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Xerula modesta (collibia) is a species of lamellar cap-footed mushrooms belonging to the Physalacriaceae family. They are so rare in forests that most even experienced lovers of “silent hunting” have never found them, and descriptions of this representative of the mushroom kingdom are quite brief. For an avid mushroom picker, this species may be of some interest.
What does a modest xerula look like?
Xerula modesta looks unusual: on a thin long stem there is a large flat cap, abundantly covered with villi at the bottom. Young specimens resemble a nail. Due to their unusual appearance, many people consider them poisonous.
The flesh of the fruiting body is thin and brittle.Like all varieties of Xerul, this representative has a white spore powder.
Description of the cap
The hat has the shape of a dome, which over time opens more and more outwards and takes on the shape of a bowl. It is distinguished by wide, thin, sparsely spaced plates. In adult specimens the plates are clearly visible. The color is brown, on the reverse side it is light, almost white.
Description of the leg
The stem is thin, slightly tapering at the top, dark brown, contrasting with the light plates on the back of the cap. Grows vertically upward.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
It is classified as conditionally edible, but has neither a bright taste nor a pronounced aroma, so it does not have much culinary value.
Where and how does it grow
This is a very rare species with a relatively short fruiting period. You can meet it in coniferous-deciduous forests, where it grows in groups right on the ground. The season begins in the second half of summer and lasts until the end of September.
Doubles and their differences
This mushroom can be confused with the edible Xerula longlegs, which is also quite rare in forests and has a long thin stalk. They can be distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Xerula modest grows on the ground, and its counterpart grows on stumps, branches and roots of trees;
- The cap of the modest Xerula is larger in diameter and curved outward, and in the long-legged one its edges are directed downward, forming a dome.
Conclusion
Xerula modest is little known to lovers of “silent hunting”. Although it does not have outstanding taste, finding and identifying it in the forest is a great success.
