There's a Fungus Among Us Trivia Quiz

Answer: morel

Sautéing this honeycomb-shaped mushroom in pure olive oil, fresh garlic, and a little marsala wine makes them MORE Luscious and delectable than you can imagine.

There are many species of morels, although exactly how many is a matter of debate amongst mycologists. Originally classified as Morchella esculenta in 1794, it is more important to note (for the purposes of this quiz) that morels are highly-sought by gourmet chefs, especially in French cuisine.

Answer: shiitake

In order to make a stock daSHI, I TAKE care to use dried mushrooms of this variety, native to Southeast Asia.

Originally typified in 1877 as Agaricus edodes, these mushrooms are more commonly known as shiitake, which comes from the Japanese words 'shii,' named for the tree on which they are typically found, and 'take,' which means 'mushroom.'

Answer: Maitake

Whenever I visit my grandMA, I TAKE along a selection of mushrooms, including this one, also known as 'hen-of-the-woods.'

A popular fungus in East Asia for centuries, Grifola frondosa actually has a few different names, colloquially describing its features. From the question, 'hen-of-the-woods' give the picture of a hen sitting on its nest. It is also called 'ram's head' or 'sheep's head,' and even the Japanese name 'maitake' translates as 'dancing mushroom,' bringing to mind the kimono sleeves of dancing girls.

Answer: Enoki

These long and slender mushrooms are popularly used in hot pot dishes, according to the outspokEN OKInawan I met yesterday.

Flammulina filiformis has been cultivated since the 9th century in China, and there the fungus is known as 'golden mushroom' or 'gold needle mushroom.' The Japanese name 'enoki' or 'enokitate' translates as 'nettle tree,' describing where the mushroom traditionally is found.

Answer: button

It's crazy to think of it, BUT TONnes of these fungi are produced every year in over 70 countries around the world, with billions of dollars at stake.

The nice, white button mushrooms that we know and love have grown in the wild for centuries, and were first cultivated in 1707 in Paris, grown in the catacombs beneath the city. From this, they also earned the name 'Champignons de Paris.'

Answer: Oyster

These dangerous decOYS TERrify me!

I think that oyster mushrooms (AKA Pleurotus ostreatus) are actually themselves a bit scary, because they are a type of carnivorous fungus, actually preying on nematodes (paralyzing them and then feeding on their carcasses). But then, nematodes are just tiny roundworms, ranging from microscopic to 2.5 mm in length.

Answer: Beech

MayBE ECHoing it back to yourself a few times will help you to remember...

Hypsizygus tessulatus is generally found on, you guessed it, beech trees, thus their descriptive name. Two cultivated varieties developed in Japan are buna-shimeji (brown beech mushroom) and bunapi-shimeji (white beech mushroom).

Answer: Hedgehog

You might need a 'sweet tooth' for this fungus, but regardless of where you look for them, deep in the forest or right under your HEDGE, HOGging them isn't very nice.

Hedgehog mushrooms are also known as sweet tooth mushrooms, and the names are an attempt to describe the same spiny protruberances seen in the mushroom's underbelly in the photo.

Answer: Trumpet

Pleurotus eryngii is so tasty, that when I wouldn't let my baby sister have any, she threw a temper tanTRUM, PETulantly refusing to eat anything.

King trumpet mushrooms are actually the largest of the oyster family of mushrooms, and are also called king oyster mushrooms. Native to the Mediterranean, king trumpet mushrooms average 10 to 15 cm in length.

Answer: Cremini

It is wrong to approach any mushrooms with medioCRE, MINImum-effort culinary skills.

The three Agaricus bisporus mushrooms include the popular button mushroom, but here we have cremini mushrooms, which are a more mature (and brown) version of the white buttons. Left to grow, they will eventually become the large portobello mushrooms, whose caps can grow to 10 to 15 cm in diameter.