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Aniseed toadstool


Aniseed toadstool
Photo Information
Copyright: Jose Conceicao (jconceicao) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 381 W: 19 N: 667] (2489)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-11-08
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Canon 400 D, 50mm F1.8 II
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/25 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-11-09 1:31
Viewed: 669
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Clitocybe odora

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Clitocybe odora, also known as the Aniseed toadstool is a blue-green mushroom that grows near deciduous and coniferous trees. They can be found growing in small groups along the side of tree roots. Many mushroom guidebooks suggest that it is edible, but a few expert mushroom hunters insist it should be avoided. The anise odor is due to the presence of p-Anisaldehyde and a small amount of benzaldehyde. This odor can give away the mushroom's presence before it is observed by eye.

Taxonomy:

First described by the French mycologist Jean Baptiste Francois Pierre Bulliard 1742-1793. The specific epithet odora is from the Latin meaning "perfumed".

Description:

Young specimens have a light blue texture on the cap which fades to grey in age. The gills and stem are white with no ring.
Full grown specimens have blue-green, flowery, cup-shaped caps; the gills are creamy white. The cap's surface feels rough. The stem is thick, is attached to the gills with no rings, and is textured, with a pale-yellow colour. The younger ones have a bell-shaped cap with a light blue or icy blue colour. The gills and stem are white. It has a strong scent and taste of aniseed, hence its name.
There is a white variety (Clitocybe odora var.alba)Lange which has the same strong odour.

Distribution and habitat:

Found in both deciduous, and coniferous woods. It is widespread, and found in the temperate zones. Occurring in Asia, Europe, and North America.On the east coast of America it favours oak, and it is often abundant in the coniferous forests of the Pacific North West.

Edibility:

The caps can be dried, and used as a condiment, or used fresh for flavouring. Mushroom hunters should be sure to pick mature ones, mainly because the younger ones can be confused with several similar poisonous ones that grow along with this mushroom. Make sure you observe every part before you put it in your basket. Also, check the stem and cut the cap to see if there are any fly larvae.

I taken this photo in mountain of Sintra.
Argus, nglen, Gert-Paassen, Evelynn, eruyanik, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2008-11-09 6:19]

Hello José,
A fine image of the Aniseed Mushroom taken from a great POV with excellent sharpness and DOF and contrasting well with the dark forest floor BG in a pleasing composition.
TFS,
Kind regards,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2907 W: 34 N: 8619] (32124)
  • [2008-11-09 12:48]

Hi Jose. I like the low POV that you have taken this fine close up of the fungi. So we can see all the detail in the underside.with natural colours. All with interesting notes . well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi Jose,
Very good capture of these Aniseed Mushrooms with nice low POV, good composition, sharp details and nice BG.
TFS
Pekka

Hi Jose,

good composition and sharpness.
Beautiful colours.

Gert

Good picture on this fine msuhroom. With good sharpness and a nice POV.
Best wishes,
Achim

I like all the forest littler surrounding your fungi as well as the fungi themselves. Nice details, color and sharpness.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi Jose,
Great colours on the mushroom and the bigger odoras looks wonderful.i like the way you framed it, diagonal mushrooms on the right side and like the environment as well.
TFS!
Ersin

Olá José Luis,
First of all: happy new year to You and Your family, my Friend! Great capture, nice colors, correct ID specification. The only thing I don't like there's too much of the out-of-focus foreground. Otherwise an excellent pic, it's a pity You didn't share the exif infos and I don't know the exact shutter speed. But great work overall, congrats and tfs.
Have fungi-rich 2009, friendly regards from Hungary, László

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