Akanbo - Edible, warning

Japanese Kuritake 　
Scientific name
Subtribe
Tribe		 Naematoloma Sublateritium
Naematoloma or Hypholoma
Naematoloma or Hypholoma		 Kuritake クリタケ
Moegitake モエギタケ科
kuritake クリタケ属
English Brick top aka Brick cap
French Hypholome couleur de brique 　
German ziegelroter Schwefelkopf 　


The "Kuritake" is an easy pick in northern Gunma from mid-October. "Kuri" means chesnut in Japanese and, as its name indicates, this mushroom is associated with chesnut trees. It can also be found on logs and stumps (tronc) of other trees. You can identify the best picking area to the spiny husks of Japanese chestnuts.felt on the ground.

"Kuritake" is normally found in dense clusters, consisting often of 20-30 fruiting bodies.

Locals in Gunma usually call it "akanbo" or "Kijitake". European prefers the scientific name of "Hypholoma" instead of "Naematoloma".

Caution: The "Kuritake" ressembles to the "Niga-Kuritake"(Naematoloma fasciculare, Sulphur tuft or Hypholome en touffes).), which is highly toxical. The "Kuritake"'s cap is red-brick whereas the "Niga-Kuritake" is yellow, orangish yellow or greenish yellow. Niga-Kuritake has a trace of dark colored ring which does not exist in the Kuritake. Flesh is strongly bitter

Full-size picture

In Europe, the "Kuritake" is usually reported as toxical, because of this risk of association with the "Naematoloma fasciculare" But in fact, "Kuritake" is a popular mushroom which can be found in many Japanese dishes, such "misoshiru"(clear soup with soybean paste), stew, tempura or "chawan mushi". We like to cook it with pasta, as toppong for pizza or in a gratin or an omellette. Its taste will become stronger when dried under the sun.


Seasons Late autumn 　 　
Habitats Woodland. grows on logs and stumps Nearby trees Chesnut, beech (beech, hetre)
Fruiting patterns Fruiting body and troop 　 　
Edibility Edible Warning Ressembles to the Niga Kuritake

CHARACTERISTICS

Size 　 Small to medium Hymenium Type Gill
　 　 　 　 　 　
Cap Colour Red-brick Gill/Pore Colour Yellowish-white to greyish-purple and chocolate when grown-up.
　 Diameter 3 to 8 cm. 　 Shape Decurrent
　 Shape Concave, then becoming flat 　 Spacing Crwoded
　 　 　 　 　 　
Stem Colour White Smell Type Pleasant
　 Type Fruting body has also a stem. Flesh Colour Purple
　 Dimensions 5-10 cm 　 Type Firm



Disclaimer: This site aims only to assist identification, not to guarantee correct identity; refer also to more detailed references. Never rely on this site to identify fungi to eat. Eating some fungi can easily kill.