Case Details
Fungi/Mushroom ID
Submitted by Kerri Ison on 10/1/2009
Found growing along asphalt driveway at the edge of where red granite fill meets the lawn. When first picked (two weeks ago) outside was beige in color and inside dark brown and mushy. Now inside is the color of baking cocoa and a powder. Any ideas of what kind it is?
Reply by Brian D. Hudelson on 10/4/2009
Kerri:
Just checked with Dan Lindner at the Forest Products Lab. Here's his response:
"It's Pisolithus tinctorius (Dead Man's Foot), which is well known for breaking through pavement and driveways. It really likes compacted, sandy, gravelly soil. It's is an important mycorrhizal species (sometimes used in forestry operations to inoculate seedlings). It is generally not considered edible, which shouldn't be too surprising."
Hope this helps.
Brian (:))
