Witch's Egg, Phallus impudicus
Description
Witch's Eggs are the young, immature egg-stage of the Common Stinkhorn mushroom. They appear as a large, pale, brown-speckled and slightly squishy egg, partly submerged in the ground. They are attached to their growing medium by a small, thin stalk. Cutting open a Witch's Egg will reveal a hard, white, coffee-bean-shaped central kernel, surrounded by a soft, green paste-like substance, and a brown, jelly-like outer rim. Although the whole egg is edible, it is mostly just the white, central kernal that is eaten raw by very brave little bear cubs! Although mature stinkhorns stink to high heaven, the eggs actually smell rather pleasant and the edible kernel is suprisingly quite tasty. Try one!
The central white kernel is what most people eat, and it is suprisingly tasty!
A fully mature Stinkhorn is certainly not for eating as they stink!
Witch's Egg Checklist
Habitat
🌳 Deciduous Woodland
🌲 Coniferous Woodland
🔗 Found in association with decaying wood in the substrate.
Fruiting Season
🌞🍂❄️ Between June and November.
Growth Habit
📈 Witch's Eggs are the young, immature egg-stage of the Common Stinkhorn mushroom. They appear as a large, pale, brown-speckled and slightly squishy egg, partly submerged in the ground.
Grows singly or in small groups.
Cap
🍄 None. The Witch's Egg is the young, immature egg form of the Common Stinkhorn mushroom. The cap is developing inside the egg.
Gills
⚛️ No gills.
Stem
♊️ The Witch's Egg is attached to it's growing medium via a very thin stalk.
Flesh
🟤🟢⚪️ Cutting open a Witch's Egg will reveal a hard, white, coffee-bean-shaped central kernel, surrounded by a soft, green paste-like substance and a brown, jelly-like outer rim.
Edible Parts
🥚 Just the white, coffee-bean-shaped central kernal is normally eaten, but the jelly can also be scoffed if you really want to!
Aroma / Taste
👃 Indistinct Aroma.
👅 The central kernal is suprisingly tasty. A slightly nutty, slightly raddishy taste, with a crunchy texture.
ID Notes
🟩 ID Difficulty - Beginner
👀 The large jelly-like egg and interesting insides are key identifiers of this mushroom.
🤚 The egg is squishy to the touch, a little like a stress-relief ball!
👃 If there are fully matured stinkhorns are nearby, you will smell them!
⛔️ At first glance, you could confuse a Witch's Egg with a Puffball, Earthball or young egg-stage Amanita, but cutting one open will soon reveal the correct identification as they are very distinct inside, particularly the jelly like outer rim.
Uses
🧙♀️ Eaten just for fun by brave bear cubs!
🍄 Fungi - Can be used in mushroom recipes if you have some imagination!