What is it Wednesday: October 14, 2020

 

Can you identify what's in this photo?

 

 

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

 

 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

 

 

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

 after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on

October 14, 2020. 

 

 

 

And the answer is....

 

This amazing mushroom is often known as sheepshead (especially in Western PA). 

It is also called hen-of-the-woods, maitake, and ram’s head. Its scientific name is grifola frondosa. It is considered a choice edible and is also used medicinally. It has no dangerous look-alikes - the few mushrooms that resemble it  are also edible (though not as delicious). It is not at all uncommon to find specimens as big as the one in this photo, and sometimes even larger!

Always remember that whenever trying a new wild food it is important to make sure you have the correct identification and preparation, and to try a small amount at first to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction. With mushrooms especially, confirm identification with multiple sources and/or a trusted expert. (As always, the safest way to be sure you don’t eat any poisonous wild mushrooms is to not eat  any wild mushrooms.)

Congrats to our friend Zachary for such a wonderful find! 

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!