerely for the typo in the name of the thread. Moderators, if you could please change my spelling to the GOMPHUS CLAVATUS that would be appreciated. I do not want to create confusion or look stupid. lol

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You can edit your post and correct it yourself. That is not an option we can do.

I have eaten Gomphus clavatus and didn't really care for them. They are edible but I would not consider them choice. They are often riddled with maggots. They are so easily recognized, I never bothered to take a spore print. Give them a try and see what you think. Some people like them, I'm just not one of them.

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I am lucky here in the Sub-Arctic. Our mushrooms are not as readily affected by bugs as in other areas. Although, we still get our share of mushrooms that are invaded by bugs it is not really a big problem. I have not lost too many mushrooms to bug or larvae infestations. The Gomphus Clavatus I picked yesterday was a large mature specimen and showed no signs of bug infestation whatsoever. However, it was the only one I picked though.

I figured that a physical description was likely good enough for this species, but I always spore print everything. Just a habit that I follow for any new species. I even did it a for Hydnum Repandums a few years ago when I started picking them. lol

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I've tried G. clavatus on a couple of occasions and didn't consider them to be worthwhile, since they don't taste as good as the far more abundant Chanterelles; and, as ladyflyfish pointed out, they are usually full of maggots, which almost never happens with our Chanterelles.

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