Shrieking Shroom

Shrieking Shroom
The Shrieking Shroom, or Schizophragma Vocalis, is a very rare mushroom that can be found in the Mystic Forest or Enchanted Jungle.

General Information
The Shrieking Shroom is rather significant in size, ranging from 14 to 18 inches in height. Its stalk is usually a light blue or grey color, while its cap is a deep purple, splotched with blue markings. At the tip of its cap is an opening, or “mouth,” that is bright red.

Name Origin
The Shrieking Shroom received its name due to its ability to produce a noise that resembles that of a human or animal screeching in fear.

Further Information
While the Shrieking Shroom is capable of producing a noise very similar to a scream, they do not have vocal cords or a respiratory tract. The sound is caused by many hyphae within the “mouth” vibrating excessively and forcefully into one another, and the drum-shaped opening from which the sound originates only amplifies the din.

Though the Shrieking Shroom obviously has no ability to control the noise that it produces, the pitch of the shriek can indicate certain factors. When in distress or threatened, the hyphae naturally increase in speed, causing a more shrill uproar. However, when the mushroom is malnourished or dehydrated, the hyphae slow down to preserve energy, resulting in a resonant scream.

Shrieking Shrooms were commonly used to reunite lost explorers. When separated, the explorers knew to follow the clamor to the nearest Shrieking Shroom in order to meet again.

The Shrieking Shroom is fairly safe to eat in small quantities. Superfluous consumption, however, may lead to mild nausea or vomiting.