Fitting to its name, the Lilac Oysterling starts off a light purple color, which morphs into more of a light brown as it grows. Close growing gills start out either purple or white, but also become brown as the Panus Conchatus ages.
As you scan the ground, you spot several more of these beings, a couple still coiled inside the white egg-like sac in which they grow. Others are mid-process of ripping through the membrane, stretching out with their newfound freedom.
Although its common name describes its fire starting capabilities, the Tinder Polypore; also known as Horse Hoof Fungus or Fomes Fomentarius, actually has several uses. Otzi the Iceman carried chunks of it with him, stored with his fire starting tools, indicating that simplifying fire starting was likely his purpose.
The Birch Polypore, also known as Birch Conk, starts as a white ball growing on Birch trees. As it matures, the top darkens and becomes brown, while the bottom stays white. The bottom is very porous, giving it its name.
Worthy leaders are more than just powerful, however. Having multiple talents is necessary. Being able to adapt with the times is an essential one for keeping a kingdom thriving. Several oysters have specific recipe types they work best with, leaving them limited. King Oysters, on the other hand, are versatile mushrooms, due to their dense, meaty texture and lack of earthy flavor.
Growing in the wild, they’ll appear as white toothed clusters on hardwoods. When harvesting, it’s best to use a knife to cut them off at the base, as the delicate branches are likely to fall apart if you aren’t careful. If a yellow tinge has started to show, the mushrooms may have a sour or bad taste, so it’s best to eat them fresh. Removing yellowed mushrooms is still be a good idea, since fresh ones may sprout in their place.