Fungi in the Algarve

Grassland of good quality is scarce in this part of Portugal, although some villa lawns and golf courses sport not only true mushrooms (Agaricus species) but also Shaggy Inkcaps (Coprinus comatus) and even a few waxcaps. (Hygrocybe acutoconica, the Persistent Waxcap, is one such example.)

For woodland fungi, it's hard to find a finer venue than the Algarve. (Apart from its wonderful wildflowers in springtime, it is the abundance and diversity of the forest fungi that we find so amazing about the Algarve.) The main fruiting season runs through autumn, winter and spring - October to March and well in to April most years.

Prized Edible Mushrooms in the Algarve

With so many edible mushrooms and other fungi in this part of the world, if you are looking for something to make a meal of why settle for mediocrity? Here is a shortlist of some of our favourite Algarve fungi feasts:

Amanita caesarea - Caesar's Mushroom. Full details (opens in a new window) on www.first-nature.com...

Boletus edulis - Cep, Porcini, or Penny Bun Bolete. Full details (opens in a new window) on www.first-nature.com...

Cantharellus cibarius - Chanterelle. Full details (opens in a new window) on www.first-nature.com...

Coprinus comatus - Shaggy Inkcap. Full details (opens in a new window) on www.first-nature.com...

Hydnum rufescens - Rufous Hedgehog. Full details (opens in a new window) on www.first-nature.com...

Macrolepiota procera - Parasol. Full details (opens in a new window) on www.first-nature.com...

Have you seen this mushroom?

Morels are marvelous mushrooms, and we are particularly fond of the so-called Common Morel, Morchella esculenta, which despite its name is far from common anywhere that we go fungi foraying. (Black Morels, Morchella elata, often spring up in flowerbeds treated with woodchip mulch.)

Despite hunting for fungi throughout the Algarve for twelve years, we have yet to stumble across this or any other members of the edible morel clan. (Morchella elata is fairly common in many European countries, and more o9ften than not it grows in gardens and parks that have been spread with wood chip to act as a mulch.

Morels are often reported from sites ravaged by forest fires, and the Algarve has suffered many such tragedies in recent years; any such locations are worth looking at in the year or two following such an event.

Morels are fairly common from Bulgaria in the east to France in the west, and so we could expect to find them in the Algarve. If you have seen these mushrooms in the region we would very much appreciate hearing from you - and if you prefer to keep the precise location a secret, we will quite understand!

Full details of Morchella esculenta, the Common Morel (opens in a new window) on www.first-nature.com...

Fungi to look out for in the Algarve

	Agaricus devoniensis This uncommon mushroom of sand dunes is particularly difficult to find because it develops underground and often only part of the fertile gill surface is visible. Although edible, this mushroom is usually so ingrained with sand that avoiding a gritty meal is almost impossible. More...
	Cyclocybe cylindracea - Poplar Fieldcap This species (often referred to by the synonym Agrocybe cylindracea) grows only on dead or dying wood. Look out for it at the bases of broadleaf trees such as planes and poplars. More...
	Albatrellus ovinus - Sheep Polypore Seen from the top these are pale misshapen lumps, but turn one over and you discover something that looks very much like a cap-and-stem gilled mushroom... but it has no gills. The fertile under-surface of this edible fungus consists of an array of tiny tubes with oval pores through which the spores are released. More...
	Aleuria aurantia - Orange Peel Fungus Looking very much like discarded orange peel the oval cup-like fruitbodies of this fungus are deep orange inside and almost white on the outer surface. Unlike cap-and-stem mushrooms the spores are produced on the smooth upper surface of these edible fungi. More...
	Amanita caesarea - Caesar's Mushroom This prized edible mushroom is an Algarve speciality. It grows in association with oak trees. Those who eat wild mushrooms always try to gather Caesar's Mushrooms when they are at the button stage, with the orange cap just protruding from the white volva, an egg-like veil that covers the developing fruitbody. More...
	Amanita gemmata - The Jewelled Amanita At its finest, certainly a gem of a mushroom, but definitely not one for the pot. This mushroom is known to be poisonous, causing hallucinogenic symptoms similar to those associated with the infamous Fly Agaric. The Jewelled Amanita is mainly found with pine trees. More...
	Amanita muscaria - Fly Agaric The most famous of all woodland mushrooms, this is the fairy story fungus and origin of many myths. Do not eat this hallucinogenic mushroom, and beware: in wet weather the white spots wash off making it difficult to distinguish from some seriously poisonous red-capped brittlegill mushrooms (Russula species). More...
	Amanita ovoidea - Bearded Amanita Some people call this rare mushroom the European Egg Amidella. It grows with oak trees and is said to be edible; however it looks so similar to the deadly Deathcap mushroom, Amanita phalloides that it is very unwise to risk gathering these for the pot. More...
	Amanita pantherina - Panthercap Another hallucinogenic woodland mushroom, the Panthercap looks rather like a brown Fly Agaric although the stem base is quite different with the remains of the volva not making an open sac. Cap colour varies from pale greyish-brown to very dark brown, and the spots on the cap are always white. More...
	Amanita rubescens - Blusher There is a simple way to differentiate between the blusher and other reddish or brownish amanita mushrooms: when cut or scratched the flesh of the mushroom turns pinkish-red, especially near the stem base - hence the common name. This is another woodland mushroom, edible only if thoroughly cooked. More...
	Armillaria tabescens - Ringless Honey Fungus Very rare in northern Europe, the Ringless Honey Fungus is quite common in the Algarve where it grows at the bases of oak trees. Some people regard this as an edible mushroom but it is easily confused with other kinds of honey fungus that can cause serious stomach upsets. More...
	Boletus aereus Some people refer to this excellent edible mushroom as the Queen Bolete. Very similar in appearance to a Cep, Boletus edulis, this mushroom has a downy cap at first, becoming smooth as it matures. This is another of the many mushrooms that grow under Cork Oak trees. More...
	Boletus edulis - Cep The best way to distinguish a Cep from its many lookalikes is by the pale rim of its cap and the pale net-like pattern on the lower part of its barrel-shaped stem. Ceps grow in association with broadleaf trees such as oaks, and occasionally with pines; they are wonderfully versatile edible mushrooms. More...
	Hemileccinum impolitum - Iodine Bolete The scientific name impolitum is not to do with bad manners but rather the rustic or unpolished form of the cap, which is often irregularly dented. Cut the stem base and you will smell the iodine that gives this edible but hardly delectable mushroom its common name. It is another oak tree associate. More...
	Butyriboletus regius - Royal Bolete Many people believe that this is the most beautiful of all the boletes, and while rare in most parts of Europe, it is a fairly common woodland mushroom in the Algarve where it grows under cork oaks. Although said to be edible these mushrooms are so lovely we think it best to leave them for others to enjoy. More...
	Cantharellus aurora - Golden Chanterelle Smaller and much more curly than the more familiar chanterelles that many people buy from the supermarket, the Golden Chanterelle can be identified immediately by its very few shallow veins on the underside (fertile surface) of the cap. Look out for these under oak trees. More...
	Cantharellus cibarius - Chanterelle This famous edible mushroom has the wonderful advantage of not suffering from attacks by maggots and so it remains in good condition for a long time. Its spores are produced on the wrinkled lower surface of the cap. Chanterelles are always found in association with trees, either broadleaf or conifer. More...
	Clathrus ruber - Red Cage Fungus Stinkhorns are smelly fungi and this one looks very little like a horn but smells very much like a stinkhorn. Usually found in grassy places where there is plenty of leaf litter or decaying woodchip, the Red Cage Fungus is rare in northern Europe but quite common here in the Algarve. More...
	Clavaria fragilis - White Spindles Arising from lawns and other grassy places like pallid snakes writhing as they grow, White Spindles are gregarious simple clubs that eventually turn brown. More...
	Clavariadelphus pistillaris - Giant Club Looking very much like a misshapen truncheon or some archetypal caveman's club Clavariadelphus pistillaris is very common in the Algarve but increasingly rare further north in Europe. This club fungus grows in leaf litter and is most common under oak trees. More...
	Clitocybe nebularis - Clouded Funnel There are many 'funnel' fungi of which this is one of the largest and most common. The specific name nebularis refers to the cloud-like colouring of the cap. Clouded Funnels are woodland fungi. More...
	Clitopilus prunulus - The Miller Millers make, or used to make, flour, and the floury texture of the cap surface and its mealy smell give this edible mushroom its common name. The gills run down onto the stem which helps differentiate The Miller from most of the poisonous white-capped fungi. Look for these in grassy fields and on woodland edges. More...
	Coprinopsis lagopus - Hare's Foot Inkcap Mature Hare's Foot Inkcaps look so unlike the immature form that it is hard to believe they are the same species. Furry and pure white at first they open up into inside-out umbrellas with thin caps that turn black from the gill edges. They are wood rotters and prefer shady places beneath trees. More...
	Coprinopsis picacea - Magpie Inkcap With its white veil fragments patterning a brown cap this must surely be one of our most beautiful mushrooms. Often solitary but occasionally occuring in groups on roadside verges or in woodlands Magpie Inkcaps are poisonous. More...
	Craterellus cornucopioides - Horn of Plenty The common name suggest these are good to eat, and indeed, propely cooked they are. Another common name for this tough-skinned (maggot-proof) mushroom is Trumpet of Death - and you can imagine dead people sending music skywards via these strange horns. These are woodland mushrooms. More...
	Entoloma sinuatum - Livid Pinkgill This is a seriously toxic toadstool that was formerly referred to as the 'Lead Poisoner' (Livid meaning lead-coloured). Very common in the Algarve woodlands this toadstool is sometimes mistaken for one of the edible mushrooms such as The Miller. More...
	Ganoderma lucidum - Lacquered Bracket Ganoderma species are difficult to identfy with any certainty because individual specimens are so variable in appearance. At its best this is a beautiful bracket fungus and although used in Chinese medicine it is too tough to be considered edible. It grows on the lower trunks and roots of hardwood trees, notably oaks. More...
	Geastrum fimbriatum - Sessile Earthstar At first this strange fungus appears like a partly buried stone; then the outer skin splits into rays that fold back neatly to reveal an inner spore sac, raising it from the ground. Mainly found on lime-rich soil under trees these earthstars often in appear in fairy rings. More...
	Gymnopilus junonius - Spectacular Rustgill The common name says it all, this bright orange mushroom often grows in tufts on stumps or trunks of broadleaf trees and very occasionally on conifers. Although they look magnificent they are bitter and quite inedible. This is the only large rustgill that has a ring on its stem. More...
	Gymnopilus sapineus - Scaly Rustgill Similar in size to the Spectacular Rustgill, but lacking a stem ring the Scaly Rustgill most often emerges from dead stumps of conifers or from buried pine wood in the forest floor. Rare in northern Europe this beautiful but inedible mushroom is quite common in the Algarve. More...
	Helvella crispa - White Saddle There are many kinds of saddle fungi in the Algarve forests, particularly beside footpaths. Most are easily overlooked among fallen leaves but the remarkable White Saddle stands out like a beacon on the woodland floor. Some kinds of saddle fungi are deadly poisonous so all are best avoided. More...
	Hydnum rufescens - Terracotta Hedgehog The term 'hydnoid' is used to describe a very variable group of funge whose spores develop not on gills nor in pores but on spines on the lower surface of their caps. The Terracotta Hedgehog has long spines that hang down like stalactites beneath its terracotta cap. These are fine edible fungi. More...
	Hygrocybe acutoconica - Persistent Waxcap This grassland mushroom is one of very few waxcaps that can survive the Algarve sunshine for several days, justifying its common name and indeed its synonymous scientific name Hygrocybe persistens. Waxcaps are for looking at, not for eating! More...
	Hygrocybe conica - Blackening Waxcap Common throughout Europe this very varied waxcap mushroom can start off yellow, orange or red but long before it begins to decay the whole of the fruitbody turns black. These grassland fungi are often seen in groups, looking like shiny black brollies. More...
	Lactarius chrysorrheus - Yellowdrop Milkcap Almost exclusively restricted to oak woodland, the Yellowdrop Milkcap gets its common name from the milky latex, which emerges in droplets from any damaged part of the gills. Initially white, the latex turns sulphur yellow on exposure to air. It is from this characteristic that milkcaps get their common shared name. More...
	Lepista nuda - Wood Blewit Growing in leaf litter in shaded woodland these mushrooms get their common name from the blue-ish (more often violet) colouring of the cap, gills and stem. Only as they age do the caps turn brownish from the centre. Wood Blewits are good to eat, although a small minority of people react adversely to them. More...
	Macrolepiota excoriata A smaller paler imitation of the Parasol Mushroom, Macrolepiota procera, this beautiful mushroom is too scarce to be a serious target for commercial pickers. Unfortunately it often occurs on roadside verges where contamination from exhaust fumes makes it inadvisable to gather mushrooms to eat. More...
	Macrolepiota procera - Parasol The Parasol is a choice edible mushroom found in open woodland and other places nearly always beneath trees. The snakeskin pattern on the tall stems is a helpful identifying feature. (Shaggy Parasols, which are now known to be poisonous, have smooth stems without a snakeskin pattern.) More...
	Mycena haematopus - Burgundydrop Bonnet Snap a stem of one of these little wood-rotting mushrooms and you will see a deep red liquid oozing out. These are gregarious fungi often swarming over the stumps or lower trunks of dead or dying broadleaf trees. In the Algarve, we see these mainly on Cork Oaks. More...
	Parasola auricoma Initially mid-brown these lovely little inkcaps turn buff except for the centres and so they look very much like little eyes staring up from their woodchip or leaf litter habitats. You may also find these inedible little mushrooms in mulched flowerbeds. More...
	Parasola conopilus - Conical Brittlestem Standing tall and straight on roadside verges these beautiful rufous mushrooms turn pale buff from their centres as they dry out. Although inedible, Conical Brittlestems have one attractive characteristic: they nearly always appear in photogenic groups. More...
	Phallus impudicus - Stinkhorn This is the most common of the stinkhorns - the strange fungus that so shocked Charles Darwin's granddaughter that she attacked them with cudgels thus helping to distribute the spores and ensuring that more appeared in future years. Flies usually distribute the spores. More...
	Pisolithus arrhizus - Dyeball The common name suggests that this strange ball-like fungus is a useful source of coloured dye, and so it is. An even more useful function is its ability to help trees to grow on seriously degraded soil as it is what is termed a micorrhizal fungus that forms mutual associations with many kinds of plants. More...
	Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis - Goblet Both parts of the scientific name of this fungs refer to its chalice-like shape. Often seen late in the year or early in the New Year in the Algarve this mushroom is reputed to be edible but not particularly tasty. It is a wood-rotting species and occurs in all kinds of forests. More...
	Ramaria botrytis - Rosso Coral Coral fungi are rare finds in northern Europe, but here in the Algarve we see many including this beautiful red-tipped one. The strange Latin name botrytis comes from the Latin for a bunch of grapes and we can only assume that Adalbert Ricken who named it has never seen a reall vineyard! More...
	Ramaria formosa Varying from pinkish-ochre to orange-pink this poisonous fungus of oak woodlands (although occasionally it occurs also under pines) is relatively shortlived and its colour soon fades, but this a very beautiful coral if you find it in perfect condition. More...
	Ramaria stricta - Upright Coral This is no disiplinarian of the fungi world - the specific name stricta simply means upright or erect. Almost pure white or very pale cream when it first emerges through the leaf litter of a forest floor, Upright Coral turns buff with age and becomes tough and leathery. More...
	Russula aurea - Gilded Brittlegill Russula fungi are referred to as brittlegills because..... well, their gills are brittle! The Gilded Brittlegill is both beautiful and delicious. Unfortunately slugs and bugs agree with this statement, and it is difficult to find specimens that have not already provided snacks for woodland creatures. More...
	Russula parazurea - Powdery Brittlegill A powdery bloom covers the surface of this large woodland mushroom when it is young. Most are blue-grey but some dispaly hints of purple. The name parazurea means nearly blue (in France it is known as Russule Presque Bleu). More...
	Scleroderma citrinum - Common Earthball Looking like a warty potato the Common Earthball is very variable in shape and colour ranging from light ochre to mid-brown. Often, but not always, there is a lemon-yellow tinge to the upper surface, and some people refer to it as the Citrine Earthball. These woodland fungi are poisonous. More...
	Scutellinia scutellata - Eyelash Fungus The closer you look the more fungi you find. That's because there are many more tiny fungi than there are mighty mushrooms. Ideally, take an eyeglass with you when looking for the miniscule Eyelash Fungus as its cups are just one or two mm across and the marginal 'lashes' barely visible to the naked eye. More...
	Suillus collinitus This bolete is very common under pine trees in the Algarve, while in northern Europe it is extremely rare. A similar species, Suillus granulatus, differs in having white mycelium, whereas Suillus collinitus has pink mycelial threads which are visible if you look closely at the base of the stem. More...
	Trametes versicolor - Turkey Tail This wood-rotting fungus is tough and persistent often taking two or three years to rot away. When young the fan-like brackets are pale at the rim and are various shades of yellow, red and brown in concentric zones - hence the species name versicolor. More...
	Tricholoma sulphureum - Sulphur Knight Exactly why the stately Tricholoma mushrooms are called knights is much debated; however the Sulphur Knight is sulphur yellow, as are one or two other knights. You will have no difficulty identifying this one, however, as it gives off a pungent coal-gas odour detectable from quite some distance. More...
	Tulostoma brumale - Winter Stalkball Standing up like tiny lollipops these strange little fungi release their spores through holes in the top of a roughly spherical structure rather similar to a puffball. The old common name for this kind of fungus was Stilt Puffball. Look out for them in dry sandy grassland among moss. More...

Fungi for their form rather than for food

The fascination of fungi is certainly not limited to their culinary value. If you enjoy wildflowers then take a look at the wealth of woodland and grassland fungi that appear in the Algarve from October through to mid April: you will be amazed at the diversity of shapes and colours.