#Flammulina velutipes

[lindagoesmushrooming]

[lena-rosey]

a better glance at those enokis and a garden snail shell

[mushroomgay]

Cambridge, UK, October 2023

Velvet shanks (Flammulina velutipes)

These velvet shanks were unseasonably early. They like cold weather, and will start to fruit after the first proper frosts, usually in December and January in the UK.

They are a highly sought mushroom, valued for their slightly sweet flavour - they are the wild form of the cultivated enoki mushroom. I cooked them up with some portobellos, red wine, rosemary and thyme and had the resulting gravy over broccoli and a mountain of sweet potato mash.

[fungusqueen]

We spotted Flammulina velutipes in this area for the first time. We almost missed it, but while maneuvering away from some trail flooding, we ended up with our faces right next to these eye-level mushrooms. This species is actually the same white enoki species found at the grocery store, which looks different from the same species grown in the wild because it’s been deprived of sunlight

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

Flammulina velutipes--Velvet Foot/Winter Mushroom/Wild Enoki

Ever wondered what those tiny, densely-clustered white mushrooms in the grocery store look like in the wild? No? Yes? Well, now you will. All photos mine, unedited.

They're orange, the caps are flatter and bigger, and the stipes are dark and velvety. They show up in the fall and continue to the spring. They won't pop up when it's below freezing but it literally only needs to be 1 degree above freezing and then they will! Be careful of lookalikes, but bright orange cap + dark velvet stipe + white spores is a pretty good tell. This only goes for eastern North America, though. I have no idea what lookalikes might be around in other areas. You can have them with pizza, in pasta sauce. Or you can fry them up in butter and serve with salmon in a red wine sauce (I did that one winter). :)

Word of caution: ALL edible wild mushrooms must be cooked before you eat them. Even if you don't get sick immediately there can be longterm effects. It's very difficult to overcook a mushroom, so do it well.

Word of ethics: always leave at a third of the young mushrooms you find, and only in a large flush. If there's only one, leave it be.

[lilipens]

✧. UP THE BREEZE.

Synopsis: It’s a simple trip to hike up the mountains. Jade’s dragged you to examine some mushrooms for the winter, but it takes an unexpected twist.

Pairing: Jade Leech x Gender Neutral!Reader

Warnings / Genre: None! Just tiny bits mention of injuries and blood. Nothing too excessive. Fluff + Wholesome-ish

Word Count: 1.2k

A/N: omg... this is my first time writing for twst ever again because my twst phase is slowly returning lmao. i chose it to be kinda christmast-y because this christmas didn’t feel like it so why not pen up a drabble! happy holidays to people who celebrate it and it’s nearly new years haha i’ve proofread this myself multiple times to the point my eyes are dry so sorry if you see a typo just ignore it TT but aside that, i hope you guys enjoy and comments are appreciated hehe <3

A light snowfall drifts lazily through the air, coating the trail with a fine dusting of white. You’re not sure what you were expecting when Jade invited you on this ‘winter’ hike, but it certainly wasn’t this. 

Jade’s figure ahead is a stark contrast against the white backdrop. His smooth and calculated movements seem almost effortless, as though he’s done this a hundred times before. And maybe he has, given his obsession with mountains, and, of course, mushrooms. He’s practically a living advertisement for the Mountain Lover Club, and you are now a reluctant member of his personal expedition. His coat is pristine, scarf neatly arranged, and his boots are perfectly suited for this kind of weather.

And you? You look like a snowman that’s been abandoned mid-construction. Your scarf is tangled, your boots are already soaked, and the damp chill’s creeping into your bones. Not to mention—your nose is so red you feel like Rudolph auditioning for a low-budget Christmas special.

It’s not like you were his first choice. Oh no. Floyd would rather chew on a rock than be anywhere near mushrooms, so he was out of question. Azul? Too busy with the Mostro Lounge, managing business affairs, and probably coming up with new ways to charge students for Christmas-themed smoothies. No, Jade had no one else to drag into this winter wonderland, so naturally, he picked you. The person who couldn’t say no.

The trail stretches endlessly before you, a winding path bordered by skeletal trees. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself,” Jade’s voice rings out, effortlessly cutting through crisp air.

Enjoying yourself? Your legs ache, your lungs are on fire, and the backpack you’re lugging might as well be filled with bricks. Regardless, you summon the strength to respond, albeit weakly. “Yeah, totally.” You reply, quite strained yet trying to sound convincing. A hum follows, one that carries far more amusement than you’d like. It’s almost as if he’s pleased by your persistence, even if he knows it’s a façade.

“Fascinating,” he murmurs, turning his attention back to the path ahead. “Most would find such conditions challenging, but you seem to be persevering admirably.”

Is that praise? Mockery? You can’t tell, and, frankly, you’re too cold and miserable to care. 

Further along the trail, his pace slows down. Jade crouches suddenly, and gestures toward a patch of snow-covered bark. “Ah, look at this. A specimen of a Flammulina velutipes,” he explains with a sharp-toothed grin, voice laced with delight. 

You squint at the area he’s pointing to. Nestled against the bark is a cluster of delicate golden caps, their surfaces glistening faintly under a thin veil of frost.

“They’re more commonly known as the Velvet Foot,” he continues, brushing a dusting of snow with the back of his glove. “Certainly a rare find. These mushrooms thrive in cold conditions like this, their resilience ensuring survival even when everything dies off. Intriguing, don’t you think?” 

“Uh, I mean… they look… really unique?” You shrug, hoping your disinterest isn’t that visible. Speaking of mushrooms, your knowledge of them barely extends beyond “edible” and “not edible”. However, from how Jade speaks with a note of reverence—makes you almost feel like you’re missing something profound. It's how he patiently waits for you to respond lowkey intimidates you. “Their adaptability is incredible,” he rambles on with interest, and you’re too lost in the moment to catch up with what he’s speaking of.  

In a short amount of time, you start to feel the cold seep in a bit deeper now, your legs being uncomfortably stiff. Basically, your whole body’s protesting against the hike. You swallow and glance down at the winding trail. Maybe it’s time to head back. “Hey, Jade,” you call out tentatively. “I think we should head back soon. My legs are about to give out.” 

It takes a few minutes for Jade to shift his focus back to you, blinking as though emerging from a trance. He straightens, the calm expression he usually wears returning, along with a smile. “Ah, of course. I suppose it's been quite a long hike.” With a nod, he turns to begin the descent. You follow closely behind, eager to start heading back.

Gosh, the dive should have been easier. Should have been. Gravity was supposed to do half the work, right? The path ahead was clearly worn with soft snows and uneven rocks. Tall leafless trees lined the track casting long silhouettes over the way. 

One wrong step on a loose rock sent you lurching forward. "Ouch—!" You yelp, hitting the ground with an unceremonious thud. Pain flares in your knee sharply. You sat there, stunned, staring at the fresh scrape now blooming across your skin. Blood wells up, bright and angry against the dirt-smudged surface.

Jade's footsteps came to a halt. For an instant, there was silence. Then, a shadow loomed over you. “My my,” he crouches beside you with his familiar unsettling calmness. “ A misstep, I see.” 

“No kidding,” you mutter, wincing as you try to straighten your leg. His keen eyes zeroed in on your knee. “Hmm, quite the scrape. Nothing serious but…” He tilts his head slightly, a look of contemplation crossing his features. “You’re trembling.”

The pain from your knee shoots up, and your throat tightens. Before you could stop it, your eyes prickled with tears. “I’m not trembling,” Except you were. Swiping your eyes hastily as your cheeks flush in embarrassment. “It’s just… It hurts, okay? Leave me alone.” 

Jade blinks, flickering to your face. “Oh?” he murmurs, faintly amused. “Interesting indeed,” he observes, although he doesn’t move away. Instead, he leans in closer. “Humans are truly remarkable creatures. Such a small injury, yet it brings you to tears… How delicate.” His words should sting, but he sounds more intrigued than condescending. And it’s worse that way—like you’re some puzzle to him. 

“Are you just going to stand there and analyze me, or are you going to help?” You snap out of frustration. To your surprise, he merely chuckles. “I apologize. Allow me.”

With eerie precision, Jade pulls a small first aid kit from his bag—as expected, he always has one around—and sets to work cleaning the scrape. "This may sting," he warns, and there's an unmistakable gleam of excitement in his eyes as he dabs at the wound with antiseptic. "Gee, thanks for the warning," you quip, flinching anyway. 

He hums in response, focusing entirely on the task. For someone so unnervingly serene, he’s surprisingly gentle. When he finishes, he scores a bandage over the scrape with a flourish. “There,” he declares, straightening up. “Good as new.” 

You glance at the bandage, then back at him. “You’re weirdly good at this.” A wide smile forms across his face. “One must be prepared for any situation, don’t you agree?” You let out a sigh, deciding to leave that question unanswered. 

“Can you stand?” he asks, offering a gloved hand.

You hesitate for a moment, unsure if you want to stand up in front of him or just stay sitting in the snow. But staying on the ground feels worse, so you take his hand, letting him pull you up with ease. His grip is firm, steady as ever, and his touch feels strangely reassuring.

“Thanks,” you mumble, brushing the snow and dirt from your pants.

Before you know it, his grin’s growing bigger and there’s something almost unsettling in the way he looks at you. “Of course. Shall we continue? I’d hate for the mountain to claim another victim.”

You roll your eyes with a faint tug of your lips, trying to brush off the ticking annoyance. You follow behind him again, the misstep lingering in your mind. Yet, you can’t help but feel like this little mishap only entertained Jade more.

© lilipens

[tom-at-the-farm]

Flammulina velutipes

[shadowkira]

Enoki mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes)

☆ Do not eat any wild mushrooms or plants that you are not positive of the I.D. While wild Enoki are edible, they have lookalikes that are dangerously poisonous. ☆

[lindagoesmushrooming]

Flammulina velutipes

[lena-rosey]

my heart jumped when I saw this lovely oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) cluster along a path at the Pere Lachaise cemetery. spot the little velvet foot enoki (Flammulina velutipes) friends peeking out the bark too.

[speedlimit15]

flammulina velutipes/wild enoki

[inkmaze]

think these are flammulina velutipes(wild enoki). always love spotting these- this cluster was halfway up a tree

[anormalgrocerystore]

Announcement

"Good evening shoppers! The New Year is just around the corner and Bleak Hill Grocery has exactly what you need for your celebration! We've partnered with Chef Flammulina Velutipes to provide a wide selection of cured meats, mystery cheeses, arcane nuts, strange fruits, and Italian breads for your charcuterie board. Stop by the deli to get yours today! Thank you and happy shopping!"

[balthazarslostlibrary]

Velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes, Aotearoa. Photo credit me.

Also some Coprinellus

[owormy]

flammulina velutipes spotted out hiking

[microcosmicobservations]

Extra slimy velvet foot (Flammulina velutipes)