Darwin's Fungus
Cyttaria darwinii
Family: Cyttariaceae
Also called: Indian Bread, Pan de Indio, Llao-llao
Overview
Yellow-orange golf-ball clusters parasitic on Nothofagus (southern beech) in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, recorded by Darwin on the Beagle voyage. Spring fruiting (Oct–Dec, austral). Staple traditional food of the Yaghan and Selk'nam — eaten raw or fermented into a mild alcoholic drink.
Edibility
Edible
Rarity
common
Trophic mode
parasitic-saprotrophic
Typical peak
Nov
Season
Oct–Jan (austral spring) — typical fruiting months: Sep, Oct, Nov, .
Host trees & substrate
- Living Nothofagus (southern beech)
Where it grows
See live fruiting predictions for Darwin's Fungus on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.
Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.