Velvet shank, Enoki-take, Golden needle mushroom
Flammulina velutipes

Family: Physalacriaceae

What it is like

A mushroom. A dainty slender stemmed mushroom. It can be 15 cm long. The stem is long and the cap is tight. The caps are orange and smooth. They are rounded. The stem is brown and velvety and the gills are white. The cap is sticky when wet. The spore print is white. The mature stems have a dark velvety texture.

Also put in the families Dermolomataceae, and Tricholomataceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in clusters on dead wood. They are grown commercially on the stumps of Chinese hackberry tree. In Australia they are normally on Acacia species in wet forests. It occurs in cold weather. In Chile it grows from sea level to over 2,000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zone 9. It can tolerate frost but not snow.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Europe, Himalayas, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Russia, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

It is cooked and eaten in curries. It is also preserved in chutney.

It is cultivated in Japan. It is also canned. It is also sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fungus, spice, mushroom, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chala chala, Enoke, Enoki take, Het sen nyai, Jinzhengu, Jin tsen gu, Velvet foot, Velvet stem, Velvet-stemmed Collybia, Winter mushroom

Synonyms

Collybia velutipes (Curt. ex Fr.) Quel.;