aborted entoloma (Entoloma abortivum) in Winneshiek County IA 653A7328
These aborted entolomas are really amazing mushrooms. That round tan mushroom at the upper left in the photo is the normal form for this species but they share the forest floor with another mushroom, Armillaria mellea or the honey mushroom, that doesn't much like them. The Armillaria mycelium invades the Entoloma mycelium (or root system) and causes many of the Entoloma mushrooms to abort their typical growth and turn into white twisted jelly-like blobs. Surprisingly, these white "aborted" entolomas are edible and are delicious after being boiled in a big pot of water. That's probably why they are often referred to as the "shrimp of the woods" and they even have the texture and fine taste of a peeled shrimp tail.
aborted entoloma (Entoloma abortivum) in Winneshiek County IA 653A7328
These aborted entolomas are really amazing mushrooms. That round tan mushroom at the upper left in the photo is the normal form for this species but they share the forest floor with another mushroom, Armillaria mellea or the honey mushroom, that doesn't much like them. The Armillaria mycelium invades the Entoloma mycelium (or root system) and causes many of the Entoloma mushrooms to abort their typical growth and turn into white twisted jelly-like blobs. Surprisingly, these white "aborted" entolomas are edible and are delicious after being boiled in a big pot of water. That's probably why they are often referred to as the "shrimp of the woods" and they even have the texture and fine taste of a peeled shrimp tail.