Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are some of the most versatile vegetables, with a wide range of sizes, colours, terrains, and uses. There are over 14,000 types of fungi that create mushrooms worldwide, and some are incredibly rare and expensive. For example, the devil's cigar is one of the rarest mushrooms, found only in select locations in Texas and Japan. The white truffle is another rare mushroom, requiring very specific conditions to grow, including a symbiotic relationship with certain trees, particular soil composition, and climate. Other rare mushrooms include the lion's mane, turkey tail, and the panellus stipticus, which is native to Eurasia, North America, and Australia and glows in the dark. Some rare mushrooms are also used for medicinal purposes, such as Cordyceps militaris, which is used to treat respiratory disorders and improve immunity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of mushroom varieties | Over 14,000 |
| Edibility | Many are safe to eat, but some are toxic |
| Appearance | Some look plain and simple, while others are beautiful |
| Rarity factors | Specific places, picky growing needs, and unique life cycles |
| Examples of rare varieties | Devil's Cigar, White Truffles, Yartsa Gunbu, Lion's Mane, Sparassis Spathulata, Amanita Nuhorae, Rhodotus Palmatus, Marasmius Haematocephalus |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- White truffles (Tuber magnatum) are rare due to their picky growing needs
- Devil's Cigar is a rare mushroom found in select locations in Texas and Japan
- Lion's Mane mushrooms are usually white, round, and found on hardwood trees
- Amanita nouhrae is a rare mushroom found only in Argentina and Chile
- Yartsa Gunbu is a rare mushroom that costs over $50,000 per pound
White truffles (Tuber magnatum) are rare due to their picky growing needs
White truffles, or Tuber magnatum, are among the rarest of mushrooms. They are highly prized by chefs and gourmets around the world, and their price reflects this: they can fetch anywhere from $2,200 to $4,800 per kilogram, or even up to $14,203.50 per kilogram, as of 2009.
White truffles are found in southern Europe, the Balkans, and Thailand, but they are primarily associated with Italy, particularly the Piedmont region. They are also found in the countryside around Alba and Asti, and in Acqualagna, in the Marche region. They grow underground, in symbiosis with host trees, most often a white oak or pubscens oak. They are typically found in loose, sandy soils, along waterways, and in association with deciduous trees.
White truffles are very particular about their growing conditions. They require well-drained, permeable soils, rich in silt and clay, but they can also grow in sandy soils. The pH should be above 7, ideally between 7.5 and 8.5, and the soil should be constantly humid, especially in summer. They also seem to require limestone, with total limestone content ideally above 10% and active limestone at 2%.
The first harvest of white truffles can be done from the fourth year after planting, but it usually takes between 5 and 8 years. They reach maturity between October and January and are typically harvested from mid-September to the end of December.
Due to their rarity and high value, fraud is common in the white truffle market. Cheaper varieties of truffles, such as Tuber borchii, are often sold as Tuber magnatum. Isotopic analysis is the most reliable method of detecting fraud.
Mushroom Testing: What to Expect and Why
You may want to see also
Devil's Cigar is a rare mushroom found in select locations in Texas and Japan
There are over 14,000 types of fungi that create mushrooms, and some of them are incredibly rare. One such rare mushroom variety is the Devil's Cigar, scientifically known as Chorioactis geaster. This strange-looking fungus has only been found in select locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Japan, and Taiwan. Its natural habitat in Japan is disappearing due to deforestation and the replanting of native oak trees with Japanese cedar trees, leading to its classification as a threatened species in the country. In Texas, the Devil's Cigar grows on the stumps and roots of cedar elm trees, while in Japan, it grows on dead oak trees.
The Devil's Cigar gets its name from its resemblance to a cigar in its immature form. American mycologist Fred Jay Seaver commented on the origin of the name:
> Whether the name Devil's Cigar refers to the form of the young specimens which resemble a bloated cigar in form, as well as in color, or to the fact that the fungus appears to 'smoke' at maturity, we cannot say... At any rate, the name is very appropriate.
As the Devil's Cigar matures, it splits at the top and releases a cloud of spores, resembling cigar smoke. Over eight to twelve hours, it then unfolds into a star shape, earning it the nickname Texas Star. The Texas Legislature designated the Texas star as the official "State Mushroom of Texas" in 2021.
The Devil's Cigar is considered one of the rarest mushrooms in the world, and its distribution is a mystery to scientists. It was first discovered in Austin, Texas, in 1893 and was later found in Kyushu, Japan, in 1937. The mushroom was not reported again in Japan until 1973, and it remains a mystery how it travelled between locations that are approximately the same latitude but are separated by 11,000 km (6,800 mi).
Mushrooms: Animal Cells or Not?
You may want to see also
Lion's Mane mushrooms are usually white, round, and found on hardwood trees
There are over 14,000 types of fungi that create mushrooms worldwide. Some are common, while others are incredibly rare and expensive. Many are safe to eat, but some are toxic.
Lion's Mane mushrooms, also known as bearded tooth, hedgehog, bearded hedgehog, Satyr's beard, or pom pom mushrooms, are usually white, round, and found on hardwood trees. They are tooth fungi, which produce spinelike, downward-hanging projections that contain spores. They are often large, with long hanging white spines that look like icicles, or a white mane of hair. They are easy to identify and are found on trees, so remember to look up when foraging! They are also sometimes found on fallen logs.
Lion's Mane mushrooms are found on hardwood trees, particularly oaks, beech, and maples. They are found growing alone or in pairs. They are native to North America, Asia, and Europe, though they are endangered in Europe due to over-foraging and habitat destruction. They are also found in California, on coast live oak, canyon live oak, interior live oak, California black oak, blue oak, and valley oak. They can withstand cold temperatures and frost conditions.
Lion's Mane mushrooms are edible and are used in gourmet cooking. They are also used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are meaty and have a flavour likened to seafood. They are best harvested when they are still young and white, as they may turn yellow or brown as they age. They can be cultivated using a solid or liquid substrate.
Mushrooms: Healthy or Harmful?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Amanita nouhrae is a rare mushroom found only in Argentina and Chile
There are over 14,000 types of fungi that create mushrooms worldwide. Some are very common, while others, like the Amanita nouhrae, are incredibly rare.
Amanita nouhrae is a rare mushroom variety found only in Argentina and Chile. Experts estimate there are only about 600 mature individuals globally, and the species is listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categorises Amanita nouhrae as "threatened" with an "unknown" population trend.
This rare mushroom has been located in two protected areas within national parks in Chile and Argentina. In Argentina, it was found in Nahuel Huapi National Park, while in Chile, it was discovered in Puyehue National Park and Neltume. Despite the small number of mature individuals, the species may occur over 50,000 km2 in the region surrounding these sites.
Amanita nouhrae mushrooms become truffles that grow underground. They have white, ruffled bodies that resemble golf balls. While there is limited information about their edibility, experts advise against consuming them due to their potential toxicity and vulnerable status. The Amanita genus is notorious for its toxic varieties, and with so few individuals worldwide, consuming Amanita nouhrae could be detrimental to the species' survival.
Mushrooms: Why Do They Shrink When Cooked?
You may want to see also
Yartsa Gunbu is a rare mushroom that costs over $50,000 per pound
There are over 14,000 types of mushrooms worldwide, and some are incredibly rare and expensive. One such mushroom is Yartsa Gunbu, which costs a whopping $50,000 per pound. This price is not just because of its rarity but also its unique life cycle and medicinal properties.
Yartsa Gunbu, also known as Cordyceps Sinensis or caterpillar fungus, is native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Tibetan Plateau. It is a parasitic fungus that infects and consumes the larvae of ghost moths, eventually mummifying them. The resulting fungus emerges from the ground as a slender, elongated stalk. This strange life cycle has earned it the local name "summer grass, winter worm" in Tibetan.
Yartsa Gunbu has been used in traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine for centuries and is believed to have various health benefits. It is reputed to boost energy, enhance athletic performance, strengthen the immune system, and promote longevity. Additionally, it has gained a reputation as an aphrodisiac, further increasing its demand and value.
The high price of Yartsa Gunbu has led to it becoming a status symbol in China, where its value is comparable to that of gold, platinum, or diamonds. However, its value has also led to violence and disputes over harvesting rights, demonstrating the extreme measures people are willing to take to acquire this rare and expensive mushroom.
Mushrooms and Crohn's: A Safe Combo?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Some rare mushrooms include the devil's cigar, white truffles, lion's mane, bearded tooth, rhodotus palmatus, panellus stipticus, and marasmius haematocephalus.
White truffles are rare because they require very specific conditions to grow, including a symbiotic relationship with certain trees, a particular soil composition, and a specific climate. These conditions are hard to replicate artificially, making them challenging to cultivate on a commercial scale.
Rare mushrooms can have diverse forms, sizes, and colours. Some rare mushrooms, such as the devil's cigar, have unique shapes that resemble flowers or stars. Other rare mushrooms, like the lion's mane, have a strange, stringy appearance with spines that cascade down. Some rare mushrooms are also bioluminescent, meaning they glow in the dark.
