Mushroom

"I suppose you three won't want mushrooms again?"

—Fredegar Bolger

Mushrooms were an edible fungus found across Middle-earth. Notably, it was said that Hobbits of The Shire had a passion for mushrooms, surpassing even the greediest likings of "Big People".

History[]

Fungi in the First Age were generally considered ugly and dangerous by the Elves and most Men, and the less wise called them "ork-plants", believing them cursed and blighted by Morgoth. The Eldar did not eat them, and only a few of the Edain knew how to distinguish the edible ones and could eat them because of great hunger when lost in the wild. However, the Drúedain had a lore of plants and ate fungi with pleasure (to the astonishment of the other peoples), and they cultured their favorite ones. They passed this knowledge to the Haladin who ate them when guests out of courtesy, and resolved to them at need. This trait of the Drúedain was something the Hobbits would greatly share with them.

Mushrooms were a particular delight of young Frodo Baggins, who would often steal them from Farmer Maggot's fields. Old Maggot still remembered it when Frodo came to his farm years later soon before the Quest of the Ring, and as a parting gift, Mrs. Maggot gave Frodo a basket of the prized mushrooms.

Inspiration[]

J.R.R. Tolkien described himself as a "hobbit in all but size", noting that he was very fond of mushrooms.

In adaptations[]

Peter Jackson's film trilogy[]

In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, though the scenes in Maggot's house have been omitted, a nod to mushrooms is given when the four Hobbits escape Farmer Maggot. Peregrin Took spots them after a comment on a "short cut", making the full phrase sound as "A short cut to... mushrooms!", a reference to the corresponding chapter title from the book.

Video games[]

In The Hobbit: The Prelude to The Lord of the Rings (2003 video game), mushrooms appear in Goblin-town. Mushrooms serve as power-ups throughout the game. One mushroom - green and blue of colour - restores one health bubble. Later in the game, larger, clustered mushrooms serve as a full healing item.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game), mushrooms are collectible items found throughout the Shire. When consumed, they restore 10 points of the player's health. The Prima Strategy guide also notes the existence of green mushrooms in the Xbox version, which are supposedly poisonous enough to instantly kill any character that smashes one.

In The Lord of the Rings Online, mushrooms can be grown by players who are farmers by profession. Players who are cooks can make mushroom pie, fried mushroom, and fried dace with mushrooms. These are foods for low-level characters that can increase different traits.