Wild Wednesday - Penny bun
Autumn is one of the best times to head outdoors and discover the fascinating fungi that appear across our woodlands, and few are as impressive as the 'penny bun' mushroom.
A chunky-looking mushroom with a cap that looks like a well-baked bread roll, hence the name penny bun. Its scientific name is 'Boletus edulis' but is also known as the 'cep' or 'porcino'.
The stem has a fine net like covering under a thick, bulging cap, with white flesh that yellows with age. This mushroom can grow to about twenty-five centimetres in height and the cap eight to twenty-five centimetres across. It can grow to full maturity in a few days, if the weather conditions are right, and is one of the easiest mushrooms to recognise.
A forager's favourite
It is edible, with a nutty flavour and a firm texture, which holds up well when cooked. They are highly sought after by the food industry and can weigh a kilo or more once mature. It's considered one of the most sought-after and delicious wild mushrooms but not to be mistaken for the 'bitter bolete,' which although not poisonous, tastes incredibly bitter, even more so if cooked.
Never eat fungi unless you are certain of its identification or have checked with an expert.
In the UK, penny buns are fairly common and are most often found on the edges of woodland, in clearings, or among grass where there are oak, birch, beech or pine trees. Here in West Sussex, they can often be found in suitable woodland habitats across areas such as the South Downs National Park, St Leonard's Forest, and other ancient woodlands that support a rich variety of fungi during the autumn months.
As the weather turns cooler and damper, keep your eyes peeled during your next countryside walk. You may spot one of these impressive mushrooms pushing through the undergrowth, looking just like a perfectly baked bun waiting to be discovered.
Read more here: Penny Bun (Boletus edulis) - British Fungi - Woodland Trust