‘Dementia-easing’ mushrooms stolen
POLICE are hunting a thief who stole a rare and highly sought-after mushroom that has been claimed to alleviate the symptoms of dementia.
Three of the legally protected “bearded tooth fungus” specimens were sliced off trees in the New Forest.
The fungus’s scientific name is Hericium erinaceus, but it is also commonly referred to as “lion’s mane fungus” because of its flamboyant long spines that look like a shaggy mane.
Scientists in Japan tested the effectiveness of the fungus on a group of men aged 50-80 to see if it had an impact on their cognitive function, and after taking a course of tablets made of the powdered mushroom, their cognitive impairment improved, while laboratory tests showed no adverse effects.
“Intentionally” picking, uprooting or destroying the species without authorisation in the UK is a crime under section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 that carries a maximum six months imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Although difficult to find, the mushrooms can be bought whole for around £28 per kilogram [2lb].
A food blogger in America, who writes under the name Seasonal and Savoury, says: “When you slice open a Lion’s Mane, the interior looks a lot like a tiny slice of cauliflower – lots of branching structure, radiating out from the base. They are like delicious little flavour sponges.”
In powdered form, the mushroom can be mixed into tea and a 100g [3.5oz] pack costs £12, while a pack of 30 tablets costs around the same.
In recent years the New Forest has been targeted by commercial foragers who collect large amounts of mushrooms to sell to restaurants.
A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: “Last week officers were contacted by the Forestry Commission who reported large quantities of fungi being taken from the New Forest. The matter is under investigation.”
Daniel Butler, a mushroom expert who teaches at Aberystwyth University, said: “I have already seen the finger of blame being pointed at foragers but I think it’s important there is no knee-jerk reaction. While it is possible a forager took it, maybe to eat, it’s also likely a mycologist stole it to study under a microscope.”