For the sake of clarity regarding the upcoming competition item, I thought I’d share parts of a recent discussion regarding the difference between mushrooms and toadstools:
The Botanist’s answer:Â There is no distinction between mushrooms and toadstools. Poisonous ones are commonly known as toadstools, but botanically they are the same.
The Storyteller’s answer: Given that mushrooms are edible and toadstools are poisonous (this being the generally accepted, non scientific difference between these fungi) I say that anyone turning a ‘mushroom’ from Yew, Laburnum etc should be disqualified and anyone making a toadstool from heavily spalted timber should be allowed. We could use the bandsaw to slice anything which we are uncertain about, and fry the suspect slices in garlic butter and if kidney dialysis is not required thereafter then the entry should be allowed.
The Accepted answer: There is no difference so both will be acceptable for the forthcoming competition. I’m not sure about truffles though.