Mushrooms and other fungi have often been linked with fairies, written about in popular genre fiction and dating back to the ancient belief that circles of mushrooms spring up after the dancing steps of fairies. There is even debate about whether you would be wise to step into a circle! Legend has it that by doing so you can experience both good and bad luck, but either way, seeing a fairy-ring is certainly a delight.
Mushrooms and toadstools are both types of fungi, the fruiting bodies of a fungus. As well as their own scientific kingdom, they have been the inspiration for a rich folklore throughout the world. In common parlance, a mushroom is defined as edible, whereas a toadstool is not. Structurally and aesthetically these beautiful species are both fascinating, yet it’s best to avoid touching them unless you’re certain they are edible. Fungi are good recyclers, digesting food outside of their bodies, decomposing and breaking down once-living matter to release carbon, oxygen and nitrogen back into the air and contribute to a healthy soil.
Which mushrooms can you find at Lanhydrock?
Cauliflower Fungus
(Latin name: Sparassis Crispa) also known as Wood Fungus or even Brain Fungus. It is a pretty creamy-white fungus with waved filigree patterns, becoming browner with age. It can be spotted at the base of trunks or stumps or perhaps the roots of conifers.