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Gnezdovka shapeless is a mushroom of the Champignon family, genus Gnezdovka. The Latin name of this species is Nidularia deformis.
Where does the shapeless nest grow?
This species settles on rotting wood of coniferous and deciduous species. It can also be found on sawdust, old boards, twigs and deadwood.
Important! The optimal time for the growth of the shapeless nest is the period from mid-summer to late autumn. In regions with mild climates, it sometimes occurs at the beginning of winter.
What does a shapeless nest look like?
This mushroom is a saprophyte
The fruiting body of this specimen is very unusual. It is sessile, no more than 1 cm in size. At a young age, the surface is smooth, but as it matures it becomes rough. Painted in white, beige or brown shades. Typically, the fruits grow in large clumps, so they appear slightly flattened on the sides. Single mushrooms are round or pear-shaped.
The outer shell, called the peridium, is a thin, dense wall, after which there is a looser, “felt” layer. Inside it there are lenticular peridioles, the size of which is 1-2 mm. At the initial stage of ripening, they are colored in a light tone, but over time they acquire a yellowish-brown color. Peridioles are freely located in the mucous matrix of brown color. When ripe or even slightly damaged, the shell ruptures, allowing them to be released. Gradually, the peridiole shell is destroyed, from which ellipsoidal, smooth spores emerge.
Is it possible to eat a shapeless nest?
There is no information about the edibility of this species. However, most reference books classify it as a group of inedible mushrooms. In addition, due to the unusual appearance and small size of the fruiting bodies, not every mushroom picker will dare to try this gift of the forest.
Similar species
Due to their non-standard shape and structure, these mushrooms are difficult to confuse with other relatives. Close to the shapeless nest are mushrooms called goblet mushrooms, which also belong to the Champignon family. The following types are distinguished:
- The glass is smooth. The fruit body is about 5 mm in diameter, and its height reaches no more than 1 cm.Initially, it is ovoid in shape, covered with a felt film of yellowish or ocher color, which breaks after some time. After this, the fruit becomes open and retains a cup-shaped or cylindrical shape. It contains lenticular peridioles. Place of growth and season coincides with the nesting site of the shapeless. Nothing is known about its edibility.
- The striped goblet, whose second name is the striped nest. The fruiting body of the double reaches a height of up to 1.5 cm. Initially round or ovoid, brown in color, over time the shell breaks, partially remaining on the walls. Later it becomes cup-shaped, red-brown or brown in color with small peridioles. Not edible.
- The dung cup is similar in shape and structure to the described specimen. However, a distinctive feature is the yellowish or red-brown color of the fruiting body and black peridioles. Grows in dense groups from February to April. Inedible.
- Olla's glass is a fairly common species that lives on or near rotting wood. At the initial stage of development, the fruiting body resembles a ball or nest, over time it acquires a bell-shaped shape. A distinctive feature is the lens-shaped peridioles, attached to the shell by a mycelial cord. Belongs to the group of inedible.
Conclusion
The shapeless nester is an unusual specimen that can be found on rotting wood. There is little information about this species; it is rare.
