Mushroom?

[Fuddy1952]

Curious what this is. I have a small rose garden and cover it with pine needles in Fall. We've had lots of rain so roses are blooming. Just now I noticed this (morel?).
I'm in S.Central Virginia.
Thanks

 

[RNeumann]

Spittlebug is my guess- that’s what I get....but I’m further west.

 

[oosik]

It's definitely NOT a morel. For that matter - it's a kind I've not seen before. We get morel, puffball and shaggy mane. At least, that's the kind I can identify and will eat. We also get Amanita. They are reportedly quite poisonous.

I prefer shaggy mane.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Thanks. I've never seen anything like it.
A few years ago wife and I were having dinner on porch, I thought I'd pick a wild mushroom to put in my salad. I looked it up in a mushroom book, it said edible. I ate most of it...within 20-30 minutes wife calls 911, I'm rushed to hospital. I had sense enough to take rest of it with me to hospital. They had me sign a dnr form!
It was deadly and I'm lucky to be alive. (Later book showed picture of a similar deadly mushroom which is what it was).
This one is sponge-like. I didn't touch it!

 

[jaydee325]

For reference, these are morel.

The cold spring we've had have definitely limited the morel harvest.:irked:

 

[Jstpssng]

I’ve never seen a morel, although I believe that they grow up here. The only thing that I see is called “false morel” (gyromitra) in the books I’ve checked, with conflicting reports if they are edible.
I haven’t tried them.

 

[DerbyRunner]

We lost a dog to a mushroom. I don't go near them.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Best choice is not to eat wild mushrooms unless you're extremely knowledgeable. Even then people I've talked to since say to rub some on your skin...wait 1/2hr., see if there's a reaction, then try a tiny piece, wait. After my experience it's not worth it.
I still eat store bought ones.
Morels I've heard are an expensive delicacy.

 

[lman]

We picked these today and I can confirm that they are safe to eat, however my stomach is telling me that I ate a couple more than I should have.

 

[Steve 3650]

I think what you have is the stem of a phallus ravenelii aka the common stinkhorn mushroom. It is not poisonous but I wouldn't eat one.
They are called stinkhorn because when mature they are slimy and stinky. You can google it for more information if you want.
You are correct to not eat any wild mushroom unless it has been positively. Even if it's identified and you're trying it for the first time you should eat just a small amount because we are all different and some people are more sensitive to certain things than others.
Stinkhorns are commonly found in gardens where an organic mulch has been brought in. I had them in shrub beds that had been mulched with hardwood bark mulch.
They,re no problem unless there is a lot and they stink too much. If you want them gone you can dig them up. They grow from sort of an egg under where they sprout up from. And if you were inclined to want to eat them, the egg is the edible part.
Good luck and be safe,
Steve

 

[Steve 3650]

Iman, that is a beautiful batch of morels!
How did you cook them? Most people seem to fry them in cracker crumbs or some other breading. Easy to eat too many.
Steve

 

[lman]

Wife put flour on them and fried them. We usually find them in the same spots every year near our backyard.

 

[Fuddy1952]

It is a stinkhorn!

 

[Alan W.]

We always called these dogpeckers when we were young. Stink like crazy and draw flies.

 

[Steve 3650]

Yep, those were the first kind I had in my shrub beds.
Phallaceae Mutinus caninus
dog pecker stinkhorn

 

[jaydee325]

We found enough morels today for a dish. My wife decided to go upscale and used them in Spring Pasta with Morels, Ramps and Asparagus!! I gave it 5 stars.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Mushrooms are so damm elusive. I have not seen a puffball here in a couple of years. But a lot of Shaggy Maines and Morels. And then sometimes NOT! You gotta eat them pretty much immediately.

A young kid, of old farm stock, once told me that you can eat any mushroom that grows on wood. I never did, but I would be curious if there is any truth in that.

 

[Steve 3650]

That looks amazing! Your wife must be a great cook.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Must be the King of the Castle that has his wife cook a great meal like that on Mothers day.:thumbsup:

 

[jaydee325]

I’m a very lucky man! Cooking is her hobby and she is very talented!