The Mysterious Mushroom: Fruit of the Forest Floor

By Uncle Paul

Today I would like to take you on a journey back in time, some 53 centuries ago to the year 3300 B.C. We travel across the ocean to Italy and it is here we will begin our climb at the base of the Italian Alps. We journey upward through some of the darkest forests in the world. As we travel, we collect a fruit from the forest floor that needs no sunlight to grow. It will nourish us; some pieces will be used as an antiseptic, and some will be dried and used as a fire starter for warmth.

As we climb higher we notice traces of snow in the darkest shadows of the woods. Finally we enter a snow-covered valley known as the Otztal Valley in the Otztal Alps. It’s here, close to the Austrian border, buried deep in the snow, we find Otzi the Iceman. Even though he is dead he has an incredible story to tell.

Still intact: His copper axe, grass-woven cloak, a quiver of arrows, and a bow taller than his 5’3” stature. An arrow point is lodged in his shoulder — this is what severed the artery that led to his death 5,300 years ago in his early 40s. Among his possessions is a small wooden box that contained a medicine kit and tools to start a fire. In it are two kinds of fruit from the forest floor, the same kind we collected at the start of this journey. This fruit is known as the mysterious and mystical mushroom. And is not the fruit of a tree, but the fruit of a long vein of fungi that stretches across the forest floor.

Throughout history, the mushroom has played an intriguing role. It is suggested that Nordic Vikings used a certain kind of mushroom (Amanita muscaria) before they went into battle; the mushroom was reputed to produce a berserk rage. Supposedly these Vikings would be affected by the mushrooms in the heat of battle and perform deeds which were otherwise impossible. They would go into a great rage, howl like animals, and cut down anything in their path — including fellow Vikings.

Hieroglyphics carved in ancient Egyptian tombs told the story about how pharaohs decreed mushrooms to be the food of royalty. It was believed eating mushrooms could bring about immortality, and no commoner was allowed to touch them.

Mushrooms are saprophytes and will only grow on previously formed organic material. Some varieties are bioluminescent, like the Clytocybe illudens, which produces enough light to read by. The Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon are home to the honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae. It covers 3.4 miles and is still growing.

There are more than 38,000 varieties of mushrooms; between 2% and 4% are edible. The most popular mushroom is the white button. It has a fairly mild flavor that intensifies when cooked. These are also excellent eaten raw. The Crimini is like a brown button mushroom. They are firmer and have a deeper, earthier taste than that of white button. The Portabella is a larger version of the Crimini and boasts a meatier flavor. These make an excellent burger for vegetarians or those who are avoiding meat. The Shiitake is tan to dark brown with umbrella-shaped broad caps, tan gills, and curved stems. The stems should be removed before eating. These have an incredible meaty, woodsy, and rich flavor when cooked. The Oyster comes in clumps that resemble oysters. They can be grey, pale yellow, or even blue with a velvety texture and very delicate flavor. The Enoki has tiny caps and long stems. They are mild-
tasting and crunchy.

The journal of the American Dietetic Association says the following about mushrooms: “Mushrooms are a hidden treasure of nutrition and provide a range of nutrients including copper and B vitamins riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid — plus antioxidants selenium and ergothioneine. One serving of four to five white button mushrooms provides 15 IU of vitamin D. Mushrooms have nearly 300 milligrams of potassium in each serving. Best of all, one serving of mushrooms provides all this nutrition with only 20 calories and zero grams of fat.”

In addition, according to the journal, mushrooms provide natural antioxidants and are the leading source of the mineral selenium in the fruit and vegetable aisle. In the body, selenium forms an antioxidant that may help protect cells from damage. Cellular damage may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

So next time you are planning a hike, watch our for someone with a bow and arrow, and take along a box filled with the incredible, mystical and healing mushrooms.

Uncle Paul, along with his wife Calla, owns Uncle Paul’s European Style Open Air Produce Market, 2310 SE Hawthorne, 503-484-8612 or visit www.unclepaulsproduce.com