Michael Davis
Brain mushrooms, also known as Gyromitra esculenta, are a species of fungi that resemble a human brain. They are commonly found in Europe and North America and are known by several other names, including false morel, turban fungus, elephant ears, and beefsteak mushroom. Brain mushrooms have a wrinkled, lumpy exterior and are often confused with morels, which are edible and sought-after mushrooms. However, brain mushrooms are poisonous in their raw form and should be properly prepared before consumption. They are considered a delicacy in some regions, such as Finland and parts of Europe and North America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gyromitra esculenta |
| Common names | Brain mushroom, turban fungus, elephant ears, beefsteak mushroom/morel, false morel |
| Genus | Gyromitra |
| Height | 10 cm (4 inches) |
| Width | 15 cm (6 inches) |
| Stipe height | 6 cm (2.5 inches) |
| Stipe colour | White |
| Cap colour | Dark brown |
| Distribution | Europe, North America, Northern Ireland, Turkey, Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, Mexico |
| Habitat | Sandy soils, coniferous forests, deciduous woodlands, disturbed grounds, openings, rivulets, washes, timber clearings, forest fire clearings, roadsides |
| Hunting period | Spring to summer, especially April to July |
| Toxicity | Contains the poison gyromitrin, potentially fatal if eaten raw, banned from public sale in Spain |
| Culinary use | Sometimes parboiled for consumption, popular delicacy in Europe and the upper Great Lakes region of North America, edible in Finland with cautionary labelling and preparation instructions |
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What You'll Learn
Gyromitra esculenta is the scientific name for the brain mushroom
Although Gyromitra esculenta is potentially fatal if eaten raw, it is sometimes parboiled for consumption, being a popular delicacy in Europe and the upper Great Lakes region of North America. The process of parboiling involves boiling the mushrooms in large amounts of water, rinsing them, and replacing the water to ensure the removal of toxins. However, evidence suggests that thorough cooking may not eliminate all toxins. The principal active mycotoxin in Gyromitra esculenta is gyromitrin, which is hydrolyzed into the toxic compound monomethylhydrazine when consumed. This toxin affects the liver, central nervous system, and sometimes the kidneys.
Gyromitra esculenta is a member of a group of fungi known as "false morels", named for their resemblance to the highly regarded true morels of the genus Morchella. The fungus was first described in 1800 by mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon as Helvella esculenta. It gained its current accepted binomial name when the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries placed it in the genus Gyromitra in 1849. The genus name is derived from the Greek terms "gyros", meaning round, and "mitra", meaning headband.
The mushroom is more commonly found in places where the ground has been disturbed, such as openings, rivulets, washes, timber clearings, plowed openings, forest fire clearings, and roadsides. It is more abundant in montane and northern coniferous woodlands, such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range in northwestern North America. However, it is also found as far south as Mexico. Gyromitra esculenta is marketed and consumed in several countries or states in Europe and North America, despite its recognized toxicity.
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It is potentially fatal if eaten raw
The brain mushroom, or Gyromitra esculenta, is a fungus that is commonly found in Europe and North America. It is known by several other names, including false morel, turban fungus, elephant ears, and beefsteak mushroom/morel. It is called a brain mushroom because of its irregular brain-shaped cap, which is dark brown in colour and can reach 10 centimetres (4 inches) high and 15 cm (6 inches) wide. It is perched on a stout white stipe up to 6 cm (2+1⁄2 inches) high.
Although it is sometimes consumed as a delicacy in parts of Europe and North America, the brain mushroom is potentially fatal if eaten raw. It contains a poison called gyromitrin, which is a water-soluble and unstable chemical. When consumed, gyromitrin is hydrolyzed into the toxic compound monomethylhydrazine, which affects the liver, central nervous system, and sometimes the kidneys. Evidence suggests that thorough cooking does not eliminate all toxins. As such, it is banned from public sale in Spain. However, it can still be purchased in markets in northern and eastern Europe, where it is often accompanied by specific cautionary labelling and preparation instructions.
To safely consume brain mushrooms, it is recommended to boil them multiple times in large amounts of water. Each boiling session should last at least 5 minutes, with 10 minutes being preferable. After each boil, the mushrooms should be rinsed, and the water should be replaced with fresh water to remove dissolved toxins.
Despite these precautions, some guidebooks recommend treating all brain mushrooms as poisonous. This is because their similar appearance and significant intraspecific variation can make reliable identification difficult. Toxic reactions to Gyromitra esculenta have been known for at least a hundred years, and the fungus is now widely recognized as potentially deadly.
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It is also known as the false morel
The brain mushroom, or Gyromitra esculenta, is also known as the false morel. This is because it resembles the highly regarded true morels of the genus Morchella. However, unlike the true morel, the false morel is characterised by its wrinkled, brain-like cap, which becomes more wrinkly as the mushroom ages. The cap is usually reddish-brown in colour, but can also be chestnut, purplish-brown, or dark brown.
The false morel is a member of the Pezizales, but within that group, it represents several unrelated taxa scattered through the families Morchellaceae, Discinaceae, and Helvellaceae. The epithet "false morel" is most often ascribed to members of the genus Gyromitra. The name "false morel" is misleading as true morels and false morels are only distantly related. True morels belong to the genus Morchella, while false morels are among the genus Gyromitra.
False morels are usually found in disturbed soil and are widely distributed across Europe and North America, normally fruiting in sandy soils under coniferous trees in spring and early summer. They are especially numerous in Germany and Poland, accounting for the latter country's lion's share of mushroom poisonings during the post-WWII period. They are also common in Central Europe, less abundant in the east, and more in montane areas than lowlands.
False morels are potentially fatal if eaten raw, but they are sometimes parboiled for consumption, being a popular delicacy in Europe and the upper Great Lakes region of North America. However, evidence suggests that thorough cooking does not eliminate all toxins. When consumed, the principal active mycotoxin, gyromitrin, is hydrolyzed into the toxic compound monomethylhydrazine, which affects the liver, central nervous system, and sometimes the kidneys. Incidents of poisoning usually occur when false morels are eaten in large quantities, inadequately cooked, or over several days in a row.
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It grows on sandy soil in temperate coniferous forests
The brain mushroom, or Gyromitra esculenta, is a fungus that grows on sandy soil in temperate coniferous forests. It is commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere, including North America and Europe. In North America, it can be found as far south as Mexico, and in Europe, it is more common in Central Europe and less abundant in the east.
The brain mushroom gets its name from its distinctive appearance, which resembles a human brain. Its scientific name, Gyromitra esculenta, is derived from the Greek terms "gyros" meaning round and "mitra" meaning headband. The mushroom has a wrinkled, lumpy exterior that becomes more wrinkly as it ages, similar to human skin.
Brain mushrooms typically grow in sandy soils under coniferous trees, particularly pines, but they can also be found under aspens. They usually fruit in the spring and early summer, with the mushroom season lasting from March to July. They are often found in places where the ground has been disturbed, such as openings, rivulets, washes, timber clearings, and roadsides.
While brain mushrooms are considered poisonous, they are sometimes consumed after being properly prepared. In its raw form, the fungus contains toxins, including the poison gyromitrin, which can affect the liver, central nervous system, and kidneys. However, some people still seek out this delicacy, and it is commonly consumed in countries like Finland, where it is sold in public markets with cautionary labelling and preparation instructions. Proper cooking methods, such as parboiling multiple times in large amounts of water, are crucial to reduce the risk of ingesting toxins.
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It is commonly found in North America and Europe
The brain mushroom, or Gyromitra esculenta, is a fungus commonly found in North America and Europe. It is also known as a false morel, turban fungus, elephant ears, and beefsteak mushroom/morel. The mushroom gets its name from its irregular brain-shaped cap, which is dark brown in colour and can reach up to 15 cm (6 inches) wide. It is often found in sandy soils under coniferous trees, particularly pines, in the spring and early summer.
In North America, brain mushrooms are more commonly found in montane and northern coniferous woodlands, such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range in the northwestern part of the continent. They have also been found as far south as Mexico. Brain mushrooms are especially abundant in Germany and Poland, which may explain why Poland had a high number of mushroom poisonings during the post-WWII period.
While brain mushrooms are considered poisonous, they are still consumed in some regions. In Finland, for example, brain mushrooms are sold in public markets with cautionary labelling and preparation instructions. Proper cooking techniques, such as parboiling and multiple rounds of boiling, are essential to reduce the toxins present in the mushrooms.
Another variety of brain mushroom, Calvatia craniiformis, is also known as the brain-shaped puffball or skull-shaped puffball. This species is found in Asia, Australia, and North America, particularly in open woods, hardwood forests, and wet areas. While this variety of brain mushroom is generally considered edible, it is also used in traditional medicines in China, Japan, and among the Ojibwe.
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Frequently asked questions
Brain mushrooms, or Gyromitra esculenta, are a species of fungi that resemble the human brain. They are commonly found in Europe and North America.
Brain mushrooms are poisonous in their unprocessed form. However, they are sometimes parboiled for consumption, being a popular delicacy in Europe and the upper Great Lakes region of North America.
Brain mushrooms have a wrinkled cap reminiscent of the folds of a cerebral cortex. Their lumpy exterior is sometimes confused with morels, an edible mushroom from the genus Morchella.
Brain mushrooms can be found in forests in Europe and North America. They are especially numerous in Germany, Poland, and Finland.
