Tuber maculatum

Vittadini

Eutuberaceae Edible: Truffle, Fungus Potential hazards — see below 13 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A temperate truffle or mushroom fungus in the Eutuberaceae family.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The root of the cuckoo-pint, when roasted well, is edible and when ground was once traded under the name of Portland sago. It was used like salep (orchid flour) to make saloop, a drink popular before the introduction of tea or coffee. It was also used as a substitute for arrowroot. It can be highly toxic if not prepared correctly. The leaves, which are toxic, can be mistaken for edible sorrel. Arum maculatum is also used to make soup in the Andırın region of Turkey where the leaves are leavened with yogurt and boiled for long hours which eliminates toxicity. This process results in a sour soup which is called Tirşik. The Roma of Sliven collect the leaves, dry them in a weave and boil them with several changes of water prior to using them in beef stew.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant can produce allergic reactions in many people and the plant should be handled with care. The attractive berries are extremely poisonous to many animals, including humans, but harmless to birds, which eat them and propagate the seeds. They contain oxalates of saponins, which have needle-shaped crystals that irritate the skin, mouth, tongue, and throat, and result in swelling of throat, difficulty breathing, burning pain, and upset stomach. However, their acrid taste, coupled with the almost immediate tingling sensation in the mouth when consumed, means that large amounts are rarely taken and serious harm is unusual. It is one of the most common causes of accidental plant poisoning based on attendance at hospital emergency departments. There is no known antidote to A. maculatum poisoning. Airway management may reduce the mortality, and aggressive fluid administration may prevent renal injury.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Europe, Italy, Mediterranean, Sweden, Scandinavia,

References (2)

Boa, E. R., 2004, Wild edible fungi and their importance to people. FAO Non Wood Forest Products Booklet 17
Hall, I. R. Ectomycorrhizal Fungi with Edible Fruiting Bodies, 3. Tuber magnatum, Tuberaceae. Economic Botany, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 192-200