Mother nature is generous with surprises. Some mushrooms have such an unusual shape that one can only marvel at looking at their bizarre outlines. There are fruit bodies that look like a disk or a funnel, others resemble a brain or a saddle, and sometimes there are those that resemble stars. You can find photos and descriptions of the most unusual mushrooms in this material.

Unusual mushrooms from the Discinaceae and Lobe families

Common line (Gyromitra esculenta).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Discinaceae (Discinaceae)

vaitau: end of April – end of May

Tuputupu aʻe: na o i latou ma i vaega

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The leg is slightly folded, often narrowed towards the base, hollow, light.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is waxy, fragile, light, without a special smell.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The edge of the cap is adherent to the stem along almost the entire length. The cap is wrinkled-folded, brain-shaped, brown, brightens with age. Inside the cap is sinuously hollow

This unusually shaped mushroom is poisonous. Contains gyromitrins that destroy the blood, as well as the central nervous system, liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Ecology ma tufatufaga: It grows in mixed and coniferous forests, in young pine plantations, in clearings, along roads.

Curly lobe (Helvella crispa).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Lopatnikovye (Helvellaceae).

vaitau: end of August – October.

Tuputupu aʻe: taitoatasi ma vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is brittle, whitish, odorless.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Hat, curved, two- or four-lobed, light yellow or ocher. The edge of the cap is free, wavy-curly, in some places grown.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Leg foveate-striated, widened towards the base, hollow, light.

Conditionally edible mushroom of poor quality. It is used fresh (after preliminary boiling with draining the broth) and dried.

See what this unusual mushroom looks like in the photo:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in deciduous and mixed forests, in bushes, in grass, along roadsides. Occurs rarely.

Pitted lobe (Helvetia lacunosa).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Lopatnikovye (Helvellaceae).

vaitau: Iulai – Setema.

Tuputupu aʻe: taitoatasi ma vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The cap is formed by two or three irregularly saddle-shaped lobes, the color is from grayish-bluish to dark gray.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Leg – irregularly cylindrical or in the form of a narrow club, pitted, with sharp ribs, gray tones.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is very brittle, the taste and smell of young mushrooms are spicy, with age they become musty, earthy.

An unusual mushroom called pitted lobe is conditionally edible. Young specimens are tasty, although somewhat tough.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in deciduous and mixed, less often in coniferous forests, on bare ground and among vegetation. Prefers acidic soils.

Mushrooms of an unusual shape from the Morel family

High morel (Morchella elata).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Morels (Morchellaceae).

vaitau: April June.

Tuputupu aʻe: na o ia ma i vaega laiti.

faamatalaga:

The pulp is white, tender, hollow inside, with an earthy or mushroom smell. The cells are olive-brown, in mature mushrooms they are brown or black-brown.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The cap is narrow, conical, covered with cells bounded by more or less parallel vertical narrow folds.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The leg is folded, expanded at the base, hollow, whitish in young mushrooms, later – yellowish or ocher. Partitions are olive-ocher; The color of the fungus darkens with age.

Su'ega e mafai ona 'aina. It is suitable for food after boiling for 10-15 minutes (the broth is drained), or after drying for 30-40 days.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows on soil in coniferous and deciduous forests, often – on grassy glades and edges, in gardens and orchards.

Real morel (Morchella esculenta).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Morels (Morchellaceae).

vaitau: early May – mid June.

Tuputupu aʻe: taitoatasi ma vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The stem fuses with the edge of the cap.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The mushroom is hollow inside. The hat is round-spherical, brown, coarse-meshed.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The flesh is waxy, brittle, with a pleasant groin and taste. The leg is whitish or yellowish in color, expanded below, often notched.

Delicious conditionally edible mushroom. It is suitable for food after boiling for 10-15 minutes (the broth is drained), or dried.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in light deciduous, as well as in mixed and coniferous forests, in parks and gardens, on grassy lawns and forest edges, under bushes, in clearings.

Cap conical (Verpa conica).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Morels (Morchellaceae).

vaitau: Aperila Me.

Tuputupu aʻe: singly and in scattered groups.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The leg is cylindrical or laterally flattened, hollow, brittle, covered with bran-like scales; the color is white, then turns yellow.

The hat is bell-shaped, brown tones.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is tender, fragile. The surface of the cap is covered with shallow wrinkles, sometimes almost smooth, crumpled, usually present at the top.

This unusual mushroom is edible, it requires preliminary boiling (the broth is drained).

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in deciduous, mixed and floodplain forests, shrubs, forest belts, often near aspens, willows, birches. Occurs rarely.

Veined saucer (Disciotis venosa).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Morels (Morchellaceae).

vaitau: Aperila Me.

Tuputupu aʻe: singly or in small groups.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The outer surface is smooth, mealy or finely scaly, folded, whitish or ocher.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The flesh is brittle, with a mild taste and smell of chlorine. The inner surface is first smooth, ocher, then becomes radially ribbed, brown.

The fruit body is fleshy, first cup-shaped or saucer-shaped, then flat.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The short leg is immersed in the soil.

Le lelei le lelei o mushroom taumafa. Requires pre-boiling to remove an unpleasant odor.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows on sandy soil in forests of various types, along roads, ravines, along stream banks, in clearings.

Unusual mushrooms from the Lociaceae family

Cup-shaped and disc-shaped, funnel-shaped mushrooms.

Bisporella lemon (Bisporella citrina).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Leocyaceae (Leotiaceae).

vaitau: mid-September – end of October.

Tuputupu aʻe: vaega mafiafia tetele.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Fruit bodies are teardrop-shaped at first, convex. The surface is matte, lemon yellow or light yellow.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

With age, the fruiting bodies become disc-shaped or goblet-shaped.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

From top to bottom fruiting bodies are extended into a narrowed “leg”, sometimes degenerate.

Due to its small size, it has no nutritional value.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in deciduous and mixed forests, on decaying hardwood (birch, linden, oak), on trunks, often at the end of a log – on the horizontal surface of log cabins and stumps, on branches.

Bulgar soiling (Bulgaria inquinans).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Leocyaceae (Leotiaceae).

vaitau: mid-September – November.

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is gelatinous-elastic, dense, ocher-brown, becomes hard when dried.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The black upper surface leaves marks on the fingers. The mature fruiting body is shaped like a wide glass.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Young specimens goblet, brown.

Mushroom e le mafai ona 'aina.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows on dead wood and deadwood of hardwoods (oak, aspen).

Neobulgaria pure (Neobulgaria pura).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Leocyaceae (Leotiaceae).

vaitau: mid-September – November.

Tuputupu aʻe: tight clusters.

faamatalaga:

The inner surface is shiny, gray, grayish bluish or grayish brownish. The lateral surface is finely warty.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is fleshy, gelatinous, tender.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The fruiting body is cup-shaped, prominent, conically narrowed towards the base.

Mushroom e le mafai ona 'aina.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows on dead branches of deciduous trees (birch).

Mushrooms of an unusual shape from the Otideaceae and Petsitsevye families

asini otidea (Otidea onotica).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Otideaceae (Otideaceae).

vaitau: beginning of July – mid-October.

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The fruiting body is ear-shaped, with curled edges. The inner surface is yellow-ochre, yellow-orange with a reddish tint and rusty spots.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The flesh is thin, leathery, odorless.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The outer surface is ocher, matte. There is a distinct short stem.

Le lelei le lelei o mushroom taumafa. It is used fresh after preliminary boiling.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows on soil in deciduous and mixed forests. Distributed in the European part of Our Country and the Urals.

Brown pepper (Peziza badia).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Petsitsevye (Pezizaceae).

vaitau: mid-May – September.

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The outer surface is chestnut, granular. The inner surface is smooth, brilliant brown in wet weather.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The fruiting body is sessile, hemispherical in youth, then gradually opens. The mature fruiting body is saucer-shaped with neatly tucked edges.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is brown, brittle, watery.

An edible mushroom of very low quality. It is used fresh after preliminary boiling, as well as dried.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows only in damp places on soil in coniferous and mixed forests, on dead hardwood (aspen, birch), on stumps, along roads.

Bubble pepper (Peziza vesiculosa).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Petsitsevye (Pezizaceae).

vaitau: faaiuga o Me - Oketopa.

Tuputupu aʻe: groups and alone.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The fruiting body is at first almost spherical, then becomes cup-shaped with a torn, inward-turned edge. The inner surface is matte or slightly shiny, beige, light brownish in color with an olive tint.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The outer surface is brownish-brown, powdery. Old fruiting bodies are saucer-shaped, often with a lobed dried edge, sessile or with a very short stalk.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is brittle, waxy, brownish.

O faʻamatalaga e uiga i meaʻai e feteʻenaʻi. According to some reports, it can be used as food after boiling.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in moist places on fertilized soil in forests and gardens, on rotten hardwood (birch, aspen), in landfills and flower beds.

Unusual mushrooms from the Pyronemaceae and Sarcosciphoid families

Aleuria orange (Aleuria aurantia).

Aiga: Pyronemaceae (Pyronemataceae).

vaitau: faaiuga o Me - ogatotonu o Setema.

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

The fruit body is sessile, cup-shaped, saucer-shaped or ear-shaped. The edges are curved unevenly. The outer surface is dull, matte, covered with white pubescence.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The flesh is whitish, thin, brittle, without a pronounced smell and taste.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The inner surface is bright orange, smooth.

Le lelei le lelei o mushroom taumafa. It is used fresh after preliminary boiling (for example, to decorate a salad) or dried.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in deciduous and mixed forests on soil and rotting wood, in damp, but lit, bright places, in wet meadows, in gardens, along roads.

Scutellinia saucer (Scutellinia scutellata).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Pyronemaceae (Pyronemataceae).

vaitau: end of May – November.

Tuputupu aʻe: vaega mafiafia tetele.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Mature fruit bodies are cup-shaped or disc-shaped, sessile. Young fruit bodies are spherical in shape, on a “leg”. The edge is framed by dark brown or almost black hairs.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The flesh is thin, reddish, without much taste and smell.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The inner surface is smooth, red-orange. The outer surface is light brown.

It has no nutritional value due to its small size.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows in damp places, on swampy lowlands on damp decaying wood (birch, aspen, rarely pine) and branches immersed in the soil.

Austrian Sarcoscypha (Sarcoscypha austriaca).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Sarcosciphaceae (Sarcoscyphaceae).

vaitau: beginning of April – mid-May.

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The inner surface is smooth, matte, bright red. The outer surface is vertically striated, whitish or pinkish.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is dense, with a pleasant mushroom smell. The fruit body is goblet or cup-shaped.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Leg tapering downwards. In old age, the fruiting bodies sometimes take on a disc-shaped shape.

Le lelei le lelei o mushroom taumafa. Requires pre-cooking. Can be used to decorate dishes.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows in forests and parks on land rich in humus, on moss, rotting wood, rotten leaves or on root rot.

Mushrooms of an unusual shape from the Chanterelle and Veselkovye families

Horn-shaped funnel (Craterellus cornucopioides).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Chanterelles (Cantharellaceae).

vaitau: beginning of July – end of September.

Tuputupu aʻe: clusters and colonies.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The outer surface is coarsely folded, waxy, gray. The cap is tubular, passes into a hollow leg.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Leg narrowed to the base, brownish or black-brown, hard.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The flesh is brittle, membranous, gray. The inner surface is fibrous-wrinkled, brownish, gray-brown, brown-black or almost black. The edge is turned, uneven.

The upper tubular part is eaten fresh and dried. In Western Europe, the mushroom is considered a delicacy.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in deciduous and mixed forests, in damp places, near roads.

Chanterelle yellowing (Cantharellus lutescens).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Chanterelles (Cantharellaceae).

vaitau: Aukuso Sete.

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The pulp is dense, slightly rubbery, brittle, yellowish.

The leg is narrowed to the base, curved, golden yellow. The mushroom is tubular from the cap to the base.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The cap is thin, elastic, dry, yellowish-brown. The plates of young mushrooms are not pronounced; later sinuous, yellow or orange, then grey.

Su'amu taumafa. It is used fresh (after boiling) and dried. As a finely ground powder, it is used in soups and sauces.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in coniferous, more often spruce, forests.

Star-shaped and trellised mushrooms.

Archer’s Clathrus (Clathrus archeri).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Veselkovye (Phallaceae).

vaitau: Iulai – Oketopa.

Tuputupu aʻe: groups and alone.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The lobes are initially fused at the tops. After the separation of the lobes, the fungus takes on a star shape.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The inner surface of the blades is spongy, covered with olive spots of spore-bearing mucus with a strong unpleasant odor. In the egg stage, the fungus is covered with a skin and a jelly-like shell underneath.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The young fruiting body is ovoid, grayish.

It has no nutritional value.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows on the soil of deciduous and mixed forests, meadows and parks. Found on sand dunes.

Lattice red (Clathrus ruber).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Veselkovye (Phallaceae).

vaitau: spring – autumn.

Tuputupu aʻe: groups and alone.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The mature fruiting body has the form of a spherical lattice of red color. The pulp is spongy, tender, in its mature form it has an unpleasant odor.

At the base of the fruiting body, remnants of a membranous cover are noticeable. White or brownish immature bodies are ovoid in shape.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The inner surface of mature specimens is covered with olive-brown spore-bearing mucus.

Suamu e le mafai ona 'aina.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows on forest litter and on the remains of decaying wood. In Our Country, it is occasionally found in the Krasnodar Territory. Listed in the Red Book of Our Country.

Unusual mushrooms from the Star and False rainfly families

Starfish fringed (Geastrum fimbriatum).

Aiga: Star-shaped (Geastraceae).

vaitau: pa'ū.

Tuputupu aʻe: groups or rings.

faamatalaga:

The fruiting body is initially spherical and develops in the ground. Later, the three-layer, rigid shell breaks and diverges to the sides like a star.

The spore outlet is fringed.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The spore sac is light gray, with a thin shell.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Individual blades begin to twist as the fruiting body emerges from the ground.

Young globular fruiting bodies can be eaten, but their flesh is poorly digested.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows on litter on alkaline soil under coniferous and deciduous trees.

Schmidel’s starfish (Geastrum schmidelii).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Star-shaped (Geastraceae).

vaitau: Iulai – Setema.

Tuputupu aʻe: groups and alone.

Description of the unusual mushroom Schmidel’s starfish:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The spore sac is leathery, brown, with a small stalk. The spore outlet is surrounded by a fibrous fringe.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The inner side of the shell is smooth, rarely cracking, from light brownish yellow to light brown.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The thin outer shell of the fruiting body is torn into 5-8 unequal sharp lobes, wrapping their ends down.

Suamu e le mafai ona 'aina.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows on soil and litter in deciduous and coniferous forests and forest plantations, in the steppes on the soil. Prefers light sandy soils. In Our Country, it is found in the southern regions of the European part, Siberia and the Far East.

Earth star triple (Geastrum triplex).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: Star-shaped (Geastraceae).

vaitau: faaiuga o le taumafanafana – autumn.

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The outer layer of the shell forms a “star” when ripe. The young fruiting body has a turnip shape.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The spore exit hole is surrounded by a depressed area. The inner layer of the shell forms a characteristic “collar”.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The spore sac is brownish.

Suamu e le mafai ona 'aina.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

It grows in deciduous and mixed forests, among fallen leaves and needles.

Starweed hygrometric (Astraeus hygrometricus).

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Aiga: False raincoats (Sclerodermatineae).

vaitau: tausaga atoa

Tuputupu aʻe: i vaega.

faamatalaga:

When maturing, the outer shell cracks from top to bottom into 5-20 pointed lobes. In dry weather, the lobes bend, hiding the spore sac, and straighten when the humidity rises.

The inner surface of the lobes is gray to reddish-brown, rough, covered with a network of cracks and lighter scales. The spore sac is covered with a gray, gradually darkening sheath.

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

The immature fruit body is rounded, with a multi-layered shell, reddish-brown.

Suamu e le mafai ona 'aina.

Ecology ma tufatufaga:

Grows on dry stony and sandy soil and loam in sparse forests, steppes and semi-deserts. In Our Country, it is found in the European part, in the North Caucasus, in Siberia, in the Far East.

Here you can see photos of unusual mushrooms, the names and descriptions of which are given above:

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Mushroom ma tino fua o se foliga e le masani ai

Tuua se tali