iwein

Is there an edible mushroom that is able to grow on conifers?

Context:

In agroforestry systems we often intervene to reduce growth of less helpful trees in the system. I prefer to do this with as little harm (compaction, noise, felling damage) as possible. Some saprophytic mushrooms like leatiporus, pleurotus are really good at this, while producing food from low edibility rated trees like Robinia along the way.

Boosts welcome 🙏

#mycology #mushrooms #permaculture #agroForestry

Mar 15 at 4:39pmWeb
Show threadkuchiMar 15
@iwein Sparassis crispa on (mostly) pine, but its a parasite, will not grow on already dead trees and will not kill the tree soon, either. Otherwise Hypholoma capnoides, but that one is a decomposer on already dead conifer wood.
Show threadiweinMar 15
@kaesekuchi YaY! thanks, I'd forgotten about that one. I did spend the better part of an hour cleaning one for a two person meal... But quite pleasant taste iirc 🙏🙏🙏
Show threadSaraMar 15

@iwein in the Pacific Northwest I generally advise people not to eat anything that is fruiting directly off a conifer

ymmv, idk anything about foraging in other parts of the world

but here, pretty bad choice

Show threadFckSDMar 15
@iwein Hypholoma capnoides could be worth a try. Also, while they grow better on broadleaf, Pleurotus ostreatus grows on a lot of substrates, have personally seen it fruiting wild on a standing dead spruce in Sweden.
Show threadiweinMar 16
@Fcksd wow, I had good hopes, but hadn't seen evidence yet 🙂
Show threadgemelenMar 15
@iwein
Not sure if counts as growing on the conifer trees, as these are found in between, using the soil typical to coniferous forests:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactarius?wprov=sfla1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella?wprov=sfla1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boletus_edulis?wprov=sfla1
Lactarius - Wikipedia

Show threadiweinMar 16

@gemelen they are really cool, but I'm looking to be unfriendlier to the tree for admittedly selfish reasons.

Usually in agroforestry systems the ectomycorrhizae are stil almost undeveloped, so we do introduce the boletes, but have no expectations for the first decade at least.