Follow Christopher on Instagram

Tiny Oyster Mushroom...Split Gill
Split gill (Schizophyllum commune): one of the most widespread mushrooms on Earth, and an important food and medicine.
What it is: A small, fan-shaped bracket mushroom in the Schizophyllaceae family (order Agaricales, Basidiomycota). It grows on every continent except Antarctica.
What it eats: Dead wood, both hardwoods and conifers. It is a vigorous white-rot fungus, and it can be cultivated on almost any woody waste.
The "split gills": The ridges under the cap aren`t true gills. As the mushroom matures they split lengthwise. In dry weather they curl over to protect the spore-bearing surface, then reopen and shed spores when the rain returns. Dried fruiting bodies can revive after years.
Food: Eaten across Southeast Asia, India, Africa and Latin America. It is chewy and rich, pounded with fish sauce and garlic, stir-fried, or made into soups and loaves.
Medicine: Split gill makes schizophyllan, a beta-glucan. In Japan, purified schizophyllan (sizofiran) has been used by injection alongside radiation therapy for cervical cancer. The mushroom is also rich in prebiotic fiber that feeds your gut flora.
Safety: Cook it well, and don`t inhale the spores. In rare cases split gill has caused lung or sinus problems, mostly in people with weakened immunity or asthma.
Comment SPLIT and I`ll send you the full video.
Thanks for watching! More in my Living Herbal newsletter.
#splitgill #schizophyllumcommune #medicinalmushrooms #mushroommedicine #foraging #mycology #fungi #betaglucan #immunehealth #guthealth #herbalism #christopherhobbs

Split-Gill Mushroom (Schizophyllum commune)

A traditional food in Indonesia and other tropical regions, this remarkable mushroom also has a history of medicinal use.

Modern research has focused on schizophyllan, an immune-modulating beta-glucan. Clinical studies in Japan investigated its use alongside conventional cancer treatments, with some promising findings. Laboratory studies also suggest anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

Another fascinating example of food and medicine coming together!

#MedicinalMushrooms #SplitGill #Schizophyllum #Mycology

“Tuna” is primarily a Spanish common name for the fruit of prickly-pear cacti, rather than the name of one particular cactus species. It is used especially for species of Opuntia.

The usage extends across quite a few Opuntia, particularly those producing sizable edible fruits, including Opuntia ficus-indica (the cultivated Indian fig/prickly pear), O. engelmannii, O. streptacantha, O. robusta, O. megacantha, and several related Mexican species and cultivars.

There is an important distinction in Mexican Spanish:

* nopal = the Opuntia plant, and especially its flattened pads (cladodes); young edible pads are nopalitos
* tuna = the fruit
* xoconostle = fruits of certain Opuntia types that are characteristically sour/acidic, often cooked rather than eaten as a sweet fruit

So the red-purple fruits in your photograph could properly be called tunas, even if the plant ultimately proves to be O. engelmannii rather than O. ficus-indica.

The terminology has deep Mexican roots: Spanish tuna for the cactus fruit was borrowed from an Indigenous Caribbean language (usually traced to Taíno), whereas nopal derives from Nahuatl nopalli.

And botanically, “tuna” isn’t normally applied to all cacti—it is overwhelmingly associated with prickly pears (Opuntia and closely related opuntioid cacti) and their fruits.
#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #plantmedicine #herbalism

Schinus molle—Peruvian or California pepper tree—produces the aromatic pink fruits sold as pink peppercorns. It belongs to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae; botanically, the fruits are small drupes.
If you find some in the market, or have trees nearby and can pick some, traditional use would favor making a light infusion and adding a little honey, sip it for its mucus busting and antibacterial properties.
Members of the cashew family can occasionally cause allergic reactions, so sip a little at first to check for sensitivity.
* History of use: Its clearest fruit-specific tradition is Andean chicha de molle, a fermented drink made by extracting sugars from the ripe fruit’s outer tissues. This tradition predates the Inca and was associated with Wari society. Historical descriptions also attribute diuretic benefits to the drink. Much of the tree’s broader medicinal reputation—for wounds, toothache, and rheumatic pain—involves leaves, bark, or resin, so those uses should not automatically be assigned to the fruit. Ethnobotanical study⁠
* Chemistry: The fruit’s aromatic oil contains predominantly monoterpenes, commonly α- and β-phellandrene, limonene, myrcene, and pinenes, with variable amounts of sesquiterpenes.
* Pharmacology: Fruit oils and extracts show antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory studies.
* Modern uses: Primarily a fragrant culinary spice and beverage flavoring; extracts and essential oils are also investigated for food preservation and other applications.

Safety: Pink peppercorns have caused allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, especially in people allergic to cashews or pistachios. Concentrated oil and medicinal dosing should not be assumed equivalent in safety to occasional seasoning. Published allergy case⁠

Lady’s mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris, is a perennial of the rose family, native to European meadows and mountain grasslands. Its scalloped leaves capture jewel-like droplets, once collected by alchemists—hence Alchemilla. It forms an attractive, spreading ground cover in moist, well-drained soil and partial shade.

The herb is rich in astringent tannins—especially agrimoniin—along with ellagic acid and flavonoids. Traditionally it was used for wounds, diarrhea, mouth inflammation, painful or heavy menstruation, and other “women’s complaints.” Modern herbalists still use it chiefly as a uterine and gastrointestinal astringent. Laboratory research suggests antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activity, but good human clinical evidence remains limited.#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #plantmedicine #herbalism #herbalremedies #herbalremedies

Boletus rubriceps, commonly known as the “Ruby Porcini” or “Rocky Mountain red-capped king bolete”, belongs to the family Boletaceae within the Boletus edulis species complex. Officially described as a distinct species in 2014 based on molecular analysis, it was historically misclassified as B. edulis or B. pinophilus. This choice edible mushroom is highly prized for its firm texture and mild, nutty flavor. Its geographical range spans the southwestern United States and the southern Rocky Mountains, including parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, extending south into Mexico. It fruits primarily during the summer monsoon season at high elevations, establishing a symbiotic, mycorrhizal relationship with spruce (especially Engelmann spruce), pine, and fir trees. Primarily used as a gourmet culinary ingredient, the fruit bodies are frequently sold in local farmers’ markets, featured in high-end restaurants, or dried and powdered by foragers for long-term storage.#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #plantmedicine #medicinalmushrooms

The Castor Bean Plant 🌿

Known for its huge tropical-looking leaves and bold colors, the castor bean plant is definitely one that stands out in the garden! It grows incredibly fast and can reach impressive heights in just one season.

⚠️ While beautiful, its seeds are highly toxic if ingested, so always admire this one with care!

#CastorBeanPlant #PlantFacts #GardenPlants #christopherhobbs

🥥 The largest seed in the world!

Today we’re taking a closer look at the coconut — cracking it open, exploring what’s inside, and learning a little more about this incredible plant. 🌴

Who knew one seed could have so much going on inside? 🌱

#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #plantmedicine #coconut

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is one of the most dangerous plants in North America. A member of the carrot family, it can be recognized by its fernlike leaves, white umbrella-shaped flower clusters, and smooth hollow stems often mottled with purple. All parts are highly poisonous; its alkaloids can cause progressive paralysis and death. Never taste or handle an unfamiliar plant resembling parsley, wild carrot, or fennel.

#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #plantmedicine #herbalism