Where Can You Find It?
Penny Buns form mycorrhizal relationships with several tree species.
Look in forests containing:
- Oak
- Beech
- Birch
- Pine
- Spruce
They may appear along woodland edges, grassy clearings, and mossy forest floors.
When Does It Appear?
Penny Buns are generally found from summer into autumn.
September and October are particularly productive in many European regions, especially following suitable rainfall.
Is Penny Bun Edible?
Yes. Boletus edulis is a highly valued edible species when correctly identified.
It is widely used in traditional European cooking.
However, other boletes can look similar, including unpleasantly bitter species and poisonous ones.
A brown cap and thick stem alone are not enough to establish identification.
Interesting fact: Porcini are so highly valued in Italian cuisine that dried specimens are sold commercially and used to flavor risottos, soups, and sauces.
6. Yellow Stagshorn (Calocera viscosa)
Edibility: Generally regarded as inedible or of negligible culinary value.
Yellow Stagshorn looks more like a tiny piece of underwater coral than a woodland fungus.
Its bright yellow or orange branches rise from decaying wood in shapes resembling miniature antlers.
Against dark, damp timber, it can be one of the most colorful discoveries of an autumn walk.
What Does It Look Like?
This fungus produces upright, branching structures that are usually yellow to orange-yellow.
The branches often split near their tips.
They have a distinctly gelatinous, sticky, or rubbery texture.
Unlike many true coral fungi, Yellow Stagshorn is often noticeably slippery.
Where Can You Find It?
Yellow Stagshorn typically grows on decaying conifer wood.
Look for it on:
- Rotten spruce stumps
- Decaying pine wood
- Buried conifer roots
- Fallen conifer logs
It can sometimes appear to grow directly from the ground when the decaying wood is buried beneath the soil.
When Does It Appear?
It can occur during much of the year, but autumn is one of the best seasons to find it.
Moist conditions often make its bright colors particularly striking.
Is Yellow Stagshorn Edible?
It is generally regarded as inedible.
Although some references don’t classify it as poisonous, its rubbery texture, lack of substantial flesh, and minimal culinary value make it unsuitable as a food recommendation.
Interesting fact: Yellow Stagshorn belongs to a group of jelly fungi rather than the true coral fungi it superficially resembles.
