Content
Galerina moss is a lamellar mushroom of the Hymenogasteraceae family of the genus Galerina. Latin name Galerina hypnorum. Fans of “silent hunting” definitely need to know the external signs of the species in order to immediately identify the galerina.
The view looks very impressive among the greenery of the forests
What does Galerina moss look like?
This variety is no different in size. All parts of the mushroom are small and fragile:
- Hat. The maximum diameter is 1.5 cm. When the mushroom is young, it is cone-shaped. Then it opens up and becomes like a convex hemisphere. Color varies from light yellow to brown. In older specimens, the cap loses its juiciness. It becomes dry and faded, acquiring a dark cream color. The edges of the cap are transparent, the surface is hygrophonic.
The cap has characteristic transparent edges, especially in mature specimens
- The pulp breaks easily, thin, brown in color. The plates are adherent, in different locations. They are found both often attached and very rarely.
- The leg is thin. It can be flat or partially curved. Length ranges from 1.5-4.0 cm, thickness 0.1-0.2 cm. The base is slightly thicker than the top. Painted light yellow. The flesh of the leg becomes darker when damaged or dried out. The ring and film are present only in young mushrooms, then they disappear.
A thin long leg is one of the external signs of moss galerina
In addition to its microscopic appearance, the mushroom has a floury smell.
Where does Galerina moss grow?
You can meet moss gallery in forests - coniferous or mixed. For settlement, the fungus prefers moss, logs, and the remains of rotten trees. Galerina grows in groups; it is very difficult to find single plantings. The fruiting season lasts only two months - August and September. Distributed in the European part of Russia.
Galerina moss grows in families, which makes the fungus easier to identify
Is it possible to eat moss galerina?
It is worth saying that this species does not attract the attention of mushroom pickers. Its description would be completely unnecessary if it were not for its toxicity. Galerina contains amatoxin, an insidious poison. It is also found in toadstool. Therefore, it is necessary to know the external signs of the species.
Eating fruiting bodies is strictly prohibited.
No matter how attractive the mushroom may seem, it is not worth adding to your basket.
Symptoms of poisoning
The insidiousness of the poison contained in the pulp lies in the time when symptoms of poisoning appear.They can appear within 30 minutes of taking the mushrooms, and in some people only after a few hours. During this period, the body suffers enormous harm, when even qualified assistance does not help. The sooner the victim gets to a medical facility, the greater the chance of salvation. Signs of moss gallerina poisoning:
- excessive urination;
- uncontrollable vomiting;
- watery diarrhea;
- convulsions;
- coordination problems.
These manifestations are associated with damage to the cells of the liver and kidneys, heart muscle, spleen and central nervous system.
First aid for poisoning
As soon as any signs of poisoning are noticed, you should immediately drink at least 0.5 liters of water with 1 tsp:
- baking soda;
- table salt;
- potassium permanganate.
The water must be boiled. Then induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue. Drink an antidote - activated carbon at the rate of 1 tablet per 20 kg of weight.
Milk thistle infusion helps well in treating. It is a natural hepatoprotector that prevents the absorption of poison by the liver. To prepare the product, pour 1 tsp. milk thistle with boiling water (250 g), leave in a water bath for 25-30 minutes. Cool the infusion, strain, drink 3 times a day, 1/3 cup.
To prevent the possibility of poisoning, you need to carefully inspect the mushrooms at the time of collection. You should not collect old honey mushrooms, which are very similar to galerina. Expert recommendations:
Conclusion
Moss galerina can cause enormous harm. Therefore, knowledge of the external characteristics of the mushroom and the algorithm for helping with poisoning will be invaluable.
