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The white umbrella mushroom is a representative of the Macrolepiot genus, Champignonaceae family. A species with a long fruiting period. Edible, with average nutritional value, belongs to the third category. The mushroom is called the white umbrella (Macrolepiota excoriata), as well as field or meadow.
Collecting white umbrellas in an open area among short grass
Where does the meadow umbrella mushroom grow?
The representative prefers humus soil rich in humus; in fertile areas it can reach large sizes. Distributed in the temperate, temperate continental climate zone, the main concentration of the species is in Siberia, Altai Territory, the Far East, the Urals, and is found in the Central regions.
It grows in compact groups or singly in pastures, meadows, and along the edges of arable land in the steppe. Mushrooms are found on the edges of coniferous and mixed forests, clearings, and among short grass in plantations. Fruiting is stable, every year the white umbrella gives a good harvest. They start picking mushrooms in early June and finish in October.
What does a field umbrella mushroom look like?
The species forms large fruiting bodies; adult specimens grow up to 13 cm with a cap size of 12 cm in diameter. The color is white or beige.
Species with a white large fruiting body
Hat:
- at the beginning of growth, elongated, ovoid. The velum is private, closely fused with the stalk;
- during the growing season, the cap opens, becomes dome-shaped, then spread out;
- when torn, the spathe leaves a clearly defined, white, wide, movable ring and flaky fragments along the edge of the cap;
- on the surface in the central part there is a wide cone-shaped bulge with a smooth light brown coating;
- protective film below the tubercle, finely scaly; when the fabric ruptures, the coating separates from the surface and becomes like flakes;
- the pulp is thick, quite dense, white, and does not change color at the site of damage;
- the hymenophore is lamellar, well developed, the plates are free with smooth ends, frequent. Located along the edge of the cap, reaching the middle;
- the color is white, in adult specimens it is cream with brownish spots.
Leg:
- cylindrical in shape, reaches a width of up to 1.3 cm, height – 8-12 cm;
- central hollow, thickened at the base;
- the structure is longitudinally fibrous, rigid;
- the surface is smooth, up to the ring – white, below – with a yellow or brown tint;
- When cut or pressed, it turns light brown.
Is the white umbrella mushroom edible or not?
The mushroom is edible with a good gastronomic rating. The species is included in the III classification group in terms of nutritional value. Fruiting bodies are universal in processing.
False doubles
Edible counterparts include the variegated umbrella (Macrolepiota procera).
The color of the cap is beige with large dark scales
The fruit bodies are large, the surface of the cap is covered with detachable scales. The color is white-gray or brown. The leg is brown, the surface is finely scaly. Fruiting is abundant - from July until frost.
Conrad's umbrella mushroom is medium-sized, edible.
In adult mushrooms, there are remnants of the film only in the center
At the beginning of growth, it is almost impossible to distinguish it from a field umbrella. In adult specimens, the surface of the cap becomes brown, the film breaks, and long cracks form. There is no scaly coating, the structure is dry and smooth.
Poisonous lepiota is a highly toxic autumn mushroom.
Lepiota poisonous with an unpronounced bulge in the center
The color ranges from pink to brick, the appearance is small in size, the diameter of the cap is within 6 cm. The surface is covered with tightly fitting small scales forming radial stripes. The ring is weakly expressed and may be absent in adult mushrooms. When scrapped, the flesh turns red. At the beginning of the growing season, the smell is pleasant, then it resembles kerosene or gasoline.
Rules for collection and use
Over the course of many seasons, the species forms fruiting bodies in the same place. Do not harvest in an ecologically unfavorable area, do not take overripe specimens. Young mushrooms and adult caps are suitable for thermal processing. The hard legs are dried, ground into powder, and used as seasonings.The fruits are suitable for winter harvesting.
Conclusion
The white umbrella mushroom is an edible species with good gastronomic characteristics and is universal in processing. It bears fruit from July, including October, in open areas of forests, fields, meadows, prefers fertile humus soils. Forms dense small colonies or grows singly.
