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“The big laughing gym (Gymnopilus ventricosus) is one of the giants of the mushroom world—towering, cinnamon-colored, and often fruiting in impressive clusters on old pine stumps. While many members of the Gymnopilus genus contain psilocybin or related tryptamines, G. ventricosus stands at the edge of that psychedelic lineage: huge, majestic, and chemically enigmatic. Some studies show that closely related species (G. luteofolius, G. junonius) can produce psychoactive compounds, but ventricosus itself remains unpredictable—often testing low or inactive, yet carrying the evolutionary signature of a once-potent lineage. For mycologists, it’s a reminder that even familiar forest species can hide strange histories: a mushroom that looks like a classic psychoactive ‘laughing gym,’ yet may have lost its chemistry as it adapted to new habitats, new substrates, and new ecological roles.”
see my website and subscribe for much more, herbal and mushroom delights
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Turkey Tail – Trametes betulina)
The gilled turkey tail (Trametes betulina) is a fascinating look-alike to the classic turkey tail, but instead of pores it has delicate, radiating gill-like folds—an unusual feature in a polypore. Its chemistry is similar but not identical to true turkey tail, with plenty of β-glucans and phenolics but far less of the clinically famous PSP/PSK compounds. Evolutionarily, it represents a divergent strategy within the turkey tail lineage: a polypore that has evolved gill-like structures to increase spore-producing surface area while keeping the tough, leathery, long-lasting fruiting body that helps these fungi dominate fallen hardwoods. It’s a reminder that nature often experiments with form, even within the same ecological niche.
#herbalmedicine
#plantmedicine
#medicinalmushrooms
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Amanita magniverrucata
(Great Warty Amanita)
A giant white Amanita common under Monterey Pines, and other pines.
This species is not edible and has at least one suspected toxin relative in its clade.
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If you want a confirmed ID
1. Gills (are they pure white?)
2. Presence or absence of a ring
3. Full base dug out
4. Any bruising reaction
…would lock it down to 98–99% confidence.
Your mushroom is almost certainly Amanita magniverrucata.
1. Habitat: Coastal California, Monterey Pine duff
A. magniverrucata is well documented in:
• Santa Cruz
• Monterey
• Along the Central California coast
• Under Monterey Pine, California Bay, and Coast Live Oak ... See MoreSee Less
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Queen of the night, or the vine like cactus called Selenicereus grrandiflorus comes from the Caribbean. It only blooms one night per year. And a lot of a cult connections have been made with this special flower. It is said that if you see it on that one night that it is blooming, that’s strange and powerful things may happen to you.!
I went out and saw it not too long ago just by chance on that one night so so far I’ve been noticing that things are changing in very interesting ways! ... See MoreSee Less
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hello friends, I’m feeling abundant gratitude for our connection through our herbal allies. May are circle and community grow expensively, touching all of our hearts. ❤️❤️
Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Sage, rosemary, and thyme became inseparable from Thanksgiving because they each carry deep culinary history, seasonal timing, and physiological roles that match a heavy autumn feast. Their association isn’t random—it’s the convergence of tradition, chemistry, and the seasonal cycle. ... See MoreSee Less
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Valeriana californica — California’s wild valerian. 🌿
Found in cool mountain meadows, this native herb has been used traditionally for calming and grounding the body. Its delicate white-pink clusters hide a surprisingly strong, earthy scent, and herbalists value its roots for gentle nervous system support.
A quiet plant with a powerful presence — growing right in the heart of the West Coast forests. 🌲✨
#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #herbalwisdom #plantmedicine ... See MoreSee Less
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🍄✨ Medicinal Mushrooms Giveaway ✨📖
This community has been growing in such a beautiful way, and as we get close to 30,000 followers, I want to celebrate with a heartfelt thank-you. Your curiosity, support, and love for the plant and fungi world mean so much to me.
To share my gratitude, I’d love to gift one of you a signed copy of my book, Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide.
How to enter:
1️⃣ Follow this page
2️⃣ Like this post
3️⃣ Tag a friend who loves mushrooms, herbs, or natural wellness
• Each tag = one entry
• Unlimited tags welcome!
🌟 Bonus entry: Share this post to your Story and tag me so I can see it!
Thank you for walking the plant and mushroom path with me.
— Dr. Christopher Hobbs 🌿🍄
#medicinalmushrooms #mushroomlover #herbalism #plantmedicine #fungalwisdom #naturalhealing #herbswithhobbs #bookgiveaway ... See MoreSee Less
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Comment below to receive a link to sign up 🍄
This is to ensure your space class size is limited.
You can also pay at the door.
Join me for a deep-dive into medicinal mushrooms! 🍄🟫
In this four-hour class, we’ll explore the most important species, their historical and modern uses, and what current science really shows. I’ll cover how to choose quality products, make your own extracts and powders (with a live demo!), and understand key debates like mycelium vs. fruiting body. Perfect for anyone interested in herbal medicine, functional nutrition, or integrating mushrooms into daily self-care. 🌿
When: December 13, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Where: Santa Cruz Community Center, Classroom 5
Who: Limited to 49 participants – intimate, interactive format
#medicinalmushrooms #herbalism #herbalmedicine #mushrooms #mycology #plantmedicine #functionalnutrition #integrativehealth #naturalhealth #holistichealth #adaptogens #reishi #lionsmane #turkeytail #cordyceps #chaga #maitake #wellnesscommunity #herbalschool #herbalistlife #christopherhobbs #santacruz ... See MoreSee Less
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Culinary Use
• Considered choice in many cultures and one of the few highly regarded Russula species.
• Aroma becomes distinctly crab/shrimp-like when sautéed or roasted (volatile aldehydes and amines).
• Traditional cooking uses:
• Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Finland): fried in butter, added to creamy sauces, preserved in brine.
• Russia/Baltics: salted, pickled, or sautéed with onions; used as a “forest seafood” substitute.
• Japan (Hokkaido): occasionally used in mixed mushroom dishes, valued for umami.
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Ethnomycology & Cultural Notes
• Highly esteemed by Russian and Scandinavian foragers, often taught as a “safe” Russula for beginners because of its seafood scent test and mild taste.
• In Nordic folklore, sometimes classified as a “noble russula” due to its reliability and dense flesh.
• Indigenous groups in parts of North America use it similarly to other edible russulas—harvested as a seasonal protein-rich food, not ceremonially.
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Medicinal / Bioactive Profile
(Note: Russula species are generally more food than folk-medicinal.)
• Contains glucans typical of Russulaceae with mild immunomodulatory activity (experimental, not clinically confirmed).
• Rich in ergothioneine, an antioxidant amino-thiol abundant in wild mushrooms.
• No major medicinal tradition; its importance is culinary rather than therapeutic.
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Key Identification Features
• Seafood aroma (raw: faint iodine; cooked: shrimp-like).
• Cap: variable purple/red/brown but usually dull and matte, not shiny.
• Gills: white to cream; do not bruise strongly.
• Stem: often white with faint pinkish tones; firm.
• KOH test: cap flesh turns yellow with alkali (a classic diagnostic for the Xerampelina group).
• Spore print: white to pale cream.
Common look-alikes: Russula sanguinea (acrid), Russula emetica group—distinguishable because Xerampelina is always mild-tasting and has the characteristic seafood smell. ... See MoreSee Less
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