Enokitake

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*Flammulina velutipes* is a highly regarded mushroom especially in Japan where is called **Enokitake** (one English pronunciation Template:IPAc-en)(榎茸, エノキタケ, Template:IPA-ja, also **enokidake** (榎茸, エノキダケ, Template:IPA-ja, **futu** (in India) or **enoki** (榎, エノキ, Template:IPA-ja, is a long, thin white mushroom used in East Asian cuisine (such as that of China, Japan, Vietnam and Korea). These mushrooms are cultivars of Flammulina velutipes (Grnus Flammulina), also known by the name **golden needle mushroom**, **futu mushroom** or **lily mushroom**. Wild forms differing in color, texture, and sliminess are called names including **futu**, **seafood mushrooms**, **winter mushrooms** or **winter fungus**, **velvet foot**, **velvet stem** or **velvet shank**.

This mushroom is available fresh or canned. Should be paid attention, while picking it from the wild, to not confuse it with the Galerina specimens, *Flammulina velutipes* can be recognised from Galerina by the firm, white, shiny caps, rather than those from Galerina with slimy or brownish stalks that should be avoided. It is traditionally used for soups but can be used for salads and other dishes. The mushroom has a crisp texture and can be refrigerated for approximately one week.

## Features

The mushroom naturally grows on the stumps of the Chinese hackberry tree (*Celtis sinensis*, "enoki" in Japanese) and on other trees, such as ash,Template:Which mulberry and persimmon trees.

There is a significant difference in appearance between the wild and cultivated types of the mushroom. Cultivated mushrooms have not been exposed to light, resulting in a white color, whereas wild mushrooms usually display a dark brown color. Cultivated mushrooms are grown in a carbon dioxide (CO2)-rich environment to nurture the development of long thin stems, whereas wild mushrooms produce a much shorter and thicker stem.

The wild variety of the mushroom may be found from September through to March, hence the name winter fungus.

## Names

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The names *enokitake* (榎茸、エノキタケ), *enokidake* (榎茸、エノキダケ) and *enoki* (榎、エノキ) are derived from the Japanese language. In Mandarin Chinese, the mushroom is called Template:Lang (*Template:Linktext*, "gold needle mushroom") or 金菇 (*jīngū*, "gold mushroom"). In India it is called *futu*, in Korean, it is called *paengi beoseot* (팽이버섯) which means "spinning top mushroom", and *nấm kim châm* in Vietnamese.

## Health properties

Enokitake mushrooms contain antioxidants, like ergothioneine. Animal testing has indicated possible applications in the development of vaccines and cancer immunotherapy.

Research at the National University of Singapore, first published in 2005, stated that the stalk of the golden needle mushroom contains a large quantity of a protein, named "Five"/"FIP-fve" by the researchers, that helps in the regulation of the immune system. The mushroom also contains Flammutoxin, a cytolytic and cardiotoxic protein that has proven to be non-toxic when absorbed/taken orally.

## See also

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* Edible mushrooms
* Medicinal mushrooms

## References

1. ↑ Dictionary.com (2012). enokitake. *Dictionary.com*. Dictionary.com, LLC. Retrieved on May 14, 2012.
2. ↑ Shanghai Xuerong Biotechnology Co Ltd on Seafood Mushrooms
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galerina\_marginata
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galerina\_marginata
5. ↑ All About Mushrooms. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.
6. ↑ Template:Cite journal
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Template:Cite journal
8. ↑ New look at two wonder mushrooms. National University of Singapore (2001–2012). Retrieved on May 14, 2012.
9. ↑ Template:Cite journal
10. ↑ Template:Cite journal
11. ↑ Template:Cite journal

## External links

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