Elma marvels at massive mushroom

JUST when Mrs Elma Las thought she had received all her birthday gifts on Wednesday last week, mother-nature went and added a little something special.

Mrs Laas was beyond taken aback when she walked out to her front garden during the day on Thursday, October 13, and found what she described as the biggest ‘khowe’ she had ever seen.

“It just looked so unreal and I am dead certain it hadn’t been there the day before because I tend to my garden everyday. It also would have been very hard to miss as one walks through the garden when walking in and out of the house,” said Mrs Laas.

Uncertain about whether or not it was edible, she contacted one of the local farmers to come and have a look and they were able to confirm that it was indeed edible.

The mushroom measured a 32cm radius as well as a 32cm height.

This type of mushroom, known as the termitomyces belongs to the Lyophyllaceae fungi family and is known among many South Africans simply as the ‘ikhowe’.

“The most perfect specimen I have ever seen,” said Mrs Laas as she continued to look at it in wonder.

Sprouting up just a day after her 82nd birthday, Mrs Laas can only hope that the ‘magical ikhowe’ was a sign of many more wonderful surprises to come.

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