Man Discovers Soccer Ball-Sized Mushroom – You Won’t Believe Its Value

“Discovered in the mountains of Hongseong County, Chungcheongnam-do
A mushroom the size of a soccer ball

The unexpected luck of a man who went to mow the grass before Chuseok (Korean Thansgiving Day).

He found a rare mushroom worth millions of won.

On the 5th day, Hongseong County, Chungcheongnam-do, announced that Mr. Seo, a resident of Hwayang-ri, Geumma-myeon, who went to mow the grass in the mountains on the 5th, discovered a Giant puffball mushroom.

The two mushroom witnessed by Mr. Seo consists of one large mushroom with a diameter of about 30 cm and weighing 2 kg and one mushroom the size of a fist.

The appearance of this mushroom, which cannot be identified by appearance, is rare to identify, belonging to the ‘wrinkled mushroom’ family. It is called ‘Giant puffball’ because it resembles an eyeball candy in shape, and it is known for its rapid growth rate, growing significantly overnight.

Depending on the climate and growth environment, the size varies, but it is usually larger than 10 cm in diameter. There have been cases where mushrooms over 150 cm in diameter and weighing over 20 kg were discovered.

Most of the time, it can be found in bamboo fields, fields, and grassy fields with abundant organic matter in late summer or autumn. However, it is not a mushroom commonly seen like pine mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms, so it becomes an issue whenever it is discovered in Korea.

Due to its rarity, it is not commonly used for consumption. When the giant puffball mushroom fully grows, it produces flowers and its interior turns brown, at which point it is inedible. It is known that only the white mushrooms in the less grown state can be eaten.

There is a rumor that it has an effect on improving male sexual function and stemina, making it more mysterious. However, due to the scarcity of specific ingredients and research on its efficacy, it is not widely consumed. There are also discussions about its value online, ranging from 10 to 50 million won (about US$7,500 to $38,000) depending on its size, but it is difficult to find anyone who has actually traded it. Some argue that it cannot be considered a rare species because it has not been designated as a legally protected species by the Korea Forest Service and the Ministry of Environment.

However, as the appearance of this unusual and rarely encountered mushroom in the mountains is a rare sight, many are amazed by the giant mushroom witnessed by several people.

By. Kim Hae Min (khm@wikitree.co.kr)