Velvet Shank / Winter / Edible

Common Names

Velvet Shank, Enoki

Scientific Name

Flammulina Velutipes 

Family

Physalacriaceae

Habitat

Common throughout Britain and Ireland, Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America

Occurs on logs and stumps of hardwood trees and diseased trees

Description 

This gorgeous mushroom is a wild variety of the cultivated Enoki mushroom which is often used within Asian Cuisine.

Flammulina meaning flaming top, and Velutipes meaning velvety leg.

Identifying Features:

Cap:

They grow in clusters on stumps, The caps are flame-like, orange in the centre becoming lighter and yellowy towards the edge

Stem

The stem starts of orangey yellow when young becoming dark brown and velvety with age.

Gills

The gills are creamy coloured, adnate and well-spaced.

Smell

They have a lovely sweet fruity metallic smell.

Spores

This mushroom has a white spore print.

Known Hazards

None known

Potential lookalikes

Sulphur tufts that don’t have the velvety brown to the stem and can’t withstand the winter cold as well, they also have a sulphurous colour to them.

Uses

In food:

The Velvet Shank Mushroom Fantastic edible mushroom, the stems can be a little chewy but go well in stews etc.

As Medicine

These mushrooms are said to have good very anti-cancer properties.