USAGE: CHAT Re: USAGE: Words for fungi (mushrooms/toadstools/champignons/etc)

H. S. Teoh wrote:

> Hmm. To me, "mushroom" may also include [non-umbrella-shaped] fungi
> fruiting
> bodies as well, as long as they are "close enough" in shape. E.g.,
> chanterelles are trumpet-shaped, yet I'm sure most people would agree
> they qualify as "mushrooms".
An umbrella that the wind has blown inside out??

> <ObConlang> In Tatari Faran,...There's also a kind of giant edible
> mushroom in Fara, like
> the giant version of the portobello, called _buneis_ [bu"nejs],
> growing up to 3-4 feet in diameter, >
A long time ago, in Buenos Aires, I patronized what had to be the city's
MOST popular Italian restaurant-- a huge barn of a place, almost like an
aircraft hangar, always packed, cheap, with super-sized portions (even by
Argentine standards, I think).  Anyway, across the back wall was a wonderful
mural of happy peasants bringing in the harvest-- one person was struggling
with one bunch of huge grapes, another with a single huge artichoke etc.
etc. and my favorite, a smiling figure weighted down with one huge mushroom
slung over his shoulder. (It was, however, just a plain old White Button.)
Don't recall Vesuvio or Etna lurking in the background, but perhaps.......

> I avoid the term "toadstool", since it's inaccurate and carries the
> wrong connotations. I use "mushroom" for all parasol fruiting bodies
> of fungi, as well as fungi that are "close enough" to being parasol
> shaped. So I'd consider chanterelles and morels as mushrooms, but
> puffballs and sulfur shelves I'd just call fungi unless I qualify what
> exactly I mean by "mushroom".
Hear, hear! I once went morel hunting with a friend, and kidded him
endlessly about looking for toadstools. He got tired of that.