Mysterious mushrooms — the largest living organism on our planet

There are about 20 species here that are both common and worth eating. But to stay safe, follow the basic rule of never eating a fungus that you cannot positively identify without any doubt as being an edible species

Mushrooms growing on a decaying tree stump, in bright winter sunshine. Picture: Larry Cummins

Mushrooms are mysterious. Here in Ireland, we tend to treat wild mushrooms with suspicion, terrified at the possibility of poisoning. Across Scandinavia and continental Europe, however, people are brought up to enjoy, recognise, and celebrate the arrival of mushroom season. And now, during September and October, families are eagerly venturing out on foraging excursions. We Irish, by contrast, are relatively impoverished of traditions around collecting and eating wild mushrooms.

It's not especially difficult to learn to reliably identify a handful of edible mushrooms. There are about 20 species here that are both common and worth eating, and were once widely harvested. Field mushrooms are widely recognised and just about the only mushroom that Irish people will readily gather up and cook. Bright yellow chantarelles, with their faint fragrance of apricots, are another of the best edible mushrooms.