Umbrella Mushroom
(Polyporus umbellatus)
While P. umbellatus is widespread, it is not often densely populated. I have only found this mushroom on two separate locations. One of which was in a populated area.
Other Names:
None Known
Range:
Family:
Polyporaceae - Polypore family
Growth Type:
Can be saprotrophic on buried wood, or parasitic on the roots or trunk of hardwoods. This mushroom can grow to more than a foot in diameter, and up 1 – 2 feet tall.
Cap:
Multiple caps ranging in size from perhaps ½ to 2 inches. While sometimes irregular, they are typically round. The caps can be whitish to smoky brown. As the caps age, their margins will often become irregular.
Stem:
There is one large, white, main stem that divides into individual white stems that attach to the center of a cap. The main stem can be more than a foot in diameter, and up to 3 inches in length.
Gills/Tubes:
Tubes ending in white pores that will often yellow a bit with age.
Pores:
The pores are decurrent, meaning they will run down the stem.
Spores:
The spore print is white. Microscopically the cylindrical spores are 8 to 10 microns long by 2.5 to 3.5 microns wide. They are smooth and colorless.
Spore Print:
White
Height:
Can grow up to 2 feet in height, although most specimens get no more than 1 foot tall.
Miscellaneous characteristics:
P. umbellatus grows from a large, underground, blackish colored, tuber-like, fungal mass called a Sclerotium. The interior flesh of this tuber is white in color.
Season:
Spring and Autumn, but not typically during summer.
Habitat:
Hardwood forests
Parts Used:
Food: Entire visible mushroom
Medicine: Sclerotium
Toxic Look-a-likes:
I am unaware of any toxic look-a-likes. While Bondarzewia berkeleyi, Grifola frondosa, and Meripilus giganteus, look similar, none are toxic. They can be differentiated by the lateral connection of their stems to their caps. As stated above, the stems of P. umbellata attach centrally to the cap.
Cautions:
To minimize the risk of allergic reaction, it is important to thoroughly cook all mushrooms. A good rule of thumb for trying a mushroom for the first time; “All Things in Moderation.” Make sure your first portion small and consisting of only one new mushroom species.
Culinary Uses:
Younger specimens are considered a choice edible. The flavor of P. umbellatus is strongly mushroom, and earthy. It’s sparse distribution make this mushroom a rare treat at my table. I enjoy the caps sliced and sauteed in butter or bacon grease. The older specimens can be a bit tough, but they can be peeled, diced, and added to soups and stocks.
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Medicinal Uses:
P. umbellatus is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat edema and promote diuretic processes. Over the past few decades, researchers have found this taxon to contain many bioactive compounds shown to be responsible for antitumor, anticancer, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, immune system enhancement and antimicrobial activities.
Medicinal Actions:
Antimalarial,
Antimicrobial,
Antineoplastic,
Antioxidant,
Antiviral,
Diuretic,
Immunostimulant
Herbal Herbal Preparations For Mushroom
00 Capsules
Part Used: Sclerotium
Plant State: Dried
Dosage: 2-4 capsules up to three times daily.
Tea
Part Used: Sclerotium
Part State: Fresh or Dried
Add 2 tsp of the fresh, or 1 tsp dried, chopped Sclerotium, and 8 ounces of water to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and steep for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and strain to remove the sclerotium.
Dosage: 1 mug up to 3 times daily.
Decoction
Part Used: Sclerotium
Plant State: Fresh or Dried
Place 2 ounces of fresh part, or 1 ounce of dried part into a pan. Add 1 quart of water, and bring to a boil. Continue to boil over medium heat, stirring periodically, until reduced by half. Allow the mixture to cool completely, and then add enough water to bring the level up to the original starting point. Now bring the water back to a boil, once again reduce the heat to medium, and continue to boil until the liquid has reduced by half. Allow the decoction to cool completely, and then strain it through cheesecloth, a coffee filter or papertowels. This decoction will last for a couple of days in your refrigerator.
Dosage: 2-4 oz up to 3 times daily.
Standard Infusion
Part Used: Sclerotium
Plant State: Fresh or Dried
Place 2 ounces of the fresh, or 1 ounce of dried, chopped Sclerotium into a quart mason jar and fill the jar with almost boiling water. Cover the jar, place it in a sunny location, and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours. If refrigerated, the infusion will last a couple of days.
Dosage: 2-4 oz As Needed
Double Extracted Tincture
Like many plants, mushrooms contain some phytochemicals which are soluble in water, and some which are soluble only in alcohol. Unlike plants, mushroom cell walls are made from Chitin. This extremely strong, substance is only broken down by heat. The problem is that some of the medicinal aspects of the mushroom are destroyed by heat. In order to extract all that a mushroom has to offer, we must use a double extraction method. This is done by first using the fruiting body to create a tincture, and then using that same material to make a strong decoction. Following are the steps necessary to achieve this complete extraction. Rest assured, they sound much more difficult than they actually are.
Part Used: Sclerotium
Plant State: Dried
Alcohol Percentage: 75%
Mushroom to Alcohol Ratio: 1:5
To start your healthful double extracted tincture, add 150grams of chopped Sclerotium to a quart mason jar. Now fill the jar with 750 ml of 75% ethanol (I use 150 proof Everclear). Next pour the contents of the jar into a blender and blend until all of the plant material is thoroughly chopped into fine pieces and incorporated into the menstrum. This will increase the surface area and provide better leaching of the plant constituents. As a matter of fact, this method works so well that, if necessary, the tincture can be used in as little as 7 days. Now pour the contents of the blender back into the jar, being careful to scrape every last bit of goodness from the blender. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for a total of 4 weeks.
After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out and retain the mushroom material. Transfer the tincture back to the mason jar. Now place a piece of tape on the outside of the jar, and at the liquid level, draw a line on the tape. Momentarily, pour the tincture into a glass bowl or some other non-reactive container, and set aside. Now add water to the jar to the level marked on the tape. Pour this water into a large pot. Now re-fill the jar a second time with water, and then again, pour it into the pot. When done, you will have twice the volume of water than the volume of tincture. Pour the tincture back into the jar, cover it tightly, and place it in the cupboard while you finish making your decoction.
Pour the mushroom material into the pot with the water, and heat to a boil. Be very careful, as alcohol vapors coming from the mushroom may catch fire. If this happens, simply put a lid on the pot to supress flames. This may happen a few times at the beginning of your heating. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot, and simmer until the water level has decfreased by half. Turn off the heat, keep the pot covered, and allow the pot to cool completely. Once completely cooled, add enough water to the pot to bring the water level back to the original level. Bring the water back to a boil, cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until the water level once again reduces by 50%. Now turn off the heat, and allow the decoction to cool completely. When thoroughly cooled, strain out the now fully spent mushroom material, and pour the retained decoction into a large glass bowl, or other non-reactive container. Pour the tincture into the same container, and stir to mix. You should have roughly equal amounts of tincture and decoction. This will result in a doubly extracted tincture that is approximately 35% alcohol. Place this extraction into a jar, or jars, large enough to hold its volume. This extraction should remain viable for a year or more.
Dosage: 20-40 drops up to 3 times daily
