A “bleeding tooth” was found in the mountains. It is one of the “most peculiar mushrooms”

On August 19, the Fungarium Facebook profile reported an unusual find in the mountains. As reported on the website, it appeared in the Alps “an extremely rich site of one of the most peculiar mushrooms in the world”, i.e. burning tooth, also known as: devil’s tooth, bleeding tooth or bleeding mushroom.

The peppercorn can also be found in Poland. Under the post, Internet users mentioned that some time ago they found places of the mushroom, among others: in the province Łódź or Kłodzko County. Among the comments there were voices of admiration for the appearance of the mushroom, but there were also people who were terrified of its appearance.

Unusual mushrooms have appeared in the Alps

The owners of Fungarium, a website dedicated to mushrooms, explained that the name of the mushroom refers to its appearance. Thick drops of a red substance ooze from the young fruiting body.

“This is the result of a process called guttation. In this way, the fruit body gets rid of excess water and metabolites, pushing them outside. The red, even scarlet color of the drops is characteristic of the fruit bodies of the stinging echidna, due to the pigments contained in this species” – we read.

These mushrooms also have a characteristic shape that resembles a tooth. “The Echinoderma moth also does not have traditional plates or tubes. The underside of its cap is covered with tiny, vertical, needle-like outgrowths resembling miniature fangs, and this is where the spores develop” – we read.

Is the stinging moth poisonous?

Please remember that this mushroom is not fatally poisonous, but it is not suitable for consumption. It has an extremely bitter and unpleasant taste. Its flesh is also exceptionally hard. Its consumption may cause gastrointestinal problems. Interestingly, this fungus lives in symbiosis with conifers – mainly spruces and pines. It helps them draw minerals and water from the soil.